Free Domain Authority Checker: Moz Alternatives That Won’t Mug Your Wallet

Ever tried checking a site's Domain Authority, only to hit yet another paywall? If you’re tired of Moz giving you the cold shoulder unless you pay up, you’re not alone. Today, you'll get the lowdown on genuinely free domain authority checkers—plus a few Moz alternatives that don’t treat your wallet like an all-you-can-eat buffet. We’ll even walk through a worked example, so you can see how these tools stack up for real link building.

Why Domain Authority Still Matters (Even If Google Pretends Otherwise)

Let’s get this out of the way: Domain Authority (DA) isn’t a Google ranking factor. It’s more like the credit score of the SEO world—everyone checks it, nobody admits to trusting it, but if yours is rubbish, good luck getting a mortgage (or a backlink).

DA helps you:

But Moz’s free checker? It’s stingier than a British pub landlord at last orders. You get three lookups before you’re told to cough up. Not helpful when you’re prospecting dozens—or hundreds—of sites.

The Best Free Domain Authority Checker Alternatives to Moz

Here’s what most people miss: Moz doesn’t have a monopoly on domain metrics. Several solid DA checker tools use their own crawlers or plug into Moz’s API (without the paywall). Some even offer similar or alternative metrics—think Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR) or SEMrush’s Authority Score.

Let’s break down your best free options, minus the sales pitch:

Worked Example: Checking DA in Bulk (and Why 40 Isn’t Always 40)

Let’s say you’re prospecting for guest post links. You’ve shortlisted five sites:

You want to know: which are worth chasing?

How DA Compares to Other Metrics (And Why You Shouldn’t Marry Just One)

Here’s the kicker: Moz’s DA isn’t the only game in town. Ahrefs’ DR and SEMrush’s Authority Score are like different types of scales—one’s digital, one’s old-school, but both will tell you if you’re carrying too much SEO baggage.

Beyond DA: Other Free Tools Worth a Punt

Don’t just stop at DA. If you’re doing outreach or evaluating link prospects, try these free tools as well:

The more angles you check, the less likely you’ll end up with a dud link that looks shiny but delivers nothing.

Questions People Are Actually Asking

How can I check domain authority for free?

You can use a free domain authority checker like KeywordNumbers for unlimited lookups—no sign-up required. Just enter your domain(s), hit check, and you’ll get DA, PA and Moz Rank instantly, all for zero pounds/dollars/euros.

Is there any free domain registration?

If you’re looking for a completely free domain name, your options are limited. Some registrars (like Freenom) offer free domains with .tk, .ml, .ga, .cf or .gq extensions, but these are less trusted and can be risky for serious projects. For proper .com, .co.uk or .org domains, you’ll need to pay—usually a few pounds, dollars or euros per year.

What is the difference between Domain Authority and Domain Rating?

Domain Authority (DA) is Moz’s metric for predicting search performance, based on backlink quality and quantity. Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs’ flavour of the same concept, but calculated differently. Both are proxies for “how powerful is this website?” but will give slightly different results. Check both for a fuller picture.

Can I check domain authority in bulk, for multiple sites?

Yes! Free tools like KeywordNumbers’ DA checker let you check up to 20 domains at once. Just paste your list, and the tool fetches DA/PA for each site—ideal for outreach research.

Why do different DA tools show different numbers?

Each tool uses its own crawler and data sources. Moz, Ahrefs, and SEMrush all have slightly different link indexes and scoring formulas. So, a DA of 50 on Moz might not match DR 50 on Ahrefs. Always compare like with like.

Does Google use Domain Authority in its ranking algorithm?

No, Google has never used DA in its algorithms. DA is a third-party metric, designed to estimate search visibility potential based on backlinks. Useful for SEOs, but not a direct ranking factor.

Is a higher DA always better for link building?

Generally, yes—a link from a high-DA site can pass more authority. But quality matters: a relevant link from a DA 30 niche blog might beat a spammy DA 70 site any day. Use DA as a guide, not gospel.

Conclusion: The Easy Win for Link Builders

You don’t need Moz Pro just to check if a site’s worth your outreach. With a good free domain authority checker, you can vet prospects quickly and focus on building links that actually move the needle. Next time you’re prospecting, save yourself the hassle (and a few quid) by using a free tool that does what it says on the tin.

Ready to give it a whirl? Check your domain authority for free here—no email, no fuss, just results.

Free tools to put this into practice

Reading is one thing — testing your own pages is what moves the needle. Here are the free KeywordNumbers tools that pair best with this guide:

Every one of our free SEO tools is genuinely free to use, with no sign-up required.

Try the UTM Link Builder

Good news — there's now a free tool for exactly this. Give our UTM Link Builder a go and put this guide straight into practice.