Updated August 1, 2026
MozBar is the fastest free way to check a website’s Domain Authority without leaving your browser.
That has been true for years. What changed is the tool itself. Moz rebuilt the extension from the ground up, and MozBar V5 is faster and cleaner than the version most guides still describe.
This guide is a full update of one of the most-read posts on this blog. The old layers of yearly updates are gone. What remains is a current, tested walkthrough of what MozBar does, what is free, what is not, and how to use it for real SEO wins.
Key Takeaways
- MozBar is a free browser extension from Moz that shows SEO metrics on any page or results listing.
- You can use it without logging in, but a free Moz account unlocks Domain Authority and Page Authority.
- Spam Score and keyword data now require Moz Pro, which starts at around $49 per month.
- The SERP overlay and link highlighter are the two features most users never touch, and they are the best ones.
- DA is a useful comparison metric, not a Google ranking factor. Treat it as a compass, not a scoreboard.
What Is MozBar?
MozBar is a free SEO toolbar made by Moz, one of the oldest names in SEO software. It works as a Chrome extension and overlays key metrics on whatever page you are viewing.
Over one million people have installed it, and Moz still actively maintains it. The current version, MozBar V5, was rebuilt on a modern framework so it no longer slows browsing the way older versions sometimes did.
Once the toolbar is active, MozBar shows you:
- Domain Authority (DA): a 1 to 100 score that predicts how likely a domain is to rank.
- Page Authority (PA): the same idea, but for a single page.
- Link metrics: followed, nofollowed, internal, and external links on the page.
- On-page elements: title tag, meta description, headings, alt text, and markup.
- SERP data: DA and PA shown under every listing when you run a Google query.
This is what the toolbar looks like in action:
MozBar Free vs. Moz Pro: What You Actually Get
Access levels changed with recent versions, and many older guides get this wrong. The table below shows what each tier includes as of this update.
| Access level | Cost | What you get in MozBar |
|---|---|---|
| Guest (no login) | Free | On-page elements, general attributes, internal link details |
| Community account | Free | Everything above, plus DA and PA metrics |
| Moz Pro | From about $99/month | Everything above, plus Spam Score, Page Optimization scores, domain analysis, and keyword ranking data |
For most bloggers, the free Community tier is enough. You get unlimited DA and PA checks, which is the main reason people install MozBar in the first place.
How to Install MozBar and Log In
Setup takes about two minutes:
- Install MozBar from the Chrome Web Store.
- Create a free account at Moz.com if you do not have one.
- Click the blue M icon in your browser toolbar and sign in.
- Pin the extension so the M stays visible next to your address bar.
When the toolbar loads with metrics, you are in.
MozBar Login Problems and Quick Fixes
Login trouble is the most common complaint about this toolbar, so here is the short version of every fix that works:
- Toolbar shows no data after login: refresh the page, or sign in at Moz.com first and then reload.
- Keeps logging you out: enable cookies for Moz.com. Clearing cookies ends your session.
- Invalid credentials: reset your password at Moz.com, then sign in again through the extension.
- Still stuck: disable other SEO extensions, which sometimes conflict, and restart Chrome.
If nothing works, Moz’s Link Explorer gives you a limited number of free DA checks on the website itself while you sort out the extension.
Is MozBar Available for Firefox?
Firefox support has come and gone over the years, so I hedge here on purpose. Check the official Mozilla add-ons store for the current status. Chrome remains the browser where MozBar works best and gets updates first. There is no mobile version of MozBar for iOS or Android.
How to Use MozBar for Real SEO Wins
Installing the extension is easy. Getting value from it is where most people stop short. These are the uses that earn the toolbar its spot in your browser.
1. Size Up Keywords in the Results Page
Run a Google query with MozBar active, and every listing shows its DA and PA underneath. Before writing a post, scan the first page. If every result has a DA far above yours, the keyword will be a long fight. If you spot results with DA near your own, you have found a winnable target.
You can also export the full first page to a CSV file for deeper analysis. Pair this with your favorite rank tracking tools to watch how those targets move.
2. Check Any Site’s DA in One Click
Visit any website and glance at the toolbar. That is the whole workflow. Bloggers use this constantly for guest posting research, judging link exchange offers, and comparing themselves to competitors.
If you want to understand what the number actually means for your blog, this guide to blogging DA goes deeper.
3. Highlight Links Like a Detective
Click the pencil icon and MozBar color-codes every link on a page: followed, nofollowed, internal, or external.
This is the fastest way to see whether a site’s outbound links pass authority, which matters when you evaluate guest posting targets. It also reveals how competitors structure their internal linking.
4. Audit On-Page Basics Instantly
The magnifying glass icon opens a page analysis panel with the title tag, meta description, headings, and markup. Use it on top-ranking pages for your target keyword and note what their titles and descriptions promise. Then write something better.
5. Study Competitors Without a Dashboard
Open a few competitor sites in tabs and compare DA, PA, and link counts side by side. Look at their strongest pages and ask what earned those links. The toolbar will not give you a full backlink report, but for quick judgment calls it beats logging into a full SEO platform.
Is Domain Authority Still Worth Tracking?
An honest section, because the answer is not a simple yes.
DA is a Moz metric, not a Google one. Google has said it does not use Domain Authority in ranking. Many SEOs now talk about Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) more often than DA, and the two are calculated differently, so they cannot be compared.
Here is how I suggest treating it. DA is useful as a relative signal. It helps you compare your site to competitors, screen guest post opportunities, and track your own trend over months. It is not useful as a daily scoreboard, and chasing the number for its own sake leads to bad decisions like buying links.
Also expect fluctuation. DA is relative to the whole web, so your score can dip even when your site improved, simply because other sites improved faster. A dropping DA with rising traffic is not a problem. Rising DA with falling traffic is not a victory.
As a general benchmark, under 40 reads as low, 40 to 50 as average, and above 50 as strong. Treat those bands loosely.
MozBar Limitations to Know
No tool review is honest without the downsides:
- The deepest data, including Spam Score and keyword metrics, sits behind Moz Pro.
- Metrics can distract. A toolbar that shows your DA all day feeds obsession. Toggle it off when writing.
- Any extension adds some overhead. V5 is much lighter than older versions, but disable it if you notice slowdowns.
- DA is third-party math. Never present it to clients or sponsors as a Google number.
If MozBar does not fit your workflow, comparable free options exist. See these roundups of Ubersuggest alternatives and SEMrush and Ahrefs alternatives for tools that cover similar ground.
Wrapping Up: Should You Use MozBar?
Yes, with the right expectations. MozBar is the quickest free way to check DA, scan a results page, and judge link opportunities without opening a dashboard. It will not replace a full SEO platform, and it should not turn Domain Authority into your obsession.
Get it, learn the SERP overlay and the link highlighter, and let the toolbar do what it does best: give you fast context while you focus on creating content worth ranking.
FAQs
Is MozBar free?
Yes. The extension is free to install and use. A free Moz account unlocks DA and PA, while advanced data such as Spam Score and keyword metrics requires a paid Moz Pro plan.
How do I check my Domain Authority with MozBar?
Install the extension, sign in with a free Moz account, and visit your website. Your DA appears in the toolbar instantly, with unlimited checks.
Why is my MozBar not showing DA?
You are probably not signed in, since guest mode hides DA and PA. Sign in at Moz.com, refresh the page, and make sure cookies are enabled for Moz.
What is a good Domain Authority score?
Higher is better, and context matters. As a loose guide, 40 to 50 is average and above 50 is strong. Compare yourself to sites in your niche rather than to the whole web.
Is MozBar safe to use?
MozBar is published by Moz, an established SEO company, and the Chrome Web Store lists the publisher in good standing. As with any extension, install it only from the official store listing.
This post was made possible by the support of our readers.
Janice Wald is the founder of MostlyBlogging.com and co-founder of the Mostly Blogging Academy. She is an ebook author, blogger, blogging coach, blogging judge, freelance writer, and speaker. She won the Best Internet Marketer Award and the Best Blogger Award at the 2021 Infinity Blog Awards. Wald was also nominated as 2019 Best Internet Marketer by the Infinity Blog Awards and in 2017 as the Most Informative Blogger by the London Bloggers Bash. She’s been featured on Small Business Trends, the Huffington Post, and Lifehack.
