SEO Spyglass
SEO SpyGlass is a backlink analysis tool in the SEO PowerSuite used to inspect a site's inbound links, compare competitor backlink profiles, and audit link quality.
Key takeaways
- Use SEO SpyGlass to audit your backlink profile and find link opportunities.
- Compare your backlinks with competitors to discover new prospects.
- Flag risky links but always review manually before disavowing.
- Integrates with other SEO PowerSuite tools for a complete workflow.
It helps you understand your link landscape and find opportunities for improvement.
What people use SEO SpyGlass for
- Backlink audit: Review all inbound links to your site, check anchor text distribution, and identify low-quality or spammy links.
- Competitor backlink analysis: Compare your backlink profile with competitors to see where they earn links.
- Link prospecting: Discover new link-building opportunities by analyzing competitor referring domains.
- Disavow preparation: Flag potentially harmful links and export a disavow file for Google.
Quick start: Run a backlink audit
- Download and install SEO SpyGlass (free version available).
- Enter your domain and let the tool crawl its backlink index.
- Review the summary – see total backlinks, referring domains, and anchor text distribution.
- Filter by risk score to find potentially toxic links.
- Export a disavow file if needed, or save the report for further analysis.
When not to start here
- If you need a complete backlink index: No tool sees every link. Treat data as a sample.
- If you want real-time link data: Backlink databases update periodically, not instantly.
- If you plan to blindly disavow flagged links: Always manually review flagged links before disavowing.
- If you only need a quick link count: Use a free Backlink Checker instead.
Alternatives
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Largest backlink index, advanced metrics |
| Semrush | All-in-one SEO with backlink audit |
| Moz Link Explorer | Beginner-friendly, free tier available |
| Ubersuggest | Budget-friendly backlink insights |
Next step
FAQ
Is SEO SpyGlass free?
SEO SpyGlass offers a free version with limited features and a paid version with full functionality. Check the official website for current pricing.
How does SEO SpyGlass compare to Ahrefs?
Ahrefs has a larger backlink index and more advanced features, but SEO SpyGlass is more affordable and integrates with other SEO PowerSuite tools.
Can SEO SpyGlass find toxic backlinks?
Yes, it assigns risk scores to backlinks based on various signals, helping you identify potentially harmful links for disavowal.
Does SEO SpyGlass work for competitor analysis?
Yes, you can compare your backlink profile with competitors to see where they get links and find new link-building opportunities.
Related topics
Sources
- Google Search Central — Best authority for guidance on link spam, disavow use, and how Google evaluates links.
- SEO PowerSuite / SEO SpyGlass product documentation — Primary source for product capabilities, workflow, and current pricing/features.
- Google Search Central: Link spam policies — Useful for explaining what link issues matter from Google's perspective.
Reviewed by Lucía Marín, Founding editor.