Backlink AnalysisFree monthly queriesby Moz

Moz Link Explorer: Free Backlink and Domain Authority Checker

Moz Link Explorer is a backlink research tool built on Moz's link index, known for the Domain Authority (DA) metric. A free Moz account includes a limited number of Link Explorer queries per month. Free results are sampled — a handful of links and top pages — and full exports, history, and unlimited queries require Moz Pro.

Provider:: Moz
Access:: Free monthly queries
Account:: Required (free)
Best for:: Checking Domain Authority and sampling any site's backlinks

Visit Moz Link Explorer All free SEO tools

What is Moz Link Explorer?

Link Explorer is the home of Domain Authority, the 0–100 metric that became industry shorthand for site strength. Enter any domain for DA, linking domains, inbound links, and ranking keywords, plus top pages by link count and discovered/lost link tracking.

The free allowance (historically 10 queries per month for free accounts) makes each query precious: plan a monthly link-review session rather than ad-hoc checks. Spam Score, shown alongside, helps flag prospects whose link neighborhoods look manipulative.

Main features

Domain Authority and Page Authority
Moz's 0–100 predictors of ranking strength for domains and individual pages.
Inbound link sampling
See linking domains, anchor text, and follow/nofollow status for researched URLs.
Top pages report
Find which pages on any site attract the most links — the formats worth emulating.
Spam Score
Flags sites with link-profile traits common to penalized domains, useful when vetting prospects.
Discovered and lost links
Track link velocity over time for domains you monitor.

Is Moz Link Explorer free?

A free Moz Community account includes a monthly allowance of Link Explorer queries (historically 10 per month — verify current limits on Moz's pricing page). Results are truncated samples. Moz Pro unlocks unlimited queries, full exports, historical data, and keyword research tools.

Free queries require a free Moz Community account. Monthly query allowance resets; check the pricing page for the current number.

How to use Moz Link Explorer

Create a free Moz Community account and open Link Explorer.
Enter your domain first: record DA, linking domains, and your top-linked pages as a baseline.
Spend remaining monthly queries on 2–3 competitors — compare their top pages against yours for format gaps.
Check Spam Score before pursuing any link prospect; investigate scores above ~30% carefully.
Export what the free tier allows and supplement with Ahrefs' free checker for a second index's perspective.

Advantages and limitations

Where it shines

Domain Authority is the most widely quoted authority metric — useful common language with clients.
Spam Score adds a safety check competitors' free tiers lack.
Clean interface that beginners grasp immediately.
Free queries need only a community account, no card.

Where it falls short

Monthly query allowance is tiny — roughly one research session.
Moz's index is smaller and slower-updating than Ahrefs'/Semrush's.
DA is a Moz metric, not a Google score; it can be gamed by spam links.
No keyword research or auditing in the free Link Explorer scope.

Best use cases

Link builders
Vet every prospect's DA and Spam Score before outreach to avoid toxic neighborhoods.
Site buyers
Check a domain's link history and spam signals before making an offer.
Bloggers
Track DA quarterly as a rough proxy for growing link authority.

Alternatives to Moz Link Explorer

Ahrefs Free SEO Tools
No-account checker with a larger, fresher link index. Official site
Semrush Free Tools
Daily (not monthly) free allowances for domain research. Official site
Bing Webmaster Tools
Free full backlink data for your own verified sites. Official site

Moz Link Explorer FAQ

Is Moz Link Explorer free?

Partially — a free Moz account includes a limited number of queries per month. Unlimited use, exports, and history require Moz Pro.

What is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority (DA) is Moz's 0–100 prediction of a domain's ranking strength based on its link profile. It is a third-party estimate, not a Google metric, and best used for comparisons rather than absolutes.

What is a good Spam Score?

Lower is better: 1–30% is generally considered low risk. Higher scores warrant manual review of the site's links and content before associating with it — but score alone never proves a penalty.

Sources and official documentation

Official sources are listed separately from RankMeDaily's commentary above. Product details verified 2026-10-13; confirm current pricing and limits on the provider's site.