Quick Overview
- 1#1: Ahrefs - Delivers industry-leading backlink tracking, analysis, and competitor research with the largest link index available.
- 2#2: SEMrush - Provides comprehensive backlink audits, tracking, toxicity detection, and historical data within a full SEO platform.
- 3#3: Majestic - Specializes in backlink intelligence with Trust Flow, Citation Flow metrics, and a massive topical trust flow database.
- 4#4: Moz Pro - Tracks backlinks through Link Explorer with Domain Authority, Page Authority, and Spam Score evaluations.
- 5#5: CognitiveSEO - Offers real-time backlink monitoring, toxic link detection, and automated disavow file generation.
- 6#6: SEO PowerSuite - Desktop software suite for backlink indexing, tracking new/lost links, and anchor text analysis.
- 7#7: SpyFu - Uncovers competitors' backlinks and provides keyword gap analysis for strategic link building.
- 8#8: Serpstat - All-in-one SEO tool with backlink history tracking, domain comparisons, and exportable reports.
- 9#9: Monitor Backlinks - Automatically alerts on new, lost, or changed backlinks with customizable notifications.
- 10#10: Google Search Console - Free Google tool for viewing top linking sites, anchor text, and basic backlink data.
We prioritized tools based on the depth of their backlink data, analytical sophistication (including competitor insights and toxicity detection), user experience, and overall value, ensuring a comprehensive range of options for diverse needs.
Comparison Table
This comparison table explores leading backlinks tracking software, such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, Majestic, Moz Pro, and CognitiveSEO, to help readers navigate tool options. It highlights key features, performance metrics, and unique strengths, enabling informed choices for effective backlink management and SEO strategy improvement.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahrefs Delivers industry-leading backlink tracking, analysis, and competitor research with the largest link index available. | enterprise | 9.8/10 | 9.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 2 | SEMrush Provides comprehensive backlink audits, tracking, toxicity detection, and historical data within a full SEO platform. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 3 | Majestic Specializes in backlink intelligence with Trust Flow, Citation Flow metrics, and a massive topical trust flow database. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 4 | Moz Pro Tracks backlinks through Link Explorer with Domain Authority, Page Authority, and Spam Score evaluations. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 5 | CognitiveSEO Offers real-time backlink monitoring, toxic link detection, and automated disavow file generation. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 6 | SEO PowerSuite Desktop software suite for backlink indexing, tracking new/lost links, and anchor text analysis. | other | 7.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 7 | SpyFu Uncovers competitors' backlinks and provides keyword gap analysis for strategic link building. | specialized | 6.7/10 | 6.0/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 8 | Serpstat All-in-one SEO tool with backlink history tracking, domain comparisons, and exportable reports. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.7/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 9 | Monitor Backlinks Automatically alerts on new, lost, or changed backlinks with customizable notifications. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 10 | Google Search Console Free Google tool for viewing top linking sites, anchor text, and basic backlink data. | other | 7.2/10 | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
Delivers industry-leading backlink tracking, analysis, and competitor research with the largest link index available.
Provides comprehensive backlink audits, tracking, toxicity detection, and historical data within a full SEO platform.
Specializes in backlink intelligence with Trust Flow, Citation Flow metrics, and a massive topical trust flow database.
Tracks backlinks through Link Explorer with Domain Authority, Page Authority, and Spam Score evaluations.
Offers real-time backlink monitoring, toxic link detection, and automated disavow file generation.
Desktop software suite for backlink indexing, tracking new/lost links, and anchor text analysis.
Uncovers competitors' backlinks and provides keyword gap analysis for strategic link building.
All-in-one SEO tool with backlink history tracking, domain comparisons, and exportable reports.
Automatically alerts on new, lost, or changed backlinks with customizable notifications.
Free Google tool for viewing top linking sites, anchor text, and basic backlink data.
Ahrefs
enterpriseDelivers industry-leading backlink tracking, analysis, and competitor research with the largest link index available.
The largest proprietary backlink index (35+ trillion links) with daily crawls and historical data for unmatched accuracy in tracking.
Ahrefs is a premier SEO platform renowned for its backlinks tracking capabilities, featuring one of the world's largest databases with over 35 trillion known links and daily updates. It offers detailed analysis through Site Explorer, tracking new and lost backlinks, referring domains, anchor texts, and link quality metrics like DR (Domain Rating). Users can set up alerts for backlink changes and perform competitor analysis to uncover link-building opportunities.
Pros
- Massive, accurate backlink database with historical data spanning years
- Real-time alerts for new/lost links and comprehensive reporting dashboards
- Powerful tools like Link Intersect and Batch Analysis for efficient competitor spying
Cons
- High pricing that may deter small businesses or beginners
- Steep learning curve for advanced features despite intuitive interface
- Limited free tools; full backlink tracking requires paid plans
Best For
SEO agencies, digital marketers, and enterprises needing top-tier backlink monitoring and analysis.
Pricing
Lite ($129/mo), Standard ($249/mo), Advanced ($449/mo), Enterprise ($999/mo), billed annually with 2 months free.
SEMrush
enterpriseProvides comprehensive backlink audits, tracking, toxicity detection, and historical data within a full SEO platform.
Backlink Toxicity Score with automated audit and disavow tool integration
SEMrush is a powerful all-in-one SEO platform with robust backlink tracking capabilities through its Backlink Analytics and Backlink Audit tools. It enables users to monitor new and lost backlinks, analyze anchor texts, referring domains, and competitor profiles from a database exceeding 43 trillion backlinks. The tool also offers toxicity scoring to identify risky links for disavowal and gap analysis to uncover opportunities against competitors.
Pros
- Massive backlink index with detailed metrics like anchors and domains
- Toxicity checker and disavow file generation for risk management
- Competitor gap analysis to find link-building opportunities
Cons
- Expensive for users focused solely on backlinks (starts at $130/mo)
- Reporting and crawl limits on lower plans restrict heavy use
- Steep learning curve due to extensive feature suite
Best For
SEO professionals and agencies needing integrated backlink tracking within a full digital marketing toolkit.
Pricing
Pro plan at $129.95/mo (40 backlink audits, 500 keyword reports); Guru $249.95/mo; Business $499.95/mo; annual billing saves 17%.
Majestic
specializedSpecializes in backlink intelligence with Trust Flow, Citation Flow metrics, and a massive topical trust flow database.
Proprietary Trust Flow metric, which uniquely measures the quality of a site's link profile based on trusted seed sites
Majestic is a specialized backlink intelligence platform with one of the largest commercial link indexes, enabling users to discover, analyze, and track backlinks at scale. It provides proprietary metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow to evaluate link quality and quantity, along with tools for anchor text analysis, topical trust distribution, and competitor research. The software excels in historical link data and visualization features like the Site Explorer and Link Graph, making it a go-to for in-depth link audits.
Pros
- Massive index of trillions of URLs for comprehensive backlink data
- Unique Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics for quality assessment
- Advanced tools like Topical Trust Flow and historical link graphs
Cons
- Dated and clunky user interface
- Expensive for full access and high query volumes
- Limited real-time updates compared to competitors
Best For
SEO professionals and agencies focused on deep backlink analysis and link-building strategies.
Pricing
Lite ($49.99/mo), Gold ($99.99/mo), Platinum ($249.99/mo), API ($499+/mo); annual discounts available, with pay-as-you-go options.
Moz Pro
enterpriseTracks backlinks through Link Explorer with Domain Authority, Page Authority, and Spam Score evaluations.
Spam Score, which uniquely identifies potentially toxic links to protect site rankings
Moz Pro is a comprehensive SEO platform with powerful backlink tracking via its Link Explorer tool, enabling users to analyze inbound links, track new and lost backlinks, and assess link quality using proprietary metrics like Domain Authority (DA) and Spam Score. It offers discovery tools such as Link Intersect to find opportunities from competitors' backlinks and integrates with rank tracking and site audits for holistic SEO management. While not exclusively a backlink tool, its vast link index powers detailed profiles and alerts for ongoing monitoring.
Pros
- Extensive link index with reliable DA and Spam Score metrics for quality assessment
- Link Intersect and opportunity tools for proactive backlink acquisition
- Real-time alerts for new, lost, and toxic links with seamless integration into broader SEO workflows
Cons
- Expensive for users needing only backlink tracking, as full features require higher tiers
- Limited monthly row exports (e.g., 10K on Standard plan) restrict deep analysis
- Historical data depth lags behind specialized competitors like Ahrefs
Best For
SEO professionals and agencies seeking integrated backlink tracking within a full-suite SEO platform.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month (Standard: 10K Link Explorer rows/month) up to $599/month (Premium: unlimited rows); 30-day free trial available.
CognitiveSEO
specializedOffers real-time backlink monitoring, toxic link detection, and automated disavow file generation.
Cognitive Metrics system, using machine learning to score link quality with proprietary Trust, Authority, and Relevance scores
CognitiveSEO is a powerful SEO platform specializing in backlink tracking, offering users the ability to monitor link profiles, track new and lost backlinks, and analyze anchor texts and link quality metrics. It excels in competitor backlink spying, toxic link detection, and generating disavow files automatically. The tool draws from a massive index of over 1 trillion links, providing insights into link velocity, distribution, and topology for strategic link building.
Pros
- Vast backlink database with data from multiple sources for comprehensive tracking
- AI-powered toxic link detection and automated disavow file generation
- Detailed competitor analysis including gap finder and link opportunity identification
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to data-dense dashboards
- Higher pricing that may not suit small budgets
- Interface feels somewhat dated compared to modern competitors
Best For
SEO agencies and advanced users focused on in-depth backlink auditing and competitive intelligence.
Pricing
Starts at $129/month (Starter plan billed annually), with Pro at $249/month and Agency at $399+/month; custom enterprise pricing available.
SEO PowerSuite
otherDesktop software suite for backlink indexing, tracking new/lost links, and anchor text analysis.
Advanced backlink quality scoring with proprietary Spam Score and multi-metric domain analysis
SEO PowerSuite, through its SEO SpyGlass module, is a desktop-based backlinks tracking software that excels in discovering, analyzing, and auditing backlinks for your site and competitors. It provides detailed metrics like anchor text distribution, domain authority, spam scores, and link quality assessments from a large index of billions of links. Users can perform in-depth competitor backlink gap analysis and generate customizable reports, making it suitable for periodic audits rather than real-time monitoring.
Pros
- Comprehensive backlink metrics including spam score and authority analysis
- Strong competitor backlink discovery and gap analysis
- Lifetime licenses offer excellent long-term value without subscriptions
Cons
- Desktop-only software lacks real-time cloud updates
- Dated interface feels clunky compared to modern SaaS tools
- Slower performance on large datasets and manual project updates required
Best For
Budget-conscious SEO professionals and agencies performing detailed, infrequent backlink audits and competitor research.
Pricing
Free limited version; paid standalone SEO SpyGlass from $149 lifetime, or full suite from $299 one-time.
SpyFu
specializedUncovers competitors' backlinks and provides keyword gap analysis for strategic link building.
Unlimited historical competitor backlink explorer with 15+ years of link acquisition data
SpyFu is a competitive SEO intelligence platform that excels in uncovering rivals' strategies, including backlink profiles for domains and pages. It provides backlink data such as referring domains, anchor texts, top linking pages, and historical changes, allowing users to spy on competitors' link-building tactics. While useful for competitor analysis, it lacks robust own-site tracking, alerts, or link management features typical of dedicated backlink tools.
Pros
- Extensive historical backlink data for competitors spanning 15+ years
- Unlimited competitor domain backlink lookups in higher plans
- Seamless integration with keyword and ad research for holistic SEO spying
Cons
- No dedicated dashboard for tracking your own backlinks or changes over time
- Limited depth in metrics, filters, and export options compared to specialized tools
- Lacks link alerts, outreach tools, or disavow integration
Best For
SEO analysts focused on reverse-engineering competitors' backlink strategies within a broader keyword research workflow.
Pricing
Plans start at $39/month (Basic, limited rows/exports) up to $399/month (Professional, unlimited access); annual billing offers ~25% discount; backlinks included across tiers.
Serpstat
specializedAll-in-one SEO tool with backlink history tracking, domain comparisons, and exportable reports.
Backlink Toxicity Score that identifies risky links with remediation suggestions
Serpstat is a comprehensive SEO platform with strong backlink tracking features, enabling users to monitor their backlink profiles, track new and lost links, analyze anchor texts, and evaluate link quality via a toxicity score. It offers historical data visualization, domain metrics, and competitor backlink analysis to support effective link-building strategies. While not the largest database, it integrates seamlessly with other SEO tools like keyword research and site audits for a holistic approach.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with high value for integrated SEO tools
- Detailed backlink metrics including toxicity score and anchor analysis
- Competitor backlink spying and historical tracking visualizations
Cons
- Backlink index smaller than top competitors like Ahrefs
- Interface can feel cluttered with a moderate learning curve
- Limited advanced filtering options for large-scale tracking
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses and agencies seeking cost-effective backlink monitoring within a full SEO suite.
Pricing
Starts at $69/month (Lite plan) up to $499/month (Enterprise), with a 7-day free trial and pay-per-use API options.
Monitor Backlinks
specializedAutomatically alerts on new, lost, or changed backlinks with customizable notifications.
Personalized daily email digests highlighting new backlinks for your site and competitors
Monitor Backlinks is a dedicated backlink tracking tool that monitors new and lost backlinks for your site and competitors, sending daily email alerts to keep users informed of changes. It offers features like anchor text analysis, toxic link detection, and a disavow file generator to help maintain a healthy link profile. The software excels in competitor spying, allowing users to discover new backlink opportunities by tracking rivals' link acquisitions.
Pros
- Daily email alerts for new and lost backlinks
- Effective competitor backlink monitoring and spying
- Integrated toxic link detector and disavow file generator
Cons
- Outdated user interface and dashboard design
- Pricing scales quickly for larger sites
- Limited integrations and advanced analytics compared to all-in-one SEO tools
Best For
SEO agencies and link builders who need reliable daily backlink alerts and competitor insights without a full SEO suite.
Pricing
Starts at $69/month (300 backlink sources), $99/month (1,500 sources), up to $199/month (5,000 sources); annual plans offer 35% discount.
Google Search Console
otherFree Google tool for viewing top linking sites, anchor text, and basic backlink data.
Google's proprietary 'Links' report offering an unmatched, direct view of backlinks as indexed by Google itself
Google Search Console is a free web analytics tool from Google that monitors website performance in search results, with a dedicated 'Links' report for tracking backlinks. It reveals external links to your site, top linking domains, and anchor text distributions directly from Google's index. While versatile for general SEO, its backlink tracking is basic but reliable for verified site owners.
Pros
- Completely free with no usage limits
- Accurate backlink data straight from Google's index
- Simple integration via site verification
Cons
- Limited to your own verified sites only, no competitor tracking
- Basic metrics without spam scores, domain authority, or historical trends
- No real-time alerts or advanced filtering options
Best For
Small website owners or beginners seeking a no-cost, straightforward way to monitor essential backlink basics for their own properties.
Pricing
Free for all users.
Conclusion
After evaluating the top 10 backlinks tracking tools, Ahrefs emerges as the leading choice, boasting an extensive link index and robust analysis features that set it apart. SEMrush and Majestic follow as strong alternatives, with SEMrush offering a full SEO platform and Majestic specializing in trust metrics, catering to different user needs. Regardless of selection, each tool delivers value, but Ahrefs consistently rises to the top for comprehensive performance.
Take the first step toward stronger SEO by trying Ahrefs—its industry-leading capabilities can transform your backlink tracking and link-building strategies, helping you stay ahead in competitive markets.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison