Ahrefs DR vs. Semrush AS vs. Moz DA: Which Metric Matters Most?

Every website on the internet has some kind of strength. In SEO, we try to measure that strength using numbers. These numbers are called domain metrics. They help us understand how trusted or powerful a website is in Google’s eyes. That’s important when you are doing link building or checking your own progress.

According to Authority Hackers, 42.6% of link builders use scores like Domain Rating (DR) and Domain Authority (DA) to check if their link building is working.

There are three scores that most people talk about – 

• Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR)
• Semrush Authority Score (AS)
• Moz Domain Authority (DA)

Each one looks similar from the outside. But they work very differently on the inside. And that makes a big difference. That’s why we’ve created this detailed guide comparing Ahrefs DR vs. Semrush AS vs. Moz DA to help you choose the right tool and the right metric. 

What Are These Metrics?

Each of these tools – Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz has built it’s own way to score a website. But even though the scores look similar, they are based on very different methods and data.

Ahrefs DR (Domain Rating)

Measures the strength of a website’s backlink profile on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 100.

Ahrefs introduced Domain Rating (DR) in 2016. It quickly became a popular metric among SEOs to judge the strength of a website’s backlink profile. DR shows how authoritative a website is based on the quality and number of other websites linking to it. It runs on a scale from 0 to 100. Higher scores mean a stronger backlink profile. 

For example, websites like Wikipedia or major news outlets often have DRs above 90. 

DR is commonly used to evaluate link-building opportunities or check how strong a competitor’s site is. It is useful, but not perfect – it only looks at links. 

Semrush AS (Authority Score)

Scores a domain’s overall authority by combining backlink data, organic traffic, and spam factors.

Semrush’s Authority Score (AS) is one of the newest and most comprehensive domain metrics. Unlike DR or DA, it does not rely only on backlinks. 

AS looks at three things backlink strength, organic traffic, and how natural or suspicious the link profile looks. That makes it harder to manipulate with fake or spammy links. The score is also shown on a scale of 0 to 100. The higher the number – the more trusted and well-rounded the domain. 

AS is useful when you want a fuller picture of a website’s overall authority – especially when doing serious link audits or comparing competitors. It also updates more frequently than some other tools, which makes it better for tracking progress. 

Moz DA (Domain Authority)

Predicts how well a website will rank on search engines, primarily using backlink data.

Moz introduced Domain Authority (DA) back in 2004. It was one of the first tools to score websites based on their ability to rank in search engines. 

DA became popular because it was simple and easy to understand. It gives every website a score between 1 and 100. This score is based mainly on backlinks – the number of unique domains linking to the site and the quality of those links. 

Newer websites start at 1, and as they grow and gain links, their score increases. DA is helpful for quick comparisons, especially for beginners or small businesses who want to see where they stand. But DA doesn’t include traffic, spam signals, or other ranking factors. 

How Are They Calculated?

Each metric has its own method to score a website. The numbers may look similar, but the formulas behind them are not.

Ahrefs DR

Ahrefs DR is calculated based on backlinks – but it is not just about how many you have. It is about where they come from and how much “power” those links actually carry.

Here’s how it works in simple terms.

• Ahrefs looks at all the websites that link to you. These are called referring domains. But only dofollow links count toward DR. If a link is nofollow, it will not help your score.
• Then it checks how powerful those linking websites are. If you get a link from a strong site (with high DR), that helps your score more than a link from a weaker one.
• But there is a catch. If that same site links out to hundreds or thousands of other domains, the value you get is smaller. It is like sharing one pie among too many people.
• Ahrefs only counts the first link from each domain. So, five links from the same website will not give you five times the boost.
• Ahrefs applies a logarithmic scale to the score. That means moving from DR 10 to 20 is much easier than moving from 70 to 80.
• Also, DR is relative, not fixed. Your score can drop even if you don’t lose links – because others might be gaining better links faster.

Also important – Ahrefs DR does not consider things like organic traffic, keyword rankings, or spam detection. It is 100% based on backlinks.

What Is a Good Ahrefs DR Score?

Here is a simple way to understand DR scores.

Remember – DR is best used to compare websites in the same niche. A DR 40 might be great in one industry but below average in another.

Semrush AS

Semrush Authority Score is a compound metric. It doesn’t just look at backlinks – it checks how trusted, visible, and natural your website looks to search engines. The score ranges from 0 to 100.

The calculation is based on three main pillars.

• Link Power (strength and quality of backlinks)
• Organic Traffic (how much traffic your site gets from Google)
• Spam Risk (how natural or fake your link profile looks)

To break it down even further – Semrush looks at eight weighted factors in this order.

1. Link Power – Based on how many “follow” links you have and how strong those linking sites are.

2. Organic Traffic – Estimated monthly traffic from Google. Sites with no traffic raise red flags.

3. No Rankings on SERPs – If a site has zero keywords ranking in Google’s top 100 results, that’s suspicious.

4. High % of Dofollow Links – Over 90% dofollow links? That is often a sign of link manipulation.

5. Link-to-Traffic Imbalance – If a site has lots of backlinks but little to no traffic, it may not be trusted by Google.

6. Same IP Address – Too many links coming from domains on the same IP could mean you are in a private blog network (PBN).

7. Same IP Network – Same issue as above – if many links come from domains in the same IP block, it looks unnatural.

8. Identical Backlink Profiles – If Semrush finds another domain with an almost identical link profile, it is a strong signal of spam or manipulation.

Semrush updates Authority Scores every two weeks, so it is a dynamic and up-to-date reflection of a site’s current authority and health.

What is a Good Semrush AS Score?

Here is a general breakdown to help you understand what your AS score means.

Note – AS is relative to your competitors. A score of 50 might be great if others in your niche average 30.

Moz DA

Moz Domain Authority (DA) is a score that predicts how well a website is likely to rank on Google compared to others. It is not used by Google itself, but it helps you benchmark your site against competitors.

Moz calculates DA using a machine learning model that looks mostly at your backlink profile.

Here is how it works in simple terms.

• It checks how many unique websites are linking to your domain.
• It looks at the quality of those linking sites – not just the number.
• Then, it compares your site with thousands of others to see where you stand in search rankings.

The result is a score between 1 and 100. New sites start at 1. Getting from 20 to 30 is easier than moving from 70 to 80 because it uses a logarithmic scale.

A few more things to know

• Moz does not include traffic or spam checks in DA like Semrush does.
• It focuses heavily on link data from its own index (Link Explorer).
• Your DA can drop even without losing links if stronger sites enter the game.

So, DA is best used as a relative metric. Don’t chase a perfect score. Instead, check how your score stacks up against others in your niche.

What Is a Good Moz DA Score?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. A “good” DA score depends on your industry. But here is a rough idea.

Tip – If your competitors average DA 30 and you are at 35, you are in a strong position. It is always about relative strength, not hitting 100.

Comparison Table

Strengths and Weaknesses

Now, let’s break down what each metric does well – and where it falls short.

Ahrefs DR (Domain Rating)

Strengths:

• Covers one of the biggest backlink databases in the world.
• Very fast at discovering new backlinks.
• Easy to compare DR scores across competitor sites.
• Trusted by many SEOs for quick backlink strength checks.
• Simple scoring logic makes it beginner-friendly for outreach or prospecting.
• The Site Explorer tool is great for getting deep into a website’s backlink profile.

Weaknesses:

• DR only looks at backlinks. It doesn’t care if the site gets zero traffic.
• Because of this, it can be manipulated with spammy links or private blog networks.
• Doesn’t check for spam signals or traffic quality.
• DR inflation through link farms or paid links is still possible.

Semrush AS (Authority Score)

Strengths:

• It checks for real organic traffic – not just backlinks.
• Spam detection is built in. So fake links don’t boost the score easily.
• One of the most accurate scores for judging overall website strength.
• Updated every two weeks, so it reflects changes faster.
• Great for evaluating link prospects in a more realistic way.
• Offers deeper insights into niche relevance, which DR and DA don’t do.

Weaknesses:

• The formula behind the score is more complex. This might confuse beginners.
• The tools can feel a bit heavy for those just starting out.
• Some features are only available in paid or premium plans.

Moz DA (Domain Authority)

Strengths:

• It is easy to understand, even for people new to SEO.
• Moz offers free tools and cheaper plans for small businesses.
• Very popular and often used in outreach emails or link-building reports.
• MozBar (Chrome extension) lets you see DA instantly while browsing.
• DA is often accepted in guest post or backlink negotiations.

Weaknesses:

• Backlink index is not as large or updated as Ahrefs or Semrush.
• Doesn’t include traffic or any sign of actual user engagement.
• Spammy or artificial links can still push the score up.
• Can be misleading for websites that have high DA but weak content or low rankings.
• DA can fluctuate even when there are no major SEO changes.

Which Metric Should You Trust?

If you want the most honest score, go with Semrush Authority Score. It checks how many good backlinks a site has + how much real traffic it gets + signs of fake or spammy behavior. That makes it harder to cheat.

Ahrefs DR and Moz DA are also good tools. Many people use them. They are quick and easy to understand. But there is a catch. These scores can be tricked with fake or low-quality links. And they don’t always show how well a site is really doing on Google.

So here is the deal. 

Use Semrush AS when you need something strong and reliable. If you are just doing a basic check, DR or DA are fine. Just don’t trust them on their own.

Which One Should You Use?

Each of these scores is helpful, but they work best for different things. Here is how to choose.

• Use Ahrefs DR if your main goal is building backlinks. It is great for checking the strength of a website’s link profile and spotting link opportunities.
• Use Semrush AS if you want the full picture. It shows backlink quality, traffic, and checks for spam. This is the best option if you care about real SEO performance.
• Use Moz DA if you want a quick check. It is simple and easy to understand, especially for beginners or small projects.

In short, pick the one that fits your goal. Or use all three together to make smarter decisions.

Conclusion

There is no perfect score that tells the whole story. Domain authority metrics like Ahrefs DR, Semrush AS, and Moz DA are just tools. They give you direction, but they don’t guarantee results.

Semrush AS is the most reliable if you are looking for real traffic signals and stronger spam checks. Ahrefs DR is great for backlink-focused strategies, while Moz DA is easy to use when you want a quick comparison.

But numbers alone are not enough. Always combine these with your own research – look at the site’s content + traffic + relevance to your niche.

At Link Publishers, we help you take the guesswork out of link building. You can browse thousands of real websites, compare metrics side by side, and make smarter SEO decisions without wasting time.

Use the metrics to guide you. Use Link Publishers to grow wisely.

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Read More:

• Referring Domains vs. Backlinks: What’s the Difference?
• Backlink vs Content – Which is better for ranking
• Digital PR vs Traditional PR: Key Elements, Benefits & Challenges
• Domain Rating vs. Domain Authority: What’s the Difference?