How to Search Backlinks on Google: Free Methods That Actually Work

Want to find out who's linking to any website without paying for expensive SEO tools?

Good news—Google itself provides several free methods to search for backlinks. While paid tools like Ahrefs and Semrush offer more comprehensive data, you can get meaningful insights using nothing but Google and a few free alternatives.

In this guide, I'll walk you through every free method to search backlinks on Google, from the official Google Search Console to clever search operators that most people don't know about.

Why Search Backlinks on Google?

Before diving into the methods, let's understand why you might want to search backlinks using Google specifically:

• It's free — No subscription fees or credit card required
• It's authoritative — Data comes directly from Google (for GSC)
• It's accessible — Anyone can use search operators right now
• It's educational — Great way to learn how backlinks work

That said, Google's free methods have limitations. They won't show you every single backlink or provide metrics like Domain Authority. But for quick checks and basic research, they're surprisingly useful.

Method 1: Google Search Console (Best for Your Own Site)

If you want to find backlinks to your own website, Google Search Console is hands-down the best free option. It shows data directly from Google's index—no middleman, no sampling.

How to Access Your Backlinks in GSC

1. Go to Google Search Console
2. Select your property (website)
3. Click "Links" in the left sidebar
4. Review the sections:
   • Top linking sites — Domains linking to you
   • Top linked pages — Your pages with most backlinks
   • Top linking text — Anchor text used in links

What GSC Shows You

GSC Limitations

• Only works for your verified sites — Can't check competitors
• Shows a sample, not all backlinks — Google filters the data
• No authority metrics — No DA, DR, or spam scores
• Data can be delayed — Takes time to update

Despite these limitations, GSC remains the most reliable free source for your own site's backlink data.

Method 2: Google Search Operators

This is where it gets interesting. You can use Google's own search to find backlinks—even for sites you don't own.

The Basic Search Operators

Here are the most useful operators for finding backlinks:

"example.com" -site:example.com

This finds all pages that mention "example.com" but aren't on example.com itself. It reveals:

• Pages linking to the domain
• Unlinked brand mentions
• Forum discussions
• Reviews and comparisons

The Old "link:" Operator

You might have heard about the link: operator:

link:example.com

Important: Google deprecated this operator years ago. It used to show pages linking to a URL, but now it returns inconsistent or no results. Don't rely on it.

Practical Examples

Let's say you want to find who's linking to HubSpot's blog. Here's what you'd search:

"blog.hubspot.com" -site:hubspot.com -site:facebook.com -site:twitter.com -site:linkedin.com

I'm excluding social media sites because they create a lot of noise. The results show pages that:

• Link to HubSpot's blog
• Quote or reference their content
• Mention them in roundups

Method 3: Free Backlink Checker Tools

Several tools offer free tiers that pull backlink data. Here's what's actually useful:

Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker

Ahrefs offers a genuinely useful free tool at ahrefs.com/backlink-checker.

What you get for free:

• Top 100 backlinks to any URL or domain
• Domain Rating (DR) of linking sites
• Anchor text used
• dofollow/nofollow status

Limitations:

• Only 100 backlinks (paid shows all)
• No historical data
• No link loss tracking

Moz Link Explorer

Moz gives you 10 free queries per month at moz.com/link-explorer.

What you get:

• Domain Authority (DA) scores
• Spam Score detection
• Top linking domains
• Anchor text analysis

Our Free Backlink Checker

We've built a free tool that helps you check backlinks without subscriptions. It combines multiple data sources to give you a comprehensive view.

Method 4: Google Alerts for New Backlinks

While not a search method per se, Google Alerts can notify you when new backlinks appear.

Setting Up Backlink Alerts

1. Go to google.com/alerts
2. Enter your domain: "yoursite.com" -site:yoursite.com
3. Choose frequency: As-it-happens, Daily, or Weekly
4. Select sources: News, Blogs, Web, etc.
5. Click "Create Alert"

Now you'll get email notifications whenever Google finds new pages mentioning your site.

Comparing All Free Methods

Let's put all the free methods side by side:

Step-by-Step: Your Complete Free Backlink Research Workflow

Here's my recommended workflow for comprehensive free backlink research:

Step 1: Start with Google Search Console

If it's your own site, always start here. Export the full backlink list and identify:

• Your top referrers (sites sending most links)
• Your most linked pages (your "linkable assets")
• Anchor text patterns (any over-optimization?)

Step 2: Use Search Operators for Competitor Analysis

Pick 3-5 competitors and run these searches:

"competitor1.com" -site:competitor1.com
"competitor2.com" -site:competitor2.com
"competitor3.com" -site:competitor3.com

Look for patterns:

• Which sites link to multiple competitors?
• What type of content gets linked?
• Are there industry directories you're missing?

Step 3: Verify with Free Tools

Use your Ahrefs Free and Moz queries strategically:

• Check the most important competitor
• Verify the most valuable linking domains
• Get authority metrics for key prospects

Step 4: Set Up Monitoring

Create Google Alerts for:

• Your domain name
• Your brand name
• Key competitor domains

This ensures you catch new backlinks and mentions without manual checking.

Common Questions

Does Google have a free backlink checker?

Not a dedicated tool, but Google Search Console provides backlink data for sites you verify ownership of. It's the closest thing to an official Google backlink checker.

Can I see all backlinks to any website for free?

No free tool shows all backlinks. Even paid tools don't capture 100%. The best approach is combining:

• GSC for your own site (most complete for verified sites)
• Search operators for discovery
• Free tool tiers for spot-checking

Is the link: operator still working?

Technically it exists, but Google deprecated it and the results are unreliable. Use "domain.com" -site:domain.com instead for better results.

How often should I check backlinks?

For most sites:

• Monthly deep analysis using the full workflow
• Weekly Google Alert reviews
• Quarterly competitor analysis updates

Are these free methods good enough?

For learning, small sites, and occasional research—absolutely. For professional SEO work, you'll eventually want paid tools for complete data and advanced features.

Next Steps

Now that you know how to search backlinks on Google for free, here's what to do:

1. Start with Google Search Console — Set it up if you haven't, export your backlinks today
2. Try the search operators — Run a few searches for your domain and competitors
3. Use free tool queries wisely — Save your Moz queries for important research
4. Set up Google Alerts — Take 5 minutes to create monitoring for your brand

The free methods won't replace professional tools entirely, but they're a solid foundation for understanding your backlink profile without spending a dime.