SEMrush vs. Moz for Domain Authority Analysis

If you're tracking your website’s authority to guide SEO decisions, both SEMrush and Moz offer powerful features—but their authority scoring systems differ significantly.

Moz is the original creator of Domain Authority (DA), while SEMrush uses a proprietary Authority Score. Though they aim to measure similar things—site credibility and backlink strength—their methodologies and applications vary.

This guide compares Moz and SEMrush in terms of DA analysis, backlink data, metrics interpretation, and use cases, so you can choose the right platform for your needs.

What Moz Offers for Domain Authority Analysis

Moz introduced Domain Authority as a way to estimate how likely a domain is to rank in search results.

Key Features

•   DA and PA (Page Authority) metrics
•   Spam Score for link profile risk assessment
•   Top linking domains and anchor text analysis
•   Link Intersect for backlink opportunity discovery
•   Domain comparison between competitors

Advantages

•   DA is a trusted industry benchmark
•   Intuitive interface
•   Ideal for agencies and content-driven SEO teams

Limitations

•   Index is smaller than SEMrush and Ahrefs
•   Updates are less frequent (~monthly)
•   Data refresh can lag behind real-time events

What SEMrush Offers for Authority Analysis

SEMrush’s Authority Score is a domain-level metric combining backlink quantity, quality, and organic search traffic metrics.

Key Features

•   Authority Score with supporting trust and toxicity indicators
•   Detailed backlink profile analysis
•   Toxic score warnings for poor-quality links
•   Traffic, keyword, and SERP performance alongside link data
•   Competitor Authority Score comparisons

Advantages

•   Combines link strength + traffic into one metric
•   Integrated site audit and keyword data
•   Daily backlink updates and larger index size
•   Excellent for performance-led SEO professionals

Limitations

•   Authority Score is not as universally recognized as DA
•   Can feel overwhelming for beginners
•   Less transparent in how the score is calculated

Comparison: Domain Authority (Moz) vs. Authority Score (SEMrush)

Which Tool Is Better for Authority Tracking?

Choose Moz if you:

•   Want to benchmark DA over time
•   Prefer simple, focused authority metrics
•   Value page-level scores (DA + PA)
•   Prioritize backlink profile insights for link-building campaigns

Choose SEMrush if you:

•   Want to combine traffic and authority in a unified dashboard
•   Need real-time backlink and keyword data
•   Work with competitive, enterprise-level SEO projects
•   Prefer toxic link detection and cleanup built-in

Both platforms can coexist in your SEO stack depending on your strategy. For outreach or content teams, Moz is more focused. For digital marketing teams managing PPC, content, and SEO together—SEMrush gives a fuller view.

Can You Rely on One Metric Alone?

No. Whether it's Moz’s DA or SEMrush’s Authority Score, neither tells the full SEO story.

You must also monitor:

•   Organic keyword rankings
•   Referring domain diversity
•   On-page optimization
•   Internal link flow (see Internal Linking Guide)
•   Link quality—not just quantity

For content audits, refer to Does Your Content Fill or Kill? to ensure that your authority scores align with content worth sharing and linking to.

How to Use Moz and SEMrush Together

Many agencies and marketers use both tools:

•   Moz for DA benchmarking and link gap outreach
•   SEMrush for toxic link cleanup, competitor insights, and traffic-based authority analysis

By combining the two, you get a deeper understanding of how backlinks and visibility contribute to your SEO authority.

Use the Right Tool for the Right SEO Purpose

Authority scores are helpful—but they must align with your goals.

•   Building links? Moz gives simpler DA tracking.
•   Auditing technical SEO + traffic trends? SEMrush does more.
•   Working across multiple clients? Use both to cover broader scenarios.

Ready to Analyze Your Authority the Smart Way?

Whether you lean on Moz or SEMrush, the goal is the same: improving your authority through high-quality SEO, not just chasing a score.

Let us help you choose and apply the right tools for measurable growth. Reach out through our Contact page, or explore our SEO Services, and Digital Marketing Services, to get expert guidance tailored to your setup.

Continue learning in our Domain Authority Guide or browse the Blog for hands-on comparisons, strategies, and SEO insights that actually move the needle.