Top 7 Free Backlink Checker Tools in 2026 (Compared)
Compare the 7 best free backlink checker tools of 2026, from Google Search Console to Ahrefs and Moz, and learn which one to use to audit your links.
A backlink checker answers a simple question: which other websites link to mine? It is the starting point for spotting new links, finding lost ones, studying competitors and catching spammy links before they become a worry.
No free checker sees the whole web. Each tool runs its own crawler or index, so two tools will often show different numbers for the same site. The practical approach is to combine a first-party source (Google or Bing) with one third-party index.
Disclosure: Backlink Generator is our own product. It creates discovery backlinks; it is not a backlink checker, so we do not rank it in this list. We mention it at the end as a tool to pair with a checker.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Data source | Check any site | Account needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Search Console | Only your verified sites | Yes | |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | Bing | Your sites, plus competitor lookups | Yes |
| Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | Ahrefs index | Only your verified sites | Yes |
| Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker | Ahrefs index | Yes, top results only | No |
| Moz Link Explorer | Moz index | Yes, limited free queries | Yes |
| Semrush Backlink Analytics | Semrush index | Yes, limited on the free account | Yes |
| Ubersuggest | Its own index | Yes, limited free searches | Free searches are limited |
1. Google Search Console Links report
The Links report shows top linking sites, top linked pages and the anchor texts Google has found. It is the only list that comes directly from Google, so it is the best indication of what Google has actually seen. It does not show every link, and it does not show when a link was first found, but it is free and authoritative.
Best for: knowing which of your links Google knows about.
2. Bing Webmaster Tools Backlinks
Bing's Backlinks tool lists referring domains and pages, anchor text and the linked page on your site. It also lets you compare against other domains, which makes it one of the few free first-party sources of competitor link data. You can export the list.
Best for: a free, exportable second view and light competitor research.
3. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
Verify your site and Ahrefs gives you free access to backlink and site audit data for that site, from the same index its paid product uses. You can filter by dofollow and nofollow, see new and lost links and review referring domains.
Best for: a detailed audit of your own backlink profile at no cost.
4. Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker
The public checker works for any domain or URL without an account. It shows a summary of referring domains and a limited set of top backlinks. That is enough to get a feel for a competitor's strongest links, though not for a full audit.
Best for: quick competitor snapshots.
5. Moz Link Explorer
Moz Link Explorer shows linking domains, anchor text and Moz's Domain Authority score. A free Moz account allows a limited number of queries each month. If you use Domain Authority as a rough comparison metric, read domain authority explained first so you know what it does and does not measure.
Best for: checking Domain Authority alongside links.
6. Semrush Backlink Analytics
Semrush's free account gives a limited number of daily requests across its tools, including backlink analytics. You can see referring domains, anchor text and a toxicity-oriented audit in the paid tiers. The free view is a taste of its data rather than a working tool for daily use.
Best for: occasional lookups if you already have a Semrush login.
7. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest by Neil Patel includes a backlinks report with referring domains and new and lost links. Free searches are limited per day, but the interface is simple and beginner friendly.
Best for: beginners who want keyword and backlink data in one simple place.
How to run a free backlink check
- Export the Links report from Google Search Console.
- Export backlinks from Bing Webmaster Tools.
- Verify the site in Ahrefs Webmaster Tools and review referring domains.
- Merge the lists in a spreadsheet and remove duplicates by domain.
- Mark links that look spammy or irrelevant. If you find a large pattern of manipulative links you did not build, read our guide on toxic backlinks and the disavow tool before doing anything.
Our step-by-step guide on how to check backlinks for free covers each of these exports in detail.
Why your numbers differ between tools
Each index crawls a different part of the web at a different pace. A small blog may show ten links in Search Console, twenty in Bing and five in Ahrefs. None of these numbers is wrong; they are different samples. Track the trend in one tool over time instead of comparing totals across tools.
Pair a checker with a discovery tool
Checkers show what exists. For a new site, the problem is often that there is almost nothing to check yet. Backlink Generator can create a set of discovery mentions on public lookup pages (one free run of 100 with a free account) and exports the full list as CSV or TXT. A few weeks later, you can see which of those referring domains your checker has picked up. Most are nofollow and they do not guarantee rankings, but they give crawlers more paths to a new domain.
FAQ
Which free backlink checker is most accurate?
Google Search Console is the most relevant because it reflects what Google has found. Third-party tools are useful for competitor research and extra detail, but no single index is complete.
Why doesn't Search Console show all my backlinks?
Search Console shows a sample of the links Google has processed, and it can take weeks for new links to appear. Some links are also ignored if Google considers them low value.
Can I check a competitor's backlinks for free?
Yes, with limits. The Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker, Moz Link Explorer, Semrush's free account, Ubersuggest and Bing Webmaster Tools all allow some competitor lookups.