Are Backlinks Still Important in 2026?
Yes. Google says PageRank, one of its link systems, "continues to be part of our core ranking systems". But in the searches we checked, domain strength did little to set the order within page one.
Who is first: the #1 result had the highest DR on its page in only 15% of the searches we checked.
Across 895 US searches, the top 3 sat on stronger domains (median DR 88) than positions 7 to 10 (DR 77). Yet between any two results on a page, the higher-DR site ranked higher only 55% of the time.
Small sites rank: a third of those searches had a page from a domain under DR 30 in the top 10.
Searches from 27 September to 25 October 2026. Method.
What Google says
Google's guide to its ranking systems lists link analysis by name. It describes systems "that understand how pages link to each other as a way to determine what pages are about", and says of PageRank: "How PageRank works has evolved a lot since then, and it continues to be part of our core ranking systems."
Google's How Search Works adds that "one of the factors used to determine quality is understanding if other prominent websites link or refer to the content". Note "or refer": a mention counts too. Google does not say how much links weigh against everything else. That is what the data below measures.
What 895 searches show
Our keyword research stores Google's top 10 for every search it checks, with each result's Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR), a 0 to 100 score of how strong a site's links are. These are 895 US searches about SEO, link building, outreach and AI visibility.
| Position | Median DR | Results on a domain under DR 40 |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 91 | 6% |
| #1 to #3 | 88 | 6% |
| #4 to #6 | 81 | 8% |
| #7 to #10 | 77 | 11% |
Higher positions sit on stronger domains. Part of that is user-generated and review platforms: Reddit, Quora, YouTube, LinkedIn, G2 and similar were 28% of top 3 results, and each carries its whole domain's DR. Without them the gap narrows to a median DR of 78 for the top 3 and 73 for positions 7 to 10.
Within a single page of results, DR is a weak guide to the order. Comparing every pair of results on the same page, the one with the higher DR ranked higher 55% of the time, where a coin flip would get 50%. The #1 result had the highest DR on its page in only 15% of searches.
What it means for your site
- Higher positions sit on stronger domains. The top 3 beat positions 7 to 10 on median DR, with or without user-generated platforms.
- Bought links can cost you. Google's spam policies define link spam as "creating links to or from a site primarily for the purpose of manipulating search rankings", buying links included.
- A low DR does not rule you out. In 33% of the searches a domain under DR 30 ranked in the top 10, and in 11% in the top 3. Pick searches where that already happens.
- The site's score is not the whole story. DR rates a whole domain. It says nothing about links to the specific page that ranks, or how relevant the linking sites are. See what high DR backlinks cost and when they are worth it.
What about AI search?
Google says SEO best practices "remain relevant for AI features in Google Search (such as AI Overviews and AI Mode)", with no additional requirements (Google Search Central). We have not measured whether links change which pages AI assistants cite, so this page makes no claim either way. What is visible: ChatGPT with search lists the pages it used for an answer, so you can see which pages to be on. Our guide to getting cited by ChatGPT covers how to find them.
MentionAgent finds blog posts in your niche, including pages ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini cited in your AI visibility scans, looks up the authors and writes a pitch for each post. The link building tools guide compares it with the alternatives.
Get links and mentions on the pages that rank
MentionAgent finds the posts in your niche, looks up the authors and writes each pitch. Check each email first, or let it send on autopilot.
Start Getting Mentioned On AutopilotFrequently asked questions
Do backlinks still matter in 2026?
Yes. Google's ranking systems guide says PageRank continues to be part of its core ranking systems. In 895 US searches we checked in October 2026, the top 3 results sat on stronger domains (median DR 88) than positions 7 to 10 (median DR 77).
Are backlinks off-page SEO?
Yes. Links from other sites are the main off-page signal Google names: its ranking systems guide lists link analysis and PageRank. See what is a backlink.
Can a low-authority site still rank?
Yes. In a third of the 895 searches we checked, at least one page on a domain under DR 30 ranked in the top 10, and in 11% one ranked in the top 3.
How many backlinks do I need?
There is no fixed number. Look at the pages ranking for your search and compare how many sites link to them with how many link to you. More in how many backlinks do I need.
Is link building dead?
No. Google still lists PageRank among its core ranking systems, and in our data higher positions sat on stronger domains. What has limits is domain strength alone: the higher-DR page ranked higher only 55% of the time.
Method
Our keyword research tool saves Google's US top 10 (via Serper) for every search it scores, with each result's Ahrefs Domain Rating. We took every US search from its runs of 23, 25 and 30 October 2026. The result sets were fetched between 27 September and 25 October. Per search we kept the newest set with at least 8 results of known DR (results with no DR were left out). Our own site is removed before positions are numbered, so results below it move up one. That left 895 searches and 8,610 results.
The searches are about SEO, link building, outreach and AI visibility, so the numbers describe that field, not all of Google. DR measures a whole domain, not the page that ranks. User-generated and review platforms were flagged by domain (Reddit, Quora, YouTube, LinkedIn, Medium, G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and similar) or by a forum URL.