Domain Authority (DA) and Domain Rating (DR) are third-party metrics used to compare websites. They are useful shorthand, but they answer different questions and come from different link indexes. A site can therefore have a DA of 55 and a DR of 70 without either tool being “wrong”.
DA and DR side by side
| Question | Domain Authority (DA) | Domain Rating (DR) |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Moz | Ahrefs |
| Primary purpose | Compare predicted ranking ability between domains | Compare the relative strength of backlink profiles |
| Scale | 0–100 | 0–100 |
| Calculation | Machine-learning model using Moz's link data and other inputs | Link-based calculation centred on referring domains and the strength they pass |
| Used by Google? | No | No |
Why the numbers differ
Moz and Ahrefs crawl different parts of the web, update on different schedules and apply different models. DA is explicitly designed as a comparative prediction rather than an absolute quality score. DR is more narrowly tied to the link graph Ahrefs sees. A domain can gain or lose points because the tool's wider index or model changed, even when no obvious change happened on the site that day.
That is why a proposal should always state which metric it quotes. “Authority 70” is meaningless without saying whether it means DA, DR or another provider's score.
What neither metric can tell you
- Whether the linking article is relevant to your topic.
- Whether the publication has a genuine audience.
- Whether the page exists mainly to sell links.
- Whether the link is inside useful editorial context.
- Whether the placement sends qualified referral traffic.
- Whether Google will value that particular link or page.
These omissions matter more than the small differences between two scores. A tightly relevant trade publication with real readers can be a better source than a very high-scoring general domain whose article has no connection to your market.
How to use DA or DR properly
- Choose one metric for comparison. Compare like with like rather than mixing DA and DR in one table.
- Use it as a floor, not the verdict. Remove obviously weak or manipulated candidates, then inspect the survivors manually.
- Check the actual page. Read the article, surrounding text and other outbound links.
- Check relevance and readership. Confirm the site covers your topic for a real audience.
- Record the metric date. Third-party scores change, so a report should show what was measured and when.
How SEO Backlinks uses authority metrics
Our advertised publication range is DA 40–95. That creates a clear campaign qualification range, but it is only the start of the review. A placement must also make editorial sense, fit the client's market and sit on a publication with a real audience. Every live placement is reported with its target page and actual link attribute.
Primary sources
- Moz, Domain Authority — official definition and usage guidance, reviewed 12 July 2026.
- Ahrefs, What is Domain Rating? — official explanation of DR, reviewed 12 July 2026.
Related
FAQs
What is the difference between DA and DR?
Domain Authority is Moz's machine-learning score for comparing a domain's predicted ability to rank. Domain Rating is Ahrefs' score for the relative strength of a website's backlink profile. They use different data and calculations, so the numbers should not be expected to match.
Does Google use DA or DR?
No. Both are independent SEO-tool metrics. Google has its own ranking systems and does not import Moz's DA or Ahrefs' DR score.
Which metric is better for backlink analysis?
Neither is a complete quality test. DR is directly focused on backlink-profile strength; DA is designed as a comparative prediction of ranking ability. Use the metric available in your workflow, but always add relevance, readership and page-level editorial checks.
What score should a good backlink have?
There is no universal threshold. SEO Backlinks works within an advertised DA 40–95 range, but a relevant publication near the lower end can be more useful than an unrelated site with a higher score.