How to check the number of backlinks?
Starting with Google Search Console's free backlink data
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 reviewing your backlink count
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.