If you’ve ever checked a website’s SEO metrics, you’ve probably come across domain rating and domain authority.
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. Understanding the difference between domain rating and domain authority can help you evaluate your website’s online strength and improve your SEO strategy effectively.
Many businesses focus on increasing these numbers, but do they actually influence search rankings? More importantly, which one should you prioritise? In this blog, we’ll break down the difference between domain authority and domain rating by highlighting six key distinctions so you can make better-informed decisions for your website.
1. Different Developers And Scoring Systems
One of the main differences between domain rating and domain authority is who created them and how they calculate scores.
Domain Rating (DR) is a metric developed by Ahrefs, while Domain Authority (DA) is a product of Moz. Both measure a site’s authority, but they use different scoring systems. DR evaluates backlinks and rates websites on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating stronger backlink profiles. On the other hand, DA predicts ranking potential based on a broader range of factors, using a 0 to 100 scale.
Although both scores appear similar, they are calculated differently and serve distinct purposes in SEO analysis.
2. DR Focuses On Backlinks, DA Considers Multiple Factors
If you compare domain rating vs domain authority, the biggest difference is in what they measure.
Domain Rating focuses solely on backlinks. Ahrefs calculates DR by analysing the quantity and quality of websites linking to a domain. This means a website with strong inbound links but poor content can still have a high DR.
Domain Authority, however, takes a broader approach. Moz evaluates multiple factors, including backlinks, content quality, and website structure. This means keyword optimisation, site speed, and overall SEO health influence DA.
DR is a useful metric for developing a link-building strategy. However, DA provides a more complete picture of your site’s ranking strength.
3. DR Updates In Real-Time, DA Updates Periodically
Another difference between domain authority and domain rating is how often they update.
Ahrefs frequently updates Domain Rating, reflecting new backlinks in near real-time. If you acquire or lose backlinks, your DR score can change quickly.
Domain Authority, however, does not update as often. Moz recalculates DA periodically, meaning backlink changes and SEO improvements might take longer to reflect in your score.
Tracking DR can be helpful if you want immediate feedback on your link-building efforts. However, DA provides a more stable, long-term measure for a broader ranking assessment.
4. Google Does Not Use Either Metric For Rankings
One common misconception is that domain authority and domain rating directly influence Google rankings. However, Google does not use DR or DA in its algorithm.
Both metrics are third-party calculations that provide an estimate of a website’s strength. Google’s actual ranking factors include content quality, user experience, page speed, and search intent.
While improving DR and DA can indicate better SEO practices, they should not be the only focus. Instead, use them as comparative tools to benchmark your site against competitors.
5. DR Is More Useful For Competitor Analysis
If you’re choosing between domain authority vs domain rating for competitor research, DR might be the better choice.
Since DR focuses only on backlinks, it provides a clearer comparison of a website’s link profile. Ahrefs’ DR metric lets you see how many high-quality sites link to your competitors, helping you identify potential link-building opportunities.
While DA is useful for understanding ranking potential, it includes multiple factors that can make direct competitor comparisons more complex.
6. DA Is Better For Predicting Search Performance
DA provides a broader and more predictive measure of a site’s overall ability to rank.
Since DA considers on-page SEO, site structure, and content quality, it offers a more complete analysis of ranking potential. This makes DA a useful metric for tracking long-term SEO improvements beyond backlinks.
However, both domain authority and domain rating have limitations. While they are good indicators of website strength, neither guarantees higher rankings. Instead, they should be used alongside Google’s actual ranking factors.
How To Improve Both Domain Rating And Domain Authority
Improving domain authority and domain rating requires a mix of strategies that enhance a website’s backlink profile, content quality, and overall SEO strength. Since these metrics are calculated differently, a well-rounded approach ensures balanced growth in both.
1. Strengthen Your Backlink Profile
A strong backlink profile plays a major role in increasing both domain rating vs domain authority. Some ways to achieve this include:
- Acquire High-Quality Backlinks – Get links from authoritative and relevant websites. These carry more weight than numerous low-quality links.
- Guest Posting – Writing guest articles for established blogs allows you to earn backlinks while building credibility.
- Broken Link Building – Find broken links on high-authority sites and suggest replacing them with links to your content.
- HARO (Help A Reporter Out) – Respond to journalist queries to earn backlinks from high-authority media websites.
Since domain rating and domain authority rely on backlinks, a diverse and high-quality link-building strategy can positively influence both scores.
2. Improve On-Page SEO
Unlike domain rating, which primarily depends on backlinks, domain authority considers additional SEO factors. To improve DA, focus on:
- Optimising Meta Tags & Headings – Ensure title tags, meta descriptions, and headings contain relevant keywords.
- Enhancing Internal Linking – Proper internal linking helps distribute link equity and keeps users engaged on your site.
- Improving Site Structure – A clear, well-organized website structure makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your content.
Refining on-page elements strengthens your site’s credibility and usability, contributing to a higher domain authority.
3. Publish High-Quality, Engaging Content
Search engines reward websites that consistently provide valuable, well-researched content. This approach helps build domain authority and domain rating by:
- Attracting Natural Backlinks – Quality content increases the likelihood of earning links from authoritative sources.
- Enhancing User Engagement – Visitors are more likely to stay on a site with relevant, informative content.
- Boosting Keyword Rankings – Well-optimized content can drive more organic traffic, indirectly strengthening your authority.
By focusing on content excellence, websites can see improvements in domain rating and authority over time.
4. Enhance Website Performance and User Experience
Google considers website performance and user experience when ranking pages. While DR focuses on backlinks, DA factors in these elements:
- Improve Page Speed – A faster website reduces bounce rates and improves rankings.
- Ensure Mobile-Friendliness – A responsive design ensures better usability across devices.
- Secure Your Site with HTTPS – A secure site is more trustworthy and can improve SEO rankings.
A well-optimized website not only boosts user experience but also strengthens domain authority and domain rating over time.
5. Maintain a Healthy Link Profile
Since backlinks influence both domain authority vs domain rating, monitoring and maintaining a healthy link profile is necessary.
- Disavow Toxic Links – Use Google’s Disavow Tool to remove spammy or harmful backlinks.
- Monitor Link Growth – Regularly check backlink analytics using tools like Ahrefs and Moz.
- Avoid Black Hat SEO – Unethical SEO tactics like buying links can lead to penalties.
Conclusion About Domain Rating vs Domain Authority
Understanding the difference between domain rating and domain authority can help you make smarter SEO decisions. DR is useful for evaluating backlinks, while DA provides a broader picture of ranking potential. However, neither metric should be the sole focus of your SEO strategy.
The best approach is to balance both—build high-quality backlinks while also improving on-page SEO and user experience. If you want to strengthen your website’s authority and improve search rankings, we can help.
Sign up for a free 30-minute strategy session with us today and get personalised SEO insights for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Authority And Domain Rating
Does A Higher Domain Rating Or Domain Authority Guarantee Better Rankings?
No, neither domain authority nor domain rating directly influences Google rankings. They are third-party metrics, not official ranking factors. Improving these scores can indicate stronger authority, but search rankings depend on multiple factors like content relevance and technical SEO.
How Can I Improve Both Domain Rating And Domain Authority?
To improve domain authority and domain rating, focus on building high-quality backlinks, creating valuable content, optimising on-page SEO, and maintaining a technically sound website. Removing spammy links and improving site speed can also help.
Does Google Use Domain Rating Or Domain Authority?
No, Google does not use domain authority or domain rating to determine rankings. These are third-party estimates of a site’s strength. Google’s actual ranking factors include content quality, relevance, and user experience.
Does A High Domain Rating Or Domain Authority Guarantee Better Rankings?
No, neither domain authority nor domain rating directly impacts Google rankings. These are third-party metrics that indicate website strength but do not determine search engine rankings.
Why Do My Domain Rating And Domain Authority Fluctuate?
Fluctuations in domain authority and domain rating can happen due to various factors. Changes in backlinks, such as gaining or losing high-authority links, can impact DR. Competitor activities, such as acquiring stronger backlinks, may also shift rankings.
