In this article
What each metric is
DR (Domain Rating) is Ahrefs' score, on a 0–100 scale, measuring the strength of a domain's backlink profile — both the number of links pointing to it and the quality of those links. In short, the higher the DR, the more a domain is "linked to".
DA (Domain Authority) comes from Moz, also 0–100, but it tries to predict how likely a domain is to rank well in the future. DA blends dozens of signals including links and content — it's a prediction, not a number Google hands out.
TF (Trust Flow) comes from Majestic and measures how trustworthy the sources linking to a domain are. The idea: weight from trustworthy sites matters more than weight from a pile of junk. TF is usually read alongside CF (Citation Flow).
One thing to be clear about up front: none of these are official Google ranking factors — Google has never published a score like this. They're approximations third-party tools built for convenience. Useful as a reference, but not gospel.
A table to see the differences
| Metric | Tool | What it measures | Range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR | Ahrefs | Backlink quantity & quality | 0–100 | Quick read on a domain's link strength |
| DA | Moz | Domain ranking potential | 0–100 | Comparing relative strength across a niche |
| TF | Majestic | Trustworthiness of link sources | 0–100 | Checking whether a link source is "clean" |
How to use them for link building
In the poker / gaming vertical, backlink sources are unusually mixed, which makes reading these three together especially worthwhile.
- Start with DR to filter: a very low-DR site (say, single digits) rarely offers much link value, unless its relevance is strong.
- Then use TF to screen: a site with a decent DR but a low TF often means its links come from low-quality sources — the kind we'd avoid.
- Use DA for side-by-side comparison: when weighing two candidate sites, DA gives you a quicker relative read than gut feel.
But remember: metrics are only the first filter. What really decides whether a link is worth it is relevance and naturalness — a site with nothing to do with poker, even at DR 90, won't help you.
A few common mistakes
- "High DR = automatically good." Some sites inflate DR with bulk links while actual traffic and indexation are poor. Reading DR alone will mislead you.
- Relying on a single metric. Different tools use different algorithms. Cross-checking the three gets you closer to reality.
- "Low metric = useless link." New or small vertical sites often score low, but they can be highly relevant with a precise audience — those links are genuinely valuable.
Our advice
With links, metrics are a reference, not a verdict. We evaluate a source by relevance first, naturalness second, and only then use DR / TF / DA as supporting signals. If you'd like to see how we build links in practice, read our article on link-building approaches, or get in touch about your site.