Off-page SEO · Competitor backlink gap analyzer
Find competitor backlink gaps you can actually review
Compare supplied backlink exports, uncover referring-source overlap, and turn apparent gaps into an evidence-based shortlist.
Illustrative overlap
| Source | You | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| journal.example | Absent* | ✓ | ✓ |
| shared.example | ✓ | ✓ | 0 |
*Absent from the supplied export. Real backlink coverage still needs review.
COMPARE YOUR SUPPLIED DATA
Find the overlap. Keep the evidence.
Start with your backlink list and one competitor's list. Add more competitors when needed.
- 1. Your websiteAdd your domain and backlink data.
- 2. A competitorAdd their domain and backlink data.
- 3. CompareReview sources missing from your list.
Where do I get backlink data?
Use a Search Console export for a website you manage. For competitors, use a backlink provider's export or your own collected list.
Paste linking-page URLs or referring domains, one per line. A domain entered above identifies the website; it does not discover backlinks.
Templates and saved projects
Ready to compare?
We detect columns automatically and compare referring domains. Preview columns only if you want to check the mapping first.
Advanced comparison options
Own-site records always retain membership. Relationship filters cannot turn an existing own-site record into a missing domain.
Your imports are processed in this browser. Downloaded projects include source data. Saving a review stores only decisions and notes on this device.
Start with the right question
Which referring sources appear in competitors’ data?
Backlink gap analysis compares incoming-link evidence across websites. The useful outcome is a set of publishers worth reviewing for a clear reason.
Our analyzer works from the lists and exports you provide. It keeps source records visible, so you can review what supports each apparent gap.
Inspect the source records
Expand a referring group to review linking pages, targets, anchors, relationships, provider labels, and export dates.
Compare meaningful membership
See missing, shared, own-only, and all-competitor groups. Repeated records cannot inflate the number of competitors represented.
Build a practical shortlist
Mark sources for review, shortlist suitable prospects, add notes, and export the evidence behind your decisions.
Prepare comparable backlink exports
- 01
Use a clear reference set
Add your own linking-page or referring-domain data first. Record its provider and date so you can judge possible coverage gaps.
- 02
Map competitor evidence
Add one dataset per competitor. Preview the source column and map optional targets, anchors, attributes, and status fields.
- 03
Review the import totals
Check accepted records, duplicates, wrong-site targets, and skipped rows. Resolve mapping issues before acting on the comparison.
CSV and TSV headers vary between providers. We suggest column matches, while the preview gives you control over the final mapping.
For plain lists, put one referring domain or source URL on each line. A domain-only record does not supply a verified linking page.
Read the comparison views correctly
| View | What it shows | What to review next |
|---|---|---|
| Missing from your export | A competitor has a recorded source that your own dataset does not contain. | Check whether your own export is sampled, dated, or filtered. |
| All competitors, missing for you | Every submitted competitor has an eligible record from this source. | Review why that publisher links to those websites. |
| Shared with competitors | Your site and at least one competitor have records from the same referring group. | Inspect page-level differences and the context of each placement. |
| Only in your export | Your dataset contains the source, while the competitor datasets do not. | Treat this as supplied-data uniqueness, not proof of exclusivity. |
Referring groups and backlink counts describe different things
A publisher can link to several competitors through many pages. The competitor match count measures represented websites, not the number of link rows.
Matrix counts describe accepted imported records. Domain-summary exports and backlink-level exports have different detail, so their record counts are not directly equivalent.
Imported authority metrics remain attached to their provider and column names. We do not combine different scoring systems or invent a quality score.
Choose domain or host grouping deliberately
Registrable-domain grouping combines related subdomains using public suffix rules. This handles country suffixes such as co.uk without treating every co.uk website as one publisher.
Private hosting suffixes keep separately registered hosted sites distinct. Exact-host mode can help you inspect differences between a publisher’s subdomains.
Neither grouping mode establishes publisher ownership or editorial independence. Review the actual source before treating it as a separate outreach opportunity.
Turn an apparent gap into a reason to reach out
Open the supplied source page and review its topic, audience, existing references, and editorial purpose. Decide what useful resource your website could contribute.
A competitor match alone does not establish relevance. Avoid assuming that a directory, partnership, sponsorship, or old resource page accepts the same approach.
Record your reasoning in a review note. Copy the supplied source URLs and verify the placements before planning outreach.
Data handling and comparison limits
Your site can be compared with one to five competitors. Each dataset supports 5,000 records, 100 columns, and 2 MB of decoded text.
Inactive competitor records are excluded by default. Own-site records retain membership, including historical records that deserve a live recheck.
Expanded groups show up to 50 evidence records. Filtered evidence exports retain all accepted records in the current result selection.
Projects preserve your source text and column choices in a downloaded file. Browser-saved reviews contain decisions and notes, with no automatic monitoring.
Questions and answers
Questions about competitor backlink gaps
What is a competitor backlink gap?
It is a referring source recorded for competitors but absent from your own comparison data. A sampled export can miss existing links, so verify apparent gaps.
Can I find competitors’ backlinks by entering their domains?
This tool compares supplied exports or lists. It does not query a backlink database or discover incoming links from a domain alone.
Which export formats can I use?
Use CSV, TSV, or one referring domain or URL per line. Preview the columns and confirm their mapping before comparing provider exports.
Can I use Search Console or Bing data?
You can compare their supplied linking-page or referring-domain data. These datasets can be sampled and may differ from commercial backlink indexes.
Why do I need my own backlink data?
Your own dataset supplies the reference for missing-source comparisons. You can explicitly choose an empty own-site list, but this does not prove zero backlinks.
What does the all-competitors view mean?
It shows sources recorded for every included competitor and absent from your own accepted records. It does not establish quality, relevance, or willingness to link.
How are duplicate rows handled?
Identical normalized linking records are counted once within each dataset. Multiple placements from one referring source cannot increase the number of competitors matched.
How are subdomains and hosted sites grouped?
Domain grouping uses public suffix rules, including private hosting suffixes. Exact-host mode separates other subdomains while grouping www with its corresponding host.
Will relationship filters create false missing-domain gaps?
Relationship filters select groups using competitor evidence. Full imported counts remain visible. An existing accepted own-site record still prevents a missing-domain classification.
Does a lost record mean a backlink is currently absent?
A status in an export is historical evidence. Inactive competitor records are excluded by default. Own-site records retain membership until you review their live state.
Can I compare authority scores across providers?
Imported metric labels and values remain attached to their source records. They are not combined, converted, or used to rank prospects.
Are my exports uploaded to a server?
The comparison runs in your browser. Saving a review stores decisions locally. A downloaded project contains your supplied data, so share it carefully.
Can I save my work and continue later?
Download a project to preserve inputs, column choices, and review notes. Restore it later and run the comparison again. Browser-saved reviews contain decisions only.
How many records can I compare?
Use your own dataset and up to five competitors. Each dataset accepts 5,000 data records and up to 2 MB of decoded source text.
What should I do after finding a gap?
Review the exact publisher page, relevance, link placement, and your own coverage. Verify supplied source URLs before deciding whether a specific outreach approach makes sense.