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Verified DRPowered by Ahrefs
Boost trust. Increase conversions. Add a verified DR badge to your site to instantly show credibility. Backed by Ahrefs data, it gives visitors a reason to trust—and take action.
WHAT IS DR
What is Domain Rating?
Domain Rating (DR) is an SEO metric developed by Ahrefs that measures the overall backlink strength of a website on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 100. The DR score reflects both the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to a domain. A higher Domain Rating means the website has a stronger backlink profile, which often correlates with better search engine rankings. Our free DR checker lets you look up the Ahrefs Domain Rating for tracked domains instantly — just enter a domain and check its DR in seconds. New domains can be added to monitoring for free.
Low DR
New or low-authority domains with few backlinks. Use a free DR checker to identify starting points for link building and track your Domain Rating growth.
Medium DR
Established domains with decent backlink profiles. The DR checker shows steady growth here, and your Domain Rating can improve with consistent link-building efforts.
High DR
Top-tier authority domains with strong backlink profiles. A DR checker reveals the strongest sites in any niche — check DR to see how you compare.
DR vs DA — What's the Difference?
Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs' metric that measures backlink strength on a 0–100 scale. Domain Authority (DA) is Moz's metric for ranking potential on a 1–100 scale. Both are useful, but they use different algorithms and data sources. Our free DR checker uses Ahrefs data, while our DA checker uses Moz data.
How is Domain Rating Calculated?
Referring Domains
DR is primarily based on the number and quality of unique domains linking to your site. One link from a DR 80 domain carries far more weight than 50 links from DR 10 domains.
Logarithmic Scale
DR uses a logarithmic scale from 0 to 100. Moving from DR 20 to 30 is exponentially easier than moving from 70 to 80. Each point increase represents a significant jump in link authority.
Quality Over Quantity
100 links from 100 different domains beats 1,000 links from 5 domains. DR values link diversity — having a varied backlink profile signals genuine authority.
DR vs UR
DR measures domain-level authority. URL Rating (UR) measures page-level authority. A page on a high-DR site can have a low UR if few external sites link to that specific page.
Common DR Misconceptions
DR is a Google ranking factor
No. DR is an Ahrefs metric. Google uses its own algorithms to evaluate backlinks and authority.
DR equals traffic
A high DR doesn't guarantee traffic. You need relevant backlinks and quality content. DR measures link authority, not content quality or user engagement.
DR can only go up
DR can decrease if you lose high-quality backlinks or if referring domains lose their own DR. Regular monitoring with a DR checker helps catch these changes.
DR is best for comparison
Absolutely. DR shines when comparing sites in the same niche. A DR 50 food blog and a DR 50 tech site have similar link authority, even if they compete in different markets.
Why Check Your Domain Rating Regularly?
Track Your Link Building Progress
Monitor your DR month-over-month to see whether your link-building and content efforts are moving the needle. A rising DR indicates your backlink strategy is working.
Size Up Your Competitors
Before targeting a keyword, check the DR of pages currently ranking. If they are all DR 70+ and you are DR 15, that keyword may be out of reach for now.
Evaluate Link Opportunities
Before pursuing a backlink, check the domain's DR. A link from a DR 50 site is worth far more than one from a DR 5 site. Quality matters more than quantity.
Spot Negative Changes Early
A sudden DR drop can signal lost links or a penalty. Early detection lets you investigate and take corrective action before it impacts your rankings.
How to Improve Your Domain Rating
Increasing your DR requires a strategic, long-term approach to link building. Here are proven strategies that work in 2026:
Create Link-Worthy Content
Publish original research, comprehensive guides, free tools, and data that others want to cite. Quality content naturally attracts backlinks over time.
Build Relationships
Connect with other site owners in your niche. Guest posting, interviews, and collaborations can earn you high-DR backlinks from authoritative domains.
Diversify Your Backlink Profile
Aim for links from many different referring domains rather than many links from a few sites. Track your progress consistently with regular DR checks.
Monitor and Disavow Toxic Links
Not all backlinks help. Check your backlink profile and disavow links from spammy or irrelevant sites that could harm your profile.
Remember: DR growth takes time. Expect 3-6 months to see meaningful changes, and focus on earning links from high-DR, relevant domains rather than chasing quantity.
HOW TO USE
How to Check DR of a Website
Checking a website's Domain Rating is quick and easy with our free DR checker. Whether you want to check your own DR or analyze a competitor's Domain Rating, our DR checker gives you accurate Ahrefs DR data in seconds.
Enter a Domain
Type a domain into the DR checker above — for example, ahrefs.com. Tracked domains show their Ahrefs Domain Rating instantly; if a domain isn't tracked yet, add it to your monitoring list and we'll fetch its rating.
View Your DR Score
The DR checker displays the domain's current Ahrefs DR score along with a trend chart showing how the Domain Rating has changed over time. Check DR history and track your progress at a glance.
Embed a DR Badge
Copy the DR badge embed code from your DR checker profile and add it to your website. The verified DR badge shows visitors your Domain Rating and links to your DR checker page.
What You Get With Each DR Check
Traffic Overview
See monthly visits, bounce rate, pages per visit, and top traffic sources. Understand how much traffic a domain gets beyond just DR.
Backlink Profile
View referring domains count and top linking sites. See which domains link to your target and discover link-building opportunities.
AI-Powered Insights
Get contextual interpretation of DR scores. Understand what the number means for your specific niche and competitive landscape.
Tips for Accurate DR Checks
Enter the root domain
Use the main domain (e.g., ahrefs.com) rather than subdomains. The tool will normalize www and https prefixes automatically.
Compare apples to apples
DR is most meaningful when compared to competitors in your niche. A DR 30 is strong for a local business, weak for a global publication.
Check related metrics together
DR alone doesn't tell the full story. Check Domain Authority and Spam Score alongside DR for a complete picture.
Monitor trends over time
One check is useful; regular monitoring is powerful. Track your DR monthly to see if your link-building efforts are working.
WHY USE
Why Check Your Domain Rating?
Checking Domain Rating is essential for anyone serious about SEO. A DR checker helps you understand your site's backlink authority, compare against competitors, and identify link-building opportunities. Our free DR checker makes it fast and easy to check the DR of tracked domains — and to add new ones for free.
Assess Backlink Authority
Use the DR checker to measure how strong a domain's backlink profile is. A high DR score from our DR checker signals strong link authority and better ranking potential.
Competitor Analysis
Compare your DR against competitors using the DR checker. See who has the higher Domain Rating and identify gaps in your link-building strategy.
Link Building
Before pursuing a backlink, use the DR checker to evaluate the target domain's authority. A DR checker helps you prioritize high-DR link opportunities that move the needle.
Build Trust with DR Badges
Display your Domain Rating on your site with a verified DR badge from the DR checker. DR badges add credibility and social proof for visitors and partners.
100% Free DR Checker — No Ahrefs Subscription Needed
Ahrefs charges $99+/month to check Domain Rating. Our free DR checker gives you the same Ahrefs DR data at no cost. Look up any tracked domain instantly — no credit card, no limits. Create a free account to add and track new domains.
Who Uses Our DR Checker?
SEO Professionals
Track competitor DR, evaluate link opportunities, and monitor client progress without paying for multiple Ahrefs accounts.
Founders & Marketers
Quick DR checks for competitor research and link-building decisions. No learning curve, no subscription, no commitment.
Website Buyers
Verify domain authority before purchasing. Check DR alongside traffic, backlinks, and spam score for due diligence.
Complete Website Authority Toolkit
Related Tools
DR is just one piece of the puzzle. Get a complete picture of any domain's health with our full suite of free tools:
DR Checker
Ahrefs' domain-level authority metric based on the size and quality of its backlink profile.
Domain Authority (DA)
Moz's ranking potential metric. Predicts how likely a domain is to rank in search results.
Trust Flow (TF)
Majestic's trustworthiness metric. Measures link quality from trusted sources.
Spam Score
Moz's penalty risk indicator. Measures whether your site shares features with penalized domains.
Referring Domains
Discover every domain linking to a site and assess the diversity of its backlink sources.
Traffic Checker
Estimate a website's monthly visits and traffic sources to gauge its real reach.
FAQS
Everything you need to know about DR Checker
Ready to Check Your Domain Rating?
Start using our free DR checker today. Check your domain rating, embed a verified DR badge, and show the world your site's authority.