// Understanding Authority Metrics
Domain Rating (DR) — Ahrefs
Domain Rating is Ahrefs's metric for measuring the strength of a website's backlink profile on a logarithmic 0–100 scale. It analyzes the number and quality of unique referring domains linking to your site and how many other sites those domains link to. AEO HUB's checker is powered by Ahrefs data.
Domain Authority (DA) — Moz
Domain Authority is Moz's metric — the original authority score in SEO. It uses a machine learning model analyzing 40+ signals including linking root domains, link quality, and domain-level factors. DA predicts a website's overall ranking potential on a 1–100 scale.
Key Distinction
Both metrics use a 0–100 logarithmic scale and both correlate with Google rankings — but they measure different things. DR is purely backlink-based; DA is more holistic. It's normal for the same domain to score differently on each tool. Use the same metric consistently when tracking progress or comparing competitors.
// Score Benchmarks
Authority scores are relative — what matters most is how you compare to direct competitors in your niche, not an absolute number.
0–30
New or emerging sites. Limited backlink profile. Focus on foundational link building.
30–50
Building momentum. Average for blogs, small businesses, local sites.
50–70
Competitive in most niches. Consistent content and link building paying off.
70+
Major publishers, national brands, industry-leading platforms. Exceptional backlink authority.
Industry Context
A DR of 40 is excellent for a local business but average for a SaaS product competing nationally. E-commerce sites average DR 35–55; news/media sites often exceed DR 70+; new websites start at DR 1–5. Always benchmark against the top 5 competitors for your target keywords — not against global averages.
// How It Works
Ahrefs DR is calculated using a three-factor model that evaluates your backlink profile quality, not just quantity. The scale is logarithmic — each point at the high end requires exponentially more link authority than the low end.
Unique Referring Domains
The number of distinct websites linking to your domain with dofollow links. 100 links from 1 domain count less than 10 links from 10 different domains.
Authority of Linking Domains
A link from DR 80 site contributes far more to your DR than a link from DR 15 site. The stronger the linking domain, the more it lifts your score.
Link Distribution Factor
How many sites each linking domain links out to. A domain that links to 5 sites passes more authority per link than one linking to 5,000 sites.
// Domain Authority Calculation
Moz DA — 40+ Signals
Ahrefs DR — Backlink Model
Logarithmic Scale Note
Going from DR 20 → 30 is far easier than DR 70 → 80. Each additional point at the top of the scale requires substantially more backlink authority than the same increment at the bottom.
// Use Cases
Competitive Benchmarking
Before targeting a keyword, check the DR of sites currently ranking in positions 1–5. If they average DR 65+ and you're at DR 20, you need a different strategy or more link building before you can compete.
Link Prospecting
When evaluating potential link partners, guest post opportunities, or PR mentions — DR tells you whether that backlink is worth pursuing. Higher DR links move your score more.
Tracking Growth
Monitor your DR trend over time to validate that your link building efforts are working. A rising DR score indicates your backlink profile is strengthening relative to the wider web.
Competitor Gap Analysis
Check competitors' DR vs. your own to understand how large the authority gap is and estimate how much link building investment is required to close it.
// Improvement Guide
Earn High-Quality Backlinks
Quality beats quantity. One link from a DR 70 website moves your score more than 50 links from DR 10 sites. Pursue digital PR, expert roundups, resource page link building, and partnerships with authoritative sites in your niche.
3–6 months to see score movementPublish Link-Worthy Content
Original research, comprehensive guides, free tools, and data studies attract organic backlinks. Content that others cite naturally is the most sustainable source of high-DR links. Think: original data, industry reports, calculators.
Ongoing — compounds over timeAudit and Remove Toxic Links
Spammy backlinks from link farms, PBNs, or irrelevant directories can suppress your DR. Run a backlink audit, identify toxic links, and use Google's Disavow Tool to neutralize them. Focus resources on earning good links, not managing bad ones.
1–2 months after disavowFix Broken Backlinks
Find pages on your site that have earned backlinks but now return 404 errors. Restore those pages or 301-redirect them to relevant content. This recaptures link equity that would otherwise be lost.
Immediate impact once fixed// How to Check Domain Authority
01
Enter Any Domain
Type or paste any domain (e.g., competitor.com) into the checker above. No login, no account, no reCAPTCHA required.
02
Click Check DR
Ahrefs data is pulled in real time. You'll see DR score, Ahrefs Rank, organic keywords, traffic, and traffic value in seconds.
03
Analyze & Benchmark
Compare your DR against competitors. Use the score tiers to contextualize where you stand and identify the authority gap to close.
No login required
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Free — unlimited checks
// FAQ