Check Domain Authority: Simple Guide For Beginners (Free Tools Included) 2026

Q: 2. Is 20 Domain Authority good?

Yes, for a new or small website , a Domain Authority of 20 is good. Most beginner sites start below 10. A score of 20 typically indicates that your content and backlinks are improving. What matters most is steady growth over time, not the number itself.

Q: 4. Is a DA PA checker free to use?

Yes. Many tools offer free DA and PA checkers with limited data. These are enough for beginners to track progress. Paid versions provide deeper backlink analysis, but free tools work well when you are starting out.

Q: 5. How to check DA in Semrush?

Semrush does not show Domain Authority. Instead, it shows Authority Score . To check it: Go to Semrush Enter your website URL View the Authority Score in the overview. It serves a similar purpose and helps you track website strength.

Q: 6. Which is better, DA or DR?

Neither is better. They are just different. Domain Authority (DA) comes from Moz Domain Rating (DR) comes from Ahrefs Both measure link strength on a scale of 0 to 100. Pick one tool and track progress consistently.

Q: 7. Does Domain Authority affect Google rankings?

No. Domain Authority is not a Google ranking factor . Google does not use it. However, websites with higher DA often rank better because they usually have strong backlinks and quality content.

Q: 8. How often should I check Domain Authority?

Once every 3 to 4 weeks is enough. Checking daily does not help and can be confusing. DA changes slowly, so focus on long-term trends.

Updated on February 24, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure

⏱️ 10 min read

Check Domain Authority is one of the first things beginners look at when they start learning SEO and backlinks. It helps you understand how strong your website looks compared to others in your niche. Domain Authority is not a Google ranking factor. It is a score created by SEO tools to measure website strength based on links and trust signals.

Even though it is not an official Google score, learning how to check domain authority is useful. It helps you track your progress as your site grows. When your score improves over time, it usually means your content and backlinks are moving in the right direction.

The good news is that you can improve domain authority with simple steps. You do not need a big team or expensive tools. With consistent content, quality backlinks, and a clean website structure, your score can grow naturally.

What Domain Authority Means

Domain Authority is a score from 0 to 100. Higher scores show stronger websites. It is often used to compare sites in the same niche. If two sites publish content on the same topic, the one with higher domain authority is more likely to rank.

This score is based on signals like:

The number of backlinks
The quality of those backlinks
The trust of the linking sites
Your internal linking structure
Your overall site age and history

It is an estimate, not a rule. Google does not calculate or use Domain Authority. It is a tool created by SEO companies to help you understand how your site is growing.
If you want to check domain authority, you can use any domain authority checker tool. These tools scan your backlinks and give you a score that helps you see your growth.

Why Domain Authority Matters for Beginners

Domain Authority makes it easier to understand your site’s strength. When you improve domain authority, it becomes easier to rank for competitive keywords. It also helps you compare your site with your competitors.

Beginners find Domain Authority helpful because it shows whether their link-building and content strategies are working. If your Domain Authority increases over time, that usually means your backlink profile is improving.

Even though it is not a ranking factor, most competitive sites have higher domain authority scores. This is why tracking it is useful.

If you don’t know which keywords beginners should target,
this guide will show you how to find low-competition keywords for free.

How Is Domain Authority Calculated

The calculation uses many factors related to backlinks and site structure. Each tool uses a slightly different formula. Most tools look at:

Number of linking domains
Quality of linking domains
Follow and nofollow link ratio
Spam signals
Internal link health
Overall trust of your website

You can check how your score is calculated inside tools like Ubersuggest, Moz, Ahrefs, and Semrush. These tools update their formulas often, so your score can go up or down even if you have changed nothing. This is normal.

If you want a simple overview, use a domain authority calculator or a free domain authority checker. These free tools give you a quick understanding without needing paid plans.

Domain Rating vs Domain Authority

Many beginners get confused between Domain Rating and Domain Authority. Both are different. They belong to different tools.

Domain Authority comes from Moz
Domain Rating comes from Ahrefs

Both measure link strength. Both give you a number from 0 to 100. Both help you compare websites. The only difference is the tool used to calculate it.

If you want a deeper and beginner-friendly explanation, check this detailed guide:
👉 Domain Rating vs Domain Authority: Simple Comparison for Beginners

You do not need to obsess over one. Choose one tool and track your progress over time. The pattern is more important than the exact number.

How to Improve Domain Authority as a Beginner

Improving Domain Authority is simple once you understand what affects it. Since Domain Authority is largely based on backlinks, you need to build a clean, strong link profile and publish content that deserves links.
Here are beginner-friendly steps.

Create content people want to link to
Write guides, reviews, and comparison posts that solve real problems. When your content is helpful, people naturally link to it.
Build quality backlinks
Focus on relevant links instead of random backlinks. You can do this through guest posting, community participation, and helpful outreach. High domain authority sites linking to you improve your score faster.
Improve your internal links.
Make sure your posts link to each other in a clear and logical way. This helps search engines understand your site.
Fix technical issues
Slow pages or broken links affect your site quality. Clean up errors and keep your content fresh.
Remove harmful backlinks
If your site gets spam links, they may affect your trust score. You can run a backlink audit and disavow harmful links.
Grow your site age and consistency.
Domain Authority increases slowly. The more consistent you are with new posts and updates, the better your growth.
These steps build a natural and strong domain profile.

Tools You Can Use to Check Domain Authority

You can check your score with a domain authority checker. There are many tools that offer this feature.

Popular options include:

Moz Domain Authority Checker
Ahrefs Website Authority Checker
Semrush Authority Score
Free online domain authority checker tools

These tools show your current score and the backlinks that influence it. You can also track your progress every few weeks. This helps you understand whether your strategies are working.

What Are High Domain Authority Sites

High-domain-authority sites are websites with strong link profiles and long histories. They usually have many trusted backlinks, strong brands, and huge content libraries.

Examples include:

Large news websites
Popular blogs
Well-known tech sites
Government and educational sites

You do not need links from the biggest sites in the world. A backlink from any relevant site in your niche helps you improve domain authority. Quality matters more than size.

Final Thoughts

Domain Authority is not an official Google score, but it is a helpful way to measure your growth. When you improve domain authority, you increase your chances of ranking higher, earning more backlinks, and building trust in your niche. Focus on quality backlinks, helpful content, clean structure, and consistent updates. Your score will rise slowly and naturally.

If you’re interested in learning more about SEO, check out my Complete SEO Guide for a better understanding.

If you don’t know which keywords beginners should target,
this guide will show you how to find low-competition keywords for free.

Useful Resources to Check Domain Authority

If you want to check domain authority and understand how your website is growing, using trusted SEO tools is important. These tools analyze your backlinks and give you a score that helps you compare your site with others in your niche.

Below are some reliable tools beginners can use.

Moz Domain Authority Checker

Moz is the creator of Domain Authority Checker. Their tool shows your DA score along with linking domains and spam signals. It is simple and beginner-friendly.

Ahrefs Website Authority Checker

Ahrefs uses Domain Rating instead of Domain Authority, but it is still useful for understanding link strength. You can check basic metrics for free.

Semrush Authority Score

Semrush provides an Authority Score based on backlinks, traffic, and trust signals. It gives a broader view of your site health.

Free Online Domain Authority Checker Tools

There are also free tools that let you check domain authority quickly without creating an account. These are helpful for quick checks and comparisons.

Learn the Basics Before Using Any Tool

Before relying on scores, it is important to understand what Domain Authority really means and how to use it correctly. This beginner-friendly guide explains everything step by step.

Quick Tip

Do not obsess over one number. Use these tools to track progress over time, not to compare yourself with huge websites.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Authority

1. What is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority is a score that indicates a website’s strength relative to others. It is created by SEO tools, not by Google. The score ranges from 0 to 100 and is mainly based on backlinks and trust signals.

2. Is 20 Domain Authority good?

Yes, for a new or small website, a Domain Authority of 20 is good. Most beginner sites start below 10. A score of 20 typically indicates that your content and backlinks are improving. What matters most is steady growth over time, not the number itself.

3. How can I check my DA?

You can check domain authority using online SEO tools. Just enter your website URL, and the tool will show your score along with backlink data. Popular options include Moz, Ahrefs, and Semrush.

4. Is a DA PA checker free to use?

Yes. Many tools offer free DA and PA checkers with limited data. These are enough for beginners to track progress. Paid versions provide deeper backlink analysis, but free tools work well when you are starting out.

5. How to check DA in Semrush?

Semrush does not show Domain Authority. Instead, it shows Authority Score.
To check it:
Go to Semrush
Enter your website URL
View the Authority Score in the overview.
It serves a similar purpose and helps you track website strength.

6. Which is better, DA or DR?

Neither is better. They are just different.
Domain Authority (DA) comes from Moz
Domain Rating (DR) comes from Ahrefs
Both measure link strength on a scale of 0 to 100. Pick one tool and track progress consistently.

7. Does Domain Authority affect Google rankings?

No. Domain Authority is not a Google ranking factor. Google does not use it. However, websites with higher DA often rank better because they usually have strong backlinks and quality content.

8. How often should I check Domain Authority?

Once every 3 to 4 weeks is enough. Checking daily does not help and can be confusing. DA changes slowly, so focus on long-term trends.

9. How can beginners improve Domain Authority?

Beginners can improve domain authority by:
Publishing helpful content consistently
Building quality backlinks
Improving internal linking
Removing spammy backlinks
Keeping the website clean and fast
Small improvements over time matter more than quick wins.

Use Domain Authority as a tracking metric, not a success badge. Focus on learning, creating value, and building trust. The score will follow naturally.

Suggested Blog Posts

Check Domain Authority: Simple Guide for Beginners (Free Tools Included)

Table of Contents