Backlink history — every link's first and last seen date
Backlink history shows when each link to your site first appeared and when it was last seen. Ranklogs records both dates for every backlink, so you can see your total backlinks over time, catch links that quietly disappeared, and see whether new links are outpacing the ones you lose.
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How do I see when a backlink first appeared?
Every link in your backlink table carries a First / Last column holding the date it was first seen and the date it was last seen. Read the pair together to tell a link you earned this month from one that has stopped resolving. Both dates come from repeat crawls of your profile, not a one-off snapshot. Want the current picture first? Run a free backlink checker on any domain.
- First seen and last seen shown for every backlink.
- Recently earned links stand out by their first seen date.
- Links that stopped resolving stand out by their last seen date.
How many backlinks does a site have?
The total backlinks count, plotted over time rather than shown as a single number. A count on its own tells you nothing — the shape of the line tells you whether you are earning links faster than you are losing them.
- Total backlinks tracked over time, not just today's count.
- New links earned and links lost, shown side by side.
- See whether growth is accelerating or stalling.
Which backlinks did my site lose?
Links whose last seen date has stopped moving are flagged as lost, automatically. Losing a link you worked to earn is worth knowing about well before your next quarterly audit — Ranklogs rechecks your profile on a schedule, and you can opt in to an email every time it does.
- Lost links are flagged automatically — no manual review needed.
- Optional email alert after every scheduled recheck.
- Filter your link list to Lost to review everything you have dropped.
- Lostpartnerblog.io/best-beanslast seen 2 Jun
- Lostdirectory-listing.net/coffeelast seen 28 May
- Newroastersdirectory.org/listingsfirst seen 9 Oct
Years of history on day one, not a timeline that starts today
A link's first seen date is when it was found in the index, not when you added your site to Ranklogs. Your first scan already carries real discovery dates, so the history is useful from the moment it loads.
From your domain to a living link timeline
- 1
Add your domain
Enter the site you want a link history for. Your first scan already carries real discovery dates, so the timeline is not starting from zero.
- 2
We build the timeline
Ranklogs crawls the profile on a schedule and records a first seen and last seen date for every link it finds.
- 3
Watch the shape
New and lost links are summarised over time, so you see the trend instead of a single total that never moves.
Total backlinks, referring domains, Domain Score and dofollow share for any domain in seconds.
Free backlink checker → Compare See which sites link to your competitors but not to youCompetitor analysis shows their keywords, traffic and ads; the backlink analyzer shows the link gap.
Competitor analysis →Every link you track gets its own history
Each plan tracks a number of backlinks, rechecked every 30 days, with every other Ranklogs tool included.
- Starter1,000 backlinks tracked$19/mo
- Pro5,000 backlinks tracked$59/mo
- Agency25,000 backlinks tracked$249/mo
14-day free trial · no card · cancel anytime · 30-day money-back guarantee · See all plans →
FAQ
Backlink history questions
What is a backlink history checker?
A backlink history checker records when each link to a site first appeared and when it was last seen, so you can see the profile change over time rather than as a single snapshot. Ranklogs stores both dates for every backlink it finds.
How do I check the total number of backlinks to a site?
Add the domain and Ranklogs reports the total backlinks alongside referring domains, then plots that total over time so you can tell growth from churn.
How far back does backlink history go?
Your first scan already carries real discovery dates. A link's first seen is when it was found in the index, not when you added the domain to Ranklogs, so you are not waiting for history to accumulate before the timeline is useful.
How often is backlink history updated?
Ranklogs rechecks your backlink profile every 30 days and updates each link's last seen date, the total backlinks count and the new and lost totals.
Can I get an alert when I lose a backlink?
Yes. Turn on the new and lost backlinks email for a project and Ranklogs emails you after each recheck with the links you gained and the links you lost.
What does last seen mean for a backlink?
Last seen is the most recent date the link was found on the linking page. If the last seen date stops moving forward, the link has most likely been removed, and Ranklogs marks it as lost.
Is the backlink history checker free?
The free backlink checker shows any domain's total backlinks, referring domains and Domain Score with no signup. Link-by-link history, the trend over time and lost-link alerts come with the 14-day free trial and every paid plan.
Can I compare my backlink profile with a competitor's?
Yes. Ranklogs surfaces domains that already link to you and your closest competitors, so you can see where your link profiles overlap and find the gaps worth closing, alongside the first seen and last seen history for your own links.
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See every link you've earned, and every one you've lost
Add your site and your link history loads with the first scan.
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- No card required
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