Google doesn't have a dedicated backlink checker, but you can see some of your backlinks through Google Search Console
Google Search Console shows you backlinks pointing to your website, though not all of them. It displays links Google has discovered and considers relevant to your site's ranking. To access this data, you need a Google account and ownership verification of your website through Search Console.
The backlink data in Search Console updates periodically — usually within a few weeks of a new link appearing. Google does not show every backlink your site receives, only those it has crawled and indexed. This means you may have links that don't appear in Search Console but still affect your site's visibility.
If you want a complete picture of all backlinks pointing to your site, you will need to use third-party tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz. These services crawl the web independently and maintain their own databases of links. Google Search Console remains the most authoritative source for links Google itself has found, but third-party tools often discover additional links that Google has not yet indexed.
Key Takeaways
- Google Search Console shows backlinks Google has discovered, accessible through the Links report after you verify site ownership.
- The backlinks displayed in Search Console update periodically and represent only the links Google has crawled, not necessarily all links pointing to your site.
- Third-party SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz typically show more backlinks than Google Search Console because they maintain separate web crawl databases.
- You can filter backlinks in Search Console by top linking sites, top linked pages, and link types to understand which pages and domains send the most traffic-driving links.
How to access the Links report in Google Search Console
Open Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account. Select the property (website) you want to check. On the left sidebar, click Links to expand the menu, then select External links.
The External links section displays three main views. The top section shows your most linked pages — the pages on your site that receive the most backlinks. Below that, you see the top linking sites — the external domains sending the most links to your site. At the bottom, you can see the most recent links Google has discovered pointing to your site.
Each view includes a download option (the download icon in the top right) that lets you export the data as a CSV file for analysis in a spreadsheet. This is useful if you want to track changes over time or analyze patterns across many links.
What the Links report actually shows you
Google Search Console displays only links that Google's crawlers have found and indexed. This means the backlink count you see is not a complete list of every link pointing to your site. Some links may exist on pages Google has not crawled yet, or on sites Google does not index regularly.
The report also does not distinguish between high-quality and low-quality links. A link from a major news site appears in the same list as a link from a small, unrelated blog. Google uses its own algorithms to weight links differently when calculating rankings, but Search Console shows them all equally in the report.
Anchor text — the clickable words in a link — does not appear in the Search Console backlink report. If you need to see what text is used in links pointing to your site, you will need a third-party tool.
Using third-party tools to see more backlinks
Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz each maintain their own web crawl databases separate from Google's. These tools typically show more backlinks than Google Search Console because they crawl more pages and update their data on different schedules. Ahrefs and SEMrush update their backlink data more frequently than Google Search Console, sometimes within days of a new link appearing.
These tools cost money — Ahrefs and SEMrush both charge monthly subscriptions starting around $100 per month for basic plans, while Moz's Link Research Tool is included in their Pro plan. All three offer free trials or limited free versions so you can test them before paying.
Third-party tools also provide information Google Search Console does not, including link quality scores, anchor text analysis, and the ability to compare your backlink profile to competitors' profiles. However, none of these tools have access to Google's actual ranking algorithm, so their backlink counts and quality assessments are estimates based on their own crawl data.
Comparing backlink data across different sources
Backlink counts vary significantly between Google Search Console and third-party tools. This happens because each source crawls the web differently and updates at different intervals. Google Search Console may show 500 backlinks while Ahrefs shows 2,000 for the same site — both numbers can be accurate within their own databases.
For SEO purposes, the most important backlinks are the ones Google has actually found and indexed. This makes Google Search Console the most reliable source for understanding which links are actively contributing to your site's visibility. However, third-party tools help you discover links you should be aware of, even if Google has not indexed them yet.
When monitoring your backlink profile over time, use the same source consistently. Switching between Google Search Console and third-party tools makes it difficult to track real changes in your link profile, since the tools measure different things.
Understanding link types in the Links report
Google Search Console categorizes backlinks into two types: dofollow and nofollow. A dofollow link passes ranking authority from the linking site to your site. A nofollow link tells Google not to count it toward your site's ranking, though it can still drive referral traffic.
The Links report in Search Console does not explicitly label links as dofollow or nofollow in the interface. To see this information, you need to click on a specific link or use a browser extension that shows link attributes. Third-party tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush clearly label each link's type in their reports.
Most backlinks you want to earn are dofollow links, since they contribute to your site's authority. However, nofollow links from high-traffic sites like news outlets or social media platforms can still be valuable for driving visitors to your site, even if they do not help with rankings.
Monitoring changes to your backlink profile
Google Search Console does not send alerts when new backlinks appear, but you can check the Links report regularly to spot new links. The "Most recent links" section at the bottom of the External links report shows links Google has recently discovered, updated periodically as Google crawls the web.
To track changes over time, download your backlink data from Google Search Console monthly and compare it to previous months. Look for sudden increases in links, which might indicate press coverage or a viral mention. Also watch for sudden decreases, which could mean links have been removed or the linking pages have been deleted.
Third-party tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush include backlink monitoring features that alert you when new links appear or existing links disappear. These notifications can help you respond quickly to negative SEO attacks or capitalize on unexpected link opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Google Search Console show fewer backlinks than other tools?
Google Search Console only displays links from pages Google has crawled and indexed. Third-party tools crawl the web independently and often discover links on pages Google has not yet indexed or does not regularly crawl. Both counts are accurate within their own databases — they simply measure different things.
Can I see which specific pages link to mine in Google Search Console?
Yes. In the External links report, click on any domain in the "Top linking sites" section to see a list of specific pages on that domain linking to your site. You can also click on your own pages in the "Top linked pages" section to see which external sites link to that specific page.
Do nofollow links help my site's ranking?
Google has stated that nofollow links do not directly contribute to ranking. However, they can still drive referral traffic to your site and increase brand awareness. Links from high-authority sites like news outlets are valuable even if they are marked nofollow.
How often does Google Search Console update backlink data?
Google Search Console updates its backlink data periodically, typically within a few weeks of a new link appearing. The exact timing varies and is not may provide. Third-party tools often update more frequently, sometimes within days.
Should I remove or disavow backlinks shown in Google Search Console?
Most backlinks do not need to be removed. Only disavow links if they come from spammy or irrelevant sites and you believe they are harming your site's ranking. Use the Disavow Tool in Google Search Console to tell Google to ignore specific links, but use it sparingly — disavowing legitimate links can hurt your rankings.