High DA backlinks are popular for one reason: a single number is easy to buy against. Domain Authority gives you a tidy way to compare sites, and "DA 70+" sounds like a quality bar. It is a useful filter, but it was never meant to be the goal, and treating it as one is how a lot of link budgets get wasted. Search the term and most of the results are lists of "free high DA sites" to drop a link on, which is exactly the mindset this page argues against.
Domain Authority is a third-party metric from Moz that predicts how well a domain might rank. Moz's own documentation is blunt about its limits: Domain Authority "is not a metric used by Google in determining search rankings and has no effect on the SERPs." It can help you sort opportunities and reject obvious junk, but it says nothing about whether a specific page is relevant to you, whether real people read it, or whether the link will sit in genuine editorial content. Two sites with the same DA can be worlds apart.
What we check beyond the number
We do look at authority, but it is the first gate, not the decision. Before we approve a placement we weigh:
- Relevance. Is the publication in or near your topic, so the link makes sense to a reader and to a search engine?
- Real traffic. Does the page have an actual audience, or does it only exist to host links?
- Editorial context. Is the link inside genuine writing, placed because it adds something?
- Link neighbourhood. What else does the site link out to, and how often? A page surrounded by paid links dilutes the trust it should carry.
- Indexing. Can search engines reach and trust the page at all?
DA versus DR, and why we report both carefully
| Domain Authority (DA) | Domain Rating (DR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Moz | Ahrefs |
| Scale | 1 to 100, log-based | 0 to 100, log-based |
| Mainly reflects | Predicted ranking strength from Moz's index | Backlink profile strength from Ahrefs' index |
| Used by Google? | No, per Moz | No, per Ahrefs |
| Agreement | Calculated differently, so the same site often scores differently on each | |
Because they measure overlapping but not identical things, a publisher can look strong on one tool and ordinary on the other. We do not let a single tool's score make the decision. We use the metrics to shortlist, then judge each placement on what a number cannot capture: topic fit, real readership, and the editorial standard of the page your link would actually sit on. For the deeper comparison, see Domain Authority vs Domain Rating.
How we deliver authoritative links
We earn high-authority placements through digital PR backlinks rather than buying them on link-selling pages. We build a story journalists want, pitch named writers at relevant titles, and the coverage carries a contextual link to your chosen page. Those placements sit on DR 70+ publications, average authority around 82, index within roughly 14 days, and they are permanent. Because the link comes from real coverage, you get the brand context of the article for free, which a bought link on a quiet page never delivers no matter how high its score.
The metric trap
The classic mistake is buying a high-DA link from a site that is irrelevant, spammed or obviously pay-to-play, then assuming the number did the work. It did not. A DA 80 link from a generic "write for us" farm is weaker than a DA 55 link from the trade publication your buyers actually read. And buying any link purely to pass ranking credit, high DA or not, breaches Google's spam policies. The metric is a starting filter; relevance, traffic and editorial context decide whether the link is worth anything.
Common high DA mistakes to avoid
The lists of "free high DA backlink sites" that dominate this search share a blind spot: a profile page or a forum post on a DA 90 platform inherits almost none of that score, because the page itself has no authority of its own and the link is rarely editorial. A few patterns are worth naming so you can spot them:
- Confusing domain DA with page value. A self-made profile or directory listing on a strong domain is not the same as an editorial mention inside one of its articles.
- Buying in bulk on score alone. A batch of "DA 50+" links from the same network of "write for us" sites reads as a pattern, not as genuine endorsement.
- Ignoring topical fit. A high-DA link from a site that has never covered your subject carries little relevance, which is the part Google can read directly.
- Treating the number as a guarantee. DA can be inflated by sites built to sell links, so a high score is sometimes a flag rather than a reassurance.
Pricing
Authoritative editorial links run through our monthly backlink packages, with a guaranteed minimum number of placements on DR 70+ titles. To see the full criteria we apply before approving a link, read what makes a good backlink, or book a call for a quote against your targets.
Related
- High authority backlinks, why a score is not authority
- Authority backlinks, trust and relevance together
- Domain Authority vs Domain Rating, what the metrics measure
- Digital PR backlinks, how we earn authoritative placements
- What makes a good backlink?
FAQs
What counts as a high DA backlink?
Domain Authority runs from 1 to 100, and people usually mean a link from a site scoring 50 or above. It is a useful shorthand for shortlisting, but Moz's own documentation states that DA is not used by Google to determine rankings, so a high score alone does not make a link worth having.
Is a higher DA always better?
No. A relevant link from a respected industry site with real readers will usually do more for a commercial page than a higher-DA link from an unrelated or spammed domain. Relevance and genuine traffic outrank the score, which is why we vet both before approving any placement.
What is the difference between DA and DR?
Domain Authority is Moz's metric and Domain Rating is Ahrefs' version of the same idea. They are calculated differently and rarely match for the same site, so a publisher can look strong on one and ordinary on the other. In BuzzStream's State of Digital PR survey, Ahrefs DR was the number one authority metric link builders rely on.
Can buying high DA links hurt my site?
It can. Links bought purely to pass ranking credit breach Google's spam policies regardless of the host's DA, and a high-DA page that exists only to sell links is still a risky neighbourhood. The score does not protect you from a manipulative pattern.