# Domain authority

_Source: https://seomatrix.ai/tools/domain-authority/_

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## What it does

Domain authority is a 0-100 score that estimates how strong a website's backlink profile is relative to the rest of the web — the higher the number, the more, and more trusted, sites link to it. It's a third-party proxy (not a Google ranking factor), but the same well-linked, authoritative sites that rank in search are also the ones AI engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity tend to cite, so a stronger profile tends to help on both fronts. Checking yours side by side with your rivals shows at a glance whether you're playing in the same league for the queries you want to win.

## What it checks

- **Referring domains** — The count of unique websites linking to you; it's the single biggest driver of a domain authority score, since 100 links from one site count for far less than links from 100 different domains.
- **Total backlinks** — The raw number of inbound links across all pages; it adds context but is weighted well below the diversity of referring domains.
- **Link quality** — The strength of the sites that link to you — one link from a high-authority donor domain moves your score more than dozens from weak or spammy sources.
- **DR score (0-100)** — The normalized, logarithmic rating that compresses a whole backlink profile into one comparable number, so a jump from 40 to 50 is far harder to earn than 20 to 30.
- **Competitive gap** — Your score placed directly beside up to nine rival domains, revealing how far ahead or behind you sit for the niche you actually compete in.
- **Equity-passing links** — Dofollow links that genuinely transfer authority, versus nofollow/UGC links that signal a mention but pass little ranking value.

## How to use it

1. Paste your domain plus up to nine competitor domains, one per line, and run the check.
2. Read the 0-100 scores side by side to see where you rank on backlink strength and which rivals lead.
3. Prioritize link-building against the domains beating you, then re-run the check periodically to confirm your authority is climbing.

## FAQ

### Is domain authority a Google ranking factor?

No. Domain authority is a third-party metric — Google has repeatedly said it uses no single 'domain authority' score. It's still a useful proxy for competitive backlink strength, which correlates with the ability to rank and be cited.

### What's a good domain authority score?

It's relative, not absolute — a good score is one at or above the sites you compete with for your target queries. A local rival might sit at 20-30 while a national publisher clears 80, so always judge yours against the specific domains in your niche.

### How do I increase my domain authority?

Earn links from more unique, high-authority domains — a handful of quality editorial or digital-PR links moves the score far more than many low-value ones. Because the scale is logarithmic, gains get progressively harder as you climb.

### Why do different tools show different domain authority scores?

Each tool computes authority from its own backlink index and formula, so Ahrefs' DR, Moz's DA, and this checker won't match exactly. Use one tool consistently and watch the trend rather than comparing absolute numbers across tools.