What is Domain Rating (DR)?

Domain Rating is Ahrefs’ 0–100 logarithmic score of how strong a website’s backlink profile is relative to every other site in their index. Higher DR generally means more link authority and a better chance of ranking.

What is the difference between UR and DR?

Domain Rating (DR) scores the backlink profile of a whole domain. URL Rating (UR) scores a single page by the links pointing to that page, on the same 0 to 100 scale. A strong domain can have weak pages: a new page on a DR 70 site often has a low UR until links, internal ones included, point to it. For ranking one specific page, UR and relevance matter more than the site's DR.

Is this DR checker really free?

Yes. It uses the free public Ahrefs Domain Rating API, with no signup, no account, and no cost. We add a quick human check to keep it fast for everyone.

How accurate is the DR shown here?

It is the live figure from Ahrefs, the same number you would see in their own tools, fetched in real time when you run a check.

How do I increase my Domain Rating?

Earn dofollow backlinks from higher-DR websites. Submitting your product to high-authority directories is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to start. A single dofollow link from a DR 70+ site can move the needle.

How often can I check a domain?

The tool is rate limited to keep it responsive, with a generous allowance per visitor over a rolling window. If you hit the limit, wait a few minutes and try again.

Free Tool

Free DR Checker: Ahrefs Domain Rating for Any Site

Check any site’s Domain Rating in one click, live from Ahrefs, no signup. Then see exactly how to raise it.

Updated October 19, 2026

Quick answer

How do I check a website’s Domain Rating?

Type the domain into the checker above and press Check. It reads the live score from the free Ahrefs Domain Rating API and shows it on Ahrefs’ 0 to 100 scale. As a rough guide, under 20 is a new site, 20 to 40 is growing, 40 to 70 is solid authority and 70+ is a strong, established domain.

How to check Domain Rating

Enter the domain
Type a domain such as example.com. You can paste a full URL; the checker keeps only the domain.
Pass the human check
Tick the quick check that keeps bots from using up the free API.
Read the score and the band
See the live DR from Ahrefs and the band it falls in, from new site to strong domain.
Track it over time
Check again after a few weeks of link building, or add the free DR badge to your site so it shows the current number.

What Domain Rating actually tells you

Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs’ 0–100 score for the strength of a site’s backlink profile. It runs on a logarithmic scale, so climbing from DR 20 to 30 is far easier than 60 to 70. It is not a direct Google ranking factor, but it is a fast, reliable proxy for “how much link authority does this domain have”, which is why founders, link builders, and SEOs reach for it first when sizing up a site.

How to raise your DR

There is only one real lever: earn more dofollow links from higher-authority domains. The cheapest place to start is high-DR directories. A single dofollow link from a DR 70+ site does more than dozens of low-quality ones. We keep a live, filterable list of the best SaaS directories ranked by DR, and SaaSCity itself lists your product free on a DR 70 domain in about two minutes. The link turns dofollow once our badge is on your homepage.

How to read your score

Because the scale is logarithmic, the bands matter more than the exact digit. A site in the 0 to 20 range is new or has very few links, which is normal for a product launched this year. The 20 to 40 range means real traction and a backlink profile that is starting to compound. The 40 to 70 range is solid authority, the zone most established SaaS sites live in. Anything above 70 is strong, usually a large brand or a domain with years of links behind it. Checking a competitor tells you roughly how much link equity you are up against, and checking your own site over time tells you whether your link building is working. One reading is a snapshot; the trend across a few months is the real signal.

Why DR still matters in 2026

Search keeps changing, but the underlying question a backlink answers has not: does another credible site vouch for you? Domain Rating remains the quickest way to size that up at a glance, which is why founders, link builders, and editors keep reaching for it. It pairs well with your own judgment. Use it to shortlist where to earn links, then confirm a site is genuinely relevant before you pursue it, since a relevant DR 40 link often beats a random DR 80 one. Run your domain above, note the number, then work the directory lists to move it.

Frequently asked questions

What is Domain Rating (DR)?: Domain Rating is Ahrefs’ 0–100 logarithmic score of how strong a website’s backlink profile is relative to every other site in their index. Higher DR generally means more link authority and a better chance of ranking.
What is the difference between UR and DR?: Domain Rating (DR) scores the backlink profile of a whole domain. URL Rating (UR) scores a single page by the links pointing to that page, on the same 0 to 100 scale. A strong domain can have weak pages: a new page on a DR 70 site often has a low UR until links, internal ones included, point to it. For ranking one specific page, UR and relevance matter more than the site's DR.
Is this DR checker really free?: Yes. It uses the free public Ahrefs Domain Rating API, with no signup, no account, and no cost. We add a quick human check to keep it fast for everyone.
How accurate is the DR shown here?: It is the live figure from Ahrefs, the same number you would see in their own tools, fetched in real time when you run a check.
How do I increase my Domain Rating?: Earn dofollow backlinks from higher-DR websites. Submitting your product to high-authority directories is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to start. A single dofollow link from a DR 70+ site can move the needle.
How often can I check a domain?: The tool is rate limited to keep it responsive, with a generous allowance per visitor over a rolling window. If you hit the limit, wait a few minutes and try again.

Sources

Ahrefs, Domain Rating (DR)