Let’s Create the Ultimate List of Backlink Checking Tools
Our previous reader-contributed list of best keyword research tools was really popular (thank you, our valued readers!). So this time I suggest starting another one and create a quality resource of (free) backlink checkers.
Again, let’s (try to) stick to the following rules in the comments:
- Only free tools please (or those that offer free trial);
- For paid tools: free trial terms;
- Each comment should contain a tool (please no “Thank-you” comments – just to make the list more usable);
- Please add a few words which features of the tool you use the most;
- If you have a link building tip to share, please submit it here.
Thank you!
And to start the list, here’s the first comment by our dear friend Chelsea Blacker:
Link building is challenging at best; rejection comes swiftly when you “cold call” websites begging for links. I’ve found researching competitors back links and approaching those sites with personalized emails is the best plan of attack.
While some back link tools require a subscription (and $$$) like SEO Moz’s Linkscape, there are plenty of free tools that lend you similar data about competitor’s back links. My favourite is SEO Book’s Link Harvester.
Now, your turn!
Ann Smarty
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65 Responses to “Let’s Create the Ultimate List of Backlink Checking Tools”
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Hi Ann,
I’m using Valid Rank for checking back links. and its really awesome tool
kp Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I’mnot trusting Valid Rank much. It is saying that every site that backlinks to my sites have a pagerank of 10.
Terms Reply:
August 7th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I have checked it and I agree with you. It’s not 100% accurate with the pagerank of the backlinks.
Hi Ann,
One of the tools I use is Back Link Analyzer.
One of many I use but here is mine Backlink Watch
Neeraj Seivastava Reply:
September 7th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Backlinkwatch is really an awesome tool…..
Neeraj Seivastava Reply:
September 7th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Backlinkwatch is really an awesome tool…..
My first choice is Yahoo! SiteExplorer that everyone knows. I usually check backlinks at Link Diagnosis too.
Then I go to paid tools.
Murali Krishna Reply:
August 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I trust yahoo! siteexplorer
Hi Ann
I take the liberty to recommend our own back links check tool. It’s based on Yahoos API and has the following features:
- Set region/language you want to see links from
- Set a maximum number of back links you want to see
- Set whether or not you want to see back links from “related” pages on the same domain.
Who links to me? (tools.op.dk)
(I am sorry interface is just in danish)
–
Best regards
Grosen Friis, OP.dk
How about Majestic SEO. This is a very comprehensive backlink checker.
http://www.majesticseo.com/
Motorbike Insurance News Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I like how Majestic SEO lets you see backlink numbers over time. Great way to see which of your competitors are actively linkbuilding.
I’m surprised no one’s added SEOmoz’s linkscape tool here
The basic tool is free, for more advanced reports you’ll need to be a premium member
http://www.seomoz.org/linkscape
No doubt, The best one is http://www.seomoz.org/linkscape !
Another one that is good too:
http://www.iwebtool.com/backlink_checker
Link Diagnosis is the most complete in my opnion.
I generally like Linkscape from SEOMoz and of course Yahoo Site Explorer.
I am using seobook and seomoz ones
I use http://wholinkstome.com/ for my sites, works great and the reports they are able to provide are amazing.
How about Greg Boser’s Tattler?
I don’t use link checking software. Until now, I’ve strictly relied on Yahoo’s link: system. Now that it appears that may be going away (bing-yahoo rumors and such) I am really grateful for this information, because I’ll need to use something!
Yahoo Site Explorer is really good, especially when you combine it with SEO Quake to assess the PageRank of the backlinks. Although recently I have noticed Yahoo trying to block SEO Quake.
I have recently started using Authority Loophole to find opportunities to build backlinks. The PageRank scores are not totally accurate but it is still a useful tool.
I’m using which so far gives me the best results. I’ve also created an rss feed from yahoo which alerts me of every new link I get.
dope!
I’m using PageinlinkAnalyzer which so far gives me the best results. I’ve also created an rss feed from yahoo which alerts me of every new link I get.
http://www.backlinkwatch.com/ Is my favorite backlink checker Free Tool. Try out it!
I love this backlink checker tool. It has a free 1 month trial, and it’s the most powerful backlink checker tool among all I tried.
This is one of my favorites: http://www.linkvoodoo.com/
I also actively use Link Diagnosis and of course Yahoo Site Explorer.
Cheers from Argentinian Patagonia!
well.. I like to check Google Webmasters Tools, though you can only check backlinks of sites you own, that’s a lot useful anyway.
when was the last time you checked GWT for backlinks?
Nice list once again! Good going! =)
Their many available but you use http://www.searchbliss.com/seo-tools/popularity.asp or checkpagerank.net for accurate value.
I think that must be a good idea to use some search engines like backlink checkers.
Except Yahoo I use also Webalta and Yanga.
I also check most of the sites with linkdiagnosis and yahoo! site explorer – i think they are the easiest way to get informations about a site..
I use Yahoo site explorer really, actually a great tool to check on competitors backlinks.
Great post! There’s a lot of tools I didn’t khow and I’m going to test all of them. Usually I work with Yahoo Site Explore, Majestic and of course GWT.
Great list of tools… I have used software programs like PR Prowler that are decent, can’t think of any others.
Good list, some of which i haven’t used. I personally use Yahoo site explorer first, and also SmartPageRank which i don’t think has been posted as yet – http://www.smartpagerank.com/
Advanced Link Manager is the only tool that I can’t see in the list already.
It’s always interesting to see what other people are using. Although saying that, there’s still not my ideal tool out there!
Yahoo Site Explorer is good for me but is not perfect, to see the backlinks in Google i simply use link:website.com Btw still searching for the perfect tool.
I was surprised to see that the tool I use as my primary link checker didn’t appear til towards the end of the comments. I also use SmartPageRank and find it to be very reliable. I haven’t used the Yahoo tool yet, so I’ll have to check that out.
http://www.smartpagerank.com/
I usually use backlink checker tool from seobook.com
I’m always checking by Yahoo Explorer. It’s the Best!
Thanks for the informative post.This will help me to manage my site and for building quality backlinks.
I use backlinkwatch for backlink checking and it’s really good tool.
Great list of tools… I have used software programs like PR Prowler that are decent, can’t think of any others.
A few different tools, using yahoo as data source reported 26 links for a little site, while seoMoz reported only 3 backlinks. Direct Yahoo site: query returned 4/8 links root/all pages
Hey, use http://check-backlink.com as a free backlink checking tool.
Hope I’m not to late. I like to use Followtopia Do Follow Search for backlinks. For each search results in the search result it gives a list of backlinks. When you click the backlinks, it gives you backlinks for that, along with keywords, mozRank, and whether or not the results are nofollow. Hopefully this will help you.
Excellent information on backlinks. Thanks
Thanks on the info. i would love to use it
Try wholinkstome.com. It’s free, and offers a lot of utility in addition to backlink reporting.
I use backlinkwatch for backlink checking and it’s really good tool.
Yahoo Site Explorer is good for me but is not perfect, to see the backlinks in Google i simply use link:website.com Btw still searching for the perfect tool.
Backlinks are new to me but I find very interesting. Any info can help. Trying to learn on my own is a real complicated process.
Very nice thanks 4 sharing
join friends links forum
seo work in the chain is great, really want to do a volume outside the chain of tools.
If it is dofollow of the better.
I’ve found SEOCentro to be the most accurate, although surprisingly, not consistent. However this is a mysterious deep dark cave, this backlink checking game.
But after trying most suggestions here found, this site offers the most reliable feedback.
http://www.seocentro.com/tools/search-engines/link-popularity.html
Backlink reports are a great way to find relevant potential links! SEO Fox’s backlink tool shows only existing links, removes the “nofollows” and provides only potential links that will count towards rankings!
There is a free demo of the tool available at http://linkrep.seofox.com/ so you can check out the interface and the quality of the reports the tool offers. Happy linkbuilding!
backlinkwatch is one best tool for check back link. you get good result and true no any fake result