How to find your real backlinks — 100% free
| Method | What you get | How |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Console | Your actual backlinks: top linking sites, top linked pages, anchor text | Search Console → Links → "Top linking sites" & "Top linked pages". Free, from Google itself. |
| Bing Webmaster Tools | Backlink list with anchor text, exportable | Sign in → your site → Backlinks report. Free. |
| Google search operators | Rough mentions of your domain across the web | Search "yourdomain.com" -site:yourdomain.com in Google. |
| Paid tools (limited free tiers) | Larger backlink indexes, domain authority scores | Ahrefs, Moz, and Semrush offer limited free checks — full data needs a paid plan. |
How it works
- Enter your domain name (or full URL — we'll extract the domain).
- We query the public Common Crawl index (a free, open web archive) for how many of your domain's pages appear in its latest crawl.
- You get a real, verifiable crawl-footprint signal — an honest indicator of your site's crawlable presence, not a fabricated backlink count.
- Use the free methods above (Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools) to see your actual backlink list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't this show my actual backlinks?
Backlink databases are built by crawling the entire web and storing every link — that costs millions to maintain, so Ahrefs, Moz, and Majestic keep it behind paid plans. No website can legally give you someone else's full backlink profile for free. We show you the honest signals we can verify instead of making numbers up.
What is the crawl-footprint signal?
It's the number of your domain's pages found in Common Crawl's latest public web archive crawl. More indexed pages generally means a larger, more established, crawlable site. It is not a backlink count — it's an honest visibility signal.
How do I see my real backlinks for free?
Google Search Console's Links report is the most accurate free source — it comes straight from Google. Go to Search Console → your property → Links, and you'll see top linking sites, top linked pages, and anchor text. Bing Webmaster Tools has a similar free backlinks report.
Are free backlink checker sites accurate?
Most free sites that display a backlink number either show a tiny sample, an estimate, or a fabricated figure. Treat any free backlink count with skepticism unless it comes from Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, or a reputable paid tool's free tier.
How often should I check backlinks?
Monthly is plenty for most sites. Focus less on the raw count and more on the quality of linking sites (relevant, real websites) — one link from a trusted site beats a hundred from spammy ones.