Domain Rating · DR3 vs DR4
Check Ahrefs DR4 for your domain or subdomain. See DR3 alongside it, compare the point difference, and put your backlink strength in context.
One domain. Two models. A clearer comparison.
DR3 vs DR4 at a glance
0–100 scale—/ 100
Your score appears here after a query.
—/ 100
Your score appears here after a query.
—
DR4 − DR3, in points.
A model comparison, not a change over time.
Domain Rating by Ahrefs
Domain Rating data license ↗Run a query to see real scores. No sample ratings are shown above. This independent tool is not affiliated with Ahrefs.
Save this bookmarklet once. While browsing a website, click your saved bookmark to query only DR4 and show the score in the page’s top-right corner. It sends the hostname to A2A; it does not send the page text or URL path.
One DR4 request per open result. Server scores are cached for about an hour. Some websites block bookmarklets or cross-origin connections through their Content Security Policy; CORS support cannot override that policy. Chrome internal pages and PDF viewers are not supported.
The metric, explained
Searching for “ahref dr4”? The official name is Ahrefs DR4: the fourth version of Domain Rating. This free checker puts the new score beside DR3 for the exact domain or subdomain you enter. Start with a query above, then use the guide below to put the two numbers in context.
Ahrefs describes two main changes: a more selective pool of sites contributing to the metric, and separate ratings for individual subdomains. Read the official DR4 announcement for its methodology and rollout details. This independent checker uses Ahrefs data and does not calculate its own authority score.
How it works
Paste a domain or a full HTTP(S) URL into the box. Choose the host you actually want to evaluate: example.com, www.example.com and docs.example.com are different inputs. If you paste an article URL, the tool extracts its hostname so the result stays focused on Domain Rating.
Select Check DR4 & compare. The tool requests DR3 and DR4 for the same host, then labels each response with its version and retrieval time. Example-domain buttons only fill the input; submit the form when you are ready to run a query.
The difference card subtracts DR3 from DR4. A plus sign means the DR4 score is higher; a minus sign means it is lower. If either response is unavailable, the difference stays blank. Keep the exact host and both version labels when sharing your findings.
Features
The new-model score is the first result, with DR3 beside it for reference. You can answer both “What is my DR4?” and “How does it compare with DR3?” without switching tabs. Each card uses the same 0–100 display, making the version labels easy to follow.
A documentation site, hosted publication or community can have a different backlink footprint from its parent site. Keeping the entered hostname makes your research more precise. Query the host that would publish your link, then record the root domain separately if your research calls for that comparison.
A returned zero appears as zero. A missing response appears as unavailable, with no invented replacement score. If only one version succeeds, you can still read that score and retry the comparison later. Loading and error messages explain what is happening while your request is processed.
DR3 vs DR4
| What to compare | DR3 | DR4 |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Previous Domain Rating model | Fourth Domain Rating model |
| Subdomains | Many inherited the parent domain’s rating | Individual subdomains receive their own ratings |
| Contributing sites | Previous pool of contributing sites | More selective pool, with emphasis on estimated organic traffic |
| How to use the result | Reference for the previous model | New-model reference for backlink research |
The cards compare two models at query time. They do not show a before-and-after history. Domain Rating uses a logarithmic scale, so a point difference is not a percentage gain or loss in backlink strength. Use the Ahrefs Domain Rating API reference for the version definitions.
Use cases
Use the query as a starting point for a backlink review. Record the hostname, versions and retrieval date in your notes, then investigate questions that the comparison raises. Keep a future DR4 reading separate from this DR3-versus-DR4 comparison so a model change does not become a misleading growth claim.
Choose competitors serving a similar audience and check the same kind of host for each one. Compare root domains with root domains, or documentation hosts with documentation hosts. A consistent scope makes the research easier to explain and helps prevent a single impressive score from dominating your assessment.
Check the exact site where a proposed placement would appear. Add your own notes about audience fit, editorial standards and page relevance before deciding whether to contact a publisher. The score can help organize a shortlist; the final decision still needs a closer look at the publication and the proposed link.
Examples
These are hypothetical examples to explain the arithmetic, not measured ratings for real websites.
Record an eight-point difference between models. Do not label it an eight-point decline this month: this query contains no earlier observation. Review the exact host and its backlinks before deciding what to investigate next.
The newer model returns six more points for this host. Keep that result as a version-specific reference. It does not establish that the website gained six points through recent link building or that its search traffic increased.
A valid zero and a failed query need different next steps. You can record a returned zero as the score. If the response is unavailable, retry later; there is no score to compare until the service returns a valid result.
For a fuller write-up, pair these readings with your own observations and clearly dated sources. Explore our Insights articles for more analysis, or browse the free tools directory for other research and writing helpers.
FAQ
Ahref DR4 is a common search spelling for Ahrefs DR4, the fourth version of Ahrefs Domain Rating. It evaluates backlink profile strength. DR4 uses a more selective pool of contributing sites and gives individual subdomains their own scores. This page lets you query that model alongside DR3.
Enter a public domain or a website URL, then select Check DR4 & compare. This tool retrieves both versions from Ahrefs and shows their difference. You do not need to provide your own API key or sign in here. Queries are subject to rate limits and upstream availability.
The two numbers use different scoring models, so their difference alone does not show that you lost links. Check that you queried the same host, then examine backlinks and competing sites for context. A lower Domain Rating is not a verdict on your content and does not establish a Google penalty.
Yes. Enter the exact host you want to inspect, such as help.ahrefs.com. This tool preserves subdomains and www, but removes URL paths, queries and fragments. For a useful comparison, query the root domain and the subdomain separately and label each result with the exact hostname.
No. Treat Domain Rating as one input to backlink research, alongside the relevance of linking pages, search intent and observed traffic. This checker returns two scores; it does not inspect content, forecast rankings or provide a backlink audit. An unavailable query is shown separately from a valid score of zero.
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