Home › Guides › Domain Authority
Last updated: October 29, 2026
TechCurato is reader-supported. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Domain Authority (2027): What It Is, How to Check It and How to Raise It
Domain Authority (DA) is a score from 1 to 100 created by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results compared with other sites. It is based mainly on the number and quality of links pointing to the site. Ahrefs (Domain Rating, DR) and Semrush (Authority Score) publish similar metrics. None of these scores is used by Google. They are useful for comparing sites and tracking your link building, but the way to rank remains useful content plus links from relevant sites.
- Domain Authority is a Moz metric, scored 1 to 100.
- Similar metrics: Ahrefs Domain Rating (0 to 100) and Semrush Authority Score (0 to 100).
- Google does not use DA, DR or Authority Score in its rankings.
- Scores are relative and logarithmic: moving from 20 to 30 is easier than from 70 to 80.
- Free checks: Moz free tools, Ahrefs free website checker, Semrush free plan.
What Domain Authority measures
Moz builds Domain Authority from its own link index, with the number of unique linking domains and the strength of those domains weighing most. The score is calibrated against real search results so that higher scores tend to go with better rankings. Because it is a comparison with every other site in the index, your score can drop when the whole web gains links, even if you haven't lost any.
DA vs DR vs Authority Score
| Metric | Company | Scale | Mainly based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Authority (DA) | Moz | 1 to 100 | Linking domains and their strength, calibrated to rankings |
| Domain Rating (DR) | Ahrefs | 0 to 100 | The strength of the backlink profile |
| Authority Score (AS) | Semrush | 0 to 100 | Links, organic traffic and spam signals |
Each company uses its own crawler, so the same site gets different numbers. Pick one metric and use it consistently rather than mixing them.
How to check your Domain Authority
- Moz: enter your domain in Moz's free Link Explorer or use the MozBar browser extension.
- Ahrefs: use the free website authority checker for DR.
- Semrush: the free plan shows Authority Score in Domain Overview, with a daily limit on searches.
- Compare your score with three to five competitors who rank for your main keywords.
What is a good Domain Authority?
There is no universal good score. A new site starts near 1, a local business might sit between 10 and 30, and large media sites reach the 90s. What matters is how you compare with the sites ranking for your target keywords. If they score 25 to 35 and you score 15, you have a gap to close; if they score 80, aim for long-tail topics first.
| Your score vs competitors | What to do |
|---|---|
| Higher | Focus on content quality and search intent |
| Similar | Better content and a few strong links can win |
| Much lower | Target long-tail keywords while you build links |
How to improve Domain Authority
Because DA reflects links, improving it means earning links from relevant, trusted sites. The steps are the same as good SEO in general.
- Publish content worth citing: original data, guides, tools, templates.
- Get listed where your customers look: industry directories, partner pages, supplier pages.
- Reach out to sites that mention your brand without linking.
- Write guest articles for respected sites in your field, focused on useful content.
- Fix broken pages that already have links, using redirects.
- Build internal links so authority flows to your important pages.
- Avoid buying links or joining link schemes; they break Google's guidelines and can hurt rankings.
How long does it take?
Months rather than weeks. Link building is slow, and metrics update when the tool recrawls the web. Track your score monthly and look at the trend over a quarter or more.
Domain Authority and rankings
A higher score doesn't guarantee better rankings, and sites with modest scores often outrank stronger domains on specific queries when their page answers the search better. Use authority metrics to choose realistic keywords. Combine them with keyword difficulty and an honest look at the pages already ranking.
Tools compared
| Tool | Authority metric | Entry price |
|---|---|---|
| Moz Pro | Domain Authority, Page Authority | Standard $99/month, $79 on annual billing |
| Ahrefs | Domain Rating, URL Rating | Starter $29/month, Lite $129/month |
| Semrush | Authority Score | SEO Toolkit $117.33/month (annual), $139 monthly |
| SE Ranking | Domain Trust | Core $103.20/month (annual), $129 monthly |
For backlink research specifically, Ahrefs and Semrush have the largest indexes; SE Ranking is the better value if you also need rank tracking and audits. See Ahrefs vs Semrush and best SEO tools.
Check your Authority Score in Semrush → Free plan, no card needed · Affiliate link
Page Authority
Moz also publishes Page Authority (PA), the same idea applied to a single URL. A strong page on a modest domain can still rank well, so look at PA or Ahrefs' URL Rating when you study the specific pages you want to beat.
Common mistakes
- Treating DA as a Google ranking factor.
- Comparing DA from Moz with DR from Ahrefs as if they were the same.
- Buying links to raise the score.
- Panicking over small monthly drops caused by index updates.
- Ignoring content quality while chasing links.
Terms explained
- Backlink: a link from another site to yours. See what is a backlink.
- Referring domain: a unique site linking to you.
- Link profile: all the links pointing to your site.
- Toxic links: spammy links that may signal manipulation.
- Logarithmic scale: each step up is harder than the one before.
Tracking your authority over time
Record your score once a month in a spreadsheet next to referring domains, organic traffic and top rankings. A rising number of quality referring domains usually leads the score up over time. If traffic grows while the score stays flat, that's fine; traffic and leads are what matter.
Authority for new websites
A new site starts with almost no authority, which is normal. Focus the first months on long-tail topics where competitors are weak, publish a few pieces worth citing, and get listed in the directories and partner pages that naturally fit your business. Authority follows useful content and real relationships.
Our verdict
Domain Authority is a useful yardstick, not a goal. Check it for free in Moz, Ahrefs or Semrush, compare yourself with the sites that rank for your keywords, and use the gap to choose realistic targets. The way to raise it is the same as the way to rank: publish content people want to link to and earn links from relevant sites.
How we compiled this guide
Definitions come from Moz, Ahrefs and Semrush documentation. Prices come from official pricing pages checked October 30, 2026.
FAQ
Does Google use Domain Authority?
No. Domain Authority is a Moz metric; Google uses its own signals.
How do I check my Domain Authority for free?
Use Moz's free Link Explorer or MozBar; Ahrefs and Semrush offer free checks of their own metrics.
What is a good Domain Authority for a new website?
New sites start low, often under 10. Compare with competitors rather than an absolute number.
Why did my Domain Authority drop?
Often because Moz updated its index or other sites gained links, not because you lost links.
Is DR the same as DA?
No. DR is Ahrefs' metric; it's similar in purpose but calculated differently.
Can I increase my DA quickly?
Not in a lasting way. Shortcuts like bought links carry risk; steady link earning works.
Does domain age affect Domain Authority?
Not directly; older sites often have more links, which is why they tend to score higher.
What is Page Authority?
Moz's score for an individual page, built the same way as Domain Authority but for one URL.
Should I buy an expired domain for its authority?
It's risky. Google may ignore links that no longer match the site's content, and repurposing domains to manipulate rankings breaks its spam policies.
Which authority metric should I use?
Use the one from the SEO tool you already pay for, and compare competitors with the same metric over time.
Sources
Moz, Ahrefs and Semrush documentation on their authority metrics; official pricing pages of Moz, Ahrefs, Semrush and SE Ranking, checked October 30, 2026.