Every website owner wants to see their site at the top of search results.

To get there, you need good votes of confidence from other websites. In the world of SEO, these votes are called backlinks. However, not all links are the same. Some are strong votes, and some are quiet nods. This is where the concept of a nofollow link comes in.

If you are serious about your SEO strategy, you cannot ignore nofollow backlinks.

They are a huge part of your website’s link profile. But how do you find them? You cannot just look at a webpage and know if a link is nofollow. You need the right nofollow backlinks checker to see what is happening behind the scenes.

At VH Info, we know that data is only half the battle. We help SaaS companies take backlink data and turn it into real growth. While we provide the expert strategy, you need reliable SEO tools to gather the facts.

This guide will explain what nofollow links are and list the best tools to find them.

What Are Nofollow Backlinks (And Why Do They Matter)?

When one website links to another, it usually passes “authority” or “power.”

Think of it like a recommendation. However, sometimes a website wants to link to you without passing that power. They use a special tag to tell search engines like Google not to count the link as a vote. This is a nofollow link.

Understanding these links is vital for your backlink analysis. If you have too many or too few, it might look strange to Google.

Understanding the Nofollow Attribute (rel=”nofollow”)

To see a nofollow link, you have to look at the html code. You don’t need to be a coder to understand this.

A normal link looks like this in the page source: <a href=”https://example.com”>Click Here</a>

A nofollow link looks like this: <a href=”https://example.com” rel=”nofollow”>Click Here</a>

That little piece of text, rel=”nofollow”, is a signal. It tells search engine bots specifically: “Do not follow this link to the next page and do not pass authority.” Even though the seo value (often called link juice) is stopped, humans can still click it. It still brings referral traffic.

Dofollow Vs. Nofollow Links: The Key Difference

The difference between dofollow backlinks and nofollow links is simple.

• Dofollow Link: This is the default. It tells Google, “I trust this site.” It helps increase your domain authority and search rankings.
• Nofollow Link: This tells Google, “I am linking here, but I don’t want to pass a vote of credit.”

Most SEO professionals chase Dofollow links because they directly boost SEO performance.

However, a healthy link profile needs both types of links. If you only have Dofollow links, Google might think you are buying them or doing unnatural link building. A mix makes your site look real and trusted.

How Nofollow Links Impact Your SEO Strategy?

Many people think Nofollow links are useless. This is wrong. Even if they don’t directly boost your domain rating, they are still valuable backlinks. Here is why they matter for your SEO strategy:

• Traffic: A link on a popular site like Wikipedia or Forbes is usually Nofollow. But, thousands of people might click it. That referral traffic is potential business.
• Trust: Search engines see Nofollow links from big sites as a trust signal.
• Diversity: A natural backlink profile must have Nofollow links.
• Future Links: People see your site through nofollow links. If they like your content, they might link to you later with a dofollow link from their own blog.

At VH Info, we look at the whole picture. We don’t just count links; we look at how they help your business grow.

The 10 Best Nofollow Backlinks Checker Tools For Your Website

To check your inbound links, you need a backlink checker tool. There are many options. Some are free tools, and some are paid.

Here are the best ones to help you get actionable insights.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is one of the most famous SEO tools in the industry. It has a massive index of live links. When you use their backlink checker, you get detailed reports on your link profile.

• Key Feature: It clearly shows the referring domain and whether the link is “dofollow” or “nofollow” right in the main dashboard.
• Why use it: It gives you the domain rating (DR) of the site linking to you. This helps you judge quality fast.
• VH Info Note: We often use Ahrefs data to benchmark client success because their crawler is very fast at finding new backlinks.

Semrush

Semrush is a complete marketing suite. Their Semrush backlink analytics tool is powerful. It allows you to check your own site or a competitor’s site.

• Key Feature: The authority score metric helps you see how strong a linking site is. You can filter specifically for nofollow links to see where they are coming from.
• Why use it: It is great for finding toxic links. These are bad links that might hurt your site. Semrush helps you find them so you can remove them.

Majestic

Majestic is purely focused on link analysis. It is famous for its “Trust Flow” and “Citation Flow” metrics.

• Key Feature: It maps out your link profile in a visual graph. You can easily see the balance of your links.
• Why use it: If you want deep technical data about backlink history, Majestic is excellent. It helps you separate high-quality referring domains from low-quality ones.

Moz

Moz created the metric called domain authority (DA). This score is used by SEO professionals everywhere.

• Key Feature: The spam score. This tells you if a nofollow link comes from a shady website.
• Why use it: It is very easy to use. You type in the URL, and it shows you the inbound links and clearly labels the nofollow ones.

BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is mostly for content, but it is great for checking who is sharing and linking to your content.

• Key Feature: It focuses on social engagement. You can see which content gets the most links.
• Why use it: It helps you find valuable insights on what topics attract links. Even if the links are nofollow (like from social media), knowing this helps your content strategy.

SE Ranking

SE Ranking is an all-in-one SEO platform that is budget-friendly.

• Key Feature: It has a backlink monitor. You can add specific links to a list, and the tool checks if they are still there and if they are still nofollow or dofollow.
• Why use it: It is great for tracking the status of your new links over time.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free backlink checker provided directly by Google. It is the most accurate source for what Google actually “sees.”

• Key Feature: The “Links” report. It shows external links and internal links.
• Why use it: It is free. While it doesn’t always explicitly label “nofollow” in a simple column like paid tools, you can download the data and inspect the linked page list. It gives you the total number of backlinks Google counts.

Ubersuggest

Created by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest is a very user-friendly backlink analysis tool.

• Key Feature: It shows the domain authority score and gives you a list of links. You can filter by “nofollow” with one click.
• Why use it: It is cheaper than Ahrefs or Semrush and gives you the basic backlink data you need. It is often the easiest way for beginners to start.

Backlinko

Backlinko is a huge educational resource for SEO. While primarily known for training, the methods and templates provided by Backlinko (and their association with Semrush tools) guide you on how to audit links manually or using specific checkers.

• Key Feature: Using Backlinko’s strategies, you learn how to evaluate the quality of a link beyond just the “nofollow” tag.
• Why use it: It teaches you the “why” behind the data. Following their guides helps you understand if a nofollow link is actually helping your organic traffic.

RankWatch

RankWatch is another solid tool for checking search rankings and backlinks.

• Key Feature: It analyzes the anchor text used in your backlinks. This is the clickable text of a link.
• Why use it: It helps you see if your nofollow links are using safe, natural text or spammy keywords.

How to Check Nofollow Backlinks? Step-by-Step

Checking your links doesn’t have to be hard. You can do it using a free backlink checker tool or a paid one. Here is the easiest way to do it.

Step 1: Choosing Your Nofollow Backlinks Checker

First, pick a tool from the list above. If you are just starting, Google Search Console or a limited free version of Ahrefs (Ahrefs Webmaster Tools) is a good choice. For deeper actionable insights, you might want a paid tool like Semrush.

Step 2: Running Your Domain (Or A Competitor’s)

Go to the tool and find the search bar. Enter your domain name (like yourwebsite.com). You can also enter a specific web page URL if you only want to check links to one blog post. Click the “Search” or “Analyze” button. The tool will scan the web to find all external links pointing to you.

Step 3: Filtering and Identifying Nofollow Links

Once the report loads, you will see a lot of numbers. Look for a section called “Backlinks” or “Inbound Links.”

Most tools have filters. Look for a filter button that says “Link Type” or “Attribute.” You will usually see options like:

• All
• Dofollow
• Nofollow

Click on “Nofollow.” The tool will now hide the dofollow links and only show you the nofollow backlinks. This list is your target.

Step 4: Exporting Your Link Data

If you have a lot of links, it is hard to read them all on the screen. Look for an “Export” button. This will save the data as a CSV or Excel file. Now you have a list of every nofollow link. You can see the referring domain, the anchor text, and the page authority of the source.

At VH Info, we use these exports to build a custom plan for our clients.

How to Analyze Your Nofollow Backlink Profile?

You have the list. Now, what does it mean? Just having the data isn’t enough. You need to analyze your website’s backlink profile to improve your SEO performance.

What Is A “Natural” Nofollow-to-Dofollow Ratio?

There is no perfect number. However, if 100% of your links are dofollow, Google gets suspicious. It looks fake. If 100% are nofollow, you might struggle to rank high in search engine results.

A natural profile usually has a good mix. Many big sites have 20%, 30%, or even 40% nofollow links. This happens naturally because people share links on social media, forums, and blog comments (which are usually nofollow).

Don’t worry about the exact percentage. Worry about the quality.

Identifying Spammy Nofollow Links

Not all nofollow links are safe. Sometimes, spam sites link to you.

Look at your list. Do you see:

• Links from gambling or adult sites?
• Links with weird anchor text (like “cheap pills”)?
• Links from sites in languages you don’t target?

These can be toxic links. Even if they are nofollow, having too many can look bad. You might need to use a “Disavow Tool” to tell Google to ignore them completely.

Finding Opportunities From Your Nofollow Links

This is a pro tip from VH Info. A Nofollow link is a relationship starter.

If a high-quality website mentions you but uses a Nofollow link, they already know who you are. You can contact them. You can say, “Thank you for the mention!” Sometimes, you can suggest a collaboration or a guest post that might result in a Dofollow link later. Also, check the anchor text. Is it relevant? Does it make people want to click? If the link sends you referral traffic, it is a winner, no matter the tag.

FAQ’s:

Are Nofollow Backlinks Bad For SEO?

No, they are not bad. They are actually helpful. They diversify your link profile, bring organic traffic, and build brand awareness. A profile without them looks unnatural to search engines.

How Can I Check My Nofollow Backlinks For Free?

You can use Google Search Console. It is completely free. You can also use the free versions of Ubersuggest or the Ahrefs free backlink checker. These free tools give you a quick look at your backlink data.

Can Free Tools Accurately Check Nofollow Backlinks In Bulk?

Most free tools have limits. They might only show you the top 100 links. If you have thousands of links, you will need a paid backlink analysis tool to see the total number of backlinks.

Is It Possible to Get Alerts For New Nofollow Backlinks Automatically?

Yes. Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and SE Ranking have alert features. They can email you whenever you get new backlinks, telling you if they are Dofollow or Nofollow.

What Is A Good Dofollow Vs. Nofollow Link Ratio?

There is no magic number. Focus on getting relevant backlinks from real sites. If you build links naturally, the ratio will take care of itself. Avoid buying links to force a specific ratio.

What Does the Rel=”Nofollow” Tag Mean and How Does It Affect Rankings?

The rel=”nofollow” tag in the HTML code tells search engines not to pass authority. It generally does not improve search rankings directly as a dofollow link does, but it helps with trust and traffic.

Can A Nofollow Link Still Send You Traffic?

Yes! This is one of the best things about them. A link on a high-traffic site like Wikipedia is nofollow, but it can send thousands of visitors to your site. This referral traffic is often more valuable than the link juice itself.

Conclusion

Checking your nofollow backlinks is an important part of maintaining a healthy website. It helps you understand who is talking about you and keeps your backlink profile safe from spam. Using the right nofollow backlinks checker makes this job easy.

Whether you use a free tool or a premium one like Ahrefs, the goal is the same: visibility.

Keep in mind that while tools provide you with data, it’s essential to have a strategic plan for that information. At VH Info, our expertise lies in transforming backlink analysis into successful strategies, as we work with SaaS businesses to establish genuine authority by cultivating valuable relationships instead of relying on arbitrary links.

Don’t ignore the “nofollow” tag. Embrace it as part of a natural, strong SEO foundation. Start checking your links today, clean up the spam, and look for the hidden opportunities in your list.