Backlinko review: our take
Backlinko is a publication, and the listing should be read that way. Brian Dean founded it, Semrush bought it in January 2022, and it now publishes guides on SEO and AI search alongside free checkers for backlinks, keywords, traffic, schema and AI visibility, all running on Semrush data.
Guides and tools cost nothing, which makes it a sensible first stop for a beginner and a quick sanity check for anyone else. The deeper features point back to Semrush. As a research tool with its own free daily allowance, AnswerThePublic is the closer fit. Exploding Topics, free to browse and $39 a month for 100 tracked trends, answers a different question: what is rising, before anyone ranks for it.
What Backlinko does
Backlinko publishes guides on SEO, AI search visibility, content marketing and link building, plus reviews and roundups of SEO tools. It offers free browser-based tools such as an SEO checker, backlink checker, keyword research tool, website authority and traffic checkers, a schema markup generator and an AI visibility checker. It was founded by Brian Dean and acquired by Semrush in January 2022.
Who Backlinko is for
Best for
- beginners learning SEO and AI search
- marketers wanting step-by-step guides
- quick free checks of a page or domain
Not for
- users needing a full SEO software suite: it is a publication, and its tools point to Semrush for deeper features
Backlinko features
- F1SEO Checker
- F2Backlink Checker
- F3Keyword Research Tool
- F4Website Authority Checker
- F5Website Traffic Checker
- F6Schema Markup Generator
- F7AI Visibility Checker
- F8SEO guides and tool reviews
Backlinko pricing and plans (2026)
| Plan | Monthly | Billed yearly, per month | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tools and guides | $0 | — | no sign-up stated for articles; free tools run on Semrush data |
Free plan: yes. Prices as listed by the vendor, before tax; they change, so check the pricing page before you buy.
Backlinko interface
Backlinko FAQ
- Is Backlinko free?
- Yes. Backlinko is free to use.
- What are the alternatives to Backlinko?
- Tools that cover the same jobs include Yahini, Prepostseo, Copyscape, Jasper.