What Is Domain Rating (DR)? A Plain-English Guide for Founders
Domain Rating (DR) is an Ahrefs score from 0 to 100 that estimates how strong a website's backlink profile is compared with other sites. It is based on how many unique websites link to you with followed links and how strong those websites are. It is not a Google ranking factor, but it is a useful shorthand for authority. New sites usually start near 0, and a DR of 20 to 30 is a solid early milestone for an indie SaaS.
Every launch platform and directory list now quotes a number next to each site: DR 77, DR 83, DR 91. Founders tweet when their DR goes up. Submission services sell DR growth. But what is the number actually measuring, and should you care?
This guide explains Domain Rating in plain English, so you can use it to make good decisions about where to list your product and how to grow, without being sold to.
Domain Rating in one paragraph
Domain Rating is a metric created by Ahrefs, an SEO tool. It looks at all the websites that link to yours, counts the unique ones whose links are followed (dofollow), weighs each one by its own strength, and turns the result into a score from 0 to 100. A higher DR means your site has a stronger backlink profile than most others. You can read Ahrefs' own definition in its Domain Rating help article.
How DR is calculated (simplified)
Ahrefs does not publish the exact formula, but it has described the main steps:
- Count unique referring domains. Ten links from one site count roughly as one domain. A hundred links from a hundred different sites count much more.
- Only followed links count. Links marked
rel="nofollow"do not pass DR. See dofollow vs nofollow links. - Weigh each linking site by its own DR. A link from a DR 80 site counts more than a link from a DR 5 site.
- Split each site's strength across the sites it links to. A strong site that links to thousands of others passes less to each one than a strong site that links to a few.
- Place the result on a 0 to 100 scale. The scale is logarithmic: moving from 10 to 20 is much easier than moving from 70 to 80.
Because the scale is relative, your DR can drop slightly even if you gained no new links, simply because other sites grew faster.
DR vs Domain Authority vs Authority Score
Three popular tools have their own versions:
| Metric | Tool | Range | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Rating (DR) | Ahrefs | 0 to 100 | Strength of backlink profile (followed links from unique domains) |
| Domain Authority (DA) | Moz | 1 to 100 | Prediction of ranking ability from link data and other signals |
| Authority Score (AS) | Semrush | 0 to 100 | Link power, organic traffic and spam signals |
They usually move in the same direction, but the numbers are not interchangeable. A site can be DR 40 and DA 25. When a directory advertises "DA 74", it is not the same as "DR 74". Compare like with like.
Is DR a Google ranking factor?
No. Google does not use Ahrefs' DR. Google has its own link-based signals and many other factors: relevance, content quality, page experience, and whether your page satisfies the search. DR is useful because it correlates with the kind of link profile that helps pages rank, not because Google reads it.
That is why chasing DR alone can mislead you. A site with DR 50 built from spammy link networks may rank worse than a DR 20 site with genuine, relevant links and great content.
What is a good DR for a new SaaS?
There is no universal "good" number, but rough benchmarks for an indie SaaS:
| DR range | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | Brand new or very few links. Normal at launch. |
| 10 to 20 | You have some real listings and mentions. Pages can start ranking for low-competition terms. |
| 20 to 35 | A solid early-stage profile. Comparison and long-tail pages can rank. |
| 35 to 50 | Strong for a small SaaS. You can compete for mid-competition keywords. |
| 50+ | Established brand or a very active content and PR program. |
For honesty: IndieDaddy itself was DR 8 in early November 2026, measured by Ahrefs. Every site starts somewhere. What matters is the direction and the quality of the links behind it.
How to check any site's DR for free
- Ahrefs free website authority checker: enter a domain and get its DR and backlink counts without an account.
- IndieDaddy DR alerts: if your product is live on IndieDaddy, we check your website's DR weekly and email you when it reaches a new all-time high. You can turn this off in Email preferences.
- Directory lists: many lists, such as SubmitSaaS or ScrollLaunch, show each directory's DR so you can filter.
When judging a directory, check its DR alongside whether it is alive, relevant to your product, and actually gives dofollow links.
How to grow your DR (without buying links)
Growing DR means earning followed links from more unique, reputable websites. In practice, for an indie founder:
1. List on reputable launch boards and directories
This is the fastest early win. Permanent, followed listings from launch boards and directories give a new domain its first referring domains. Free options include launch platforms with badge-based dofollow links, like IndieDaddy, and community sites. See the best startup directories.
2. Create something people want to link to
Free tools, original data, honest comparison pages and genuinely useful guides attract links naturally. A free calculator or checker related to your product is one of the most reliable link magnets.
3. Get mentioned where your audience reads
Guest posts on relevant blogs, podcasts, newsletters, and "best tools for X" roundups. Pitch where your product genuinely fits.
4. Build integrations and partner pages
If your product integrates with another tool, ask to be listed on their integrations or partners page. These pages are usually followed and highly relevant.
5. Turn mentions into links
Search for your brand name without a link and politely ask the author to add one.
Read the full playbook in how to increase Domain Rating and backlinks for a new SaaS.
Mistakes founders make with DR
- Buying cheap link packages. Many come from link farms. Google can ignore or penalise them, and they inflate DR without helping rankings.
- Judging directories by DR alone. A DR 90 site that gives a nofollow link and no visitors does less than a relevant DR 40 site with real traffic.
- Panicking over small drops. DR is relative. A drop of one or two points is usually noise.
- Ignoring content. Links help pages rank; they do not replace pages worth ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What does Domain Rating mean?
Domain Rating is Ahrefs' 0 to 100 score for how strong a website's backlink profile is, based on the number and strength of unique websites linking to it with followed links.
Is a higher DR always better?
Generally yes, but relevance and link quality matter more than the number. A relevant site with a moderate DR can do more for you than an unrelated high-DR site.
How long does it take to increase DR?
A new site can move from 0 to 10 or 20 within a few months with directory listings and early mentions. Higher levels take longer and depend on earning links from strong, relevant sites.
Why did my DR go down?
DR is relative, so it can fall when other sites gain links faster, or when sites that linked to you remove links or become nofollow. Small changes are normal.
Does nofollow help DR?
No. Nofollow links do not pass DR, though they can still bring visitors and brand awareness.