Moz Domain Authority vs Ahrefs Domain Rating: What the Metrics Really Mean

Highlights

• DA and DR are third-party link metrics, not Google ranking factors, but they’re useful for benchmarking link equity trends.

• Moz DA models how likely a domain is to rank based on its backlink profile; Ahrefs DR models the strength of a domain’s backlink graph via a logarithmic scale.

• Scores aren’t interchangeable: DA 50 ≠ DR 50. Each uses different crawlers, link indices and maths.

• Best use: compare relative progress (your site vs competitors, month-to-month), not “what’s a good score?”.

---

When you audit a site’s authority, two numbers dominate the conversation: Moz Domain Authority (DA) and Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR). Both compress complex link graphs into a 0–100 score—but they’re not the same thing, and they’re not used by Google as ranking signals. Understanding the difference between Moz and Ahrefs domain ranking helps you interpret reports correctly and avoid vanity-metric traps.

Below, we break down what each metric measures, how it’s calculated in broad terms, when to use them, and where marketers often go wrong.

Quick comparison: Moz DA vs Ahrefs DR

Dimension	Moz Domain Authority (DA)	Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR)
What it models	A machine-learned estimate of how likely a domain is to rank in Google relative to others, based on link profile characteristics.	The strength of a domain’s backlink profile compared to others in Ahrefs’ database, with emphasis on referring domains and link graph structure.
Scale	0–100 (logarithmic)	0–100 (logarithmic)
Primary inputs (simplified)	Linking root domains (quality/quantity), Moz’s spam heuristics, link equity distribution, and other link signals from Moz’s index.	Number/quality of referring domains, “dofollow” link equity, and the distribution of links across the web in Ahrefs’ index.
Data source	Moz’s link index (Mozscape)	Ahrefs’ link index
Update cadence	Periodic (varies with index refreshes and model updates)	Frequent (tied to Ahrefs’ index updates)
Best for	Competitor benchmarking, tracking your own link growth, and diagnosing link quality trends.	Measuring referring-domain growth, top-level competitive comparisons, and prospecting at scale.
Common misuse	Treating DA as a Google ranking factor or buying links to “hit DA X”.	Treating DR as interchangeable with DA or using DR alone to price links.

Authoritative sources:

• Moz’s explanation of Domain Authority: What is DA?

• Ahrefs’ explanation of Domain Rating: What is DR?

Note on terminology: You’ll sometimes see “Moz DR” in vendor lists—that’s a mistake. Moz does not have DR; DR is an Ahrefs metric. Moz’s domain-level score is DA.

How the scores are built (in human terms)

Both companies crawl billions of pages to build their own “mini-web”. They then run statistical models to predict outcomes:

• Moz DA uses a trained model to predict a domain’s ranking potential relative to others. If the web’s overall link graph shifts (e.g., big sites gain links), DA for smaller sites can change even if they did nothing—because the scale is relative.

• Ahrefs DR measures the strength of a site’s backlink profile by evaluating unique referring domains, weighting followed links more, and distributing “equity” through its link graph. DR is also relative, so large swings can happen when Ahrefs updates its index or tweaks weighting.

Because the scales are logarithmic, moving from DR 20 → 30 or DA 20 → 30 is far easier than 70 → 80. Expect diminishing returns at the top end.

When DA and DR are genuinely useful

• Competitor benchmarking: If your direct competitors average DA 45 / DR 50 and you’re at DA 22 / DR 28, link equity is likely a strategic gap.

• Trend tracking: A steady rise in referring domains and branded mentions should nudge both scores up over time. Stagnation may indicate a need for proactive digital PR or content worth linking to.

• Prospecting at scale: Filtering outreach lists by DA or DR helps avoid obvious low-equity sites. Always follow with manual checks for relevance, traffic and editorial standards.

For practical ways to lift authority through quality links (not just bigger numbers), read our guide to proven link building strategies to boost your Domain Authority

Where marketers go wrong

1. Chasing a number: “We need DR 60.” Why? Focus on outcomes—qualified organic traffic and revenue. DA/DR are proxies, not goals.

2. Buying links priced by DA/DR alone: A DA 50 site with no organic traffic and off-topic content is a poor bet. Verify relevance, traffic (via GA/GA4 or third-party estimates), editorial quality, and indexation.

3. Comparing DA to DR directly: They’re different scales, different crawlers. Compare like-for-like across time or within the same metric, not across metrics.

4. Using domain-level scores for page-level decisions: For rankings, the link profile of the specific page matters, plus internal linking and on-page relevance. DA/DR don’t replace a proper keyword and content strategy.

Practical workflow: using DA and DR the right way

1. Set context, not targets: Record your DA and DR today alongside competitors’. Use these as context for planning—not KPIs.

2. Ship linkable assets: Data studies, tools, templates and UK-focused guides earn natural links.

3. Prioritise relevance: Fewer, highly relevant links from UK publications or niche sites > many generic links.

4. Tidy your internal links: Pass authority to key pages with clear, descriptive anchors.

5. Audit monthly: Track referring domains, DA, DR, and organic sessions. Investigate spikes/drops relative to index updates.

---

FAQ

Which is better for SEO: Moz DA or Ahrefs DR?

Neither is a ranking factor; both are helpful directional indicators. Pick one primary metric for consistency (e.g., DR if you live in Ahrefs; DA if you live in Moz) and use it to compare relative changes over time.

Why did my DA/DR drop overnight?

Both scores are relative and depend on the tool’s index. If many large sites gained links or the crawler refreshed, your score can move even if your backlinks didn’t change. Check referring domain trends and recent index updates from the vendor.

What’s a “good” DA or DR?

There’s no universal “good”. Benchmark against your SERP competitors. If page-one results for your target queries sit around DA/DR 40–60, you’ll likely need comparable link equity (plus strong content and technical SEO) to compete.

Does Google use DA or DR?

No. DA and DR are third-party metrics created by Moz and Ahrefs to model link authority. Use them for measurement and planning, not as proof of how Google ranks pages.

Is “Moz DR” the same as “Ahrefs DR”?

No—Moz DR isn’t a thing. Moz’s domain-level score is DA; Ahrefs’ is DR.