Finding out who links to you (and to your competitors)
You suspect a handful of bad links are dragging your rankings down, or you want to know where a competitor keeps getting its links from. Doing that by hand means opening dozens of tools and exporting spreadsheets. SEO SpyGlass Professional from Link-Assistant (part of SEO PowerSuite) collects backlinks from several sources into one desktop project, so you can sort, judge and clean them in one place.
Quick facts
- Version: 6.64.11
- Platforms: Windows, Apple and Linux
- Price: Professional is $129 as an annual subscription; Enterprise is $259 on the same terms
- Free version: available with no time limit, capped at backlinks to any site (up to 1,100)
Key features
See a full backlink profile on one dashboard
You get the total number of backlinks, referring domains and the spread of anchor texts. For each link you can check InLink Rank, the HTTP status of the linked page and the backlink page, and an anchor text cloud.
Spot risky links with Penalty Risk
The Penalty Risk metric is based on factors of link toxicity. It helps you pick out spammy or low-quality sources so you can disavow them.
Compare competitors and find your backlink gap
You can see who links to your rivals and which of their pages attract the most links. The backlink gap view lists sources that link to competitors but not to you, which makes a ready list of outreach prospects.
Watch how your profile changes over time
Historical data shows when backlinks were gained or lost. A sudden unnatural drop or spike is easier to catch and act on.
Audit up to 200 domains in one go
Paste your URLs into the Bulk Analysis module and run it once. You get statistics to compare the authority of all the domains side by side.
Read the details behind each link
Per-link data includes the linking page's title and description, backlink status, links from the page and estimated link value. Domain info covers age, IP and country. You also see referral sessions over the past 30 days, Facebook and Pinterest shares, and search engine cache dates.
Who it's for
It suits in-house SEO people who want to audit and clean their own link profile, and consultants researching competitors. The Enterprise edition is described by the vendor as the one for client work, and its reports carry no watermark.
Pros and cons
- Pro: a free version with no time limit lets you test it on real sites.
- Pro: one project combines backlink sources, penalty risk, competitor comparison and bulk checks.
- Pro: versions for Windows, Apple and Linux.
- Con: the free version is capped at 1,100 backlinks per site, and unlimited backlinks need a paid plan.
- Con: Professional is a recurring annual subscription rather than a one-time purchase.
- Con: it is a desktop program, so you work inside an installed app rather than a browser.
FAQs
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. The free version has no time limit, though it caps backlinks to any site at 1,100.
What's the difference between Professional and Enterprise?
Both offer unlimited backlinks to any site. Enterprise costs more and is aimed at client work, with reports that carry no watermark.
Is it a one-time payment?
No. Both paid editions are listed as an annual subscription fee.
Which systems does it run on?
The vendor lists Windows, Apple and Linux versions.
Can I check many sites at once?
Yes. Bulk Analysis takes up to 200 domains in one run.