Free domain rating checker: check DR and DA for free, and how to raise it
How to check any site's Domain Rating (DR) and Domain Authority (DA) for free, what a good score is for a new site, and how to raise yours without paying.
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Short answer: to check Domain Rating (DR) for free, use Ahrefs' free Website Authority Checker: type any domain and it shows its DR. For your own site, the free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools shows your DR plus every backlink behind it. For Domain Authority (DA), use Moz's free domain lookup, and for Semrush's Authority Score, a free Semrush account. A new site at DR 0 to 10 is normal. You raise it by getting followed links from real sites that have links of their own. Google doesn't use any of these scores directly.
What is domain rating?
Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs' score from 0 to 100 for how strong a site's backlink profile is, based on how many sites link to it with followed links and how strong those sites are. Moz's Domain Authority (DA) and Semrush's Authority Score (AS) are similar ideas built from each company's own data, so the same site gets different numbers in each.
Google uses none of them. They're useful as a quick, shared way to compare sites: "is this site stronger than mine?" or "is a link from here worth chasing?"
How do I check domain rating for free?
| Tool | Score | Works on | Free limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Website Authority Checker | DR | Any domain | A few lookups at a time, with a captcha |
| Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | DR, backlinks, referring domains | Sites you verify | Free for your own sites |
| Moz domain analysis / Link Explorer | DA | Any domain | A limited number of lookups with a free account |
| Semrush | Authority Score | Any domain | A few lookups a day with a free account |
| Google Search Console | No score, but your real links | Your own site | Free, Google's own data |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | No score, backlinks report | Your own site | Free |
The quickest way: open Ahrefs' free Website Authority Checker, enter your domain (for example truelaunch.app), and you see DR and the number of linking websites. Repeat for two or three competitors so the number means something.
The best way for your own site: verify it in Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (it takes a DNS record or the Google Search Console connection). You get DR over time, every referring domain, which links are followed, and a free site audit.
What is a good domain rating?
There's no single good number; compare with sites that rank for the searches you want. As a rough guide:
| DR | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | New or almost unlinked site. Normal for the first months |
| 10 to 30 | A small site with some real links: a few articles, launch sites and mentions |
| 30 to 50 | An established niche site or a startup with press and partners |
| 50 to 70 | A well-known brand or publication in its field |
| 70+ | Major publications, platforms and big brands |
The scale gets harder as it climbs: going from DR 10 to 20 takes far fewer links than going from 60 to 70. A new app site doesn't need DR 50 to rank; it needs pages that answer specific searches better than the sites ranking now.
Why is my domain rating 0, or not going up?
- Your site is new. Ahrefs has to find links to you first, which can take a few weeks after they appear.
- Your links are nofollow. DR only counts followed links. Most profiles, launch sites, social posts and directories are nofollow, including TrueLaunch listings.
- The linking sites have no links themselves. A link from a DR 0 site adds almost nothing.
- Many links, one site. DR counts linking websites, so 50 links from one blog count far less than 50 links from 50 sites.
Check the "referring domains" in Ahrefs Webmaster Tools: if few of them are followed, that's your answer.
How do I increase my domain rating for free?
- Earn followed links from real sites. Guest posts, podcast show notes, journalist quotes, integration and partner pages. Our list of free backlinks has 30 places to start.
- Make one thing worth linking to. A free tool, a calculator, original data or the clearest guide on a narrow question. Linkable pages earn links while you sleep.
- Turn mentions into links. When a site mentions your product without a link, ask politely for one.
- Fix broken links to you. If sites link to a page that now returns 404, redirect it to the right page so those links count again.
- Be patient and consistent. A few good links a month beats a burst of weak ones.
For the full strategy, see how to get backlinks for a new app, and for the tools that help, the best backlink tools.
Can I buy a higher domain rating?
You'll find services that promise "DR 50 in 30 days". They work by pointing large numbers of links from link farms at your site. The score goes up; your rankings don't, because Google ignores or penalizes those links, and the number drops again when the farm disappears. Paying for links that pass ranking signals also breaks Google's spam policies. Spend the money on a better product page or a free tool instead.
Does domain rating affect Google rankings?
Not directly. Google has its own signals and doesn't use DR, DA or Authority Score. But the thing they measure, followed links from respected sites, does matter to Google, so the scores tend to go up when rankings do. Treat DR as a rough progress bar, and judge success by impressions and clicks in Google Search Console.
Next steps
Check your DR for free in Ahrefs' Website Authority Checker, compare it with two competitors, and verify your site in Ahrefs Webmaster Tools to track it. Then work through the free backlinks list. If you've launched an app or game, list it on TrueLaunch for free: the link is nofollow, but the listing can rank for your app's name and brings visitors and feedback.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check domain rating for free?
Use Ahrefs' free Website Authority Checker for any domain. For your own site, Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free and shows your DR with every backlink behind it. Moz shows Domain Authority and Semrush shows Authority Score with free accounts.
What is a good domain rating for a new website?
DR 0 to 10 is normal for a new site, and 10 to 30 is typical for a small site with some real links. Compare with the sites ranking for your searches rather than aiming for a fixed number.
Why is my domain rating 0?
Usually because the site is new, its links are nofollow (which DR doesn't count), or the sites linking to it have no links of their own. It can also take a few weeks for Ahrefs to find new links.
How do I increase my domain rating for free?
Earn followed links from real sites: guest posts, podcast show notes, journalist quotes, partner pages and people linking to a free tool or guide you made. Ask for links where you're mentioned without one.
Is domain rating a Google ranking factor?
No. DR is an Ahrefs score; Google doesn't use it. It measures followed links from strong sites, which Google does value, so it often rises along with rankings.
