Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine result pages. Scores range from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater ability to rank. Understanding and improving your DA is crucial for long-term SEO success.
What is Domain Authority?
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric created by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). Scores range from 1-100:
- 1-20: New or poorly linked websites
- 21-40: Small but established sites
- 41-60: Medium authority sites with decent backlink profiles
- 61-80: High authority sites — major blogs, news sites
- 81-100: Wikipedia, YouTube, major global brands
DA is calculated using a machine learning algorithm that considers the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to a domain.
Domain Authority vs Ahrefs Domain Rating
Both DA and DR are third-party metrics (NOT Google metrics) that estimate a site's authority:
Domain Authority (DA): Moz's metric Domain Rating (DR): Ahrefs' metric Authority Score: SEMrush's metric
All three correlate with Google rankings but none is used directly by Google. Google's own version is PageRank, which is internal and not publicly shown.
Check your DA and DR for free using RankRadar's Domain Score Checker — it estimates both metrics without requiring a paid subscription.
How to Check Your Domain Authority Free
Use RankRadar's free Domain Score Checker to estimate your DA, PA (Page Authority), backlink count and spam score. Additionally:
- Moz Link Explorer — moz.com/link-explorer — Free DA/PA check for any domain
- Ahrefs Website Authority Checker — Free DR check
- SEMrush Authority Score — Free with account
- Websiteseochecker.com — Free bulk DA checker
Note: DA changes based on Moz's algorithm updates and your competitor's DA changes too, so always look at DA in relative terms, not absolute.
How to Increase Domain Authority
Strategies to improve your DA/DR:
- Build quality backlinks: Guest posting on high-DA sites, digital PR, creating linkable assets (free tools, studies, infographics)
- Fix broken backlinks: Use Google Search Console to find 404 pages with backlinks and redirect them
- Improve internal linking: A strong internal link structure helps distribute authority across your site
- Remove toxic backlinks: Use Google's Disavow Tool for spammy links
- Create link-worthy content: Original research, comprehensive guides and free tools naturally attract backlinks
- Be patient: DA increases slowly — expect 6-12 months for meaningful improvement
Check Your Google Rankings — Free
Use RankRadar.in's free SEO tools to check keyword rankings, analyze SERPs, test meta tags and more. No sign-up required.
Open Free Tools →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Domain Authority score?
A good DA depends on your niche and competition. In competitive niches (finance, health, news), you need DA 50+ to compete. In less competitive niches (local businesses, micro-niches), DA 20-30 can be sufficient to rank well. Always compare your DA to direct competitors, not industry giants.
Does Google use Domain Authority for rankings?
No — Domain Authority is a Moz metric, not a Google metric. Google uses its own internal PageRank and hundreds of other signals. However, DA correlates with Google rankings because both are influenced by backlinks and authority. A site with high DA almost always has qualities that Google also values.