When you start analyzing websites for link building or SEO planning, two metrics appear everywhere: Domain Rating (DR) and Domain Authority (DA). Many beginners assume they are the same, but these metrics serve different purposes and are calculated in very different ways. Understanding them helps you make smarter decisions, especially when selecting sites for backlinks or evaluating your own domain’s strength.
Link Nestor works with both metrics daily and we know how much confusion they can create. This guide breaks down DR and DA in a simple and practical way so you always know which one to trust in different SEO scenarios.
What Is Domain Rating (DR)?
Domain Rating is a metric created by Ahrefs to measure the overall strength of a website’s backlink profile. It is scored on a scale from 0 to 100, where higher numbers represent stronger backlink authority.
In simple terms, DR shows
- how powerful a website’s backlinks are
- how influential those backlinks are
- and how well a site can attract organic traffic based on link strength
Ahrefs has publicly confirmed that websites with higher DR often rank for more keywords. This happens because a strong backlink profile signals trust and relevance to search engines.
However, DR is a relative metric. It should be used alongside other SEO factors and not treated as the only decision-making element.
How DR Is Calculated
While Ahrefs doesn’t reveal the full formula, they do share the core components:
1. Number of referring domains
Getting many links from the same site doesn’t matter. What increases DR is earning backlinks from different websites.
2. Strength of referring domains
A backlink from a DR 80 site carries more authority than one from a DR 10 site.
3. Outgoing links of the referring domain
If a site links to hundreds of websites, the link value gets diluted.
If it links to only a few, the value passed to you is higher.
4. Do-follow vs no-follow
Do-follow links pass SEO value.
No-follow links do not.
Although no-follow links don’t boost DR, they still help diversify your backlink profile in a natural way.
Checking Your DR
You can check your DR using Ahrefs:
- Open Ahrefs
- Go to Site Explorer
- Enter your domain
- Your DR score appears at the top of the dashboard
This quick snapshot helps you evaluate link strength and track progress.
What Is Domain Authority (DA)?
Domain Authority is a metric created by Moz to estimate how well a website might rank in search results. DA uses a scale from 1 to 100, and higher scores mean stronger ranking potential.
DA is not a Google ranking factor.
Instead, it predicts how competitive your domain is compared to others.
According to Moz, DA increases when:
- the domain earns strong backlinks
- the site has reliable content
- the backlink profile grows naturally
DA is most useful when comparing your site to competitors in your niche.
How DA Is Calculated
Moz uses data from its Link Explorer tool and evaluates multiple signals:
1. Backlink authority
The quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to your site.
2. Number of referring domains
More unique domains usually mean stronger trust signals.
3. Other Moz metrics
Including MozRank, MozTrust, spam signals, and link credibility.
Because Moz uses machine learning, DA adjusts whenever new data enters their system.
Checking Your DA
To view your DA:
- Visit Moz Domain Authority Checker
- Enter your website URL
- Review DA, linking root domains, and spam score
This helps you understand overall authority, not just backlink strength.
Domain Rating vs Domain Authority: The Key Differences
Here is a simple comparison so you can clearly see the difference:
1. Purpose
- DR measures backlink strength.
- DA predicts ranking potential.
2. Data Sources
- DR uses Ahrefs’ backlink database, one of the largest in the world.
- DA uses Moz’s link index and additional SEO signals.
3. Calculation Logic
- DR depends heavily on backlink quantity and quality.
- DA includes backlink factors plus other SEO indicators.
4. Spam Treatment
Ahrefs filters spam more strictly.
Moz calculates a spam score separately.
5. When to Use Which
- Use DR when evaluating backlink value for link building.
- Use DA when comparing domain strength against competitors.
Why Many Agencies Prefer DR (Including Link Nestor)
At Link Nestor, we prioritize DR for backlink evaluation because:
- Ahrefs has one of the strongest crawlers
- DR focuses purely on link strength
- It updates frequently
- It reflects real backlink authority more accurately
Most premium link building agencies also rely heavily on DR when choosing placement sites.
What Is Considered a Good DR?
A DR above 50 is generally strong.
A DR above 70 is considered excellent.
However, high DR doesn’t guarantee quality if the site has thin content or spammy links.
This is why Link Nestor always evaluates websites manually before recommending backlinks. Metrics alone are not enough.
Final Thoughts
DR and DA are both valuable, but they serve different purposes.
If your goal is ranking analysis, look at DA.
If your goal is link building and authority growth, DR is far more reliable.
Whichever metric you use, the smart approach is understanding how they work instead of blindly following numbers. At Link Nestor, we combine both metrics, real SEO evaluation, and manual vetting to ensure backlinks truly help your website grow.