Dofollow link checker
Got listed on a directory? Paste the listing URL and your domain. The checker reads the page and shows every link to your site, its rel attribute, and whether search engines will follow it.
Dofollow vs nofollow links, in short
Every link is followed by default. Site owners add rel="nofollow", rel="ugc", or rel="sponsored"when they don't want to vouch for the page they link to. Directories often apply one of these to every outbound link, which is why the same listing can be great for referral traffic and do little for search rankings.
Of the 74 directories we track, 39 gave a followed link when we last reviewed them. Browse them in the free dofollow directory list, or check each one's link type in its submission guide.
How to check a link by hand
- Open the page that links to you and find your link.
- Right-click the link and choose Inspect.
- Look at the highlighted <a> tag. No rel, or rel="noopener", means followed. nofollow, ugc, or sponsored means not.
- Also check the page source for a robots meta tag containing nofollow, which overrides every link.
Dofollow and nofollow FAQ
What is a dofollow link?
A dofollow link is a normal HTML link with no rel value that tells search engines to ignore it. Search engines can follow it and count it as a signal for the page it points to. There is no actual "dofollow" attribute; a link is dofollow simply because it lacks nofollow, ugc, or sponsored.
What is the difference between nofollow, ugc, and sponsored?
All three are rel values that ask search engines not to treat the link as an endorsement. nofollow is the general one, ugc marks user-generated content such as comments and forum posts, and sponsored marks paid or affiliate placements. Google treats them as hints, so they may still be used for discovery.
Can a link with no rel attribute still be nofollow?
Yes. If the page has a robots meta tag or X-Robots-Tag header containing nofollow, search engines treat every link on that page as nofollow. This checker reads both and tells you when that happens.
Why does the checker find no links on a page I know links to me?
Some directories build their pages with JavaScript, and this checker reads the HTML the server sends without running scripts. In that case, open the listing, right-click your link, choose Inspect, and look at its rel attribute.
Are nofollow directory listings worthless?
No. Nofollow listings on high-traffic directories can still send visitors and customers, and a natural link profile includes both kinds. Weigh audience fit and referral traffic, not only link attributes.