Monitor Backlinks Review 2026: Features, Pricing & Verdict
Tracking links is half the job. Building them is the other half.
MentionAgent finds blogs, looks up contacts, writes pitches, follows up. $99/mo flat.
Monitor Backlinks lives inside SEOptimer since August 2023. Now starts at $39/mo and is positioned for agencies. Backlink change tracking, lost-link alerts, and white-label PDFs all work. No outreach features.
Verdict: good for SEO agencies, overpriced for solo monitoring (use Linkody at $14.90/mo).
If your real goal is more backlinks: use MentionAgent for automated outreach.
What is Monitor Backlinks?
Originally launched in 2012, Monitor Backlinks served over 100,000 marketers and site owners as a focused backlink monitoring SaaS. After the SEOptimer acquisition, the standalone tool was rolled into SEOptimer’s broader product. The monitorbacklinks.com domain now redirects to SEOptimer’s site, and backlink monitoring is sold as part of SEOptimer’s white-label plans.
You still get the backlink change tracking, lost-link alerts, and disavow workflows that the original product was known for. You also get SEOptimer’s site auditor, keyword tracking, and white-label PDF reports baked in, whether you want them or not.
Key features
- Backlink Changes Dashboard: shows new and lost backlinks across up to one year of history.
- Email alerts: notifications when backlinks are added, lost, or change attributes.
- Changes by Backlink or Referring Domain: flexible views of how a domain’s link profile is moving.
- White-label PDF reports: client-facing reports with your branding, available across all plans.
- Embeddable audit form: on the higher tier, drop a SEO audit widget on your agency site for lead generation, with Zapier and webhook integrations.
- Site auditor: SEOptimer’s on-page SEO crawler is bundled in.
- Keyword tracking: rank tracking is included on both plans.
- Exports: CSV, Excel, and PDF.
Pricing overview
The current Monitor Backlinks pricing is SEOptimer’s pricing:
- White Label: $39/mo ($29.25/mo effective annual). 3 sites, 50 backlink lookups, 100 keyword searches.
- White Label & Embedding: $59/mo ($44.25/mo effective annual). 10 sites, 150 backlink lookups, 250 keyword searches.
For the full pricing breakdown, see our Monitor Backlinks pricing guide.
Pros
- Backlink monitoring still works. The dashboard, email alerts, and history tracking that made Monitor Backlinks useful are intact.
- White-label reports built in. Every plan supports branded PDF exports, useful for agency client work.
- Bundle of tools. If you genuinely need site audits, keyword tracking, and backlink monitoring, getting them in one platform is simpler than stitching three subscriptions together.
- Embeddable audit form. Higher tier’s lead-generation widget is a real feature for agency sites, not just a marketing gimmick.
- Established brand. The product has been around since 2012 with thousands of users. Reviews on G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius are extensive.
Cons
- No longer a standalone product. If you only want backlink monitoring, you’re paying for the SEOptimer suite whether you use the rest or not.
- Backlink lookups are capped. 50 lookups on the entry tier, 150 on the higher one. If you analyze many domains, the cap binds.
- More expensive than alternatives for pure monitoring. $39/mo is nearly triple Linkody’s $14.90 entry tier.
- Smaller backlink index than Ahrefs or Semrush. If index depth matters most, an SEO suite wins.
- No outreach. Like the original product, SEOptimer doesn’t help you build new links.
- Brand confusion. Many users still search for “Monitor Backlinks” as a standalone product. The acquisition has been gradual; expect some friction in onboarding and docs.
Who is Monitor Backlinks (SEOptimer) best for?
- SEO agencies that send white-label monthly reports to clients
- Agency sites running embeddable audit-form lead-gen widgets
- Teams that want backlink monitoring plus site auditing plus keyword tracking in one bill
- Operators already using SEOptimer’s site auditor
Who should look elsewhere?
- Solo operators on a budget: use Linkody at $14.90/mo.
- Teams that need deep SEO data: Ahrefs or Semrush.
- Free users: Google Search Console plus Ahrefs Webmaster Tools cover the basics.
- Anyone who actually wants more backlinks: monitoring won’t earn them. MentionAgent automates outreach at $99/mo flat.
You’ve been a Monitor Backlinks user for years and just learned about the SEOptimer acquisition. What changed for you?
Right. Backlink monitoring still works, but it’s now a feature inside SEOptimer’s white-label SEO bundle. Pricing starts at $39/mo (or $59/mo for the Embedding tier).
The product is still alive, just rolled into SEOptimer’s broader platform. Pricing now starts at $39/mo as part of a bundle, not as a standalone monitor.
Alternatives worth considering
| Tool | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Linkody | $14.90/mo | Cheapest dedicated backlink monitor |
| Ahrefs | $129/mo | Deep backlink data plus full SEO suite |
| Semrush | $139.95/mo | All-in-one SEO with backlink monitoring |
| Majestic | $49.99/mo | Backlink-first SEO with Trust Flow |
| MentionAgent | $99/mo | Automated outreach to earn new backlinks |
For the full comparison, see 7 best Monitor Backlinks alternatives.
You’re a solo SEO who used to like Monitor Backlinks for cheap dedicated monitoring. What’s the closest replacement post-acquisition?
Right. Linkody is the closest spiritual successor to standalone Monitor Backlinks: focused, dedicated, affordable.
If you don’t need agency reporting features, Linkody at $14.90/mo is the cleanest replacement for standalone Monitor Backlinks.
SEOptimer’s White Label plan caps you at 50 backlink lookups. You audit 80 client sites a month. What happens?
Right. Caps are hard limits per plan. You’d need White Label & Embedding ($59/mo, 150 lookups) or higher.
Backlink lookup caps are hard. 80 audits requires White Label & Embedding ($59/mo, 150 lookups) or higher.
Verdict
If you’re an SEO agency that needs white-label client reports, embeddable audit forms, and a one-bill toolkit, the SEOptimer-flavored Monitor Backlinks earns its $39 to $59 a month. If you’re a solo operator or in-house SEO who just wants the cheap, dedicated link monitor the original brand was famous for, you’ll likely be happier on Linkody at $14.90. And if your real goal is more backlinks rather than better tracking, no monitor (cheap or expensive) will get you there. That’s outreach, and MentionAgent automates it at $99/mo flat.
Outreach that earns the backlinks
MentionAgent finds relevant blogs, looks up contacts, writes pitches, and follows up. You just approve the email. No campaigns, no sequences, no credits.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Monitor Backlinks still legit in 2026?
Yes. SEOptimer acquired it in August 2023 and continues to operate it as part of their white-label SEO platform. The original domain redirects to SEOptimer’s site.
What is Monitor Backlinks best for?
SEO agencies that need white-label PDF reports and lead-gen audit widgets. Less ideal for solo operators who just want cheap dedicated monitoring.
What are the downsides?
It’s a feature inside SEOptimer rather than a standalone product. Lookups are capped per plan. No outreach features to actually earn new backlinks.
Is there a better alternative?
For cheaper monitoring, Linkody at $14.90/mo. For deeper data, Ahrefs or Semrush. For earning new backlinks, MentionAgent at $99/mo.
When did SEOptimer acquire Monitor Backlinks?
August 2023. The product was rolled into SEOptimer’s white-label SEO platform, and the original monitorbacklinks.com domain now redirects to SEOptimer’s site.
Does Monitor Backlinks still work the same way?
Core monitoring features still work: backlink change tracking, lost-link alerts, disavow workflows, email notifications. The product is now bundled with SEOptimer’s site auditor and keyword tracking, repositioned for agencies.