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Understanding SEO Authority Metrics: Moz versus Ahrefs and Semrush

A complete, in-depth comparison to help you choose the right tool for your SEO strategy.

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const response = await fetch(
  'https://www.fetchserp.com/api/v1/search?' + 
  new URLSearchParams({
    search_engine: 'google',
    country: 'us',
    pages_number: '1',
    query: 'serp+api'
  }), {
    method: 'GET',
    headers: {
      'accept': 'application/json',
      'authorization': 'Bearer TOKEN'
    }
});

const data = await response.json();
console.dir(data, { depth: null });
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Introduction to SEO Authority Metrics

When evaluating the strength and potential ranking ability of websites, SEO professionals rely heavily on domain authority metrics. Among these, Moz’s Domain Rating (DR), Ahrefs' Domain Rating (DR), and Semrush’s Authority Score are the most prominent. This guide provides an in-depth comparison of these metrics, helping you understand how they differ, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to leverage them for your SEO success.

What Is Moz's Domain Rating?

Moz’s Domain Rating (DR) is a proprietary score designed to predict how well a website might rank in Google search results. It focuses primarily on the backlink profile, evaluating both the quantity and quality of links pointing to a domain. The DR score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating stronger backlink authority. Moz’s algorithm considers factors such as linking domains, link diversity, and spam signals, offering a comprehensive picture of a site's backlink strength.

How Does Moz's DR Compare to Ahrefs and Semrush?

While all three metrics aim to measure the authority of a domain, there are key differences:

  • Score Range: All use a 0-100 scale, but their calculation methods differ, affecting how scores correlate across tools.
  • Data Sources: Moz emphasizes its own backlink index, while Ahrefs and Semrush leverage their vast backlink databases—Ahrefs’ is renowned for its deep link index, and Semrush’s integrates organic traffic signals.
  • Calculation Method: Moz’s DR predicts ranking likelihood mainly based on backlink strength, considering link spam and diversity. Ahrefs’ DR focuses purely on backlink quality and quantity from its extensive index. Semrush combines backlink authority with overall site performance metrics, including organic traffic and keyword rankings.
For a detailed comparison, check out our dedicated page on Moz's Domain Rating.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Moz’s Domain Rating

  • Easy to understand and interpret
  • Focuses on backlink quality and diversity
  • Widely used in SEO community

However, it may underrepresent newer or less backlink-rich domains and can be manipulated through spammy links if not monitored properly.

Ahrefs' Domain Rating

  • Extensive backlink database for accurate analysis
  • Strong correlation with Google rankings
  • Reliable for competitive analysis

Its comprehensive index makes it highly accurate, but it can favor older domains with established backlinks.

Semrush’s Authority Score

  • Integrates organic traffic and keyword data
  • Useful for broader site authority evaluation
  • Helps identify content and ranking opportunities

Its broader scope is advantageous for holistic analysis but may dilute the backlink focus compared to Moz or Ahrefs.

Which Metric Is Best for Your SEO Strategy?

Choosing the right authority metric depends on your specific needs:

  • Focus on backlinks? Use Moz’s Domain Rating or Ahrefs’ DR for precise backlink authority insights.
  • Holistic site health? Consider Semrush’s Authority Score, which includes organic traffic and keyword metrics.
  • Technical accuracy? Ahrefs’ extensive backlink database is excellent for in-depth backlink analysis.

For a comprehensive comparison and detailed analysis, visit our full comparison page.

Ready to elevate your SEO game? Use Fetchserp’s powerful API to analyze and compare domain metrics seamlessly, gaining an edge over competitors.

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