If you want to improve SEO, one of the first things you should learn is how to find backlinks to your website for free. Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your pages. They are also called inbound links or external links, and they can help you understand which websites already trust or mention your content.
For beginners, the easiest free tool to start with is Google Search Console. It helps you see your top linking sites, top linked pages, and common linking text. However, finding backlinks is only the first step. You also need to understand whether those links are useful, relevant, and worth tracking.
What Are Backlinks?
Backlinks are links from one website to another. For example, if a blog links to one of your articles, that link becomes a backlink for your website.
These links matter because they can show trust, relevance, and authority. In addition, backlinks can bring referral traffic when people click from another website to yours.
However, not every backlink is valuable. A link from a relevant blog in your niche is usually better than a random link from an unrelated website. Because of this, you should review backlink quality instead of only counting the total number of links.
Why You Should Find Backlinks to Your Website for Free
You should find backlinks to your website for free because your link profile can show what is already working. For example, if one article gets many backlinks, you may want to update it, add internal links, or create similar content.
In addition, backlink data helps you spot problems early. If many spammy websites link to your site, you can review them and decide whether action is needed.
Backlinks also support content planning. Ahrefs reports that 96.55% of pages get zero Google traffic, so promotion and link visibility still matter. Meanwhile, Backlinko’s large ranking study found that link authority correlates with stronger Google rankings.
How to Find Backlinks to Your Website for Free Using Google Search Console
Google Search Console is the best free starting point because it shows backlink data directly from your verified website property. However, you must have access to the website inside Search Console first.
Step 1: Open Google Search Console
Go to Google Search Console and choose your website property. If you manage more than one website, make sure you select the correct domain.
Then, look at the left sidebar. You should see a menu item called Links near the lower part of the dashboard.
Step 2: Open the Links Report
Click Links to open your backlink and internal link report. This report is useful because it separates external links from internal links.
External links are backlinks from other websites. Internal links are links from one page on your website to another page on the same website.
Step 3: Check Top Linking Sites
Next, look for the section called Top linking sites. This shows websites that link to your website most often.
For example, you may see blogs, directories, business profiles, social platforms, or partner websites. However, a high number of links from one domain does not always mean high quality. Therefore, open the linking site and check whether it is relevant to your niche.
Step 4: Review Top Linked Pages
After that, check Top linked pages. This section shows which pages on your website receive the most backlinks.
This is helpful because it shows which content attracts attention. If your guide, tool page, or case study has many backlinks, you can improve that page and use it as a stronger SEO asset.
In addition, you can add internal links from that page to other important pages. As a result, the authority from backlinks can support more pages across your website.
Step 5: Check Top Linking Text
Then, review Top linking text. This shows common anchor text used when other websites link to you.
Anchor text is the clickable text inside a link. For example, if someone links to your page using “SEO checklist,” that phrase is the anchor text.
Natural anchor text usually includes your brand name, URL, article title, or related phrases. However, if you see too many strange or spammy phrases, review the linking sites carefully.
How to Export Your Backlink Data
Google Search Console lets you export link data, which makes backlink analysis easier. Open the Links report, choose the section you want, and use the export option.
You can export your data into a spreadsheet, then organize it with simple columns:
| Column | What to Track |
|---|---|
| Linking site | The website linking to you |
| Linked page | Your page receiving the backlink |
| Anchor text | The text used in the backlink |
| Link type | Blog, directory, profile, resource page, or mention |
| Relevance | High, medium, or low |
| Action | Keep, review, update, or contact |
This simple spreadsheet helps you turn backlink data into action. Instead of only looking at numbers, you can decide what to improve next.
How to Check If a Backlink Is Good
A good backlink usually comes from a website that is relevant, trustworthy, and useful for real readers. However, beginners often make the mistake of judging links only by domain authority or domain rating.
Use this quick checklist:
- Is the linking website related to your niche?
- Does the page look real and helpful?
- Is your link placed naturally inside the content?
- Does the website have a clear topic and audience?
- Is the anchor text normal and relevant?
- Are there too many unrelated external links on the page?
If the answer is mostly yes, the backlink may be useful. In contrast, if the site looks spammy, copied, or unrelated, mark it for review.
What to Do After You Find Your Backlinks
After you find backlinks to your website for free, use the data to improve your SEO process. First, identify your strongest linked pages. Then, update those pages with fresh examples, better headings, and stronger internal links.
Next, look for link opportunities. If a website already links to one of your articles, they may be open to linking to another useful resource from your site.
In addition, compare your backlink profile with competitor websites using a backlink checker. This can help you find a backlink gap, which means your competitors have links from websites that do not link to you yet.
Free and Freemium Tools You Can Use
Google Search Console is the main free tool for checking your own backlinks. However, you can also use limited free versions of backlink tools for extra research.
Useful options include:
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker
- Semrush Backlink Analytics free limits
Each tool may show different backlink data. Therefore, use Google Search Console as your base and other tools for extra checks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many beginners check backlinks once and then forget about them. Instead, review your link profile at least once a month.
Avoid these mistakes:
- Only counting backlinks without checking quality
- Ignoring top linked pages
- Forgetting to review anchor text
- Assuming every linking site is helpful
- Deleting old pages that have valuable backlinks
- Building links from spammy websites
- Not using backlink data for internal linking
Because backlinks can change over time, regular review helps you protect and improve your SEO results.
FAQs About Finding Backlinks
Can I find backlinks to my website for free?
Yes, you can find backlinks to your website for free using Google Search Console. It shows top linking sites, top linked pages, and top linking text for verified website properties.
Is Google Search Console enough for backlink analysis?
Google Search Console is enough for a beginner backlink review. However, if you want competitor backlink data, backlink gap analysis, or domain rating metrics, you may need another backlink tool.
What are top linking sites?
Top linking sites are websites that link to your website most often. They help you understand which domains are already connected to your content.
What is the difference between backlinks and referring domains?
Backlinks are individual links pointing to your website. Referring domains are unique websites that send those links. For example, one referring domain can send multiple backlinks.
How often should I check my backlinks?
For most small websites, checking backlinks once a month is enough. However, if you are actively doing link building, review them every two weeks.
Should I remove bad backlinks?
Do not remove or disavow links too quickly. Instead, review the linking site first and only take action if the links look clearly spammy, manipulative, or harmful.
Conclusion
Learning how to find backlinks to your website for free is a simple but important SEO skill. Start with Google Search Console, review your top linking sites, check your top linked pages, and study your anchor text. Then, use that information to improve content, strengthen internal links, and find new link opportunities.
Over time, this habit helps you build a cleaner and stronger backlink profile. If you want to discuss your backlink data, SEO strategy, or content growth plan, join the Scale Xpert community here: Scale Xpert
