
When it comes to understanding your website’s backlink profile, few tools carry the legacy and trust of Moz’s Link Explorer. Whether you’re an SEO professional, a digital marketing agency, or a small business owner trying to improve your search rankings, backlink analysis is an essential part of any successful SEO strategy — and Link Explorer is one of the most powerful tools built specifically for that purpose.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything about Moz’s Link Explorer: what it does, how it works, how its metrics compare to competitors like Ahrefs and SEMrush, and how you can access it affordably through group buy services.
What Is Moz’s Link Explorer?

Moz’s Link Explorer is a backlink analysis tool developed by Moz, one of the pioneering companies in the SEO industry. It replaced the now-retired Open Site Explorer in 2018 and offers a massively expanded link index with fresh data updated daily. The tool crawls the web to discover, categorize, and analyze backlinks pointing to any website or URL.
At its core, Link Explorer helps you answer critical SEO questions:
- Who is linking to your website (or your competitors’ websites)?
- What is the quality and authority of those links?
- Which pages on your site attract the most backlinks?
- Are there toxic or spammy links that could hurt your rankings?
- What link-building opportunities are your competitors exploiting that you’re missing?
Key Features of Moz’s Link Explorer
Link Explorer is far more than a simple backlink checker. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its core features:
1. Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA)
Moz’s proprietary Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics are among the most widely recognized authority scores in the SEO industry. DA predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs) on a 1–100 logarithmic scale. PA does the same for individual pages. While Google doesn’t officially use DA or PA in its ranking algorithm, these metrics are invaluable proxies for estimating a site’s ranking potential and are widely used in link outreach, guest posting negotiations, and competitive analysis.
2. Linking Domains
Link Explorer shows you every unique domain linking to your target URL or domain. This is crucial because Google values link diversity — 50 links from 50 different domains are generally more powerful than 500 links from a single domain. The tool lets you filter linking domains by DA, spam score, and follow/nofollow status.
3. Inbound Links
Beyond domain-level data, you can drill down to see every individual inbound link: the exact source page, the anchor text used, the target URL on your site, and whether the link is followed or nofollowed. This granular data is essential for understanding your link profile in detail.
4. Anchor Text Analysis
Over-optimized anchor text can trigger Google penalties, making anchor text analysis a critical part of link auditing. Link Explorer categorizes your incoming anchor text distribution, helping you identify potential issues like excessive exact-match anchors before they become problems.
5. Spam Score
Moz’s proprietary Spam Score metric evaluates the likelihood that a linking domain is spammy. Scores range from 1% to 99%, and any domain with a Spam Score above 60% should be investigated. This feature is invaluable for identifying potentially harmful links that could be dragging your rankings down.
6. Top Pages
The Top Pages feature reveals which pages on a domain attract the most links and carry the highest Page Authority. This is gold for competitive research — you can analyze your competitors’ most-linked content to inform your own content strategy and link-building campaigns.
7. Discovered and Lost Links
Link Explorer tracks when new links are discovered and when existing links are lost over time. Monitoring lost links is particularly important because a sudden drop in backlinks can signal problems that need immediate attention — like a site migration gone wrong or a domain expiration on a linking site.
8. Link Intersect
The Link Intersect tool (available within Moz Pro) lets you compare up to five domains simultaneously to find websites that link to your competitors but not to you. These represent your highest-probability link-building opportunities.
How to Use Moz’s Link Explorer: Step-by-Step
Getting started with Link Explorer is straightforward, even for beginners:
Step 1: Enter Your Target URL
Navigate to moz.com/link-explorer and enter the URL, subdomain, or root domain you want to analyze. You can choose between analyzing a specific page, a subdomain, or the entire root domain — each option reveals different insights.
Step 2: Review the Overview Dashboard
The overview provides an instant snapshot of your target’s link profile, including Domain Authority, linking domains count, inbound links, and ranking keywords. Use this as your starting point to gauge overall link health.
Step 3: Analyze Linking Domains
Click into the “Linking Domains” tab to explore who’s linking to you. Sort by Domain Authority to identify your most valuable link sources, and filter by Spam Score to flag potentially harmful connections.
Step 4: Check Anchor Text Distribution
Review your anchor text profile under the “Anchor Text” tab. A natural anchor text distribution should include branded anchors, generic phrases (like “click here”), and topically relevant keywords. If more than 15–20% of your anchors are exact-match keywords, consider diversifying.
Step 5: Monitor Discovered and Lost Links
Regularly check the “Discovered and Lost” section to track your link-building momentum. Losing more links than you’re gaining is a red flag that requires attention. If you’re also investing in content creation, consider using tools like a Semrush group buy to identify content gaps that attract natural backlinks.
Step 6: Run Competitor Analysis
Enter your competitor’s domain to analyze their link profile. Identify their highest-authority linking domains, most-linked pages, and anchor text strategies. Use the Link Intersect feature to find opportunities they have that you don’t.
Moz’s Link Explorer: Free vs. Paid Access
Moz offers both free and paid access to Link Explorer:
| Feature | Free Account | Moz Pro (Paid) |
|---|---|---|
| Queries per month | 10 | Unlimited |
| Rows per query | 50 | Unlimited |
| Link Intersect | ❌ | ✅ |
| CSV Export | ❌ | ✅ |
| Link tracking lists | ❌ | ✅ |
| Spam Score filtering | Limited | Full access |
| API access | ❌ | ✅ (with API plan) |
| Starting price | $0 | $99/month |
For occasional checks and quick lookups, the free account with 10 queries per month may be sufficient. However, professionals who conduct regular link audits, competitive analysis, or client reporting will need the unlimited access provided by Moz Pro.
Moz’s Link Explorer vs. Ahrefs vs. SEMrush
The three most popular backlink analysis tools on the market are Moz’s Link Explorer, Ahrefs’ Site Explorer, and SEMrush’s Backlink Analytics. Here’s how they stack up:
| Metric | Moz Link Explorer | Ahrefs | SEMrush |
|---|---|---|---|
| Link Index Size | 43+ trillion links | 35+ trillion links | 43+ trillion links |
| Authority Metric | DA / PA | DR / UR | Authority Score |
| Spam Detection | Spam Score (1–99%) | No native spam metric | Toxicity Score |
| Anchor Text Analysis | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Link Intersect | ✅ | ✅ (Content Gap) | ✅ (Backlink Gap) |
| Starting Price | $99/month | $129/month | $139.95/month |
Each tool has its strengths. Moz excels at spam detection and its DA metric is an industry standard. Ahrefs is renowned for having the fastest crawler and the freshest link data. SEMrush offers the broadest all-in-one marketing suite. You can compare these tools more thoroughly in our SEMrush review and Ahrefs review.
Who Should Use Moz’s Link Explorer?
SEO Agencies
Agencies managing multiple client websites benefit from Link Explorer’s comprehensive reporting, Domain Authority benchmarking, and Link Intersect for identifying outreach opportunities across client portfolios.
Content Marketers
Content teams can use Top Pages analysis to identify which types of content attract the most backlinks in their niche, then create similar high-quality content to earn natural links.
Small Business Owners
Business owners who manage their own SEO can use the free tier for occasional checks and competitor reconnaissance. The 10 free queries per month are enough for basic monitoring.
Link Building Specialists
Dedicated link builders rely heavily on Link Intersect and competitor link profile analysis. These features reveal exactly where to focus outreach efforts for maximum ROI.
Moz’s Link Explorer Pricing in 2025
Link Explorer is included as part of Moz Pro, which offers four pricing tiers:
- Starter: $49/month (annual billing) — ideal for individuals and small projects
- Standard: $99/month (annual billing) — the most popular plan for professionals
- Medium: $179/month (annual billing) — for growing businesses and agencies
- Large: $299/month (annual billing) — enterprise-grade access with maximum limits
How to Buy Mozs Link Explorer at an Affordable Price from Toolsurf.com
Getting access to premium tools like Mozs Link Explorer doesn’t have to break the bank. Here’s how to get it through Toolsurf:
- Visit the Toolsurf Store: Go to tools.toolsurf.com/cart
- Search for the Product: Search for “Mozs Link Explorer” and click on “Buy Now”
- Complete Your Purchase: Enter your details and complete the purchase process
That’s it! You’ll have access within minutes.
Why Choose Toolsurf to Buy Mozs Link Explorer?
- 💰 Save Up to 99% on Premium Tools
- ⚡ Get Access in Under 2 Minutes
- 🔒 99.9% Uptime Guarantee
- 💸 24-Hour Money-Back Guarantee
- 🎧 Avg. 5-Minute Response Time for Support
👉 Get Mozs Link Explorer at Toolsurf Now
All plans include Link Explorer alongside Moz’s full suite of SEO tools: Keyword Explorer, Rank Tracking, Site Crawl, and On-Page Optimization.
How to Access Moz’s Link Explorer at a Lower Cost
At $99–$299/month, Moz Pro is a significant investment. Here are legitimate ways to reduce the cost:
1. Annual Billing (Save 20%)
Switching from monthly to annual billing provides a roughly 20% discount across all plans.
2. Free Tier
If your needs are modest, the free account with 10 queries/month may be sufficient for basic competitor checks and occasional link audits.
3. Moz API
For developers and agencies that only need Domain Authority and link data, the Moz API offers pay-as-you-go pricing starting at $100/month.
4. Group Buy Services
Group buy platforms like ToolSurf offer shared access to Moz Pro and other premium SEO tools at dramatically reduced prices. Instead of paying $99+/month, you can access Moz alongside tools like Ahrefs group buy for a fraction of the retail cost.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Link Explorer
- Focus on DA trends, not snapshots: DA fluctuates regularly due to index updates. Track the trend over time instead of obsessing over a single score.
- Use Spam Score proactively: Run monthly audits on your backlink profile and investigate domains with Spam Scores above 60%.
- Combine with other Moz tools: Link Explorer is most powerful when used alongside Moz’s Keyword Explorer and Rank Tracker.
- Monitor competitor link velocity: Check your competitors’ Discovered links regularly to spot viral content or link-building campaigns. Many SEO professionals also pair this with tools from our group buy SEO tools collection.
- Export and segment your data: Export linking domain data to CSV and segment it by industry, geography, and authority tier for better outreach targeting.
Common Mistakes When Using Link Explorer
- Chasing DA as a ranking factor: DA is a predictive metric, not a ranking signal. Google doesn’t use it.
- Ignoring nofollow links: Nofollow links contribute to a natural link profile and can drive referral traffic.
- Over-disavowing links: Not every low-DA link is harmful. Only disavow genuinely spammy links.
- Comparing DA across different tools: Moz’s DA, Ahrefs’ DR, and SEMrush’s Authority Score measure different things.
- Neglecting internal linking: Don’t let external link obsession cause you to ignore internal link architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moz’s Link Explorer free?
Moz offers a limited free version with 10 queries per month and up to 50 rows per query. Unlimited access requires Moz Pro starting at $49/month (annual billing).
How often is Link Explorer’s data updated?
Moz’s link index is updated daily, with a full index refresh happening roughly once per month. New links are typically discovered within 24–48 hours.
Can I use Link Explorer for competitor analysis?
Absolutely. Enter any competitor’s domain to see their complete link profile, and use Link Intersect to find domains that link to competitors but not to you.
Is Domain Authority the same as Google PageRank?
No. Domain Authority is Moz’s proprietary metric and is not used by Google. It’s a useful proxy for estimating ranking potential, but it’s not a direct equivalent to PageRank.
Should I use Link Explorer or Ahrefs?
Both are excellent tools. Link Explorer excels at Spam Score and the industry-standard DA/PA scores. Ahrefs excels at crawl speed and data freshness. Group buy platforms allow you to access both affordably.
🏆 ToolSurf Verdict: Moz’s Link Explorer
Is it worth using? Yes — it remains one of the most trusted backlink analysis tools in the SEO industry. Domain Authority is an industry standard, and Spam Score gives it a unique edge over competitors.
Best for: SEO professionals, agencies, and content marketers who need reliable backlink data and competitive intelligence.
Free tier verdict: The 10 free queries/month are useful for occasional checks, but serious SEO work demands unlimited access.
Budget tip: Access Moz Pro through Moz group buy on ToolSurf — saving up to 90% while getting full Link Explorer access.
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