Free Backlink Checker

A backlink checker analyzes external links pointing to any website from other domains. It reveals who links to a site, how many links exist, and their quality. Backlinks remain one of Google's most important ranking factors.

Enter any URL to see its complete backlink profile. SnowSEO crawls link data to show referring domains, anchor text distribution, link quality scores, and new or lost links. Free users can analyze unlimited URLs.

Total backlinks shows aggregate link count. Referring domains indicates unique websites linking to you. Anchor text distribution reveals how sites describe your content when linking.

Quality indicators include authority scores for linking sites and dofollow versus nofollow ratios. We also track new and lost backlinks over time.

We provide essential analysis free: domain rating equivalents, referring domain counts, anchor text analysis, quality indicators. Premium tools offer deeper historical data and larger link indexes.

For most users, free analysis covers the essentials. If you need years of historical data or enterprise-scale monitoring, paid tools provide additional depth.

Enter any public URL to see who links to them. This reveals potential outreach targets: sites linking to competitors might link to you if you offer comparable content. Look for patterns in how competitors acquire links.

High-quality backlinks come from authoritative sites with genuine audiences. They're topically relevant. They appear in editorial context within content, not in footers or comment sections.

Natural anchor text variations signal organic patterns. Quality matters far more than quantity.

Anchor text is the clickable text forming a hyperlink. Google uses it to understand what the linked page is about. Natural profiles show diversity: 30-40% branded anchors, 20-30% naked URLs and generic text, only 10-20% keyword-rich anchors. Heavy keyword concentration signals manipulation.

Create link-worthy content: original research, comprehensive guides, free tools. Active outreach accelerates acquisition: guest posting, digital PR, broken link building, HARO responses. Building genuine industry relationships creates natural opportunities over time.

Weekly quick checks catch sudden changes. Monthly reviews compare progress against benchmarks. If you notice ranking drops, immediately investigate backlink changes.

Toxic backlinks come from spammy or penalized sites. Google is generally effective at ignoring low-quality links.

Disavowing should be reserved for manual penalties, negative SEO attacks, or cleaning up past link schemes. Routine disavowing of mildly suspicious links is usually unnecessary.

Time matters. Sites publishing longer have more opportunities. Content volume affects it. Content quality and originality attract different link potential.

Competitors may actively pursue links while you rely on passive acquisition. Analyze their link sources to understand their strategy.

Dofollow links pass authority. Nofollow links include an attribute telling search engines not to pass authority. Google now treats nofollow as a hint and may pass some authority anyway. A healthy profile includes both types.

Start with competitor gap analysis. Resource page outreach finds curated lists where your content deserves inclusion. Unlinked mentions can often be converted with a polite request. Broken link building offers your content as replacement for dead links.

Backlinks come from other domains and contribute to domain authority. Internal links connect pages within your own site and distribute that authority. You cannot control backlinks directly, but internal linking is fully within your control.

Link velocity measures rate of new link acquisition. Natural growing sites accumulate links gradually. Sudden spikes can signal manipulation. Focus on sustainable link building at a consistent pace.

Yes. For manual penalties, identify problematic links, attempt removal through outreach, disavow remaining bad links, and submit a reconsideration request. Recovery timelines vary from weeks to months. Prevention is best.

Links from local sources carry particular weight for local businesses. Local news sites, community organizations, and geographically relevant sites signal local relevance. Combine local link building with standard authority building.