Best SEO Tools to Analyze and Improve Domain Authority

You can't improve what you don't measure.

Whether you're trying to grow a new website or maintain a strong backlink profile, using the right SEO tools helps you:

•   Track your Domain Authority (DA)
•   Discover backlink opportunities
•   Monitor referring domains
•   Clean up toxic links
•   Benchmark against competitors

In this guide, you’ll find the top SEO tools for analyzing and improving your DA — with practical insights on how to use each one.

Why You Need Tools to Monitor Domain Authority

Domain Authority is a relative metric developed by Moz — but similar metrics exist across SEO tools.

Tracking DA with tools allows you to:

•   Measure progress after link-building campaigns
•   Identify link sources that matter most
•   Compare your site’s authority against competitors
•   Avoid link penalties or profile dilution

Let’s explore the best tools used by SEO professionals.

1. Moz Pro – The Creator of Domain Authority

DA Source: Moz Domain Authority (0–100 scale)
Key Features:

•   Link Explorer to analyze backlinks
•   Spam Score detection
•   DA/PA scores for pages and domains
•   “Lost and New Links” monitoring
•   Competitive link analysis

Use it for:

•   Tracking DA over time
•   Finding toxic links
•   Identifying top-performing backlinks
•   Auditing linking root domains

Recommended for those focused on Moz’s DA metric specifically.

2. Ahrefs – Domain Rating and Backlink Insights

DA Equivalent: Domain Rating (DR) Key Features:

•   Extensive backlink database
•   Referring domains with DR scores
•   Anchor text distribution
•   Broken backlink identification
•   Competitive gap analysis

Use it for:

•   Discovering link-building gaps
•   Finding content that earns links
•   Reverse-engineering competitor backlinks
•   Tracking DR alongside DA for balance

Also explore:
Broken Link Building for DA Growth

3. SEMrush – Authority Score and Link Audit Tools

DA Equivalent: Authority Score
Key Features:

•   Backlink Audit tool
•   Toxic link detection and disavow file builder
•   Historical backlink trends
•   Link-building opportunities and outreach management
•   Competitor benchmarking

Use it for:

•   Preventing negative SEO
•   Improving link quality
•   Planning link-building campaigns

Also read:
Remove Toxic Backlinks to Improve DA

4. Ubersuggest – Free and Beginner-Friendly

DA Source: Moz API (DA/PA scores) Key Features:

•   Easy backlink overview
•   Free domain comparison
•   SEO score grading
•   Referring domains list

Use it for:

•   Quick backlink checks
•   DA tracking for smaller sites
•   Keyword + link planning combo

A good entry point if you're just starting.

5. Google Search Console – Indirect But Crucial

DA Metric?: No, but essential for backlink and crawl data

Key Features:

•   Links report (top linking sites and pages)
•   Search performance by page
•   Index status and crawl errors
•   Security issues and manual actions

Use it for:

•   Confirming link indexing
•   Validating backlink quality
•   Monitoring crawl health
•   Spotting sudden traffic drops

Every website must use this, whether or not DA is your focus.

6. Screaming Frog – Technical SEO and Link Audits

DA Metric?: No, but essential for internal linking and crawl mapping

Key Features:

•   Crawl depth analysis
•   Broken link detection
•   Redirect chain reports
•   Internal linking maps

Use it for:

•   Internal link structure optimization
•   Detecting orphan pages
•   Ensuring your best content is well-linked

See related strategy:
Internal Linking Strategy for Domain Authority

7. LinkMiner – Backlink Finder from Mangools

DA Source: Moz-based
Key Features:

•   Broken links on competitor sites
•   Quick backlink quality snapshot
•   Built-in website preview
•   Strong UI for visual learners

Use it for:

•   Identifying outreach targets
•   Analyzing backlink strength
•   Saving links to campaigns

Great for small agencies or solo SEOs.

Choosing the Right Tool Based on Your DA Goals

Use multiple tools in combination to get a complete DA improvement picture.

What to Track Besides Domain Authority

•   Referring domains count
•   Number of dofollow vs. nofollow links
•   Anchor text diversity
•   Page Authority (PA) of key pages
•   Backlink acquisition speed
•   Top linking pages

These metrics often predict DA changes before the DA number itself updates.

Bonus: Free Chrome Extensions to Monitor DA

•   MozBar - View DA/PA in SERPs and page headers
•   Ahrefs SEO Toolbar - DR, UR, and backlink count at a glance
•   SEOquake - Includes link data, density checks, and more

These tools save time during competitive research and content planning.

Conclusion — Use Data to Build Authority Smarter

DA improvement isn’t about guesswork.
With the right tools, you can:

•   Monitor your progress
•   Identify valuable link opportunities
•   Clean up weak spots
•   Build a stronger, smarter website

Choose the toolset that fits your stage, goals, and budget — and let data drive your DA strategy.