If a rival keeps outranking you, backlinks are usually a big part of why. The fastest way to catch up is to see exactly who links to them and go get similar (or better) links yourself. Below, we compare the top tools for this, pick the best one for most people, and walk through exactly how to use it.
What Is a Competitor Backlink Analysis?
A competitor backlink analysis is the process of looking at who links to a competitor’s website, then using that information to find link-building opportunities for your own site. Done right, it shows you three things: how many backlinks a competitor has, which sites link to them, and which of their pages attract the most links.
That data only matters if you act on it turning a list of links into a real outreach plan, a list of content ideas, and a shortlist of sites likely to link to you too.
Which Tool Should You Use? (Comparison)
There are dozens of backlink checkers out there, but four keep coming up as the most practical for competitor research: Semrush, Mangools LinkMiner, SE Ranking, and Linkhouse. Here’s how they stack up.
| Tool | Best for | Backlink Gap Analysis | Price Point | Standout Feature |
| Semrush | All-around SEO teams, agencies | Yes up to 5 domains | Higher-end, free 7-day trial | Deep filtering (broken links, Authority Score, indexed pages) |
| Mangools LinkMiner | Small businesses, solo marketers | No (link data only) | Budget-friendly | “Link Strength” metric + live page previews, very beginner-friendly |
| SE Ranking | Agencies wanting an all-in-one platform | Yes up to 5 domains | Mid-range | Frequently refreshed backlink database, toxic-link detection |
| Linkhouse | People who want to buy/acquire links, not just find them | Yes free module | Free gap tool; paid marketplace | Auto-suggests competitors and connects you directly to a link marketplace |
Our recommendation: Semrush
For most people doing serious competitor backlink research, Semrush is the best overall pick. Here’s why it beats the others for this specific job:
- Its Backlink Gap tool lets you stack your domain against up to four competitors simultaneously and instantly see which sites link to all of them but not you — the single most useful report for this task.
- Its Backlinks and Indexed Pages reports let you filter competitor links by Authority Score, dofollow/nofollow, and even find their broken pages (which you can turn into link-reclamation opportunities).
- It also handles the next step finding your competitors in the first place through its Organic Rankings/Competitors report, so you’re not switching tools mid-workflow.
If budget is the main concern: Mangools LinkMiner is a strong runner-up. It doesn’t do a full gap analysis, but it’s cheaper, simpler to learn, and its categorized filters (blog, forum, Q&A, directory) make it fast to find realistic, replicable links.
If you eventually want to buy/acquire links, not just find prospects: Linkhouse’s free Backlink Gap module is worth trying since it connects opportunities directly to a marketplace.
How to Find Competitor Backlinks With Semrush (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Find out who your real competitors are
Go to Organic Rankings in Semrush, enter your domain, and open the “Competitors” tab. This shows you the sites actually ranking for the same keywords you target which is often a more accurate competitor list than the businesses you’d name off the top of your head.
Step 2: Pull a competitor’s full backlink profile
Open the Backlink Checker tool and enter a competitor’s domain. You’ll immediately see their total backlinks and referring domains. Click the “Backlinks” tab for the full list, which includes each link’s Authority Score, the linking page’s title/URL, and the anchor text used.
Step 3: Sort by quality, not just quantity
Click into the “Referring Domains” tab and sort by Authority Score (AS). This surfaces the strongest, most reputable sites linking to your competitor these are the ones most worth chasing first. Look specifically for resource pages, niche directories, listicles, and guest-post sites, since these types of pages actively accept new submissions.
Step 4: Run a Backlink Gap analysis
Open the Backlink Gap tool, enter your domain plus up to four competitors, and hit “Find prospects.” Click the “Best” tab to see domains linking to all your competitors but not you these are your highest-probability targets, since they’ve already proven they’ll link to businesses like yours.
Step 5: Find and fix competitors’ broken backlinks
Back in the Backlink Checker, go to the “Indexed Pages” tab and check “Broken Pages.” This reveals dead pages on a competitor’s site. Click the backlink count on any broken page to see who’s still linking to it then reach out to those sites and offer your relevant, working page as the replacement.
Step 6: Outrank their best-linked content
Still in “Indexed Pages,” sort by referring domains to find your competitor’s most-linked page. Study what makes it work, build something clearly better (more current, more detailed, more useful), publish it, then reach out to the sites linking to the old version and pitch your upgrade.
Step 7: Track media and journalist links
In the Backlinks tab, scan for links from news outlets or industry publications. These often trace back to a specific journalist who covers your space someone worth following, engaging with, and eventually pitching for future coverage.
Quick Takeaway
If you only do one thing this week: run a Backlink Gap report in Semrush against your top 3–4 competitors, sort the “Best” tab by Authority Score, and start outreach on the top 10 domains. That single report usually surfaces more realistic, fast-turnaround link opportunities than any other single step.