Best Backlink Analysis Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: SEO SpyGlass is ranked #1 of 29 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Ahrefs and Semrush. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Ahrefs. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Linkody at €0.88/mo.
Reviewing a site’s backlink profile means looking beyond the total links to the sources, anchors, and changes over time. Compared on referring domains, backlink rows, anchor text reports, and historical backlink data, these tools offer different ways to inspect link information. New and lost links, link intersection, and competitor comparison help distinguish the available research views. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing are also worth checking. SEO SpyGlass, Ahrefs, and Linkwake are among the options shown. Match the reports and cross-site comparisons you need with the features listed for each tool.
29 backlink analysis tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
7 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEO SpyGlassWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $10.75/mo | 6.5 | |
| 2 | AhrefsWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $29/mo | 6.4 | |
| 3 | SemrushAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 4 | Backlink CheckerWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 5 | BacklinkManagerWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $39/mo | 6.3 | |
| 6 | LinkwakeWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $24/mo | 6.3 | |
| 7 | Swappsy Link TrackerWeb · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 8 | LinkodyWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | €0.88/mo | 5.4 |
| 9 | SpyFuWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $29/mo | 5.4 |
| 10 | ZutrixWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $19/mo | 5.4 |
| 11 | BacklinkManager.appWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | BacklinkVoidWeb · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | LinkMinerWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | MajesticAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | SeobilityAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | SerpstatAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | $50/mo | 5.2 |
| 17 | Competitor BacklinksWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | DailyBacklinksWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | Monitor BacklinksWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | Moz Link ExplorerWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | SeodityWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $41/mo | 5.1 |
| 22 | cognitiveSEOWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $129.99/mo | 5.0 |
| 23 | LinkboxWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $20/mo | 4.9 |
| 24 | Backlink AnalyticsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 25 | LinkResearchToolsWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $599/mo | 4.8 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Referring domains | Backlink rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEO SpyGlass | 6.5 | Free plan | $10.75/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | Ahrefs | 6.4 | Free plan | $29/mo | Yes | 29 /mo | — | — |
| 3 | Semrush | 6.4 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Backlink Checker | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | BacklinkManager | 6.3 | Free plan | $39/mo | Yes | 39 /mo | — | — |
| 6 | Linkwake | 6.3 | Free plan | $24/mo | Yes | 24 /mo | 100 domains | — |
| 7 | Swappsy Link Tracker | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | Linkody | 5.4 | No | €0.88/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 9 | SpyFu | 5.4 | No | $29/mo | Yes | 29 /mo | — | — |
| 10 | Zutrix | 5.4 | No | $19/mo | Yes | 19 /mo | — | — |
| 11 | BacklinkManager.app | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | BacklinkVoid | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | LinkMiner | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Majestic | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | Seobility | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | Serpstat | 5.2 | No | $50/mo | Yes | 50 /mo | — | — |
| 17 | Competitor Backlinks | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | DailyBacklinks | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | Monitor Backlinks | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Moz Link Explorer | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | 49 /mo | — | — |
| 21 | Seodity | 5.1 | No | $41/mo | No | 49 /mo | — | 20,000 links |
| 22 | cognitiveSEO | 5.0 | No | $129.99/mo | No | 89 /mo | — | 200,000 links |
| 23 | Linkbox | 4.9 | No | $20/mo | No | 20 /mo | — | — |
| 24 | Backlink Analytics | 4.8 | No | — | No | 9.99 /mo | — | — |
| 25 | LinkResearchTools | 4.8 | No | $599/mo | No | 599 /mo | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which backlink analysis tool is ranked first on Freedom251?
SEO SpyGlass is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 6.5. Ahrefs is second and Semrush third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Linkody has the lowest first paid tier we found: €0.88/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.