Our free backlink checker lets you generate a list of sites that are linking to your domain.

Start by entering your domain name in the form at the top of this page.

The dropdown next to it gives you three options so you can customize your backlink check:

• Domain with subdomains will check for backlinks to your main domain name and any subdomains you’ve set up
• Domain without subdomains will only check backlinks on your main domain
• URL checks backlinks to the exact URL that you specify - handy if you want to check backlinks to a specific page on your site

Then, hit "Analyze" to start the free backlink check.

In the results, you’ll immediately see some metrics about your site, including:

• Authority score
• Total referring domains
• Number of backlinks
• Number of referring IPs

You can dive deeper into your authority score with our free website authority checker.

Next, scroll down to see the actual backlinks that your site has.

Links that are marked “dofollow” are passing authority from the referring site. From a search engine perspective, those backlinks are like endorsements from their site to yours.

To see more data, click "View All Backlinks on Semrush.com".

Why Do I Need to Check Backlinks?

Think of backlinks as a massive referral network. When reputable websites link to your content, it sends a clear signal that your information is valuable and trustworthy.

In this network, a backlink from a respected website carries the most weight. 

Imagine the local diner getting recommended by a renowned chef in a national publication. That’s more likely to attract more customers than word of mouth from a neighbor.

High-quality backlinks are invaluable because they:

• Improve your search engine ranking: Google and other search engines view relevant backlinks as a vote of confidence. They boost your website's credibility, which improves rankings.
• Drive referral traffic: Backlinks attract relevant users to your content. This can increase engagement, shares, and conversions about the content.
• Enhance discoverability and crawling: When you post content, you want it seen right away. Having more backlinks makes it easier for Google and other search engines to find and crawl new and updated content.

Not All Backlinks Are Equal

All backlinks can drive referral traffic and increase visibility. However, not all backlinks will provide SEO value.

Focus on getting high-quality, relevant backlinks. These should come from trusted websites.

Backlinks from high-authority domains are the most effective in enhancing your online presence and achieving your marketing goals.

Also, consider the "Follow" column in our free backlink backer. Some links include a “rel=” (short for relationship) attribute in the link’s HTML code that tells search engines to ignore it for SEO purposes.

The rel= attribute can provide more specific information depending on its value:

• nofollow – Don’t follow the link.
• sponsored – This link goes to an affiliate website or some other sponsored page.
• ugc – The link points to user generated content.

It’s a best practice to use these values when linking to content you don’t want to pass SEO value to.

Try Top Backlink Tools

Now that you understand backlinks, it’s time to develop a strategy to get more.

Here are some link building tools that I use to build backlinks.

Backlink Analytics

Semrush's Backlink Analytics tool lets you see the backlink profile of any website.

You can analyze:

• Referring domains
• Anchor text (i.e., the text of the link)
• Authority score for each website

It's similar to our free backlink checker at the top of this page. But the data is more detailed.

It offers a goldmine of information if you're looking to find new backlink opportunities for your own site.

Backlink Audit

Semrush's Backlink Audit tool identifies broken backlinks so you can fix them and reclaim that lost link juice. 

The tool provides a wealth of information you can dig into about linking sites and specific links.

If you spot a broken link, simply reach out to the website owner and ask them to update the link.

Getting backlinks from authoritative sites is great, but getting backlinks from spammy or untrustworthy sites can negatively affect SEO. The tool also assesses the overall health of your backlink profile and identifies potentially toxic links.

Once you identify them, you can disavow toxic backlinks so they don’t pull your website lower in the search engine results. 

Backlink Gaps

The Backlink Gap tool compares your backlink profile to competitors and reveals websites that are linking to your competition, but not to you.

Simply add your main website in the first field. Then, add up to three competitors.

You’ll get a report with a list of prospective websites. Then, you can start reaching out to ask for links.

Link Building Tool

The Link Building Tool provides a list of backlink prospects and lets you reach out to them directly within the platform.

You can track your progress, manage contacts, and even personalize your outreach emails.

Once you have a full understanding, you can try:

• Guest Blogging: Writing blog posts for other websites in your industry will help you to get links.
• Creating Infographics: Infographics are visually appealing and shareable. They're likely to attract links from other websites.
• Public Relations and Promotion: Mention in news articles and press releases are often accompanied by links.
• Participating in Communities: Answering questions in forums and comment sections is a great way to get natural backlinks.

Get Full Backlink Analysis with Semrush

With Semrush, you'll increase your chances of acquiring high-quality backlinks. And these links will play a critical role in driving your website’s success.

After you've tried our free backlink checker, sign up for a free Semrush account to continue your backlink analysis.