VerifiedDR vs Moz vs Semrush: three website score checkers compared

Moz shows Domain Authority. Semrush shows Authority Score. VerifiedDR shows Domain Rating next to TrueDR, tracks both and turns the gap into the next link to build.

VerifiedDR logoVerifiedDRMoz Domain Analysis logoMoz Domain AnalysisSemrush checker logoSemrush checker

Free lookup. No signup. Every claim is a row in the table.

What each tool gets you

A tick means the free tool ships it. A dash means it takes a paid plan or a separate product. VerifiedDR loses the index row to both. That is the point of an honest table.

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Outcome
VerifiedDR logo

VerifiedDR

Score to growth

Moz Domain Analysis logo

Moz Domain Analysis

Domain Authority check

Semrush checker logo

Semrush checker

Authority Score check

Check a score for free

DR and TrueDR, no signup
Domain Authority, daily cap
Authority Score

Separate link strength from trust

DR next to TrueDR
Spam Score beside the number
One blended score

Track history and get alerts

History, alerts, digests
Moz Pro campaigns
Paid projects

Own backlink index

Third-party providers
Moz's own index
Semrush's own index

Map your backlinks visually

Interactive Trust Map
Link Explorer lists them
Backlink Analytics lists them

Know what to fix next

Ranked actions
No
Separate paid audits

Recover lost backlinks

Included
Moz Pro
Paid plans

Track keywords and competitors

Included
Ranking keyword count
Paid plans

See if AI answers name you

ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI
No
Separate AI toolkit

Find verified link exchanges

Matched, outreach built in
No
No

Automate with API and agents

API, MCP and CLI (paid plans)
Links API, small free tier
API on top plans

What it costs

Free. Programs from $129, paid once
Free checker. Moz Pro for tracking
Free checker. Paid plans for tracking

“Moz Pro” and “paid plans” mean the capability lives in the paid suite, not in the free checker compared here. Details reviewed 2 September 2026 from Moz Domain Analysis and Semrush free checker. Tell us if a row needs updating.

Short answer

  • Moz

    Pick it to read Domain Authority and Spam Score for a website you are judging, a few lookups a day.

  • Semrush checker

    Pick it when you already pay for Semrush and want one blended score with a traffic estimate beside it.

  • VerifiedDR

    Pick it to see DR next to TrueDR, track both with alerts, and find verified link exchanges that can move them.

Common questions

What is the difference between Domain Authority, Authority Score and Domain Rating?

They are three separate 0 to 100 scores from three separate backlink indexes. Moz's Domain Authority predicts how likely a website is to rank, based on Moz's link index. Semrush's Authority Score blends backlinks, an organic traffic estimate and spam signals from Semrush's index. Domain Rating measures backlink strength and comes from third-party providers. None of them converts into another, so compare a website with the same score every time.

Why is my Domain Authority different from my Domain Rating?

Each index sees a different set of links and weighs them with a different formula, so a gap between the two is normal. What matters is the trend of one score over time, and whether traffic and trust support it. That second check is what TrueDR adds on top of DR.

Is VerifiedDR better than the Moz Domain Analysis tool?

For a one-off look at Domain Authority, Spam Score and linking websites, Moz's free tool does its job. VerifiedDR fits when you want to track the score, check it against trust and traffic, see the next link to build and find verified link exchanges. This comparison covers the free Moz tool, not every feature in Moz Pro.

Does the free Semrush checker track history?

No. It shows the current Authority Score, backlinks, referring websites, an organic traffic estimate and 12 months of backlink growth. Tracking your own website over time takes a paid Semrush project. VerifiedDR tracks DR and TrueDR for free and alerts you when either moves.

Can I try VerifiedDR for free?

Yes. You can check DR and TrueDR, list and verify websites, compare sites, inspect public Trust Maps, use the API trial and run a limited first AI Visibility scan before choosing a growth program.

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