Backlink Growth Timeline
Visualize new and lost backlinks for any domain over the past 12 months.
Backlink Growth Timeline is free - sign up to run it.
This tool uses live SEO data, so we ask for an email - that's it. Every account gets 1 free run of every advanced tool, every month. No card, no spam, no upsells.
A 12-month timeline of new and lost backlinks for any domain - useful for spotting link velocity, link decay, and the impact of campaigns or algorithm updates. The chart shows monthly new backlinks (positive bars), monthly lost backlinks (negative bars), and net link growth per month. Use it to: track your own link-building program's pace, spot when a competitor lost a major linking page (you might be able to get it relinked to you), validate that a guest post or PR campaign actually delivered links, or detect a Google update that hit a domain hard (sudden drop in surviving links often correlates with a manual action or algorithmic penalty). Sign up free for one timeline per month.
Frequently asked questions
Why are some months showing zero?
DataForSEO's index has full coverage from roughly the past 24 months. Earlier months may show partial or zero data depending on when their crawler first picked up the domain.
Is 'net change' my actual link growth?
Roughly yes, with a caveat: backlinks marked 'lost' sometimes come back later when the source page is republished. The smoothed 6-month moving average is a more reliable trend signal than any single month.
Why did my domain lose so many links?
Most 'lost' backlinks are routine - sites get redesigned, articles get archived, domains get sold. Tracking link velocity patterns vs competitors is more useful than absolute numbers.
How does this differ from Ahrefs' backlink history graph?
Same data shape, different index. DataForSEO's backlink index is comparable in size to Ahrefs and Majestic. For paid alternatives we trust most, see our consulting writeup.
Long-form guides on the strategy behind the tool.
What is a Backlink? (And How to Get Them in 2026)
Backlinks explained - what they are, why they matter, what makes a good one, and how to build them.
Read guide →SaaS SEO Strategy: The Complete Playbook
Build a SaaS SEO strategy from zero: keyword research, content clusters, on-page tactics, and pSEO that compounds.
Read guide →What is SEO? A Founder's Definition (2026)
SEO explained for founders: what it is, why it matters, and the easiest path to ranking.
Read guide →More free SEO tools
Free tools to plan, audit, and ship better SEO pages.
Want this done for you?
Book a 15-minute call or request a quote. We build 50+ pSEO pages for clients, starting at $300.