Moz Link Explorer is Moz’s dedicated backlink intelligence platform, built to help SEOs understand link profiles, evaluate authority, and uncover link‑building opportunities. It provides detailed insights into inbound links, linking domains, anchor text, spam indicators, and authority metrics. Because backlinks remain one of the strongest ranking signals in Google’s algorithm, Link Explorer is central to any SEO strategy.
How Link Explorer Fits Into the SEO Workflow
Link Explorer supports competitive analysis, link prospecting, authority benchmarking, and risk assessment. It helps identify which links contribute most to ranking strength and which may pose risks. The tool is especially valuable for agencies, technical SEOs, and content teams who need to understand why competitors outrank them and where link gaps exist.
Core Metrics: DA, PA, and Spam Score
Moz’s proprietary authority metrics are foundational to Link Explorer:
- Domain Authority (DA) predicts a domain’s ranking strength based on its link profile.
- Page Authority (PA) measures ranking potential at the page level.
- Spam Score identifies potentially harmful link patterns.
These metrics help SEOs benchmark performance, evaluate competitors, and prioritize link‑building efforts. Link Explorer is the original tool built around DA and PA, making it ideal for authority‑focused audits.
Backlink & Linking Domain Analysis
Link Explorer provides a complete view of a site’s backlink profile, including:
- Total backlinks
- Total linking domains
- New and lost links
- Follow vs. nofollow distribution
- Top linking pages
- Anchor text patterns
- Link quality indicators
This data helps identify which links drive authority and which may need disavow consideration.
The tool also offers Link Intersect, which reveals sites linking to competitors but not to you — a powerful feature for link‑building campaigns.
Competitive Link Intelligence
Link Explorer allows you to compare your backlink profile against competitors. You can analyze:
- DA/PA differences
- Linking domain overlap
- Anchor text variations
- Link velocity (growth over time)
- High‑authority domains competitors have earned
This helps uncover strategic link opportunities and understand the competitive landscape.
New & Lost Link Tracking
Monitoring link acquisition and loss is essential for maintaining authority. Link Explorer tracks:
- Newly discovered links
- Recently lost links
- Link status changes
- Historical link trends
This helps diagnose ranking drops, evaluate campaign success, and maintain a healthy link profile.
Anchor Text Analysis
Anchor text distribution reveals how other sites reference your content. Link Explorer provides:
- Exact‑match anchors
- Phrase‑match anchors
- Branded anchors
- Generic anchors
- Over‑optimized patterns
Balanced anchor text is essential for natural link profiles and avoiding spam signals.
Spam Score & Risk Assessment
Spam Score evaluates link patterns associated with penalized or low‑quality sites. High Spam Score links may require:
- Manual review
- Outreach for removal
- Disavow consideration
This helps protect your site from algorithmic risk.
Free vs. Pro Capabilities
Moz offers 10 free Link Explorer queries per month, allowing users to check backlinks, DA, and PA without a subscription. The Pro version unlocks full link data, historical trends, and advanced filters.
Integrating Link Explorer Into SEO Strategy
Link Explorer works best when combined with:
- Keyword research (Keyword Explorer)
- Technical audits (Site Crawl)
- Content optimization
- Competitor analysis
- Link‑building outreach
Together, these tools create a complete SEO workflow.