A question buyers ask AI

What's the difference between backlink analysis tools, and how do I know which index is the most reliable?

Measured in 1 answer, last on Nov 8, 2026. Only the passages that name a brand are shown.

Brands in the answers

BrandNamed inRecommended inPositiveAvg. position
Semrush100%100%100%—
Ahrefs100%100%100%—
Google Search Console100%100%0%—
Majestic100%100%100%—
Moz100%0%0%—
SE Ranking100%0%0%—

Where each answer names a brand

Answer 1 · Nov 8, 2026 · 3 sources cited
SemrushRecommendedSite citedpositive
“Semrush — Best integrated SEO platform”
+ Backlink analysis integrated with broader SEO tools

“Semrush | Backlink analysis integrated with broader SEO tools | SEO campaigns and backlink audits”

+ Useful alongside keyword research, competitor research, and technical SEO

“Semrush: Useful when you want backlink analysis alongside keyword research, competitor research, and technical SEO.”

+ Best integrated SEO platform

“Semrush — Best integrated SEO platform”

AhrefsRecommendedSite citedpositive
“Ahrefs — Best general-purpose starting point”
+ Extensive backlink research and frequent updates

“Ahrefs | Extensive backlink research and frequent updates | Competitor analysis and link building”

+ Discovering referring domains, analyzing anchor text, tracking new and lost backlinks

“Ahrefs: Particularly useful for discovering referring domains, analyzing anchor text, and tracking new and lost backlinks.”

+ Best general-purpose starting point

“Ahrefs — Best general-purpose starting point”

“Moz Link Explorer | Domain Authority (DA), Page Authority and Spam Score | Client reporting and link prospecting”
+ DA and Spam Score metrics useful for comparative analysis

“Moz: Its DA and Spam Score metrics are useful for comparative analysis, but they are Moz metrics, not Google's ranking signals.”

− Metrics are not Google's ranking signals

“Moz: Its DA and Spam Score metrics are useful for comparative analysis, but they are Moz metrics, not Google's ranking signals.”

“SE Ranking | Backlink monitoring combined with SEO management | Agencies and smaller SEO teams”
+ Backlink monitoring combined with SEO management

“SE Ranking | Backlink monitoring combined with SEO management | Agencies and smaller SEO teams”

+ Practical alternative for backlink monitoring within a broader SEO workflow

“SE Ranking: A practical alternative when you want backlink monitoring as part of a broader SEO workflow.”

Google Search ConsoleRecommendedmixed
“Google Search Console is not a conventional third-party backlink database.”
+ Links report for own verified website

“For your own verified website, its Links report gives you information about links Google has discovered.”

− Not a comprehensive list of every backlink

“However, Google explicitly says that this report is not a comprehensive list of every backlink.”

MajesticRecommendedSite citedpositive
“Majestic — Best specialist complement”
+ Trust Flow, Citation Flow and historical link data

“Majestic | Trust Flow, Citation Flow and historical link data | Link quality and historical analysis”

+ Two indexes: Fresh Index and Historic Index

“Majestic: Particularly interesting because it offers two different indexes:”

+ Historic Index useful for historical data

“This is one reason Majestic's Historic Index can be useful.”

+ Best specialist complement

“Majestic — Best specialist complement”

Sources the answers cite

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