The best backlink checkers, tested and ranked
We checked five backlink tools against 100 links we know exist on our own test sites and timed how fast each one spotted new links. Here's which one found the most, which suits your budget, and what each costs to start.
About this list
A backlink checker shows which other websites link to yours or to a competitor's, with details such as the linking domain, the anchor text and some kind of authority score. Many also watch for new and lost links, flag risky links and help you build a disavow file for Google. Our backlink checkers section has more on each tool, and our SEO tools hub covers the wider category.
Every tool crawls the web in its own way, so two tools will rarely show the same list of links for the same site. Some build their own index, like Ahrefs and Majestic. LinkResearchTools merges data from 25+ sources, and SEO SpyGlass uses the SEO PowerSuite index. They also differ a lot in price, from a free desktop edition to plans costing hundreds of dollars a month, and in how strict their refund and renewal terms are.
To compare them fairly, we used three websites we control, where we already know exactly which 100 backlinks exist. From September 28 to October 27, 2026, we ran every tool on the same sites, counted how many of those 100 links it found, checked how many of the links it reported were really live, and timed how long new links took to show up.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Cheapest way to start | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahrefs | Best overall | $29 a month (Starter) | 4.5 |
| 2 | LinkResearchTools | Best for link audits | $599 a month (Superhero Small) | 2.5 |
| 3 | Monitor Backlinks | Best for lost-link alerts | No public price | 2.5 |
| 4 | Majestic | Best for link history | $49.99 a month (Lite) | 2.0 |
| 5 | SEO SpyGlass | Best free option | $29.10 a month (SEO PowerSuite Professional (bundle)) | 2.0 |
Features and terms compared
These facts come from each company's own pages and our research, checked on November 3, 2026; prices follow the cheapest way to start.
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan or trial | Link data source | Link risk or disavow tools | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | $29 a month (Starter) | Ahrefs Free for your own verified site; no trial | Own crawler | Not stated | Web, browser extension, API, MCP |
| LinkResearchTools | $599 a month | No free plan; paid 7-day trial for $17 | Merges 25+ sources | Link Detox risk scores and disavow files | Web, browser extension |
| Monitor Backlinks | No public price | Not confirmed | Not stated | Disavow list for harmful links | Web |
| Majestic | $49.99 a month (Lite) | Free tools; 7-day money-back on first Lite or Pro | Own index, Fresh and Historic | Not stated | Web, browser plugins, Google Sheets add-on, API |
| SEO SpyGlass | $129 a year (Professional) | Free edition, no time limit | SEO PowerSuite Backlink Index | Penalty risk scores | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Test results side by side
Ahrefs was in a different league. It found 90 of our 100 known links, and we could confirm 82 of those 90 as live. It also showed new links in 21 hours, while every other tool took between 52 and 54 hours. No other checker found more than 63 of the 100 links, so the drop from first place to second is the biggest gap in this list.
Below Ahrefs, the four other tools were close together and none did well. Monitor Backlinks found 63 links, LinkResearchTools 57, Majestic 56 and SEO SpyGlass 53. Each also reported links that turned out not to be live: only 32 to 39 of the links each one found were confirmed. The surprise was LinkResearchTools, the most expensive tool by far, which found fewer links than Monitor Backlinks and confirmed only 33 of its 57 as live. It still ranked second, thanks to higher marks for ease of use and value.
Every tool got the same test, between September 28, 2026 to October 27, 2026.
| Tool | Score | Keyword volume and ranking data compared with Google Search Console | Backlinks found versus links we know exist | Planted technical issues found out of 40 | Data freshness (how fast new links and rankings appear) | Price at 1 and 5 projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | 4.5/5 | N/A: backlink discovery test | Known backlinks found 90/100 | N/A: no technical crawl in this brief | 21 h to reflect updates | – |
| LinkResearchTools | 2.5/5 | N/A: backlink discovery test | Known backlinks found 57/100 | N/A: no technical crawl in this brief | 52 h to reflect updates | – |
| Monitor Backlinks | 2.5/5 | N/A: backlink discovery test | Known backlinks found 63/100 | N/A: no technical crawl in this brief | 53 h to reflect updates | – |
| Majestic | 2/5 | N/A: backlink discovery test | Known backlinks found 56/100 | N/A: no technical crawl in this brief | 52 h to reflect updates | – |
| SEO SpyGlass | 2/5 | N/A: backlink discovery test | Known backlinks found 53/100 | N/A: no technical crawl in this brief | 54 h to reflect updates | – |
Ahrefs
Best overallAhrefs came first of five with 4.5 out of 5, the only checker to score above 2.5. It found 90 of our 100 known backlinks, missing 10, and 82 of the 90 it reported were confirmed live. New links appeared within 21 hours, more than twice as fast as any rival. It scored a full 5 for ease of use and features, 4.5 for data accuracy, and 4 for coverage and value for money. Our Ahrefs review covers the whole suite.
Ahrefs is a full SEO platform built on its own web crawler, which it says holds trillions of backlinks. Backlinks sit alongside keyword research, rank tracking, site audits and content tools, and you can add AI search tracking with its Brand Radar add-on. Every main plan includes unlimited verified projects, and Ahrefs Free gives you data on your own verified site at no cost.
The catch is the price and the terms. There's no free trial, refunds are generally not given, and extra users cost $40 to $80 a month each depending on the plan. Users rate it 2.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 322 reviews (checked November 2026), mostly over price, accounts restricted under fair-use rules and traffic estimates they see as inaccurate.
Who it's for
SEO specialists, link builders and agencies who rely on backlink research and want it in the same place as keyword and site audit tools.
Skip it if
You only need a basic look at your own links. Ahrefs Free covers your verified site, and SEO SpyGlass has a free desktop edition.
What we liked
- Found 90 of our 100 known backlinks
- New links showed up in 21 hours
- Full 5 out of 5 for ease of use
What we didn't
- No free trial of the paid plans
- Extra users cost $40 to $80 a month each
- Poor 2.1 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot
Key features
- Site Explorer for backlink research on any site
- Keywords Explorer and rank tracking
- Site Audit using crawl credits
- API and MCP access
- Brand Radar AI search tracking as an add-on
Plans and prices
| Starter | $29 a month |
| Lite 750 tracked keywords; 150 AI prompt checks. | $129 a month |
| Standard 2,000 tracked keywords; 300 AI prompt checks. | $249 a month |
| Advanced 5,000 tracked keywords; 600 AI prompt checks. | $449 a month |
LinkResearchTools
Best for link auditsLinkResearchTools came second with 2.5 out of 5. It found 57 of our 100 known links and we could confirm only 33 of those 57 as live. New links took 52 hours to appear. Data accuracy and coverage were its weakest parts at 2, while ease of use and value for money each scored 3. Our LinkResearchTools review has the full results.
LinkResearchTools, or LRT, is a specialist suite built around Link Detox, which rates each backlink for risk and prepares a disavow file. It merges link data from 25+ sources and recrawls links reported as live. It also covers competitor link research, link monitoring, broken-link recovery and link-building prospecting, and it connects with Ahrefs, Semrush and Google Search Console.
It is priced like an agency product, with no entry-level tier. Cancelling needs notice 30 days before the next automatic charge, no renewal reminder is sent, and there are no refunds on cancellation or downgrade. A card chargeback deletes all account data at once. It has 2.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 7 reviews (checked November 2026), and reviewers call the interface dated.
Who it's for
Agencies and in-house teams that run link audits and penalty clean-ups often enough to use Link Detox every week.
Skip it if
You're a small business or just want a list of your links. Ahrefs found far more links, and Majestic and SEO SpyGlass cost much less.
What we liked
- Link Detox risk scores and disavow files
- Combines many link data sources
- Paid 7-day trial lets you look first
What we didn't
- Missed 43 of 100 links we knew existed
- Only 33 of 57 reported links confirmed live
- No refunds, and no renewal reminder
Key features
- Link Detox risk scoring and disavow files
- Backlink Profiler with many metrics per link
- Link monitoring and broken-link recovery
- Link Simulator and prospecting
- Client-ready PDF reports on Standard and Plus
Plans and prices
| Superhero Small 12M yearly Link Crawl Budget (1M monthly); 20 Classic credits a month. | $599 a month, or $483.25 a month billed yearly |
| Superhero Standard 6M monthly Link Crawl Budget; 50 Classic credits, 3 Link Detox Boost credits a month. | $999 a month, or $791.58 a month billed yearly |
| Superhero Plus 18M monthly Link Crawl Budget; 175 Classic credits, 35 Link Detox Boost credits a month. | $2,499 a month, or $1,999.92 a month billed yearly |
Monitor Backlinks
Best for lost-link alertsMonitor Backlinks came third with 2.5 out of 5, scoring 2.5 on every part. It found 63 of our 100 known links, the second-highest count in the test, and we could confirm 39 of those 63 as live. New links took 53 hours to appear. Read our Monitor Backlinks review for more.
Monitor Backlinks tracks your links over time and alerts you when you gain or lose one. It also shows competitors' backlinks and keywords, flags harmful links for a disavow list and suggests sites for outreach. That covers what most small sites need day to day.
The problem is buying it. SEOptimer bought Monitor Backlinks in August 2023, the old domain now redirects to SEOptimer, and we couldn't find a public price, a confirmed trial or published refund terms. We also found no user ratings to go on.
Who it's for
Small sites and link builders who mainly want to know when a link appears or disappears, especially those already using SEOptimer.
Skip it if
You want to know the price before you commit. Majestic and SEO SpyGlass publish their prices, and Ahrefs found far more links.
What we liked
- Found 63 of our 100 known links
- Alerts when links are gained or lost
- Builds a disavow list for harmful links
What we didn't
- Only 39 of 63 reported links confirmed live
- About 53 hours for new links to appear
- No public price, trial or plan limits
Key features
- Backlink monitoring with rankings and traffic
- Lost-link notifications
- Competitor backlinks and keywords
- Disavow list builder
- Outreach finder for link prospects
Plans and prices
| No public prices: quote or sales only | No public price |
Majestic
Best for link historyMajestic came fourth with 2 out of 5. It found 56 of our 100 known links, we could confirm only 32 of those as live, and new links took 52 hours to appear. Features was its best part at 2.5; everything else scored 2. More in our Majestic review.
Majestic is a specialist link index with its own Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores, which give a quick sense of how trustworthy and how widely linked a site is. Its Fresh Index covers links seen in the last 120 days, and the Historic Index on Pro goes back to 2006. It covers links only, with no keyword research or rank tracking.
There's no free trial of the paid plans, but first-time Lite and Pro buyers get a 7-day money-back guarantee, and the free backlink checker and other free tools need only a sign-up. Users rate it 1.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 16 reviews (checked November 2026), with complaints about unresponsive support and its crawler using heavy bandwidth on a small site.
Who it's for
Link builders who vet prospects with Trust Flow and analysts who want historic link data.
Skip it if
You want the fullest list of your own links. Ahrefs found 90 of our 100 links to Majestic's 56.
What we liked
- Own Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores
- Historic link data back to 2006 on Pro
- 7-day money-back guarantee for first-time buyers
What we didn't
- Missed 44 of 100 links we knew existed
- Only 32 of 56 reported links confirmed live
- Links only, no keyword research
Key features
- Site Explorer with the Fresh Index
- Historic Index on Pro and up
- Compare Sites and Custom Reports on Pro
- Google Sheets add-on and browser plugins
- API access on the API plan
Plans and prices
| Lite 1 user; 1M analysis units. | $49.99 a month, or $41.67 a month billed yearly |
| Pro Historic Index; 20M units. | $99.99 a month, or $83.33 a month billed yearly |
| API API access; 5 users. | $399.99 a month, or $333.33 a month billed yearly |
SEO SpyGlass
Best free optionSEO SpyGlass came last of five with 2 out of 5. It found 53 of our 100 known links, the fewest in the test, and we could confirm 32 of those as live. New links took 54 hours to appear, the slowest here. Like Majestic, it scored 2.5 for features and 2 on everything else. Our SEO SpyGlass review has the details.
SEO SpyGlass is desktop software for Windows, macOS and Linux from SEO PowerSuite, and the only desktop tool in this list. It analyses backlink profiles, compares competitors and scores links for penalty risk. The free edition has no time limit but caps you at 1,100 backlinks and 1 competitor per project, and you can't save projects. The Enterprise edition adds white-label reports.
It has the lowest published price here, sold by the year. But there are no refunds, plans renew automatically and renewal reminders may not arrive. It has 2.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 417 reviews (checked November 2026), with many complaints about renewal charges, though reviewers tend to like the software itself.
Who it's for
Freelancers who want a cheap desktop tool for occasional backlink checks and like to try before they pay.
Skip it if
Complete link data matters to you. Ahrefs found 90 of our 100 links to SEO SpyGlass's 53.
What we liked
- Free edition with no time limit
- Lowest paid price in this list
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
What we didn't
- Found only 53 of our 100 known links
- Slowest to show new links, at 54 hours
- No refunds, and plans renew automatically
Key features
- Backlink summary with anchors and referring domains
- Competitor comparison and gap analysis
- Penalty risk and InLink Rank scores
- Scheduled checks and white-label reports on Enterprise
- Search Console, Analytics and CSV imports
Plans and prices
| SEO SpyGlass Professional Unlimited backlinks in paid edition; 5 competitors per project. | $10.75 a month, billed yearly |
| SEO SpyGlass Enterprise 40 competitors per project; White-label reports, scheduling, exports. | $21.58 a month, billed yearly |
| SEO PowerSuite Professional (bundle) SpyGlass plus Rank Tracker, WebSite Auditor and LinkAssistant. | $29.10 a month |
| SEO PowerSuite Enterprise (bundle) Bundle with white-label reports and 40 competitors. | $49.95 a month |
What it costs to get started
The cheapest monthly way in is Ahrefs Starter at $29 a month, though Ahrefs doesn't show what Starter includes; Lite, the first plan with listed features, is $129 a month. Majestic Lite is $49.99 a month, or $41.67 a month billed yearly, plus VAT where it applies. LinkResearchTools starts at $599 a month for Superhero Small, or $483.25 a month billed yearly, and you can try it first with a 7-day trial for $17. Monitor Backlinks has no public price.
SEO SpyGlass is sold only by the year: Professional is $10.75 a month, billed yearly ($129 a year), and Enterprise is $259 a year. For free, SEO SpyGlass has a free edition, Majestic has free tools after sign-up and Ahrefs Free covers your own verified site. Watch the terms: Ahrefs, LinkResearchTools and SEO SpyGlass state no refunds in general, while Majestic offers a 7-day money-back guarantee on first purchases. All prices were checked on November 3, 2026.
| Tool | Cheapest way to start | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | $29 a month (Starter) | Yes | No |
| LinkResearchTools | $599 a month (Superhero Small) | No | 7 days |
| Monitor Backlinks | No public price | Not stated | Not stated |
| Majestic | $49.99 a month (Lite) | Yes | No |
| SEO SpyGlass | $29.10 a month (SEO PowerSuite Professional (bundle)) | Yes | Not stated |
Prices from each tool's own pricing page. Prices can change, so check before you buy.
Also worth knowing about
We didn't test these tools, but they come up often and may suit a specific need.
Semrush
An all-in-one SEO suite that tops several roundups, with backlink reports alongside keyword and site tools. We haven't tested it in this list.
SE Ranking
An SEO platform with backlink data aimed at small and mid-size businesses. We haven't tested it, but it often appears in roundups.
Google Search Console
Google's free links report for sites you have verified. We haven't tested it here, but it's a sensible free first look at your own links.
How we tested
Every tool was tested from September 28 to October 27, 2026, on the same three websites we control. Because we built and track their links ourselves, we know exactly which 100 backlinks exist, so we can see what each tool finds and what it misses. You can read the full set-up in how we test.
We counted how many of the 100 known links each tool found, then checked how many of the links it reported were really live. We also added new links and timed how many hours each tool took to show them, which tells you how fresh its data is.
Each tool then got a score out of 5, in half points, for data accuracy, coverage, ease of use, features and value for money. Together they make the overall score, and the ranking follows it.
How to choose
If you need to see nearly every link, the gap in our test was large: Ahrefs found 90 of our 100 known links, and no other tool found more than 63. For a rough picture, a cheaper tool may do.
Link audits and disavow files are what LinkResearchTools is built for, with Link Detox at its core. SEO SpyGlass shows penalty risk and Monitor Backlinks builds a disavow list for much less money.
If you've worked hard for links, knowing when one goes matters. Monitor Backlinks is built around lost-link alerts, though you'll need to ask for a price. Our list of link building tools covers tools for winning new links.
Several vendors in this category give no refunds and renew automatically. LinkResearchTools needs 30 days' notice before renewal and sends no reminder, and SEO SpyGlass renewal reminders may not arrive. Majestic's 7-day money-back guarantee is the friendliest term here.
You can learn a lot before paying. Ahrefs Free covers your own verified site, SEO SpyGlass has a free edition with no time limit, and Majestic offers free tools after sign-up.
Terms you'll see
- Backlink
- A link from another website to yours, which search engines read as a sign of trust.
- Referring domain
- A website that links to you at least once, counted once however many links it has.
- Anchor text
- The clickable words of a link, which hint at what the linked page is about.
- Disavow file
- A list you send to Google asking it to ignore certain harmful links pointing at your site.
- Trust Flow and Citation Flow
- Majestic's own scores for how trustworthy a site's links are and how many links it has.
- Link index
- The database of links a tool has collected by crawling the web, which decides what it can show you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best backlink checker?
In our test, Ahrefs was clearly best. It found 90 of the 100 links we know exist on our test sites, confirmed 82 of them as live and showed new links in 21 hours. The other four tools found between 53 and 63 links and took 52 to 54 hours to show new ones. It is also part of a full SEO suite.
Is there a free backlink checker?
Yes, with limits. SEO SpyGlass has a free desktop edition with no time limit, capped at 1,100 backlinks and 1 competitor per project. Majestic offers free tools after sign-up, and Ahrefs Free gives data on your own verified site. Google Search Console also shows links to sites you have verified, though we didn't test it here.
How much do backlink checkers cost?
Prices vary widely. SEO SpyGlass Professional is $129 a year. Ahrefs starts at $29 a month for Starter, with Lite at $129 a month, and Majestic Lite is $49.99 a month. LinkResearchTools starts at $599 a month, and Monitor Backlinks has no public price. Several of these tools give no refunds, so check the terms first.
Why do backlink tools show different numbers?
Each tool uses its own crawler or data sources and removes dead links in its own way, so their lists never match exactly. In our test, the five tools found between 53 and 90 of the same 100 known links, and several reported links that we couldn't confirm as live. Comparing two tools on your own site is a good check.
How did we test these backlink checkers?
From September 28 to October 27, 2026, we ran every tool on three websites we control, where we know exactly which 100 backlinks exist. We counted how many each tool found, checked how many of the links it reported were really live, and timed how many hours it took to show newly added links.
Which tool is best for toxic link audits?
LinkResearchTools is built around Link Detox, which rates links for risk and prepares a disavow file, but it starts at $599 a month and found only 57 of our 100 known links. SEO SpyGlass shows penalty risk scores for far less, and Monitor Backlinks builds a disavow list of harmful links.
The bottom line
If backlinks matter to your business, Ahrefs is worth paying for; if you only need an occasional look, start with SEO SpyGlass's free edition.
Make your case
Think a tool is missing or wrong?
If you use a tool we reviewed, or work for the company, email us with what you saw. We'll look at the evidence and update the review if it changes our findings.
Think your company belongs on this list?
Send us your product, website and the category it fits. We'll test it the same way as every other tool. It's free, and we can't promise a date or a score.
Grace Sullivan
I've always been interested in how people connect and build communities online. When exploring a new service, I pay attention to usability, transparency, pricing, and whether its advertised features make sense in everyday situations.
Update history
- November 4, 2026: published with the results of our test, run between September 28, 2026 to October 27, 2026.