
If you’ve spent any time in the SEO world, you’ve almost certainly encountered Moz’s Link Explorer. It’s one of the most recognized backlink analysis tools in the industry, and for good reason. Originally launched as Open Site Explorer before being rebranded and rebuilt from the ground up, Link Explorer has become a cornerstone of Moz’s Pro toolset — giving SEOs, content marketers, and digital agencies the data they need to understand, build, and monitor their backlink profiles.
But what exactly does Moz’s Link Explorer do? How does it compare to competing tools like Ahrefs and Semrush? And is it worth investing in Moz Pro just to access this tool? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through every feature, share practical use cases, and help you decide whether Link Explorer belongs in your SEO workflow.
What Is Moz’s Link Explorer?

Moz’s Link Explorer is a backlink research and analysis tool that lets you examine the link profile of any website on the internet. It’s part of the Moz Pro subscription, though limited free queries are also available. The tool crawls the web continuously to maintain a link index containing trillions of URLs and billions of linking root domains.
At its core, Link Explorer answers fundamental SEO questions:
- Who is linking to my website? — Discover every domain and page pointing backlinks at your site
- How authoritative are those links? — Evaluate link quality using Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA)
- What anchor text is being used? — Understand how other sites describe your content when linking to it
- What links are my competitors earning? — Reverse-engineer competitor link-building strategies
- Which links have I lost? — Track link attrition and recover valuable lost backlinks
Key Features of Moz’s Link Explorer
1. Domain Authority (DA) & Page Authority (PA)
Moz pioneered the concept of Domain Authority — a score from 1 to 100 that predicts how well a website will rank in search engine results. While DA is not a Google ranking factor, it has become an industry-standard metric for evaluating website strength. Page Authority works similarly but at the individual page level.
Link Explorer displays DA and PA prominently for any URL you search, making it instantly useful for quick competitive assessments. When you’re evaluating potential link-building targets, guest post opportunities, or competitor domains, DA provides a fast proxy for overall site quality.
2. Inbound Links Analysis
The Inbound Links section is where Link Explorer truly shines. For any URL or domain, you can view:
- Total backlinks — The raw count of all links pointing to the target
- Linking root domains — The number of unique websites linking to the target (a more meaningful metric than total links)
- Link source details — The exact page URL, anchor text, DA/PA of the linking page, and whether the link is followed or nofollowed
- Spam Score — Moz’s proprietary metric that flags potentially toxic or spammy links
- Link type — Text links, image links, redirect links, and more
You can filter inbound links by DA range, link type (followed vs. nofollowed), and source domain — making it easy to zero in on the links that matter most to your rankings.
3. Linking Domains
Rather than looking at individual links, the Linking Domains view aggregates data by the root domain. This helps you understand the breadth of your link profile. A site with 1,000 links from 500 unique domains is generally healthier than one with 1,000 links from just 10 domains.
This view is especially useful for competitive analysis. By comparing your linking domain count against competitors, you can identify the link gap and estimate how much link-building effort is needed to compete.
4. Anchor Text Analysis
Anchor text — the clickable text of a hyperlink — is a significant ranking signal. Link Explorer breaks down the anchor text distribution for any URL, showing you:
- The most common anchor text phrases used to link to the target
- The percentage of links using branded anchors vs. keyword-rich anchors
- Potential over-optimization signals (too many exact-match keyword anchors can trigger penalties)
A healthy anchor text profile typically has a mix of branded terms, naked URLs, generic phrases (“click here”), and relevant keyword variations. If Link Explorer reveals an unnatural concentration of exact-match anchors, it may be time to diversify your link-building approach.
5. Discovered & Lost Links
Link Explorer tracks new and lost links over time, giving you a dynamic view of your link profile’s evolution. The Discovered Links section shows recently found backlinks, while Lost Links highlights links that have disappeared.
Lost link tracking is particularly valuable. When a high-authority site removes your link — perhaps due to page updates, site migrations, or content removal — you can reach out to request link reinstatement or find replacement opportunities. This ongoing maintenance is a critical but often overlooked part of SEO.
6. Spam Score
Moz’s Spam Score uses 27 signals to evaluate whether a linking domain exhibits characteristics commonly associated with penalized or spammy websites. A high Spam Score doesn’t automatically mean a link is harmful, but it’s a useful flag for prioritizing link audit and disavow decisions.
During a link audit, you can use Spam Score to quickly identify potentially toxic links. Combined with manual review, this feature saves significant time when cleaning up link profiles after a penalty or preparing a proactive disavow file.
7. Top Pages
The Top Pages report shows which pages on a domain earn the most links. This is invaluable for content strategy — understanding what types of content attract backlinks helps you create more link-worthy content in the future.
Common patterns you’ll discover include: data-driven research attracts more links than opinion pieces, comprehensive guides outperform short-form content, and tools/calculators earn links at a disproportionate rate. These insights directly inform your content planning.
How to Use Moz’s Link Explorer: Practical Workflows
Workflow 1: Competitor Backlink Analysis
One of the most powerful applications of Link Explorer is reverse-engineering competitor link profiles. Here’s a step-by-step workflow:
- Identify top competitors — Enter your target keyword into Google and note the top 5-10 ranking domains
- Analyze each competitor in Link Explorer — Check their DA, total linking domains, and top-linked pages
- Export their linking domains — Download the full list of sites linking to each competitor
- Cross-reference the lists — Find domains that link to multiple competitors but not to you — these are your highest-priority outreach targets
- Evaluate link opportunities — Use DA and Spam Score to prioritize which domains to target first
This workflow alone can generate months’ worth of link-building opportunities. Many SEO professionals use this as their primary prospecting method, complemented by tools like Semrush group buy for additional competitive intelligence.
Workflow 2: Link Gap Analysis
Link Explorer’s Compare Link Profiles feature lets you view multiple domains side-by-side. This shows you exactly where competitors outperform you in terms of linking domains, followed links, and authority distribution.
A link gap analysis reveals not just how many more links competitors have, but the quality distribution. If a competitor has significantly more links from DA 50+ domains, you know you need to focus on earning links from authoritative sources rather than pursuing volume.
Workflow 3: Content That Earns Links
Use the Top Pages report on competitor domains to discover which content types earn the most backlinks in your niche. Then create improved versions of that content — a strategy often called the “Skyscraper Technique.”
For example, if you discover that a competitor’s “State of Industry” report earned 200 linking domains, you could create a more comprehensive, data-rich version of that report with updated statistics and original research.
Workflow 4: Monitoring Brand Mentions & New Links
Set up regular checks in Link Explorer to monitor your Discovered Links. New backlinks often indicate brand mentions, press coverage, or content syndication that you can leverage for further outreach or relationship building.
Moz’s Link Explorer vs. Competitors
| Feature | Moz Link Explorer | Ahrefs | Semrush | Majestic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link Index Size | 40+ trillion URLs | 35+ trillion URLs | 43+ trillion URLs | 1+ trillion URLs |
| Authority Metric | DA / PA | DR / UR | Authority Score | Trust Flow / Citation Flow |
| Spam Detection | ✅ Spam Score (27 signals) | ❌ Limited | ✅ Toxic Score | ✅ Trust Flow ratio |
| Free Access | ✅ 10 queries/month | ❌ | ✅ Limited | ✅ Limited |
| Lost Link Tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Anchor Text Analysis | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Link Intersect | ✅ Compare Profiles | ✅ Link Intersect | ✅ Backlink Gap | ✅ Clique Hunter |
| Starting Price | $99/mo (Moz Pro) | $129/mo | $139.95/mo | $49.99/mo |
When to Choose Moz’s Link Explorer
- You value Domain Authority: If DA/PA is already embedded in your reporting workflows, Moz is the source of truth
- You need spam detection: Moz’s Spam Score is one of the most comprehensive spam evaluation systems available
- You want an all-in-one SEO suite: Link Explorer is part of Moz Pro, which includes keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, and on-page optimization
- Budget considerations: At $99/month for the Starter plan, Moz Pro is more affordable than Ahrefs or Semrush
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
When Competitors Might Be Better
- You need the freshest link data: Ahrefs generally has faster crawl rates and more frequent index updates
- You need deeper keyword research: Semrush offers a larger keyword database and more advanced competitive analysis features
- You’re focused solely on backlinks: Majestic’s dedicated focus on link analysis makes it the deepest backlink-specific tool
Many SEO professionals use multiple tools in combination. You might use Moz’s Link Explorer for DA/PA benchmarking and spam analysis, while relying on an Ahrefs group buy for daily link monitoring and content explorer research.
Moz’s Link Explorer: Pricing & Access
Link Explorer is included with all Moz Pro subscription tiers:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Link Explorer Queries | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $99/mo | 75 queries/month | Freelancers & small sites |
| Standard | $179/mo | 300 queries/month | Growing businesses |
| Medium | $249/mo | 1,800 queries/month | Agencies & in-house teams |
| Large | $599/mo | 4,500+ queries/month | Enterprise teams |
Free users can run up to 10 Link Explorer queries per month — enough for occasional research but insufficient for professional use.
How to Get Moz Pro (and Link Explorer) for Less
1. Annual Billing
Moz offers a 20% discount when you pay annually. On the Standard plan, this saves approximately $430/year — a meaningful discount for budget-conscious teams.
2. Moz Pro Free Trial
Moz offers a 30-day free trial of Moz Pro, which includes full access to Link Explorer. Use this to run your most important backlink analyses and evaluate whether the tool fits your workflow before committing.
3. Group Buy Access
For SEOs who need Moz Pro alongside other premium tools, a Moz group buy through platforms like ToolSurf provides access at a fraction of the retail price. This is especially valuable if you need multiple tools — Moz for DA/link analysis, Ahrefs for content research, and Semrush for competitive intelligence — without paying $400+/month for individual subscriptions.
4. Combine Free Tools
Supplement Link Explorer with free tools to extend your capabilities:
- Google Search Console: Your own site’s link data directly from Google
- Moz Free DA Checker: Quick DA lookups without a paid subscription
- HARO (Help a Reporter Out): Earn editorial backlinks through journalist queries
- Google Alerts: Monitor brand mentions that could become link opportunities
Advanced Tips for Getting More from Link Explorer
Tip 1: Track DA Changes Over Time
Domain Authority fluctuates as Moz updates its index. Track your DA monthly to understand whether your link-building efforts are moving the needle. A consistent upward trend indicates healthy link acquisition, while sudden drops may signal lost links or algorithm updates.
Tip 2: Use the Compare Feature Regularly
Don’t just analyze your own links — run the Compare Link Profiles tool quarterly to see how your link profile compares to competitors. This keeps you aware of shifts in competitive positioning and helps you adjust your strategy proactively.
Tip 3: Export and Cross-Reference
Export linking domain lists from Link Explorer and cross-reference them with your outreach CRM. This ensures you’re not targeting sites that already link to you and helps you prioritize sites that link to competitors but not to you.
Tip 4: Focus on Linking Root Domains, Not Total Links
Many SEO beginners obsess over total backlink counts, but linking root domains is the more meaningful metric. One link from 100 different domains is far more valuable than 100 links from a single domain. Always prioritize domain diversity in your link-building strategy.
Tip 5: Use Spam Score for Link Audits
Before submitting a disavow file to Google, run your link profile through Link Explorer and sort by Spam Score. Focus your manual review on high Spam Score links — this dramatically reduces the time needed for a thorough link audit. For comprehensive SEO audits that combine link analysis with site health checks, consider accessing group buy SEO tools to get multiple premium tools at affordable prices.
Moz’s Link Explorer FAQs
Is Moz’s Link Explorer free?
Moz offers 10 free Link Explorer queries per month. For unlimited access, you need a Moz Pro subscription starting at $99/month.
What is Domain Authority (DA)?
DA is Moz’s proprietary metric that predicts how well a domain will rank in search results, scored from 1 to 100. It’s based on multiple factors including link profile strength, linking root domain count, and other proprietary signals.
How often does Moz update its link index?
Moz continuously crawls the web and updates its link index. Major DA updates typically occur monthly, but new link data is added on an ongoing basis.
Is DA the same as Google PageRank?
No. Domain Authority is Moz’s own metric and is not used by Google. However, DA correlates with ranking performance and is widely used in the SEO industry as a benchmark. Google’s PageRank is an internal metric that is no longer publicly visible.
Can I check DA without a Moz Pro subscription?
Yes. Moz offers a free DA checker tool on their website, and the MozBar browser extension provides DA for any page you visit. However, detailed link analysis requires Link Explorer, which is part of Moz Pro.
How does Spam Score work?
Spam Score evaluates 27 common flags associated with spammy or penalized websites. A higher Spam Score means more flags are present. It’s a probability indicator, not a definitive judgment — some legitimate sites may have elevated Spam Scores due to certain website characteristics.
🏆 ToolSurf Verdict: Moz’s Link Explorer
Best For: SEOs who rely on Domain Authority as a benchmark metric, professionals who need robust spam detection for link audits, and teams who want an all-in-one SEO platform that includes link analysis alongside keyword research and rank tracking.
Key Strength: Moz’s Domain Authority and Spam Score remain industry-standard metrics that no other tool replicates. If DA is part of your client reporting or link evaluation workflow, Moz’s Link Explorer is essential.
Budget Tip: Access Moz Pro through ToolSurf’s group buy platform to get Link Explorer alongside other premium SEO tools at a fraction of the combined retail cost. This gives you the best of both worlds — Moz’s authority metrics plus Ahrefs’ link freshness and Semrush’s competitive intelligence — without breaking the bank.
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