2026-06-28 · iRank Team · 5 min read
You see two numbers everywhere in SEO: DR and DA. They sound the same. They are not. Let me clear up the domain rating vs domain authority question fast — and show how a white-hat team like iRank actually uses them when vetting links.
The Basics
Both scores try to guess how strong a site is. Both run from 0 to 100. But they come from different companies.
Here is the quick version.
| Metric | Who made it | What it measures | |--------|-------------|------------------| | Domain Rating (DR) | Ahrefs | Strength of the backlink profile | | Domain Authority (DA) | Moz | Predicted ranking ability |
Neither score is a Google ranking factor. Both are shortcuts for comparing sites inside third-party tools.
What Is Domain Rating?
Domain Rating is Ahrefs’ score. It looks at how many strong sites link to you and how those links relate to each other in Ahrefs’ graph.
It is also logarithmic. Going from DR 20 to DR 40 is relatively easier. Going from DR 70 to DR 90 is very hard because you are competing with sites that already have massive link equity.
DR is useful for filtering weak referring domains. It is not a scoreboard for your business success.
What Is Domain Authority?
Domain Authority is Moz’s score. It predicts how well you might rank based on link signals in Moz’s model.
Different data, different model. So the number rarely matches DR on the same site — and that is expected.
If your DA moves while DR stays flat (or the reverse), do not panic. You are watching two vendors update two databases.
Why the Two Numbers Differ
They disagree for simple reasons.
- Different companies built them
- They use different link databases
- They weigh signals differently
- They refresh on different schedules
So a site could be DR 55 and DA 38. That is normal. Do not rewrite your strategy over a gap between tools.
The Big Catch
Here is the part most people miss. Google does not use DR or DA.
Both are third-party guesses. Useful for comparing sites, but not real ranking factors.
Chasing a high DR link that has nothing to do with your niche is a classic mistake. A DR 30 site in your field often helps more than a DR 70 site that is off-topic.
That is why white-hat link building at iRank always pairs metrics with relevance and real audience checks.
How to Actually Use These Scores
Keep it practical.
- Use DR or DA to filter out weak, spammy sites.
- Then weigh relevance and real traffic just as much.
- Never buy a link on the score alone.
- Prefer contextual placements on pages that exist for readers.
- Track your own referring-domain quality over time, not vanity score spikes.
This is exactly how we vet targets for high authority backlinks. Strength and relevance, never one alone.
For the wider program these metrics sit inside, see off-page SEO. Free checks in our tools hub can help you inspect pages before you promote them.
Pro-Tip: A relevant DR 25 link often beats a random DR 80 one. Relevance is the tie-breaker.
What DR and DA Should Not Decide
Do not let a metric override common sense.
- Do not reject a perfect niche site only because the score looks “low”
- Do not accept a spammy site only because the score looks “high”
- Do not report DR growth as the main KPI when rankings and relevant referring domains matter more
- Do not compare your DR to a global brand and call the gap a failure
Metrics are filters. Business outcomes — rankings, qualified traffic, and durable links — are the goal.
If you need a sense of how ongoing vetting and placement work are packaged, see pricing.
FAQ
Which is better, DR or DA? Neither. They measure slightly different things and neither is used by Google. Pick one tool for consistency and stop chasing both numbers.
What is a good DR to aim for? There is no fixed target. Match or beat the sites ranking above you on your priority keywords, then keep relevance high.
Should I only get links from high-DR sites? No. Relevance and real traffic matter just as much — often more — than a vanity score.
Why did my DR drop after a good month of links? Third-party scores move when databases update, competitors gain links, or old referring domains disappear. Check live links and relevance first; do not panic over a small score swing.
The Wrap-Up
In the domain rating vs domain authority debate, both are handy shortcuts, not scoreboards. Use them to filter, then let relevance do the real work.
Want links vetted for authority and relevance? See our off-page SEO services, white-hat link building, pricing, or book a free call.