Backlinks are the links from other websites that point to yours. They matter because search engines use them as a signal of trust and relevance. If you want to know who links to your site, what pages they link to, and whether those links look healthy or spammy, you don’t always need paid tools. In this guide I’ll walk you through simple, practical ways to check backlinks for free, explain what each result means, and give tips for what to do next. I’ve written this in plain language so you can follow along step by step.
Why checking backlinks matters
Backlinks can bring direct visitors, help your pages rank higher, and reveal opportunities to partner with other sites. They can also point out problems — for example, spammy links that might harm your site’s reputation. Regularly checking backlinks helps you keep the good links, fix or remove bad ones, and find new places to get links from. The clearest place to start is with tools and reports that are free and easy to use.
The best free starting point: Google Search Console
If your site is verified in Google Search Console (GSC), use the Links report. This report shows external links to your site, the pages that receive the most links, and the anchor text that other sites use when linking to you. Because this data comes straight from Google, it’s the most reliable view of what Google has actually seen and counted for your domain. It also shows internal links and which sites link to you most often. If you don’t have your site in GSC yet, add it and verify ownership — it’s free and takes a few minutes. (Google Help)
(Place Image 1 here — Google Search Console Links report screenshot.)
Quick free tools you can use right away
There are several free backlink checkers that let you inspect any domain (yours or a competitor’s). These tools differ in database size and features, but they are helpful for a quick view:
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Ahrefs Backlink Checker (free version): Shows the top backlinks, referring domains, and link attributes like dofollow/nofollow. The free view is limited but useful for spotting important links quickly. (Ahrefs)
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OpenLinkProfiler: A completely free tool that gives a detailed list of backlinks, anchor texts, and domain metrics. It’s a solid option for deeper free link analysis. (openlinkprofiler.org)
When you use a free tool, compare results to what Google Search Console shows. Each tool crawls and stores link data differently, so numbers will rarely match exactly. Use the different views together to form a fuller picture. (hovsoltechnologies.com)
(Place Image 2 here — an example of a backlink checker results page.)
Step-by-step: How to check backlinks (simple workflow)
First, check your own site in Google Search Console. Look at the Top linking sites and Top linked pages. Read the anchor text report to understand what words people use to link to you; this clue helps you see whether links are brand-based, keyword-based, or generic (“click here”). (Google Help)
Second, paste your domain into one or two free backlink checkers (for example Ahrefs free checker and OpenLinkProfiler). Note the biggest referring domains and which pages get the most links. Compare the lists: if a domain appears in both tools and in GSC, it’s almost certainly a real, consistent link. If a link appears only in one tool, it may be older, newly discovered by that tool, or less important. (Ahrefs)
Third, look at link quality. Ask these plain questions: Is the linking site relevant to your topic? Is it a real website with content? Does it have too many ads or thin pages (a sign of low quality)? Tools will often show a simple metric like domain authority or domain rating — use those numbers to prioritize links to investigate further. (Ahrefs)
Finally, watch for spammy patterns: many links from low-quality directories, adult sites, or comment spam are red flags. If you find harmful-looking links, you can contact the site owner to ask for removal. If removal isn’t possible, Google’s disavow tool is an option, but use it carefully and only after trying removal by contact first.
Can I use Google search tricks to find backlinks?
People sometimes try Google search operators to find backlinks. Search operators are useful for many tasks, but Google has deprecated the old link: operator that used to return backlinks. That means manual Google searches won’t reliably find links the way specialized backlink tools do. Instead, use the site: operator to search inside domains and combine it with terms if you’re looking for specific mentions, but don’t expect a full backlink list from Google search alone. For a reliable backlink list, rely on GSC and backlink tools. (Ahrefs)
How to judge whether a backlink is good or bad
A good backlink usually comes from a site that is relevant, has real content, and is not spammy. It often uses meaningful anchor text and appears in a natural place within a page. A bad backlink might come from a site with thin content, lots of ads, or irrelevant topics. It might use suspicious anchor text or appear in a directory or comment list that looks automated. When in doubt, prioritize links from established sites with clear content and avoid chasing every single link — quality beats quantity.
Small checks you can do for free (no paid subscription needed)
If you want to go a little deeper without paying, use this short checklist:
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Use Google Search Console first — it shows what Google counts. (Google Help)
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Run your domain in a free backlink checker to get extra sources and anchor text. (Ahrefs)
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Visit the linking page manually: read the content around the link to see context. Human review is often the best filter.
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Note whether links are
nofollowordofollow(many tools show this).Dofollowpasses link value;nofollowusually does not, thoughnofollowlinks can still bring traffic. (Ahrefs)
These checks are low-effort but powerful. Even a few minutes of manual review will improve your understanding of who links to you.
What to do after you find backlinks
Once you have a list of backlinks, take action:
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Thank and nurture good links: send a short thank-you email or consider a content collaboration. Good relationships lead to more natural links.
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Fix or remove harmful links: contact site owners politely to ask for removal. Keep records of your requests.
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Disavow only as last resort: if a site refuses to remove very harmful links, you can prepare a disavow file and submit it to Google. This step should be used carefully and rarely, because wrong disavows can remove helpful links.
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Use backlink data to find opportunities: if competitors get links from certain resource pages or blogs, you can reach out to those same places with better content or a helpful angle. Ahrefs and similar guides show how competitor backlink research helps you replicate good links. (Ahrefs)
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t rely on a single tool for the full picture. Free tools have limits. Don’t panic at a small drop in link counts — databases update and crawl at different speeds. Avoid buying links or using spammy services; short-term gains can lead to long-term penalties. And don’t overuse the disavow tool — it’s for damage control, not regular cleanup.
Helpful tips to speed up backlink checks
Check backlinks regularly — for example once a month — so you spot bad links early and notice new good ones. Use a spreadsheet to track referring domains, link dates, anchor text, and your follow-up action (email sent, removed, disavowed). If your site grows, consider upgrading to a paid plan later, but early on the free tools plus GSC often cover most needs.
Final words — keep it simple and steady
Checking backlinks doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Start with Google Search Console, use one or two free backlink checkers to broaden your view, then read the linking pages yourself to judge quality. Keep records, be polite when asking for removals, and use backlinks as a guide to where to build relationships and better content. Over time, a steady habit of checking and improving links gives you more traffic and stronger search presence.