What is Domain authority?
Domain authority is a score from 0 to 100, created by Moz, that estimates how likely a website is to rank based mainly on the quality and number of its backlinks.
The term often refers to similar scores from other tools, such as Domain Rating (DR) from Ahrefs and Authority Score from Semrush. Each uses its own formula, so scores differ between tools.
Domain authority is not a Google metric. Google does not use it, and a higher score does not directly cause better rankings. It is a comparison tool to judge your link profile against competitors.
Domain Authority vs similar metrics
| Metric | Made by | Scale | Main input |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Authority (DA) | Moz | 1 to 100 | Link profile, machine learning model |
| Domain Rating (DR) | Ahrefs | 0 to 100 | Strength of referring domains |
| Authority Score (AS) | Semrush | 0 to 100 | Links, organic traffic and spam signals |
| Trust Flow and Citation Flow | Majestic | 0 to 100 | Link trust and volume |
None of these are used by Google. They are third party estimates that help you compare sites.
Does Google use Domain Authority?
No. Google has said many times that it does not use Domain Authority or any similar third party score. DA is useful because it roughly reflects the link strength Google does value, but a page with a lower DA site can outrank a higher DA site when it answers the search better.
How to improve domain authority
Earn links from relevant, trusted sites
The quality and number of linking domains drive DA more than anything else.
Publish content people want to cite
Original research, tools and in depth guides attract natural links.
Use digital PR
Newsworthy stories earn links from publications that lift authority quickly.
Fix lost and broken links
Redirect old URLs that still have links so their value is not wasted.
Avoid spammy links
Cheap link packages can raise scores briefly but carry risk and often get discounted.
Be patient
DA is relative and updated periodically; strong sites grow slowly at the top of the scale.
What domain authority really measures
Domain Authority is a score from Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank, based mainly on its backlink profile. Similar metrics include Ahrefs Domain Rating and Semrush Authority Score. They are useful for comparing sites and judging link prospects, but Google does not use them.
Scores are relative and change as the tools update their data. A rising score usually reflects more quality links, while a drop may reflect lost links or a change in the tool's model.
Using domain authority wisely
- 1Compare scores with direct competitors, not unrelated sites.
- 2Track trends over months rather than single changes.
- 3Check relevance and traffic, not just the score, when judging links.
- 4Focus on earning quality links rather than raising the number.
- 5Use several tools to get a balanced view.
Domain authority myths
A high score guarantees rankings
Relevance and content quality still decide results.
Low score sites are worthless
Small, relevant sites can be valuable link sources.
You must reach a target score
There is no score you need to rank.
Domain authority checklist
- 1Compared with competitors.
- 2Tracked over months.
- 3Links judged by relevance.
- 4Quality links earned steadily.
- 5Several tools checked.
Domain authority and local businesses
Local businesses often rank well with modest authority scores, because local signals such as the Google profile, reviews and proximity matter more for local searches.
Why Domain authority matters for SEO
It is a quick way to compare sites. If every page ranking for your keyword is on a site with a much higher score, you may need more authority before you can compete.
It also helps judge link opportunities, though relevance and real traffic matter more than a number.
How Domain authority works
Use domain authority as a guide, not a goal.
Compare with competitors
Check the scores of sites ranking for your target terms.
Track trends
Watch whether your score rises as you earn quality links.
Judge link prospects carefully
Look at relevance, traffic and editorial quality, not just the score.
A new cybersecurity firm with a score of 8 targets keywords where top results average 60. It shifts to long tail topics where competitors average 25, earns links through research reports and later moves into harder terms as its score rises to 35.
Domain authority checklist
- ✓Use it to compare, not as a ranking goal
- ✓Focus on relevant, high quality links
- ✓Look at referring domains and traffic too
- ✓Track the same tool over time
- ✓Check page level authority for specific pages
- ✓Ignore offers to "boost DA fast"
Common Domain authority mistakes
Buying links to raise the score
Paid schemes break Google's rules.
Comparing scores across tools
Moz DA and Ahrefs DR are not the same.
Choosing links on score alone
A high score site with no relevance adds little.
Treating it as a Google metric
Google does not use domain authority.
Related SEO terms
Domain authority FAQs
Is domain authority a Google ranking factor?
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No. It is a third party estimate.
How do I increase domain authority?
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Earn quality links from relevant, trusted sites over time.
Why did my domain authority drop?
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Tool updates, lost links or competitors growing faster can lower scores.
Can domain authority be bought?
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Services selling DA boosts usually use spammy links that do not help real rankings and may cause harm.
How long does it take to raise domain authority?
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Steady link earning over months shows gradual growth. Quick jumps usually come from tool data updates.
What is a good domain authority?
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It depends on your niche. Compare with sites ranking for your keywords.
What is the difference between DA and DR?
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DA is from Moz and DR is from Ahrefs. They use different formulas.
Does page authority matter?
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Page level scores help judge individual pages, which is often more useful.
Does domain age affect domain authority?
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Not directly. Older sites often have more links, which raises the score.
Is domain authority useful for choosing guest post sites?
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It is one signal, but relevance, real traffic and editorial standards matter more.