# Authority Score Authority Score is Semrush’s 0 to 100 measure of a domain’s overall quality and influence. It blends link data, an organic traffic estimate and spam signals. It is useful for comparison inside Semrush, not as a Google ranking factor. Updated 2026-09-14 · Source: https://porteur.ai/glossary/authority-score ## What Authority Score is and is not Authority Score is Semrush’s model, from 0 to 100, of a domain’s strength. It is built from the quantity and quality of backlinks, an estimate of organic traffic, and signals of spam, as of 2026. Like Moz’s Domain Authority and Ahrefs’ Domain Rating, it is a tool’s view on its own index. Scores do not transfer between tools. Google does not use Authority Score. Treat it as a proxy for comparing sites in Semrush, not as a target number to optimise for in search. ## Why a small site should care You need a simple way to stack your domain against rivals on the same queries. Authority Score gives a quick read of relative link strength and likely trust in Semrush’s data. Use it to shortlist realistic targets. If yourproduct.com is 8 and the top five on “pdf editor for mac” range from 40 to 70, you likely need links and time, or a long tail angle. Track your score and your closest rivals every month. You want your curve to rise with referring domains and relevant pages, not to chase a number alone. ## How to check and read Authority Score - Look up your domain in Semrush. Note the Authority Score and the trend. - Open the same view for three to five rivals on your core queries. Record their scores. - Group keywords by rival strength rather than by raw search volume. Pick fights you can win. - Click through to backlinks and referring domains to see what supports the score. Read it in context. Scores cluster by niche, language and country. A 20 in a new B2B niche can be more competitive than a 40 in a broad hobby niche. ## What to do if your score is low 1. **Tighten your target list** Pick queries where the top results sit within 5 to 10 points of you in Semrush. For a new site, go long tail, for example “/guides/getting-started” topics. 2. **Publish pages worth citing** Ship useful, specific pages that a blogger or a tool roundup can link to. Think data, comparisons, checklists and original how to guides. 3. **Build clean referring domains** Pitch relevant sites, directories and communities. Avoid link farms and paid networks. Aim for new domains linking once or twice, not sitewide. 4. **Fix technical trust signals** Make the site fast, secure and tidy. Clean 404s and redirects. Clear about page and contact details. This reduces spam risk and helps links stick. 5. **Add internal links** Link from “/blog/what-is-x” to “/product-x” with clear anchor text. Spread any link equity to the pages that should rank. A fixed site shows steady new referring domains, relevant anchors, and Authority Score rising in step with organic clicks, not alone. ## Traps and limits > Rule: compare Authority Score only inside Semrush and only between real rivals on the same intent. - Do not judge a page by a domain score alone. Check the page and the query. - Do not chase paid links or networks. Spam signals can drag your score down. - Do not mix up Authority Score, DA and DR. They measure on different link indexes and models. - Do not report the score as a KPI without business context. Tie it to rankings, clicks and signups. ## Questions ### What is a good Authority Score? There is no universal good number. Compare your domain with the sites that rank for your target queries in Semrush. If you are within touching distance of the top results, you can compete. If you are far below, aim for easier queries or build links first. ### How do I check Authority Score? Search your domain in Semrush. You will see an Authority Score for the domain and usually a trend over time. Check the same for a handful of rivals. Read the backlinks and referring domains behind the number before you act. ### Is Authority Score a Google ranking factor? No. Authority Score is Semrush’s model on its own data. Google does not use it. Use it as a comparative proxy inside Semrush, not as a target to optimise for directly. ### Authority Score vs Domain Rating vs Domain Authority: what is the difference? Authority Score is Semrush’s 0 to 100 model built from links, an organic traffic estimate and spam signals. Domain Rating is Ahrefs’ link based model. Domain Authority is Moz’s link based model. None transfers to another tool and none is a Google metric. ### Is 75 a good SEO score? “SEO score” can mean many things. If you mean Authority Score, 75 is high relative to many niches, but context matters. Always compare with the domains that rank for your queries, not with a global idea of good. ### How can I check my Domain Authority score? Domain Authority is Moz’s metric, not Semrush’s. Use Moz to look up your domain and view DA. Treat it the same way, as a comparative number inside Moz. ## Read next - [Domain Authority](https://porteur.ai/glossary/domain-authority): Domain Authority is Moz’s 1 to 100 score from links. Here is how it works, what Google says about it, how to read it, and how to use it well. - [Domain rating](https://porteur.ai/glossary/domain-rating): Domain rating is a tool’s score of your link profile. See how DR, DA and Authority Score differ, how to check yours, and what to do next. - [Referring domains: what the count means and what moves it](https://porteur.ai/guides/referring-domains): Learn what referring domains are, how they differ from backlinks, why breadth beats volume, how tools count them, and what actually moves the number. - [How to get backlinks for a small product site](https://porteur.ai/guides/how-to-get-backlinks-for-a-small-site): What to build, who to ask and how to measure. A founder’s plan to earn backlinks without spam or spend, with examples and a checklist. - [Ahrefs vs Semrush for a small product site](https://porteur.ai/compare/ahrefs-vs-semrush): Choose Ahrefs if links and Site Explorer matter most, Semrush if you need a broad keyword and marketing suite. Here is how to decide quickly. - [Semrush vs Moz for a small product site](https://porteur.ai/compare/semrush-vs-moz): Decide between Semrush and Moz for a small product site. What each is built for, what you will actually use, and when neither is needed. - [Page Authority](https://porteur.ai/glossary/page-authority): Page Authority is Moz’s 1 to 100 page score from links. It predicts ranking inside Moz. Here is how to read it on a small site and what to do next. - [SEO score](https://porteur.ai/glossary/seo-score): An SEO score is a tool’s grade, not a Google ranking. See what it does measure, how to read it, what to fix first, and the traps to avoid. Want a quick read on rivals you can beat today, by query and page, from your URL and theirs? Run the free check and see three findings. Free check: https://porteur.ai/