Linkwake

Linkwake is a domain-level backlink monitor built for agencies managing several client sites. It suits teams that value portfolio views, competitor-gap prospecting, and recurring reports over detailed page-by-page SEO analysis. The low starting price is attractive, but its periodic data cycle makes it a poor fit for urgent or comprehensive link intelligence.

Overview

Linkwake compares referring domains that were gained, lost, or retained between Common Crawl releases, then groups those changes by client portfolio. That organization is useful for an agency account manager who needs an overview across many domains instead of separate spreadsheets for every client.

Its competitor research identifies domains linking to a competitor but not to the tracked site, turning overlap differences into outreach leads. Those leads still require checking before contact: Linkwake uses Common Crawl’s web graph, which covers more than 100 million domains but is not a complete web index. Releases arrive roughly every two to three months, so this is a review-and-reporting tool rather than a live alert system. The product stays at referring-domain level and does not provide keyword, page-level, or anchor-text data.

Key features

Portfolio monitoring

Domains can be grouped into client portfolios, allowing agencies to inspect backlink movement across accounts in one place. The gained, lost, and persistent-difference views give a clear basis for periodic account reviews, though the slow refresh means recent wins or losses may not appear promptly.

Competitor gaps

Competitor overlap and gap analysis is the strongest prospecting feature. It can reveal domains worth investigating for outreach, but incomplete crawl coverage means a reported gap is a candidate, not conclusive evidence that no link exists.

Reports and history

Scheduled weekly or monthly CSV reports and shareable client report links support repeatable agency communication. History depends on the plan: Starter retains three releases, while Growth retains 10 releases, approximately two years. Growth and Agency add polished client-facing options, including white-label PDFs on Growth and full API access on Agency.

Pricing

The freemium structure lets an agency test the workflow without a subscription, but each tier increases both scale and reporting depth.

Free is suitable for a small proof of concept, but five domains, manual reporting, and no stated competitor-gap or export access make it restrictive for client work. Starter is the practical entry point for a small agency. Growth fits firms that need branded deliverables and deeper history. Agency is justified when domain volume, multiple users, and integration through the API matter; otherwise its price is difficult to support for occasional monitoring.

Platforms

Linkwake is offered through the web and an API. The API is included at the Agency level, while lower tiers are centered on the web workflow and exports.

Who it's for

Choose Linkwake if you manage multiple client domains and need a lightweight, domain-focused way to compare backlink movement, find competitor-gap prospects, and send recurring reports. It is less suitable for SEO specialists who depend on anchor text, individual linking pages, keyword analysis, or frequently refreshed data.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Portfolio-level organization: Client grouping makes multi-account review more efficient than isolated domain checks.
• Useful agency reporting: Scheduled CSVs, shareable links, and higher-tier white-label PDFs support client communication.
• Low entry cost: Starter begins at $24 per month, with a permanent free tier for five domains.
• Competitor-gap workflow: Overlap analysis can turn backlink differences into a focused outreach list.

Cons

• Slow updates: Common Crawl releases arrive roughly every two to three months, limiting timely monitoring.
• Incomplete coverage: Potentially missing relationships must be verified before outreach.
• No detailed link context: Keyword, page-level, and anchor-text data are absent.
• Free-tier limits: Five domains and manual reports are too narrow for most active client portfolios.

Alternatives

For a broader backlink-analysis directory, see Backlink Analysis Tools.

SEO SpyGlass is the better choice when desktop support across Linux, macOS, and Windows and a free allowance of up to 1,100 backlinks per website matter more than Linkwake’s portfolio workflow.

Pick Ahrefs when you want limited free access to Site Explorer and Site Audit alongside its API and web platform.

Semrush suits users who prefer a free demo project with 10 reports per day and a broader SEO platform rather than domain-difference monitoring alone.

Choose BacklinkManager for a web-based backlink-management alternative with its own freemium structure.

Competitor Backlinks is appropriate for a focused competitor backlink map and gap report, including a $9.00 one-time gap report.

DailyBacklinks is an alternative for users seeking a free backlink-opportunity offering.

Backlink Checker is the simplest option for free, no-signup bulk checks of up to 1,000 URLs with CSV or Excel export.

Swappsy Link Tracker is a free, open-source, self-hosted choice for manual checks and a single user.

Verdict

Linkwake is a sensible pick for agencies that need affordable portfolio-level referring-domain monitoring, competitor-gap leads, and repeatable client reporting. Choose it for structured periodic reviews, especially at Starter or Growth scale. Look elsewhere if outreach depends on complete coverage, rapid updates, page-level evidence, anchor text, or broader SEO research.