SaaS link building
Domain Authority (DA): Definition and How It Differs from DR
Domain Authority (DA) is Moz’s proprietary metric scoring a website’s backlink authority on a 0-100 logarithmic scale. Conceptually similar to Domain Rating (DR), but calculated using different methodology and Moz’s own backlink index.
What it means
Moz calculates DA from their Link Explorer index using a machine-learned model that predicts ranking ability. The output is a 0-100 score where higher means more authority. Like DR, it is logarithmic — gains get harder as you climb.
DA and DR generally correlate but can differ for a given site by 5-15 points because the underlying backlink indexes differ. Moz’s crawl misses some links that Ahrefs catches and vice versa.
How it works
Moz uses machine learning trained on actual Google SERPs to model which authority signals predict ranking outcomes. The model considers root domain count, link quality, link patterns, and other signals to produce the DA score.
DA updates with Moz’s index refresh cycle. Major algorithm updates to Moz’s DA calculation happen periodically (most recently in 2019), which can shift scores across the board without anything changing on individual sites.
Why it matters for SaaS
For most SaaS SEO programs, DR (Ahrefs) is the more commonly used metric. DA still matters because some PR and outreach tools use DA as their default authority score, and some buyers (especially those running Moz Pro) reference it. Both metrics tell roughly the same story about your authority position.
How to evaluate or use it
Track DA as a secondary metric to DR. Use Moz Link Explorer to check it monthly. Don’t optimize for DA specifically — like DR, it’s an output of authority work, not the target.
Related terms
Learn more
See the broader SaaS SEO metrics framework for how to use DA alongside other authority and engagement signals.
Common misconceptions about Domain Authority
Misconception 1: DA is a Google ranking factor. It is not. DA is Moz’s proprietary score. Google has confirmed multiple times they do not use Moz DA, Ahrefs DR, or Semrush AS in their ranking systems. These third-party scores correlate with ranking ability because they measure the same underlying authority signals, but they are not direct ranking factors.
Misconception 2: A higher DA always means better rankings. Not for any specific keyword. A DR50 site with strong topical authority in a niche can outrank a DR80 generalist site on niche-specific queries. DA is a global authority measure; rankings are query-by-query.
Misconception 3: DA increases linearly with backlinks. The scale is logarithmic. Moving from DA20 to DA30 takes a fraction of the work required to move from DA60 to DA70. Plan investment with this curve in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Should I track DA or DR?
For SaaS SEO, DR (Ahrefs) is the more commonly referenced metric. Track both if you use both tools, but don’t over-index on the difference between them.
What’s a good Domain Authority for SaaS?
Stage-dependent: Series A typically DA30-45, Series B DA45-60, Series C+ DA60+. Top-tier SaaS at scale operates in DA70-85 range.