How to check the number of backlinks?

17 June 2026 · By John Carlsson

Use the Links report in Google Search Console, which is free and shows which sites Google has recorded as linking to you and which of your pages they link to. Paid SEO tools cover more of the web and add authority scores for linking sites, history and comparisons with competitors.

To check the number of backlinks pointing to your website, most SEO tools offer a backlink analysis feature where you enter your domain and receive a report showing total backlinks, referring domains, and link quality. Google Search Console is a free option showing which sites link to yours. Paid SEO tools offer deeper insights including competitor comparisons, domain authority scores, and toxic link detection.

Starting with Google Search Console's free backlink data

When you check the number of backlinks to your site, Google Search Console's 'Links' report is the most authoritative free source of your backlink data because it comes directly from Google — it shows which sites Google has actually recognised as linking to you, which of your pages receive the most external links, and which anchor text is most commonly used in those links. The limitation is that it doesn't show historical trend data or allow competitor comparison, but for a starting point on your own site's link profile it's both free and accurate.

What paid backlink tools add beyond Search Console

Paid SEO tools index a much larger share of the web than what Search Console shows, tracking links that Google may not have attributed to you yet, or links from sites that haven't been crawled by Google recently. They also add: authority scores for linking domains (so you can assess quality, not just count), historical data showing how your link profile has changed over time, toxic link flags to identify links that might be harming rather than helping, and competitive comparison so you can see your backlink profile relative to specific competitors side by side.

What to look for when you check the number of backlinks

Beyond the total numbers, look at three things specifically: the trend (is the number of referring domains growing, stable, or declining over time?), the distribution (do most of your links come from one or two sites, or are they spread across many independent sources?), and the relevance (are the sites linking to you in the same or related industry, or completely unrelated?). A growing, broadly distributed, relevance-matched link profile is the strongest signal of genuine, sustainable link authority.

Key Takeaways

Start with Google Search Console's free Links report — it's the most authoritative source.
Paid tools add authority scores, history, toxicity flags, and competitor comparison.
Look for trend, distribution, and relevance — not just the raw total.

Frequently asked questions

Can I check the number of backlinks to my site for free?

Yes. Google Search Console's Links report is the most authoritative free source of backlink data because it comes directly from Google. It shows which sites Google has actually recognised as linking to you, which of your pages receive the most external links and which anchor text is used most often in those links. Its limitations are that it does not show historical trend data and does not allow competitor comparison, but as a starting point for understanding your own site's link profile it is both free and accurate.

What do paid backlink tools offer over Google Search Console?

Paid SEO tools index a much larger share of the web than Search Console shows, picking up links Google may not have attributed to you yet and links from sites Google has not crawled recently. They also add authority scores for linking domains so you can judge quality rather than just count, historical data showing how your link profile has changed, toxic link flags to identify links that might be harming rather than helping, and side-by-side comparison of your backlink profile against specific competitors.

What should I look for when reviewing my backlink profile?

Beyond the total numbers, look at three things. The trend shows whether your number of referring domains is growing, stable or declining over time. The distribution shows whether most of your links come from one or two sites or are spread across many independent sources. The relevance shows whether linking sites are in the same or a related industry or completely unrelated. A growing, broadly distributed, relevance-matched link profile is the strongest sign of genuine, sustainable link authority, far more telling than the raw total alone.