When building backlinks or planning outreach campaigns, not all website metrics are created equal. Understanding the differences between DR, DA, and AS can save you time, help you target the right sites, and avoid low-quality or risky backlinks.
- DR (Domain Rating) from Ahrefs measures a domain’s backlink strength.
- DA (Domain Authority) from Moz predicts a domain’s ability to rank in search engines.
- AS (Authority Score) from SEMrush evaluates a domain’s overall authority and trustworthiness.
Using these metrics correctly allows you to prioritize high-quality sites, avoid spammy ones, and make informed decisions in your SEO and outreach strategy.
In this article, we’ll break down each metric, compare them, and show how to use them effectively for backlink building.
What Is DR (Domain Rating)?
DR (Domain Rating), is a metric developed by Ahrefs that measures the overall strength of a website’s backlink profile. Unlike other metrics that consider multiple SEO factors, DR focuses purely on the quality and quantity of backlinks pointing to a domain.
Key points about Domain Rating:
- Scale: 0–100, with higher numbers indicating stronger backlink profiles.
- Backlink-focused: Only considers links pointing to the domain, not on-page SEO.
- Purpose in outreach: Helps identify authoritative sites that can pass strong link equity.
- Example: A site with DR 75 has a stronger backlink profile than a site with DR 30, making it more valuable for link-building.
Why DR matters: When you target high-DR sites for outreach or guest posting, your backlinks are more likely to positively influence your SEO. It’s a quick way to assess the overall authority of a website before spending time on outreach.
What Is DA (Domain Authority)?
DA, or Domain Authority, is a metric developed by Moz that predicts how likely a domain is to rank in search engine results. Unlike DR, DA considers multiple factors, including backlinks, content quality, and overall SEO signals.
Key points about DA:
- Scale: 0–100, with higher scores indicating stronger ranking potential.
- Multi-factor metric: Takes into account backlinks, on-page SEO, and other Moz-specific factors.
- Purpose in outreach and SEO: Helps you evaluate a site’s authority and likelihood of ranking, not just its backlink profile.
- Example: A site with DA 70 is more likely to rank for competitive keywords than a site with DA 40, even if both have similar backlink counts.
Why DA matters: DA is useful for assessing whether a website is a credible and authoritative place to earn backlinks. Combining Domain Authority with Domain Rating allows you to evaluate both ranking potential and backlink strength for smarter outreach decisions.
What Is AS (Authority Score)?
AS, or Authority Score, is a metric developed by SEMrush that measures a domain’s overall authority, combining multiple factors like backlinks, organic traffic, and other quality signals. Unlike DR and DA, AS gives a more holistic view of a site’s trustworthiness and SEO strength.
Key points about AS:
- Scale: 0–100, with higher scores indicating stronger authority.
- Multi-factor metric: Considers backlinks, organic traffic, and other quality indicators.
- Purpose in outreach and SEO: Helps identify authoritative, trustworthy sites and avoid spammy or low-quality domains.
- Example: A site with AS 85 is highly trusted, while a site with AS 25 may carry higher risk for backlink campaigns.
Why AS matters: AS is particularly helpful when evaluating sites for backlinks or outreach because it balances authority and trust. Using Authority Score alongside Domain Rating and Domain Authority ensures you target sites that are both strong and safe for link-building.
Key Differences Between DR, DA, and AS
Understanding how DR, DA, and AS differ is crucial for making informed outreach and backlink decisions. Here’s a clear breakdown:
| Metric | Source | Focus | Scale | Main Use |
| DR (Domain Rating) | Ahrefs | Strength of a site’s backlink profile | 0–100 | Identify authoritative sites for link equity |
| DA (Domain Authority) | Moz | Predicts ranking potential | 0–100 | Assess overall SEO authority and ranking likelihood |
| AS (Authority Score) | SEMrush | Overall domain trust and quality | 0–100 | Evaluate both authority and risk for safe backlinks |
Key takeaways:
- DR vs DA: Domain Rating focuses solely on backlink strength; Domain Authority predicts ranking potential based on multiple SEO factors.
- DR/DA vs AS: DR and DA measure authority; AS measures both authority and potential risk.
- Use together: Combining all three gives a complete picture of site quality for outreach and SEO.
A simple comparison table like this helps outreach marketers quickly assess which sites are worth targeting while avoiding risky domains.
How to Use DR, DA, and AS in Backlink & Outreach Strategy
Using DR, DA, and AS together can make your outreach and backlink strategy more efficient and safer. Here’s how to leverage each metric effectively:
1. Prioritize High-Authority Sites (DR & DA):
- Target sites with strong DR for backlink strength.
- Consider DA to ensure the site has good ranking potential and credibility.
- Focus on sites that score well on both metrics to maximize SEO impact.
2. Avoid Risky Sites (AS):
- Check the AS score to spot potentially spammy or low-quality domains.
- Sites with low AS may carry a higher risk of penalties or irrelevant backlinks.
3. Balance Authority and Safety:
- High DR/DA + high AS = ideal target for outreach.
- High DR/DA + low AS = proceed cautiously; evaluate content and backlinks manually.
4. Optimize Outreach Strategy:
- Use these metrics to segment your prospects:
- Tier 1: High DR, high DA, high AS → top-priority targets
- Tier 2: Medium scores → secondary targets
- Tier 3: Low authority or low AS → avoid
- Focus your time and effort on sites that provide the best SEO value and lowest risk.
By combining DR, DA, and AS, you can make informed decisions that improve backlink quality, increase the success of outreach campaigns, and protect your site from low-quality links.
Conclusion
Understanding the differences between DR, DA, and AS is essential for anyone involved in SEO and outreach. Each metric provides unique insights:
- DR (Ahrefs Domain Rating) shows the strength of a site’s backlink profile.
- DA (Moz Domain Authority) predicts the site’s ability to rank in search engines.
- AS (SEMrush Authority Score) evaluates overall trustworthiness and potential risk.
Using these metrics together allows you to prioritize high-quality, authoritative sites while avoiding spammy or risky domains. By balancing authority and safety, you can build a smarter backlink strategy, improve SEO outcomes, and make your outreach campaigns more effective.