When people talk about backlink tools, the name Ahrefs comes up fast. Many website owners use the ahrefs backlink checker to see who links to their site and how strong those links are. But Ahrefs is not the only tool out there. Semrush, Moz, and Majestic all check backlinks too. So the big question is simple: Which one shows the most real links? If you want a deeper breakdown of both tools, you can also check my full guide on the Semrush vs Ahrefs comparison.
Let’s break this down in the easiest way possible.

What Ahrefs Does and Why It Matters

A backlink is like a friend pointing at you and saying, “I trust this person.” When another website links to your page, it sends a small trust signal to Google. Lots of strong links can help your site move up in search results.

Ahrefs uses tiny robot programs called crawlers. These crawlers travel across the internet day and night. They visit websites, collect links, and store them in a huge library called a link index. Ahrefs crawls billions of pages every day. This is why many people trust it for backlink data.

Why website owners like Ahrefs

People enjoy Ahrefs because it feels clear and simple. The tool shows:
• How many sites link to you
• What anchor text they used
• Which pages gained links
• Which pages lost links
• How strong each linking site is

All of this helps you understand how your site is growing.

How Ahrefs Compares With Semrush, Moz, and Majestic

Think of each backlink tool as a library.
• A bigger library = more books
• A bigger link index = more backlinks

Ahrefs has one of the largest link indexes. Semrush also has a large index, sometimes even larger for total URLs. Moz has a deep history of old links. Majestic is known for maps of very old link networks.

Ahrefs crawls fast. Semrush also crawls fast. Moz crawls slower but stores old data well. Majestic crawls wide areas of the web.
Since each tool crawls the internet in its own way, the numbers never match. One tool might see a link today. Another might find it two weeks later.

Ahrefs is strong at finding fresh links quickly. Semrush often shows more total links because it keeps huge amounts of data. Moz may show fewer links but has a long memory of older ones. Majestic might show links others missed long ago.

Why results are different in every tool

No tool sees the entire internet. It’s too big. That’s why your numbers are never the same from tool to tool. Each one sees a different part of the web at a different time.

Checking your own site

You can paste your website URL inside the ahrefs backlink checker and see a quick report. It shows your top links, your referring domains, and your strongest pages.

Spying on competitors

Many people check their rivals. They want to know:
• Who links to them
• What content gets the most links
• How fast they gain new links
This helps you plan smarter posts.

Sometimes a site links to your page, but the page is gone. This is a broken link. Ahrefs helps you find these so you can fix them or ask for updates.

Not all links are good. Some are messy or low quality. Ahrefs helps spot strange links so you can keep your site safe.

When Semrush or Other Tools Might Be Better

When you need more keyword tools

Semrush offers tons of keyword tools beyond backlinks. If you focus on keyword research more than link research, Semrush might fit your workflow.

When you want light and simple reports

Moz feels softer and easier for beginners. It may not show as many links, but the design is gentle for small websites.

When you only want local SEO data

Some people want city-based or map-based SEO. Semrush offers strong local tracking tools. This can help small shops and service businesses.

Why Many People Still Choose Ahrefs

Simple interface

The layout is clean. Even kids can read it. You click a URL, and the data appears in clear lines and charts.

Strong crawler

Many users trust the crawler. It finds new links fast, which helps you react quickly to changes.

DR (Domain Rating) and UR (URL Rating) are easy to understand.
• DR shows the strength of a whole site
• UR shows the strength of one page
These numbers help you judge link quality without guessing.

Which tool shows the most links?
Semrush often shows more total links. Ahrefs shows a strong mix of fresh and real links.

Why does Ahrefs sometimes show fewer links than Semrush?
Their crawlers move in different patterns. One might reach a page sooner than the other.

Is the Ahrefs backlink checker free?
Yes, there is a free version. It shows limited data but still helps beginners.

Why do backlink numbers change?
Pages get deleted, moved, or updated. When this happens, links appear or disappear.

Final Takeaway

Each backlink tool has its own strengths. Ahrefs is great for fresh links and clear reports. Semrush is great for big data and keyword tools. Moz and Majestic also help in special areas. The best choice is the one that fits your work style.