5 Best Backlink Monitoring Tools

Picture this: You open your mailbox and see a client complaint: 10% of the links you've built for them are gone.

That's bad for business.

Even if you don’t replace them instantly, they will have to wait longer for the results.

Not all clients will notice missing links. That's even worse. They'll be paying for links but will not see any SEO benefits. If the ROI isn't there, they might not see the point of further collaboration. And terminate the contract. 

And think about the reputation damage! The word that you build links that disappear or don't move the needle will spread like wildfire. 

But there's a solution: Using a backlink monitoring tool to detect any lost links. So you can replace them as soon as they go AWOL.

In the article, I review five best link monitoring tools to help you choose the best one for your needs.

Best Backlink Monitoring Software

To choose the 5 link monitoring tools for this article, I tested them against these criteria:

• Database size and update frequency — Larger indexes and frequent crawling improve the chances of finding every backlink and detecting changes quickly.
• Alerting and reporting — Real‑time or daily alerts for new and lost links so you can respond quickly.
• Quality metrics — Metrics such as domain authority/DR, spam scores, and anchor distribution help assess link quality.
• Scalability and multi‑domain support — Agencies often manage numerous client websites.
• Competitor analysis — To track their link-building efforts, for example, which websites they’re trying to boost, how many links they get, how quickly, and where from.

Here’s the overview:

1. Google Search Console

Google Search Console (GSC) provides a straightforward, reliable way to track your website's backlinks directly from Google.

It lists your top linking pages, referring domains, and lets you monitor new or lost links within the past 30 days.

The main GSC strength?

Accurate up-to-date Google data. You see the links as soon as Google indexes them. And it's completely free.

However, the tool has some cons:

• GSC isn't suitable for competitor analysis because you can view data only for verified websites. This is fine only if you want to track your links.
• GSC shows only a sample of known links. It groups duplicates, and the tables are limited to about 1,000 rows, so it may omit many backlinks. 
• GSC doesn't support domain authority or spam score metrics.

2. Semrush

Semrush is one of the leading SEO tools and a true backlink monitoring powerhouse, boasting an extensive backlink index. 

It allows you to easily track new, lost, and broken links with real-time alerts, so you never miss critical changes, and with Backlink Audit and Backlink Gap, you can X-ray your competitors' link-building efforts.

Semrush offers multiple advantages to its users:

• Extensive backlink database for in-depth analysis (~43 trillion links, updated every 15 minutes).
• Built-in backlink analysis tools so you can easily find your blind spots — and surface competitors' strengths. 
• Advanced real-time alerts for immediate link profile monitoring.
• White‑label PDF reports.

However, the Semrush interface is somehow cluttered, and new users may find it overwhelming.

And there's the price.

The Pro plan starts at $117 a month (if paid annually), and it's enough for small in-house marketing teams. As an agency, you will need the Guru or Business plan, which start at $208 and $416, respectively.

3. Linkody

Linkody is the only dedicated backlink monitoring tool in the roundup, catering to freelance link builders, agencies, and marketing teams.

It integrates with GSC, automatically detects all backlinks when you create the projects, and sends you automatic updates with changes to your backlink profile every 24 hours.

Although a bit of an underdog in the roundup, Linkody offers a number of strengths:

• It has a user-friendly interface with straightforward navigation. Even beginners can hit the ground running in no time.
• It automatically crawls your links daily. And sends you an email with an update. 
• It allows you to monitor your competitors' backlinks and assess their quality using Moz metrics.
• Agencies can effortlessly submit professional reports to your clients.

However, it isn't all hearts and roses. There are limitations, too.

The main one: Limited capabilities beyond backlink monitoring. No rank tracking or keyword research features. So you will need other SEO tools to run your campaigns.

Its pricing starts at $14.90 a month. An agency will need at least the Pro plan ($49.90).

4. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is by far the most popular SEO tool. More importantly, it has the most accurate backlink data, according to 68.1% of SEOs who took part in our study earlier this year.

Just like Semrush, it allows you to monitor your new and lost backlinks and dissect your competitors' link profiles to inform your link-building campaigns.

What makes Ahrefs a strong backlink monitoring tool?

• It features an extensive and frequently updated backlink database. We're talking 35 trillion backlinks, updated every 15-30 minutes.
• Granular backlink reports with filters so you can slice and dice your backlink data. And your competitors'.
• Custom alerts so you never lose track of new and lost links.
• A comprehensive suite of SEO tools, including Keyword and Content Explorer and Brand Radar.

Similar to Semrush, Ahrefs comes with a steep learning curve.

The main downside, though? Users have reported waiting for new links to get indexed longer than in other tools.

Ahrefs is slightly cheaper than Semrush. The Lite plan costs $108 a month, but as an agency, you will need at least the Standard plan, which starts at $208 a month.

5. SEOptimer Backlink Monitor

SEOptimer Backlink Monitor is a straightforward, cost-effective solution perfect for small businesses, startups, and freelancers.

It provides a Backlink Change Dashboard where you can track new and lost links. It highlights the backlink’s follow/nofollow status, SEO strength, and acquisition date. You also get regular email summaries and can export data to CSV/Excel/PDF.

What makes SEOptimer a good backlink monitoring tool?

• I like its clean and intuitive user interface.
• You get regular updates and summaries via email, so you don't miss any vital changes.
• You can create white-label reports for your clients.
• It's a part of a larger SEO suite that supports competitor backlink analysis, keyword research, and more.

Compared to more established competitors, SEOptimer has a smaller backlinks index, which means it won't work for large companies. If you've been building links for a while, you won't be able to surface new opportunities as effectively as new businesses.

As to pricing, the backlink monitoring features come in the White Label plan, which starts at $39/month.

Which tool should I choose?

All the above link monitoring tools are sound alternatives, but they serve different use cases:

• If you want to monitor your links only, Google Search Console is all you need.
• If you want to monitor links across multiple websites but don't need competitor analysis or other SEO features, Linkody is a good choice.
• If you need a comprehensive SEO solution for a small business, go for SEOptimer.
• If you're a large business or work with multiple clients and need to run link-building campaigns in addition to backlink tracking, Ahrefs and Semrush are the obvious choices.

Backlink Monitoring FAQ

Let's finish with answers to a few frequently asked questions about backlink monitoring.

What is backlink monitoring software, and why do I need one?

A backlink monitoring software is a tool that tracks the links pointing to a website and alerts you about new or lost links, and their status changes (for example, from dofollow to nofollow). 

Monitoring backlinks to your website allows you to assess the effectiveness of your link-building efforts and keep backlink vendors and partners accountable. The sooner you spot links that disappear, the higher your chances of getting the links restored. 

For SEO and link-building agencies, using backlink monitoring software helps spot lost links before their clients notice them. So you can replace them before the damage is done.

Which backlink monitoring tools offer real-time alerts?

Apart from GSC, all the backlink monitoring solutions above offer new/lost backlink alerts.

However, their frequency depends on their crawl frequency.

Out of the 5 tools, Ahrefs and Semrush update their indexes most often — every 15 minutes or so. So they're the closest to 'real-time' trackers.

Do free backlink monitoring tools provide accurate data?

Many tools, including Ahrefs and Semrush, offer free versions of their backlink monitoring tools. The quality of data is as accurate as in their paid versions, but you get limited insights.

For example, Ahrefs limits the results to 100 rows, and you can't filter them.

As for completely free tools, the quality varies. For example, GSC has accurate data but only provides a sample of the results, so you can get an incomplete picture.

What’s the difference between backlink monitoring and link-building tools?

Backlink monitoring tools focus on tracking and analysing links that already exist. They provide alerts for new/lost links, metrics to assess link quality, and reporting dashboards that allow you to monitor your backlinks profile health.

In contrast, link‑building tools are designed to secure new links. 

These tools discover link opportunities, manage outreach campaigns, and track results. For example, a link-building platform might include a prospect CRM, email outreach automation tools, and a backlink tracker.