Backlink Gap
Free tool · Link opportunities
Backlink Gap
Find backlink opportunities by comparing your website's backlink profile with up to three competitors. Identify referring domains that link to them but not to you, ranked by how many competitors share each link and classified by attainability.
What This Backlink Gap Tool Checks
- Competitor backlinks: Compares real referring-domain data from the Ahrefs API for your domain and up to 3 competitors.
- Referring domains: Finds domains linking to your competitors that don't currently link to you.
- Link gaps: Ranks gap domains by how many of your competitors they link to, so the ones your whole niche has are easy to spot.
- Domain Rating: Shows each referring domain's DR alongside your own domain's DR for comparison.
- Attainability: Classifies each gap domain as easy, medium, or hard to earn a link from, based on DR, link type, and platform signals, and filters out junk sources like low-DR directories.
What This Tool Does Not Do
- Requires an Ahrefs API token with a paid Ahrefs plan; it will not run without one
- Compares up to 3 competitor domains per run
- Attainability is a heuristic estimate from DR, link type, and platform signals, a triage aid, not a guarantee
- Does not guarantee that a website will link to you
- Does not automatically build backlinks
- Does not replace manual link quality evaluation
- Does not guarantee higher search rankings
Why Use Backlink Gap Analysis?
Your competitors may have links from websites that are relevant to your industry and audience. Comparing backlink profiles can help you discover potential link sources that you may not have considered.
- Find referring domains linking to competitors
- Discover potential backlink opportunities
- Compare your link profile with competing websites
- Identify common industry link sources shared by multiple competitors
- Build a more targeted link prospect list, ranked by attainability
How to Use the Backlink Gap Tool
- Have an Ahrefs API token added under the tool's settings (an admin can add one under Settings, MyInscribe Backlink Gap).
- Enter your domain and up to three competitor domains.
- Run the analysis. The tool pulls referring-domain data from Ahrefs for all the domains entered.
- Review the gap list, sorted by DR and how many competitors share each domain, split into Attainable and All tabs.
- Evaluate each domain for relevance and quality before pursuing outreach, prioritizing the ones flagged as easier to earn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a backlink gap?
A backlink gap is a difference between your website's backlink profile and those of competing websites, particularly referring domains that link to competitors but not to your site.
Does this tool need an API key?
Yes. It requires an Ahrefs API token connected to a paid Ahrefs plan with API access, added under the tool's settings.
How many competitors can I compare?
Up to three competitor domains per run, alongside your own.
What does the attainability rating mean?
It's a heuristic estimate, easy, medium, or hard, based on a domain's Domain Rating, link type, and platform signals. It's meant as a triage aid to help you prioritize outreach, not a guarantee.
How does a Backlink Gap Tool help SEO?
It can help you discover relevant referring domains and build a more informed backlink prospect list. The analysis itself does not guarantee rankings or backlinks.
Should I try to get every competitor backlink?
No. Evaluate each potential link source for relevance, quality, and whether the link would provide genuine value before pursuing it.