# Domain Authority Domain Authority is Moz’s 1 to 100 score that predicts how likely a domain is to rank compared with others. You cannot influence Google with DA itself, but you can use it to size up rivals and link prospects. Here is how to read it and what to do with it on a small site. Updated 2026-09-14 · Source: https://porteur.ai/glossary/domain-authority ## What Domain Authority is Domain Authority, DA, is Moz’s modelled score from 1 to 100 that predicts the relative ranking strength of a domain. It is built from Moz’s link index with a machine‑learned model. The scale is logarithmic, moving from 20 to 30 is easier than from 70 to 80. It is also relative, your DA can fall when others in the index rise. Google does not use DA or any single site‑wide authority score. Google’s systems do use links and site‑level signals. DA is a third‑party estimate you use for comparison, not a goal you rank for. > Rule: only compare scores within one tool. DA is not comparable to Ahrefs DR or Semrush Authority Score. ## Why it matters for a small site You need a quick sense of who will be hard to beat for a query. DA gives you a rough pecking order from Moz’s view of the web. It helps you pick which terms need more links or a different angle. Use it to filter outreach lists. A link from a relevant site with higher DA than yours often moves the needle more than one from a thin directory. Relevance and traffic still matter more than the number. ## How to check and read your score 1. **Get the number** Use Moz’s Domain Authority checker or a Moz tool. Note the DA for your root domain, and for any key subdomains if you use them. 2. **Benchmark against rivals** List three to five sites that rank for your core query, for example “expense tracking for freelancers”. Record each DA in the same tool. 3. **Read it in context** Expect new sites to sit low. A DA 12 site can rank on a low‑competition term with good content and links from relevant peers, for example a niche blog list. 4. **Watch movement, not single points** Check monthly. A small rise or dip can come from Moz’s index updates. Look for trends and for gaps closing against a named rival. 5. **Drill to the page level** Check Page Authority for your target page, for example /pricing. Count referring domains to that page and the anchors used. A strong page can outrank a bigger site. A healthy picture is a DA that holds or climbs while your referring domains grow and your pages start to rank for non‑branded terms. For example, /guides/getting‑started gains five relevant links and moves onto page one for a niche query. ## How to use DA without hurting yourself - Prioritise outreach to sites that are relevant and have higher DA than you. One strong, relevant link beats ten off‑topic links. - Set expectations. A jump from DA 15 to 25 is achievable with steady link earning. From 70 to 80 is a long haul. - Group keywords by rival DA. Target terms where page one has sites near your range, and build content that earns links. - Fix internal links before chasing DA. Link from /blog and /features to /pricing and key guides with clear anchors. It lifts Page Authority. - Track referring domains and anchors alongside DA. These explain movement better than the headline score. ## Common traps and how to avoid them - Chasing the number. DA is not a KPI. Use it to compare, then focus on rankings, clicks and sign‑ups. - Buying links for DA. Risky and often low quality. Earn links through useful pages, for example a data post or a free calculator. - Mixing tools. Do not compare Moz DA to Ahrefs DR or Semrush Authority Score. Pick one for a project and stick with it. - Ignoring page level. A DA 20 site with a strong /integrations page can outrank a DA 60 homepage for a specific term. - Forgetting it is relative. Your DA can drop after a big site gains links. Nothing broke on your side. - Subdomain confusion. blog.yourproduct.com will have its own DA if Moz treats it as separate. Move to a folder if you want the root to benefit. ## Questions ### What is Domain Authority? Domain Authority, DA, is Moz’s 1 to 100 score that predicts how likely a domain is to rank compared with others, based on Moz’s link index. It is logarithmic and relative, so movement depends on your site and the rest of the web. ### How do I find out my Domain Authority? Use Moz’s Domain Authority checker or any Moz tool that shows DA. Check your root domain, then compare with sites that rank for your target queries. Recheck monthly to see trends. ### Is Domain Authority used by Google? No. Google does not use DA or any single site‑wide authority score. Google’s systems use links and site‑level signals, but DA is a third‑party metric for comparison only. ### Domain Authority vs Domain Rating vs Authority Score: what is the difference? They are similar ideas in different tools. Moz has DA, Ahrefs has DR, and Semrush has Authority Score. Each uses its own link index and scale. Do not compare numbers across tools. ### Should I try to increase my DA? Do not set DA as a target. Aim to earn relevant links to the pages you want to rank and improve internal linking. DA may rise as a side effect, but rankings and clicks matter more. ### Why did my DA drop after I got new links? DA is relative and updated when Moz’s index changes. Your score can dip if other sites in the index gained more or stronger links. Check referring domains and page rankings before reacting. ## Read next - [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. - [Backlink](https://porteur.ai/glossary/backlink): A backlink is a link from another site to yours. See what counts, how to check links, dofollow vs nofollow, and what a small site can expect. - [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 Moz](https://porteur.ai/compare/ahrefs-vs-moz): Ahrefs vs Moz for a small site: link index quality, Domain Rating vs Domain Authority, keyword tools, audits and education, with clear use cases. - [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. - [PageRank](https://porteur.ai/glossary/pagerank): PageRank is Google’s 1998 link-based importance signal. The toolbar score is gone. Here is how to read its effects now and route link value on your site. - [Authority Score](https://porteur.ai/glossary/authority-score): Authority Score is Semrush’s 0 to 100 model of a domain’s strength. See what goes in, what it is not, how to read it, and what to do next. Want to see which sites rank around you on your target searches and where to compete next? Paste your URL into the free check and get three findings in about thirty seconds. Free check: https://porteur.ai/