Editor's note, November 1, 2026: Rebuilt list: the 2022 list of six tools re-ranked and rewritten as eight backlink tools compared on index size, gap tools, free options, price and public reviews, checked on 1 November 2026.
How we choose: we research each tool on its own site, check prices at the source and read what users say in public reviews. Our method
Ahrefs is the best tool to find competitor backlinks. Its live link index, which Ahrefs calls the world's largest, is refreshed every 15 to 30 minutes, and its Link Intersect tool lists the sites that link to your competitors but not to you. If you want to try before you pay, choose Semrush, which has a free plan and a 7-day trial. If you only need link data, Majestic costs less and scores every link for trust and topic.
Competitor backlinks are links from other websites to your competitors' sites. Studying them shows which publications, directories, partners and content formats earn links in your niche, so you can find link building opportunities you would otherwise miss. The most useful report in any of these tools is a link gap or link intersect report: enter your domain and a few competitors, and it lists the sites that link to them but not to you.
When you compare tools, look at three things. First, how much of the web the tool's link index covers and how often it refreshes, because a stale index misses new links. Second, whether it has a gap or intersect report and how many competitors it compares at once. Third, what you can do for free and what the first paid plan includes. Prices below were checked on 1 November 2026 and are in US dollars.
The list at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Team |
|---|
| 1 |  Ahrefs | SEO teams and link builders who want the deepest competitor backlink data | $29 per month (Starter) | Yes | Marketing |
| 2 |  Semrush | Marketing teams that want backlink research inside a full SEO suite, with a free plan and trial | $117.33 per month, billed yearly (SEO) | Yes | Marketing |
| 3 |  Majestic | Link builders and digital PR teams who only need backlink data | $49.99 per month (Lite) | No | Marketing |
| 4 |  SE Ranking | Agencies and in-house teams that want unlimited backlink research at a lower price | $103.20 per month, billed yearly | No | Marketing |
| 5 |  Moz Pro | Teams that report on Domain Authority and want an easy link explorer | $49 per month | Yes | Marketing |
| 6 |  Serpstat | Freelancers and small agencies on a fixed budget | $50 per month, billed yearly | No | Marketing |
| 7 |  KWFinder | Beginners and bloggers who want simple competitor link data in a cheap suite | $37.70 per month, billed yearly | Yes | Marketing |
| 8 |  Ubersuggest | Solo site owners who want backlink prospects in a low-cost tool | $192 per year, or $29 per month | Yes | Marketing |
How we chose
We ranked each tool on the five points of our published method, in this order. First, fit: how well it finds and filters the backlinks of a site you do not own. Second, the features that matter for that job, taken from vendor documentation: index size and refresh rate as each vendor states them, link quality scores, and a link gap or intersect report. Third, price and how clearly it is stated, including free plans, free checkers and trials. Fourth, what users report in public reviews on G2. Fifth, whether the product is actively developed.
Every tool was researched on its own website, pricing page and help documentation, and in public reviews on G2. Index sizes are the vendors' own figures and are not measured the same way, so they did not decide the order on their own. Google Search Console is not ranked because it only shows links to sites you own, but it is still the best free source for your own link profile. For a full workflow, read our guide on using Semrush for link building, and for the wider picture see the essential elements of a link building strategy and our list of Ahrefs alternatives.
Best for sEO teams and link builders who want the deepest competitor backlink data
1. Ahrefs
Marketing- Starting price
- $29 per month (Starter)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The best tool for finding competitor backlinks. Ahrefs calls its live link index the world's largest, refreshes it every 15 to 30 minutes, and Link Intersect turns a competitor's links into a prospect list.
Why it's on the list
Ahrefs was built around backlink data. Its Site Explorer shows every page linking to a competitor, with anchor text, referring domains over time and its own Domain Rating and URL Rating scores, and Ahrefs says its live backlink index is updated with fresh data every 15 to 30 minutes and holds 35 trillion historical external backlink records. Link Intersect lists the sites that link to your competitors but not to you, which is the core of competitor link research. Lite costs $129 per month, or $1,290 a year paid annually, and Ahrefs offers no trials, but a free Backlink Checker shows a limited view for any site and Ahrefs Free gives site owners limited access to Site Explorer for their own sites. It holds 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from 723 reviews, where price is the most common complaint.
Pros
- Live backlink index refreshed every 15 to 30 minutes, which Ahrefs calls the world's largest
- Link Intersect finds sites that link to competitors but not to you
- Free Backlink Checker for a quick look at any site
- 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from 723 reviews
Cons
- No free trial on paid plans
- Price is the most common G2 complaint
- Broken backlinks and linking authors reports start on Standard
Who it's for
SEO specialists, agencies and link builders who research competitors' links every week.
Who should skip it
Site owners who check backlinks a few times a year. A free plan from Semrush, Moz or SE Ranking may be enough.
More about Ahrefs: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for marketing teams that want backlink research inside a full SEO suite, with a free plan and trial
2. Semrush
Marketing- Starting price
- $117.33 per month, billed yearly (SEO)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The best all-round alternative to Ahrefs for competitor links. Backlink Gap compares up to five domains, and you can test it on a free plan or a 7-day trial.
Why it's on the list
Semrush's Backlinks tool shows any domain's backlinks, referring domains, anchors and new and lost links, and Semrush says it adds new backlinks within an hour and refreshes the data in the interface every 15 minutes. Its Backlink Gap tool compares the profiles of up to five websites at once and filters for the referring domains that link to your competitors but not to you, and Backlink Audit flags potentially toxic links for a disavow file. The free plan allows 10 reports a day and paid plans come with a 7-day free trial; the SEO plan costs $117.33 per month billed yearly. It holds 4.4 out of 5 on G2 from 4,304 reviews, where price and add-on costs are the main complaints.
Pros
- Backlink Gap compares up to five domains at once
- New links added within an hour, by Semrush's count
- Free plan with 10 reports a day and a 7-day trial
- Backlink Audit for toxic links and disavow files
Cons
- Higher entry price than Ahrefs Lite when billed monthly
- Price is the most common G2 complaint
- Deeper competitor research needs the Starter plan or above
Who it's for
In-house marketers and agencies that want backlinks, keywords and site audits in one subscription.
Who should skip it
Link builders who only need link data. Majestic or SE Ranking cost less for that job.
More about Semrush: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for link builders and digital PR teams who only need backlink data
3. Majestic
Marketing- Starting price
- $49.99 per month (Lite)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The backlink specialist. Trust Flow and Topical Trust Flow help you judge which competitor links are worth copying, at a lower price than the big suites.
Why it's on the list
Majestic does one job, mapping who links to any website, and has done it since 2004. Its Site Explorer shows a competitor's backlinks, referring domains and anchor text, scored with Trust Flow, Citation Flow and Topical Trust Flow across more than 800 topic categories, which helps you judge link quality and relevance. The Fresh Index covers links found in roughly the last 120 days and updates several times a day, and Pro adds the Historic Index, which reaches back to 2006, plus Clique Hunter, which compares up to ten sites to find the domains that link to several competitors. Lite costs $49.99 per month and Pro $99.99 per month, excluding VAT, with a 7-day money-back guarantee for new customers. It holds 4.3 out of 5 on G2 from 73 reviews.
Pros
- Trust Flow and Topical Trust Flow for judging link quality
- Fresh Index updated several times a day
- Clique Hunter on Pro compares up to ten competitors at once
- 7-day money-back guarantee for new customers
Cons
- No keyword research, rank tracking or site audits
- Its site shows the Historic Index covering links up to March 2024
- Few G2 reviews compared with the big suites
Who it's for
Link builders, outreach teams and domain buyers who judge sites by their backlinks.
Who should skip it
Anyone who also needs keyword research or rank tracking. A suite such as Semrush or SE Ranking covers both.
More about Majestic: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for agencies and in-house teams that want unlimited backlink research at a lower price
4. SE Ranking
Marketing- Starting price
- $103.20 per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The best value. Its Core plan includes unlimited backlink and competitor research and a Backlink Gap Analyzer for less than Ahrefs Lite on yearly billing, and for the same price month to month.
Why it's on the list
SE Ranking says its backlink database holds 2.9 trillion backlinks and 411 million referring domains, and that 58% of backlinks are updated every 90 days. Its Backlink Gap Analyzer compares your profile with up to five competitors, and its competitor backlink checker shows which pages, referring domains and anchors drive their links. The Core plan includes unlimited keyword, competitor and backlink research for $103.20 per month billed yearly, with a 14-day free trial that needs no credit card, and the free backlink checker allows 5 checks a day. G2 rates it about 4.8 out of 5 from more than 1,400 reviews, with ease of use and support praised.
Pros
- Unlimited backlink research on the Core plan
- Backlink Gap Analyzer for up to five competitors
- 14-day free trial without a credit card
- About 4.8 out of 5 on G2 from more than 1,400 reviews
Cons
- No free plan beyond 5 free backlink checks a day
- Some G2 reviewers say it lacks the depth of the largest suites
Who it's for
Agencies and SEO teams that research many competitors and want a full suite on a budget.
Who should skip it
Teams that need the largest possible link index for enterprise sites. Ahrefs goes further.
More about SE Ranking: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for teams that report on Domain Authority and want an easy link explorer
5. Moz Pro
Marketing- Starting price
- $49 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
A solid choice if your team already uses Domain Authority. Link Explorer and Link Intersect cover competitor research, and a free account gives 10 link queries a month.
Why it's on the list
Moz's Link Explorer shows backlinks, linking domains and anchor text with Moz's Domain Authority and Page Authority scores, drawn from what Moz describes as an index of more than 40 trillion links. Its Link Intersect tool compares up to five backlink profiles with your own to find sites that link to competitors but not to you. A free Moz Community account gives 10 Link Explorer queries per month. Moz Pro Standard costs $79 per month paid yearly, or $99 month to month, and Moz offers an entry-level plan at $49 per month. On G2, reviewers praise its ease of use, and some find its backlink database smaller than competitors'.
Pros
- Domain Authority and Page Authority from Moz's own link index
- Link Intersect compares up to five competitors
- Free account with 10 link queries a month
Cons
- Tight limits on the lower plans
- Some G2 reviewers find its backlink data smaller than rivals'
- Price for small businesses is a common G2 complaint
Who it's for
In-house marketers and small teams that already report Domain Authority to clients or managers.
Who should skip it
Agencies that research links at volume. SE Ranking or Ahrefs give more for the money.
More about Moz Pro: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for freelancers and small agencies on a fixed budget
6. Serpstat
Marketing- Starting price
- $50 per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
A low-cost all-in-one suite with backlink analysis on every plan, but its reports are capped, so heavy link research needs a higher tier.
Why it's on the list
Serpstat includes Backlink Analysis on every plan, with referring domains, anchors and new and lost links for any site, alongside keyword research, rank tracking and site audits. The Individual plan costs $50 per month billed yearly and comes with a 7-day trial. Backlink reports are capped at 2,000 results per report on Individual and 10,000 on higher plans, which limits how far you can dig into a big competitor. It holds 4.6 out of 5 on G2 from 463 reviews, with easy setup and the breadth of tools praised.
Pros
- Backlink analysis on every plan
- Full SEO suite from $50 per month billed yearly
- 7-day trial
Cons
- Backlink reports capped at 2,000 results on Individual
- API access and batch analysis start on the Team plan
- Fewer G2 reviews than the larger suites
Who it's for
Freelancers and small agencies that need backlinks plus keyword and rank data in one cheap tool.
Who should skip it
Link builders who export large backlink lists. Majestic or SE Ranking give more rows.
More about Serpstat: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for beginners and bloggers who want simple competitor link data in a cheap suite
7. KWFinder
Marketing- Starting price
- $37.70 per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
Mangools' LinkMiner, included with KWFinder, is the easiest way to see a competitor's strongest backlinks, using Majestic's data.
Why it's on the list
Every paid Mangools plan includes LinkMiner alongside KWFinder. LinkMiner draws on Majestic's fresh and historic index and scores each backlink with a Link Strength metric based on Citation Flow, Trust Flow and other metrics, so beginners can spot a competitor's most powerful links quickly. It can show one link per referring domain to cut noise. Mangools Basic costs $37.70 per month billed yearly, or $61 month to month, and a free account allows a limited number of lookups. G2 lists the suite under Mangools, where it holds 4.7 out of 5 from 97 reviews, with ease of use and price praised.
Pros
- Simple Link Strength score built on Majestic metrics
- Included with keyword research and rank tracking in every paid plan
- Free account for a first look
Cons
- Link data comes from Majestic, so it adds little if you already use Majestic
- Refunds only within 48 hours of payment
- Rank tracking updates weekly on lower plans
Who it's for
Bloggers, affiliate site owners and small businesses that want a quick read on competitors' best links.
Who should skip it
Link builders who run outreach at scale. Ahrefs, Semrush or Majestic are built for that.
More about KWFinder: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for solo site owners who want backlink prospects in a low-cost tool
8. Ubersuggest
Marketing- Starting price
- $192 per year, or $29 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The cheapest way to see domains that link to your rivals but not to you, with a lifetime licence option, but with tight row limits.
Why it's on the list
Ubersuggest's backlink report shows your full link profile, with new and lost links, anchor text, authority and referring domains over time, alongside the domains that link to your competitors but not to you. Plans cap backlink rows at 2,000, 5,000 or 10,000 depending on the tier, which is enough for small competitors but not for large ones. Ubersuggest sells monthly, yearly and one-time lifetime plans, with a one-time 7-day free trial on monthly subscriptions; current prices are on its tool page. It holds 4.2 out of 5 on G2 from 160 reviews, with keyword research and ease of use praised and limited features criticised.
Pros
- Shows domains linking to rivals but not to you
- Lifetime licence available instead of a subscription
- One-time 7-day free trial on monthly plans
Cons
- Backlink rows capped at 2,000 on the first tier
- Limited features is the most common G2 complaint
- Lifetime purchases are final and non-refundable
Who it's for
Solo site owners and small businesses that want a simple list of link prospects.
Who should skip it
Agencies and link builders working on competitive niches. The row limits are too low.
More about Ubersuggest: pricing, features and alternatives
Also considered
- Google Search Console: Free and first-party, but its Links report only shows a sample of links to sites you own, so it cannot show a competitor's backlinks.
- SpyFu: Strong for competitors' paid and organic keywords, but backlink research is not its main job, so it was not ranked here.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a competitor's backlinks?
Enter the competitor's domain into a backlink tool such as Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, SE Ranking or Moz and open its backlinks or referring domains report. Then run a link gap or link intersect report with your own domain and two to five competitors, which lists the sites that link to them but not to you. Sort that list by authority and relevance to build your outreach list.
Can I find competitor backlinks for free?
Yes, with limits. Ahrefs has a free Backlink Checker, Semrush's free plan allows 10 reports a day, SE Ranking's free checker allows 5 checks a day and a free Moz account gives 10 Link Explorer queries a month. Google Search Console is free but only shows links to your own site.
What should I look at in a competitor's backlink profile?
Look at the referring domains rather than the raw link count, the authority and topical relevance of each linking site, the anchor text, the split between followed and nofollow links, and which of the competitor's pages attract the most links. Sites that link to several competitors are usually the best outreach targets.
Is it worth copying competitor backlinks?
It is worth studying them. A competitor's links show which sites, directories, publications and content formats link in your niche. Earn similar links with better content or outreach, and follow Google's spam policies, which treat buying links or excessive link exchanges as link spam.
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