Compare Any Site's Domain Authority
Open Moz's Domain Analysis to check Domain Authority, Page Authority, and link metrics for your domain — a widely used benchmark for comparing relative backlink profile strength.
What is Domain Authority (DA)?
A search engine ranking score developed by Moz that estimates how likely a website is to rank in search results relative to others in its index.
A Comparative Benchmark Score
Domain Authority is a logarithmic score from 1 to 100 that predicts a website's comparative ranking potential. DA incorporates link-related signals, including linking root domains and other Moz calculations, into a comparative score.
Comparative, Not Absolute
DA is best used as a comparative metric. It is helpful to compare your site against direct competitors in your specific niche, rather than striving for an arbitrary target score. A DA of 35 might be highly competitive in a focused local niche but moderate in a broader, national space.
Proprietary Moz Metric
Domain Authority is a proprietary Moz metric. API access may depend on Moz's current API products, access requirements, and limits. This tool does not use the Moz API; it opens Moz's Domain Analysis page instead.
Not a Google Ranking Factor
Google does not use Moz's Domain Authority as a ranking factor. DA is a proprietary Moz metric that can be useful as an independent third-party benchmark for comparing the relative strength of domains. A higher DA does not guarantee higher Google rankings, and DA should not be treated as Google's assessment of a website.
Domain Authority Checker Link Generator
Enter just the domain (e.g. nytimes.com) or the full URL. We'll extract the core domain automatically.
Note: Domain Authority is a proprietary Moz metric. This tool structures a clean URL to open Moz's official Domain Analysis tool in a new window for your convenience. AllInOneTools is not affiliated with or endorsed by Moz. Moz, Domain Authority, Page Authority, and related names are trademarks of their respective owners.
Interpreting Domain Authority Scores
DA ranges from 1 to 100 on a logarithmic scale, meaning it is significantly easier to grow from 10 to 20 than it is to grow from 70 to 80.
| DA Range | Authority Level | General Interpretation | Difficulty context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | Newbie | General baseline. Associated with brand new websites, personal blogs, or domains with limited referring sites. | Starting point for all sites |
| 11–20 | Low | Developing authority. Often corresponding to early-stage blogs or small business sites with basic referring links. | Achieved with initial organic link building |
| 21–30 | Growing | Growing authority. Typical of established informational blogs or localized e-commerce sites. | Requires steady, relevant content production |
| 31–40 | Moderate | Moderate authority relative to standard competitors within specific search niches. | Requires consistent content and link collection |
| 41–50 | Good | Good authority. Standard for mature businesses, specialized trade publications, and highly focused brands. | Requires quality content and earned editorial backlinks |
| 51–60 | Strong | Strong competitive profile. Typical of prominent national brands, established news media, or major industry resources. | Requires long-term PR and authority signals |
| 61–70 | Very Strong | Very strong authority, typically associated with widely-cited publications or major enterprise organizations. | Driven by large-scale referring networks and high-quality link relationships |
| 71–80 | High comparative authority. Often seen among well-established websites with substantial link profiles. | Represents significant structural link metrics | |
| 81–90 | Elite | Very high comparative authority. Common among highly established domains with extensive link profiles. | Commonly held by leading international hubs |
| 91–100 | Premier | Extremely high comparative authority. These scores are uncommon and should be evaluated relative to relevant competitors. | Held by global reference resources |
These ranges are general guidelines, not official Moz classifications. DA is comparative and should be evaluated against relevant competitors and search results.
Domain Authority is Logarithmic
Because Domain Authority is measured on a logarithmic scale:
- ⚡ It is more straightforward to improve your score in the lower brackets than it is to increase it in the higher authority ranges.
- ⚡ A site with a DA of 50 is not mathematically "twice as strong" as a site with a DA of 25 — the scale compresses heavily at higher tiers.
- ⚡ Comparing against your closest search neighbors is more informative than trying to match global scale sites.
- ⚡ The time required to increase DA varies widely depending on the site's link profile, competition, content, and other factors.
Backlink and Authority Factors
Moz's algorithm evaluates multiple signal inputs to estimate a site's authority score.
Linking Root Domains
What it is: Number of unique websites linking to yours.
Why it matters: Linking root domains are an important part of the link profile considered by DA. In general, links from a broader set of relevant domains can be more informative than many links from the same domain.
Target: Focus on earning links from unique, relevant domains.
Total Backlinks
What it is: Total number of individual links pointing to your site.
Why it matters: Higher numbers indicate broad content visibility, though the quality and diversity of your links are highly influential.
Target: Natural link growth driven by outreach and quality resources.
MozRank (Link Popularity)
What it is: A metric reflecting the quantity and quality of links pointing to a web page.
Why it matters: Links from relevant, reputable, authoritative websites can contribute to a stronger link profile. DA can be used as one comparative third-party metric when evaluating potential link sources.
Target: Establish authority relationships within your vertical.
MozTrust (Link Trustworthiness)
What it is: A metric estimating the trustworthiness of a page's linking network based on proximity to trusted web properties.
Why it matters: Links originating from highly trusted hubs pass greater trust signals down the network.
Target: Earn links from reputable, trusted, and long-standing domains.
Site Structure & Internal Links
What it is: The structural framework that connects pages across your domain.
Why it matters: A clear structure helps distribute crawling activity and link signals efficiently to all essential subpages.
Target: Use clean, logical navigational architecture and natural internal links.
Spam Score (Negative Indicator)
What it is: A separate Moz metric that flags potential indicators of low-quality or manipulative link profiles.
Why it matters: Spam Score is a separate Moz metric that can help identify link profiles or sites that deserve further investigation.
Target: Keep link profiles clean and avoid toxic patterns.
Honest, Transparent Tool Design
This utility acts as a clean helper to organize your lookup. To remain completely transparent, here is exactly how this tool behaves:
- ✓ AllInOneTools does not send the entered domain to its own server. When you continue, the domain is included in the Moz Domain Analysis URL and sent to Moz when that page is opened.
- ✓ Opens Moz's Domain Analysis interface so you can view the metrics provided by Moz directly.
- ✓ Displays metrics from the source database interface.
- ✓ Does not guess or display simulated scores on our domain.
- ✓ Free of registration or sign-up walls.
This tool does
- Opens the Moz Domain Analysis page directly in a new tab
- Provide a clean path to real DA/PA scores
- Work for standard domain structures
- Handle clean protocol transformations (http/https)
- Offer comprehensive interpretive guidelines
This tool does not
- Calculate DA values on our private servers
- Generate estimated or speculative metrics
- Store or track domains checked
- Circumvent premium Moz account limits
- Act as an official partner or service of Moz
Moz DA vs Ahrefs DR vs Semrush Authority Score
Website authority is measured differently across SEO platforms. Moz uses Domain Authority (DA), Ahrefs uses Domain Rating (DR), and Semrush uses Authority Score (AS). [1]
1. Moz Domain Authority (DA)
Moz Domain Authority is a proprietary Moz metric designed to estimate a website's comparative ranking potential on a 1–100 scale. It is useful for comparing the relative strength of domains within a competitive landscape. DA is a Moz metric, not a Google ranking score.
Important: A DA score should not be treated as Google's assessment of your website.
2. Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR)
Ahrefs Domain Rating measures the relative strength of a website's backlink profile on a 0–100 logarithmic scale. Ahrefs calculates DR using factors related to referring domains, the strength of those domains, and how many other domains they link to. [1]
Important: DR is an Ahrefs metric and is not a Google ranking factor. Ahrefs itself describes DR as a relative backlink metric. [2]
3. Semrush Authority Score (AS)
Semrush Authority Score is a compound metric that evaluates a website or webpage using three main areas: Link Power, estimated Organic Traffic, and spam-related signals. Semrush combines these signals into its Authority Score. [3]
Important: Authority Score is a Semrush metric, not a Google ranking factor.
Why Do the Scores Differ?
Different platforms can legitimately give the same domain different authority scores. This does not automatically mean that one platform is wrong.
Different crawlers and indexes
Moz, Ahrefs, and Semrush maintain their own datasets and crawling systems. A backlink discovered, processed, or updated by one platform may not appear in another platform's database at the same time.
Different calculation methods
Each platform applies its own formula and weighting. Ahrefs DR is primarily a backlink-profile metric, while Semrush Authority Score combines link power, estimated organic traffic, and spam-related signals. [1]
Different update schedules
Metrics can change at different times because the platforms update their underlying datasets and scores on different schedules. Semrush, for example, says its Authority Scores are updated every two weeks, while Ahrefs documents regular updates for DR in its project dashboard. [4]
Different purposes
DA, DR, and AS are designed for different analytical purposes. They should therefore be treated as separate benchmarking metrics, not converted directly from one score to another.
Which Score Is Correct?
There is no universal "correct" authority score. A domain might have a DA of 40 in Moz, a DR of 35 in Ahrefs, and an Authority Score of 50 in Semrush. Those numbers can coexist because the platforms are measuring the domain using different datasets and methodologies.
Instead of asking which score is "correct," use the metric consistently within the platform you are working with. For example, compare your DA with competitors' DA when using Moz, or compare your DR with competitors' DR when using Ahrefs.
Does a Higher Score Mean Better Google Rankings?
Not necessarily. DA, DR, and Authority Score are third-party SEO metrics. Google does not use these proprietary scores as ranking factors. Ahrefs also explicitly notes that DR and similar third-party authority scores are not Google ranking factors. [2]
A higher score can be useful as an SEO benchmarking signal, particularly when comparing backlink profiles and competitors, but it does not guarantee that a page will rank higher.
Google evaluates individual pages using many signals. A website with a lower third-party authority score can outrank a website with a higher score for a particular search query. Ahrefs' research emphasizes that a high DR does not guarantee rankings and that DR should be treated as a strategic gauge rather than a ranking scoreboard. [5]
What Should You Track Instead of Chasing One Number?
Use authority metrics as supporting data, not as your SEO target.
Relevant Referring Domains
Track the quality and relevance of websites linking to you.
Organic Search Performance
Monitor impressions, clicks, rankings, and organic traffic using your actual search-performance data.
Competitor Comparison
Compare your website with relevant competitors rather than chasing an arbitrary DA, DR, or AS number.
Content Quality
Create useful content that satisfies the searcher's intent and provides a clear reason to choose your page.
Technical SEO
Maintain crawlable, accessible, fast, and well-structured pages.
DA, DR & Authority Score: Use Them as Benchmarks, Not Rankings
Moz DA, Ahrefs DR, and Semrush Authority Score can all be useful SEO research metrics, but they answer slightly different questions. Their scores may differ because their crawlers, indexes, data, update schedules, and formulas differ. The most useful approach is to choose the metric that fits your workflow, compare like-for-like scores, and focus on the underlying SEO factors that actually support search visibility.
Important Notice: DA, DR, and Authority Score are proprietary third-party metrics. They are not Google ranking factors and should not be interpreted as Google's own evaluation of a website. [2]
Section References:
- "Website authority scores: Ahrefs DR vs Moz DA vs Semrush AS." Ahrefs Help Center.
- "What is Ahrefs' Domain Rating (DR)?" Ahrefs Help Center.
- "How Semrush Authority Score is calculated." Semrush Knowledge Base.
- "Updating Semrush Authority Score metrics." Semrush Newsroom.
- "Does high DR guarantee top rankings? Link analysis study." Ahrefs Blog.
- "Evaluating Ahrefs DR vs Semrush Authority Score." Ahrefs Product Research Docs.
How to Use the Link Tool
Four simple steps from your domain to Moz's Domain Analysis.
Enter domain
Type or paste your target domain address (e.g. nytimes.com).
Generate link
Click "Check Domain Authority" to organize the official reference link.
View metrics
View the available metrics in Moz's Domain Analysis interface.
Benchmark
Compare the relative findings to similar competitors to gauge search viability.
Ethical Strategies to Grow Your Authority
Natural ways to build domain visibility and establish relative trust.
Common Strategy Mistakes to Avoid
Ensure your authority benchmarking supports a sound search approach.
Fixating on Arbitrary Scores
Believing your site must achieve a specific DA score to succeed across all categories.
Resolution: Evaluate your metrics strictly against actual search competitors. Relative positions matter much more than absolute scores.
Relying on Speculative Tool Calculations
Relying on third-party scrapers that guess or estimate DA scores instead of referencing the original source metric.
Resolution: Always rely on the original Moz source data to confirm real, valid metrics.
Expecting Rapid Movement
Expecting high-tier scores to grow in days or weeks.
Resolution: The time required to increase DA varies widely depending on organic activity. Focus on consistent, sustainable link acquisition.
Buying Link Packages
Participating in manipulative link schemes to superficially inflate metrics.
Resolution: Manipulative link schemes can violate search engine spam policies and may result in ranking suppression or manual action.
Ignoring Page Authority
Overlooking individual Page Authority (PA) scores in favor of general domain metrics.
Resolution: High-quality internal content can rank effectively for long-tail targets even if overall domain metrics are developing.
Treating DA as your primary KPI
Making Domain Authority your principal benchmark of success.
Resolution: Prioritize direct commercial success metrics like qualified organic traffic, average session duration, and revenue conversions.
When to Evaluate Relative Authority
How and when to apply comparative domain indicators to guide your work plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers based strictly on how Moz's metrics operate and what this helper provides.
Why does this tool redirect to Moz?
This opens Moz's Domain Analysis interface so you can view the metrics provided by Moz directly. This ensures you see genuine results directly from the originating platform database.
Do I need a paid Moz subscription?
Moz allows a limited number of diagnostic lookups for free users. Signing up for a free community account increases your allotment, while full, unrestricted queries are available to active subscribers of their professional suite.
What is a "good" Domain Authority score?
There is no single "good" score because DA is a comparative metric. A score of 25 may be leading in a narrow regional niche, while a score of 55 may represent standard parity in broad financial or health sectors.
Does Google use Domain Authority in its algorithms?
No. Google does not use Moz's Domain Authority as a direct ranking signal. Google evaluates its own independent link indicators, but DA remains a useful third-party proxy to gauge relative competitive profile strength.
What is the difference between DA and PA?
Domain Authority (DA) predicts the comparative link profile strength of an entire root domain. Page Authority (PA) evaluates the strength of a single, specific URL. A newly launched page on a high-DA site may possess high ranking potential, while an authoritative page on a low-DA site can rank well for specific topics.
Are the domain names I check stored?
AllInOneTools does not send the entered domain to its own server. When you continue, the domain is included in the Moz Domain Analysis URL and sent to Moz when that page is opened.