In the DA vs DR debate, every link seller quotes one of the two, and they rarely agree. One site shows DA 45 and DR 12, another DA 20 and DR 60. Which number should you trust when you buy a guest post or check a competitor? This guide explains what each score measures, why they disagree, and how to use both without being fooled.
Quick answer: DA (Domain Authority) is Moz’s prediction of how well a site can rank, scored 1–100. DR (Domain Rating) is Ahrefs’ measure of how strong a site’s backlink profile is, scored 0–100. Both come from each company’s own link index, so they often differ. Google uses neither. Use them together, and always check real organic traffic before you pay for a link. what Domain Authority actually measures. 6 best free DA checker tools compared.
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Key takeaways
- DA is made by Moz, DR by Ahrefs. They are third-party estimates, not Google scores.
- Both scales are logarithmic: going from 70 to 80 is far harder than from 10 to 20.
- A big gap between DA and DR is a warning sign worth checking.
- Traffic matters more than either score when you buy links.
What is Domain Authority (DA)?
Domain Authority is a score from 1 to 100 created by Moz. It predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results compared with other sites. Moz builds it with a machine-learning model that looks at its own link data, such as how many different websites link to a domain and how strong those links are, and compares that with real search results.
Because the model is trained on rankings, DA tries to answer: “How strong does this site look to a search engine?†Moz also uses spam signals, so sites with lots of low-quality links can be held back. practical guide to boosting your Domain Authority.
What is Domain Rating (DR)?
Domain Rating is a score from 0 to 100 created by Ahrefs. It measures the strength of a site’s backlink profile. In simple terms, Ahrefs looks at how many unique websites link to a domain, how strong those linking sites are, and how many other sites they also link to. A link from a strong site that links out to very few others passes more value than a link from a site that links to thousands.
DR answers a narrower question: “How powerful is this site’s link profile?†It does not try to predict rankings directly. Ahrefs’ own help page says DR is relative, so it is most useful when you compare sites in the same niche.
DA vs DR: the main differences
| DA (Domain Authority) | DR (Domain Rating) | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Moz | Ahrefs |
| Scale | 1–100 | 0–100 |
| What it measures | Predicted ability to rank | Strength of the backlink profile |
| Main input | Moz link index + machine-learning model | Ahrefs link index, unique linking domains |
| Spam signals | Yes, can lower the score | Not directly |
| Easy to inflate? | Harder since Moz’s model updates | Yes, with many cheap links from high-DR sites |
| Used by Google? | No | No |
Why DA and DR give different numbers
Moz and Ahrefs each crawl the web with their own bots, so they find different links. They also use different formulas. That is why a site can be DA 30 and DR 55 at the same time. A gap is normal. A very large gap is worth a closer look:
- High DR, low DA, little traffic: the DR may have been pushed up with cheap links from strong domains (for example, sitewide footer links or link farms). This is common with guest post sites built only to sell links.
- High DA, low DR: often an older site whose links Moz still counts, or a site Ahrefs crawls less. Check if the links are still live.
- Both high with real traffic: a genuinely strong site. This is what you want.
Does Google use DA or DR?
No. Both are third-party metrics. Google has its own signals and has said many times that it does not use Moz’s Domain Authority. DA and DR are still useful because they are a quick way to compare sites, but improving them is not the goal. Improving your real links, content and traffic is, and the scores follow.
DA vs DR: which one should you use?
Use both, plus traffic. Here is a simple routine I use before buying any guest post:
- Check DA and DR together. Put the site into the free Website Authority Checker. It shows DA, DR, spam score, traffic and domain age in one place. (Here’s whether that domain age number actually matters for SEO.)
- Look at organic traffic. A site with DR 60 and almost no visitors from Google is a red flag. Real traffic shows Google trusts the site.
- Check the spam score. Moz’s spam score above about 30% deserves a closer look.
- Compare with other options. If you are choosing between many sites, paste them into the Bulk DA DR Checker and compare side by side.
- Check the price. Use the backlink cost calculator to see whether the quote is fair for that DR and traffic.
What is a good DA or DR?
There is no universal “good†number, because both scores are relative. A local plumber with DR 25 may beat every competitor in town, while a tech blog with DR 40 is small in its niche. As a rough guide for guest posts:
| Score (DA or DR) | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 0–20 | New or small site. Fine for local or niche relevance, weak for authority. |
| 20–40 | Growing site. Good value if it has real traffic. |
| 40–60 | Established site. Most quality guest posts sit here. |
| 60+ | Strong site. Expensive, so check traffic carefully. |
Because the scales are logarithmic, each step up gets harder. Moving from 20 to 30 might take a few dozen good links; moving from 70 to 80 can take thousands.
How to improve DA and DR the right way
- Earn links from many different relevant websites, not many links from one site.
- Start with safe foundation links such as podcast platform links and quality profiles, then add relevant guest posts.
- Keep your anchor text natural.
- Publish content people want to cite, such as original data, tools and guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DA or DR more accurate?
Neither is “accurate†in a strict sense, because both are estimates from different link indexes. DR is harder to read on sites that bought cheap links, and DA reacts to spam signals. Use both and check traffic.
Why is my DR high but my DA low?
Usually because Ahrefs counts links from strong domains that Moz either has not found or treats as low quality. If traffic is also low, the links may be artificial.
Does Google use Domain Authority?
No. Domain Authority is a Moz metric and Domain Rating is an Ahrefs metric. Google uses its own signals.
How can I check DA and DR for free?
Use the free Website Authority Checker for one site or the Bulk DA DR Checker for up to 10 sites at once. To check a single site’s Domain Rating, use our free DR checker. No sign-up is needed. Not sure how to read a DA score? This guide walks through what the number means and where its limits are.
What DA or DR should a guest post site have?
There is no fixed minimum. A relevant site with DR 25 and steady traffic is often a better buy than an unrelated site with DR 60 and no traffic.
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