📝 Quick summary: A free backlink checker shows you which sites link to your blog and which sites link to your rivals. In this guide you get 10 trusted tools, a comparison table, simple tips and a long FAQ.
Links are still one of the strongest signals in search. If you do not know who links to you, you are working in the dark.
The good news is that you do not need to pay to start. Many tools give you real link data for free. Free plans change often, so always check each official site for the latest limits.
🔍 What to Look For in a Free Backlink Checker
- ⏱️ Data source. Tools with their own crawler usually show fresher and wider data.
- 🔗 Link details. Good tools show the linking page, anchor text and dofollow or nofollow type.
- 🏷️ Quality scores. Look for a simple authority score so you can judge links fast.
- 📤 Export option. A CSV export helps you sort and clean links in a spreadsheet.
- 🕵️ Competitor view. Some tools let you check any domain, not only your own site.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Access | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | Free for sites you own and verify | Your own site audit and links |
| Google Search Console | Free for verified sites | Official Google link data |
| OpenLinkProfiler | Free to use | Quick checks on any domain |
| SEO SpyGlass | Free version available | Desktop link research |
| Majestic | Free version available | Trust and citation metrics |
| Semrush Backlink Checker | Free to use; check official site for limits | Fast overview of a domain |
| Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker | Free to use; check official site for limits | Quick look at top links |
| Ubersuggest Backlink Checker | Free to use; check official site for limits | Finding link gaps vs rivals |
| Small SEO Tools Backlink Checker | Free; top 100 links shown first | Fast, no-fuss checks |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | Free for verified sites | Second search engine view |
🏆 The 10 Free Backlink Checker Tools
1️⃣ Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is a free plan from one of the biggest names in SEO. You verify your own website, and then you can see the backlinks that point to it. The data comes from the large Ahrefs crawler, so it is often rich and fresh.
Beyond links, you also get a site audit that finds common technical problems. This makes it a smart first stop if you run a blog and want one place for both link data and site health. You can only study sites that you own and verify.
| 💰 Free plan | Free for sites you own; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Checking your own blog |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Free account and site verification |
- Strong crawler data
- Includes a site audit
- Clean and easy reports
- Only works for your verified sites
- No free competitor spying
💡 Pro tip: Check the report once a month and note any new or lost links.
2️⃣ Google Search Console
Google Search Console is the official free tool from Google. It has a Links report that shows which sites link to you, your top linked pages and the most common anchor text. Because the data comes from Google itself, it is a very honest view of how Google sees your links.
The report does not show every link, and it is only for sites you own. Still, it costs nothing and it also helps with indexing and search performance. Every blogger should set it up on day one, even if they use other tools too.
| 💰 Free plan | Free to use for verified sites |
| 🎯 Best for | Official Google link data |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Google account and site verification |
- Direct data from Google
- Also tracks search traffic
- Totally free
- Cannot check other websites
- Link list is a sample, not complete
💡 Pro tip: Look at the top linking sites and thank the ones that are real people.
3️⃣ OpenLinkProfiler
OpenLinkProfiler is a simple web tool where you type a domain and see its backlinks. It is made by the team behind SEO PowerSuite, and it presents link data in an easy list. You can look at your own site or at a competitor.
It also shows details such as new and lost links and link types, so you can judge a profile quickly. The design is plain, which is good for beginners. For deeper work you may want to pair it with another tool from this list.
| 💰 Free plan | Free to use; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Quick checks on any domain |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Check the official site |
- Easy for beginners
- Works on competitor sites
- Simple link lists
- Smaller index than big paid tools
- Fewer advanced filters
💡 Pro tip: Use it to check three competitors in ten minutes.
4️⃣ SEO SpyGlass
SEO SpyGlass is a desktop backlink tool from SEO PowerSuite. You install it on your computer, enter a website, and it collects links from several data sources. It then shows each link with details like anchor text and link type.
It is built for people who want more control than a simple web page gives. You can sort, filter and study a link profile in detail. The free version of the SEO PowerSuite tools has some limits, so check the official site before you plan a big project.
| 💰 Free plan | Free version available; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Deep link research on desktop |
| 💻 Works on | Windows, Mac and Linux desktop |
| 👤 Account | Software download |
- Many filters and views
- Pulls from multiple sources
- Good for competitor study
- Needs a download and setup
- Free version has limits
💡 Pro tip: Start with one competitor so the first scan finishes fast.
5️⃣ Majestic
Majestic is a link-only company, so backlinks are all it does. It is known for metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow, which help you judge the quality and the strength of a link profile. Many SEO experts use it next to other tools.
You can use a free version to look at a domain overview and get a taste of the data. Deeper reports sit behind paid plans. Even so, the free view is useful to compare your site with a rival and spot weak, spammy links.
| 💰 Free plan | Free version available; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Judging link trust and quality |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Check the official site |
- Focused only on links
- Useful trust metrics
- Works for any domain
- Interface can feel heavy
- Full reports need a paid plan
💡 Pro tip: Compare Trust Flow and Citation Flow; a big gap can signal low-quality links.
6️⃣ Semrush Backlink Checker
Semrush offers a free backlink checker page where you enter a domain and get a quick overview. It is part of a very large SEO platform, so the data is wide and the layout is clear. It is a handy way to see how strong a site’s link profile looks.
The free page gives you a taste, and the full backlink analytics tool needs an account and a paid plan for deeper work. For a fast look at a rival, though, it is quick and easy to use. Check the official site for what the free view includes today.
| 💰 Free plan | Free to use; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Fast domain overview |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Check the official site |
- Big, trusted database
- Clear and modern layout
- Works on any domain
- Free view is limited
- Deep data needs a paid plan
💡 Pro tip: Use it to quickly compare your site with two or three rivals.
7️⃣ Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker
Besides the Webmaster Tools plan, Ahrefs also has a free backlink checker page. You enter any domain or URL and get a glimpse of the premium tool. It is a fast way to peek at a competitor without verifying anything.
The official page does not list exact free limits, so we will not guess them. In general, expect a short list of top links rather than a full export. Use it as a quick test, then switch to Webmaster Tools for your own site.
| 💰 Free plan | Free to use; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Quick look at any site |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Check the official site |
- Powerful data behind it
- No setup for a quick check
- Works on any URL
- Limited free results
- Upgrade prompts
💡 Pro tip: Test a competitor here first, then save the best ideas in a sheet.
8️⃣ Ubersuggest Backlink Checker
Ubersuggest, from Neil Patel, has a website backlink checker. The official page says it shows link counts for any domain or URL, including .edu and .gov links and the number of unique referring domains. It also has a tool to find sites that link to your rivals but not to you.
You can filter by anchor text, domain score, dofollow or nofollow, and download the results as CSV. The page does not state exact free limits, so check the official site. It is a friendly choice for beginners who like clear screens and simple next steps.
| 💰 Free plan | Free to use; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Finding link gaps vs rivals |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Check the official site |
- Useful filters and CSV export
- Shows .edu and .gov links
- Beginner friendly
- Free use can be limited
- Smaller index than big suites
💡 Pro tip: Use the link gap idea to build a short outreach list.
9️⃣ Small SEO Tools Backlink Checker
Small SEO Tools has a simple free backlink checker. The page says the metrics come for free and that the first report is often limited to the top 100 backlinks, with one link per domain. You can click further to see more links.
For each backlink it shows the linking page, anchor text, Domain Rating and whether the link is dofollow or nofollow. You can check a whole domain or one page and download the report. Sometimes you must solve a CAPTCHA, which is a small price for a free tool.
| 💰 Free plan | Free; initial report often limited to the top 100 backlinks, one per domain |
| 🎯 Best for | Fast, no-fuss checks |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | No account mentioned on the page |
- Shows anchor text and link type
- Downloadable report
- Checks a page or a domain
- CAPTCHA may appear
- First view is only a sample
💡 Pro tip: Check a single page to see which blog post earns the most links.
🔟 Bing Webmaster Tools
Bing Webmaster Tools is the free toolkit from Microsoft. Bing has an official Backlinks help page, so link data is part of the product for sites you verify. It also gives reports on search traffic, crawling and indexing for the Bing search engine.
Many bloggers forget Bing, yet it can bring steady visitors and a second opinion on your links. Setup is easy, and you can even import your site from Google Search Console. Check the official help pages to see which link reports are available now.
| 💰 Free plan | Free to use for verified sites; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | A second search engine view |
| 💻 Works on | Web browser |
| 👤 Account | Microsoft, Google or Facebook sign-in and site verification |
- Free official data
- Extra search traffic insights
- Easy import from Google
- Mainly for sites you own
- Features can change
💡 Pro tip: Compare Bing and Google link lists; each one may show links the other misses.
🚀 Tips to Get More from a Free Backlink Checker
| Tip | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Use two or three tools together | Each tool has its own crawler, so you see more links. |
| Check competitors first | Their best links show you where to ask for yours. |
| Look at anchor text | Spammy or odd anchors can hint at risky links. |
| Sort by new and lost links | You learn what works and what you lost. |
| Export to a spreadsheet | It is easy to filter, tag and track outreach. |
| Run a check every month | Small, regular checks catch problems early. |
| Focus on quality, not count | A few good links beat many weak ones. |
Links work best when your site is healthy and your content targets the right topics. Run a free SEO audit and use free keyword research tools to plan pages people want to link to. Slow pages hurt too, so see our website speed test tools. For the official view of how Google treats links, read Google Search Central spam policies.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a backlink?
A backlink is a link from another website to yours. Search engines see it like a vote of trust.
Is a free backlink checker accurate?
It is a good guide, but no tool sees every link. Use two or three tools and compare the lists.
Which free backlink checker is best for beginners?
Google Search Console and Ahrefs Webmaster Tools are great for your own site. For quick competitor checks, try Ubersuggest or Small SEO Tools.
Can I check my competitor’s backlinks for free?
Yes. Tools like OpenLinkProfiler, Semrush, Ubersuggest and Small SEO Tools let you enter another domain. Free results can be limited.
Why do different tools show different numbers?
Each tool uses its own crawler and index. They find and keep different pages, so the totals are not the same.
What is a dofollow link?
A dofollow link passes ranking signals to the target page. A nofollow link usually passes less or none.
How often should I check my backlinks?
Once a month is enough for most blogs. Check more often after a big post or a campaign.
Are all backlinks good?
No. Links from spam or unrelated sites can be useless or risky. Focus on links from real, relevant websites.
How can I get more backlinks?
Write helpful guides, share original data, do guest posts on good blogs and ask for links with a polite message.
Do I need to pay for a good backlink tool?
Not to start. A free backlink checker gives enough data for a small blog. Paid plans help when you need deeper reports.
Is Google Search Console enough on its own?
It is a great base, but it only covers your site and shows a sample of links. Add one more tool for competitor research.
Can backlinks hurt my site?
Paid or spammy link schemes can break search engine rules. Build links naturally and read the official guidelines.