What is Domain Authority (DA)?Domain Authority (DA) is a search ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). Like DR from Ahrefs, DA is scored on a logarithmic scale from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater authority. DA is calculated
What is Domain Authority (DA)?
Domain Authority (DA) is a search ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). Like DR from Ahrefs, DA is scored on a logarithmic scale from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater authority. DA is calculated using Moz Link Explorer data, incorporating linking root domains, total number of links, and MozRank and MozTrust signals. It was one of the first widely-adopted third-party domain authority metrics and remains commonly referenced in marketing reports.
Domain Authority vs. Domain Rating vs. Google PageRank
DA (Moz), DR (Ahrefs), and URL Rating (Ahrefs page-level) are all third-party metrics attempting to approximate link authority. They differ in their data sources (each SEO tool crawls a different subset of the web) and methodologies. Neither DA nor DR is a direct input to Google ranking algorithms. Google uses its internal PageRank-derived link signals, which are not publicly exposed. DA and DR are useful for relative competitive benchmarking and directional link building guidance, not as absolute predictors of rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use DA or DR for competitive analysis?
Use whichever tool you have access to: Moz for DA, Ahrefs for DR. For competitive analysis, the most important thing is consistency: compare all competitors on the same metric from the same tool. DA and DR are highly correlated but not identical; a site with DA 55 and DR 65 is not inconsistent, just measured differently. Many SaaS SEO teams use both as secondary checks. Avoid reporting both as if they measure the same thing.
How quickly does DA change?
DA updates as Moz recrawls the web and updates its Link Explorer database, typically monthly. Significant DA changes require substantial changes in backlink profile: gaining 50 high-quality linking root domains from DR 40-60 sites might increase DA by 3-5 points over 2-3 months. DA is resistant to manipulation and rewards genuine link building over time. Do not expect rapid DA growth from a handful of low-quality links.