Ahrefs DR4 Checker: DR3 vs DR4

Ahrefs is replacing its Domain Rating model, and some sites lose most of their score. Enter a domain to see its current DR3 next to its DR4 preview. Free, one domain at a time, no signup.

What changes in DR4

Domain Rating scores the strength of a site's backlink profile against everything else in Ahrefs' index. It doesn't measure content, design or business value. DR4 changes what counts as a strong link: subdomains now have their own rating, and links from sites with estimated organic traffic carry more weight. Most large sites barely move. Sites whose links came mainly from other small, low-traffic sites can fall a long way.

How to read your result

  1. Enter your domain or a subdomain and select Compare.
  2. Compare the two scores. DR3 is what Ahrefs shows today, and DR4 is the preview.
  3. Check a direct competitor the same way. The gap between you matters more than your own drop.
  4. If anything you sell or pitch quotes DR3, update it before the switch.

100% Free — No sign-up and no email. Lookups are capped at 40 a day per IP.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ahrefs DR4?
DR4 is the fourth version of Ahrefs' Domain Rating, its 0–100 score for the strength of a site's backlink profile. It rates subdomains on their own instead of letting them inherit the parent domain's score, and Ahrefs says it favors links from sites with estimated organic traffic.
When does DR4 go live?
Published reports say Ahrefs opened the preview on November 5, 2026 and that DR4 reaches the standard Ahrefs interface on December 1, 2026. Ahrefs' API documentation confirms the version parameter behind this page. Until the switch, the figures here are a preview and can move.
Why did my DR drop so much?
A single score can't show the cause, but the common pattern is links from sites with little search traffic. If the sites linking to you lost their own rating under DR4, the links they pass count for less. Sites hosted on shared platforms also fell hard, because they no longer borrow the platform's score.
Does a lower DR hurt my Google rankings?
Not by itself. Google doesn't use Domain Rating, and the change doesn't remove any of your links. Your rankings only change if the links or pages behind them change. The practical effect is on anything priced or pitched on DR, such as link sales and partnership outreach.
How do I raise my score under DR4?
Earn links from sites that get real search traffic: industry publications, communities and well-read blogs. Original data and useful free tools are the usual way to earn them. Check the score of anyone offering you a link first, because many sites that looked strong under DR3 aren't under DR4.
Where do these numbers come from?
Both scores come from Ahrefs' free Domain Rating API, requested with version=dr3 and version=dr4. Lookups are cached for a day and capped at 40 a day per IP.

More Free Tools

AI Visibility Checker →Token Counter (GPT & Claude) →PNG to SVG Converter →Reaction Time Test →Fake Notification Generator →QR Code Generator →Open Graph Preview →Word & Character Counter →Base64 Encoder / Decoder →JSON Formatter & Validator →Password Generator →Which Indie Hacker Are You? →Domain Authority Checker →Spam Score Checker →Domain Rating (DR) Checker →View All Free Tools →