Ahrefs for Expired Domains: DR Analysis Guide

What Is Ahrefs?

Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool suite with the largest commercial backlink database (over 35 trillion links as of 2026). For expired domain buyers, its Domain Rating (DR) metric and batch analysis features make it the industry standard for vetting authority and backlink quality.

Primary use case: Backlink validation — verifying that expired domains have real authority before purchasing.

2026 Pricing

Understanding Domain Rating (DR)

What Is DR?

Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs' proprietary metric that scores a domain's backlink profile on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 100. Higher DR = stronger backlink authority.

How DR Is Calculated

• Referring domains: Number of unique domains linking to the target
• DR of referring domains: A link from a DR 70 site is worth more than 100 links from DR 10 sites
• Dofollow vs. nofollow: Only dofollow links pass DR (nofollow links are ignored)
• Link velocity: Rate at which the domain gains/loses backlinks

DR Interpretation for Expired Domains

• DR 0–10: No authority. Avoid unless it's a brandable name for a fresh start.
• DR 10–20: Minimal authority. Only useful for volume PBN builds (low-cost, low-quality).
• DR 20–30: Moderate authority. Good for standard PBN links or niche redirects.
• DR 30–50: Strong authority. Ideal for money site redirects or high-quality PBN links.
• DR 50–70: Excellent authority. Worth paying premium prices ($500+).
• DR 70+: Elite authority. Rare in expired domain pools. Auction prices often exceed $1,000.

Batch Analysis Workflow

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Export Domain List from Discovery Tool

Use ExpiredDomains.net or DomCop to export a CSV of 50–200 domains (filtered by preliminary DR estimates).

2. Prepare CSV for Batch Analysis

Format your CSV with one column containing domain names only (no http://, no www). Example:

• example.com
• bestdomain.net
• authorityblog.org

3. Upload to Ahrefs Batch Analysis

Navigate to Ahrefs → Batch Analysis → Upload CSV. Ahrefs will analyze all domains and return a table with:

• Domain Rating (DR)
• Referring Domains (RD)
• Total Backlinks
• Organic Traffic (estimated monthly visitors)
• Organic Keywords (number of ranking keywords)

4. Filter Results

Sort by DR (descending) and filter for:

• DR 25+: Minimum threshold for authority
• RD 10+: Ensures backlink diversity
• Backlinks 100+: Proves the domain has real link equity

5. Export Cleaned List

Export the top 20–30 domains and proceed to individual backlink audits.

Content Explorer for Finding Expiring Sites

What Is Content Explorer?

Content Explorer is Ahrefs' database of 11+ billion indexed pages. You can search by keyword, DR, traffic, and other filters to find high-authority sites in your niche — including sites that may be expiring soon.

Workflow for Finding Expiring Domains

1. Search by Niche Keyword

Enter a broad keyword related to your niche (e.g., "fitness tips", "SEO guide", "crypto news").

2. Apply Filters

• Domain Rating: 30+ (high authority)
• Organic Traffic: 1,000+ per month (proof of rankings)
• Language: English (unless you're targeting other languages)
• Live/Dead: Show both live and dead pages

3. Identify Dead Pages

Filter for 404 errors or sites with declining traffic. These are signals that the domain may be abandoned.

4. Cross-Check WHOIS

Use a WHOIS tool to check expiration dates. If the domain expires soon and has DR 30+, add it to your watchlist for backorder.

Backlink Audit Workflows

Individual Domain Audit

For domains you're seriously considering (DR 30+, price $200+), perform a detailed backlink audit:

1. Open Site Explorer

Navigate to Ahrefs → Site Explorer → Enter domain.

2. Check DR History

Click the DR graph to view historical trends. Red flag: Sudden DR drops (10+ points in 1 month) indicate lost backlinks or a penalty.

3. Analyze Referring Domains

Navigate to Backlinks → Referring Domains. Look for:

• Domain diversity: Links from 20+ unique domains (not just 1–2 sites)
• Geographic diversity: Links from multiple countries (unless niche-specific)
• Topical relevance: Referring domains should be in the same niche

4. Check Anchor Text Distribution

Navigate to Backlinks → Anchors. Red flags:

• Over-optimized exact-match anchors (e.g., 50%+ "buy cheap viagra")
• Foreign language spam (Chinese, Russian characters when domain is English)
• Generic anchors only (100% "click here", "read more") — possible PBN footprint

5. Review Backlink Types

Navigate to Backlinks → All Backlinks. Filter for:

• Dofollow vs. nofollow: At least 50% dofollow (nofollow doesn't pass authority)
• Link placement: Content links > Footer/sidebar links (content links are stronger)
• Spam signals: Links from casino, pharma, or adult sites (unless that's the niche)

Pros and Cons

Alternative Tools

Majestic ($49.99–$399.99/mo)

• Pros: Cheaper, Trust Flow/Citation Flow for topical relevance, clique detection
• Cons: Smaller backlink database, less user-friendly UI
• Best for: Budget-conscious buyers or when you need TF/CF validation

SEMrush ($139.95–$499.95/mo)

• Pros: Authority Score metric, organic traffic estimates, toxicity detection
• Cons: Smaller backlink database than Ahrefs, more expensive for similar features
• Best for: Competitive analysis and keyword research (not pure backlink vetting)

Moz ($99–$599/mo)

• Pros: Domain Authority (DA) metric, spam score built-in
• Cons: Smallest backlink database of the major tools, DA is less trusted than DR
• Best for: Beginners or agencies already using Moz for other SEO tasks

When to Use Ahrefs

Essential Use Cases

• DR validation: Confirming that discovery tools (ExpiredDomains.net, DomCop) have accurate DR estimates
• Batch vetting: Analyzing 50+ domains at once to find the best 5–10
• 301 redirect research: Validating domains before redirecting to money sites
• High-value purchases ($200+): Detailed backlink audits to avoid wasting money

When to Skip Ahrefs

• Budget buyers (fewer than 5 domains/month): Use ExpiredDomains.net + manual Google checks instead
• Low-value domains (DR <20): Not worth the $129/month if you're buying cheap PBN domains
• One-time buyers: Use the 14-day trial for a single project, then cancel

Final Verdict

Ahrefs is the gold standard for expired domain backlink analysis in 2026. The DR metric is trusted industry-wide, and the batch analysis feature alone saves 10+ hours per month for high-volume buyers.

Yes, it's expensive ($129/month minimum), but the ROI is undeniable if you're buying 10+ domains per month or working with high-value domains ($200+). For casual buyers, the 14-day trial is enough to validate a few domains before purchasing.

Bottom line: If you're serious about expired domains, Ahrefs is non-negotiable. Budget accordingly.