- To check backlinks in Bing Webmaster Tools, open the SEO menu and click Backlinks to review your inbound referring hosts and anchor text.
- The platform offers a free competitor research view. It lets you compare link profiles against two competing websites side by side.
- The portal lists up to 1,500 referring domains and up to 10,000 link records per domain for zero cost.
To check backlinks in Bing Webmaster Tools, open your verified site dashboard, click SEO on the left sidebar, and select Backlinks to inspect your referring domains and anchor texts. Most site owners only look at Google Search Console. That is a mistake. Microsoft provides a completely free backlink audit tool that rivals paid platforms with clear domain lists, anchor text charts, and direct competitor comparisons. Whether you vet guest posts or check link loss, this dashboard gives you independent proof. Knowing how to extract and interpret this data protects your link-building investments.
Different search engines crawl the web at different speeds. In our guide on how to check backlinks in Google Search Console, we noted that Google limits table rows to keep speeds fast. Microsoft exposes up to 1,500 referring hosts on one screen. Reviewing both platforms reveals missing links.
Navigating the Bing Webmaster Tools backlinks report
Opening the backlink area takes just seconds once you verify your site. Sign in to your webmaster account and pick your domain from the top dropdown list.
Look at the left navigation sidebar. Click SEO to expand the options, and select the Backlinks tool.
The screen offers two main tabs along the top: Backlinks for your site to monitor your own domain, and Backlinks to any site to audit external competitors.
Three main summary cards appear at the top. They show total referring domains, total referring pages, and top anchor phrases. These metrics show your general link volume at a glance.
How to check backlinks in Bing Webmaster Tools step by step
Follow these practical steps to audit your live inbound links.
Step 1: Inspect top referring domains
Stay on the Backlinks for your site tab. Scroll down to the Domains list. This table sorts external hosts by their total link count.
Look through the top rows. Spot quality news sites, niche blogs, and trade directories. If you see strange domains with thousands of sitewide links, inspect them closely. They might be scraper feeds.
Step 2: Drill down into individual source and target URLs
Click any domain name in the table to open its full URL report. The tool displays the exact Source URL where the link sits, as well as the exact Target URL on your site. Confirming both sides is vital.
This detailed view confirms if your guest post is live. Read our checklist on how to check backlink quality to confirm that the donor page has real relevance. Make sure the placement points to your live page instead of a broken path.
Step 3: Analyze anchor text distribution and link text
Go to the Anchor texts tab next. The portal groups the exact words people use when linking to you.
Look at the overall balance. Check how often people use your brand name versus exact commercial keywords. Natural profiles rely mostly on brand names and clean URLs. In addition, review our detailed recommendations in how to check backlink anchor text to keep your link profile safe from algorithmic penalties.
Step 4: Export your backlink records for offline audits
Look above the data tables for the Download all button. Click it to save your full link report as a CSV or Excel file.
Store these files in a folder every month. Keeping dated archives lets you track link velocity, catch dropped placements, and verify contracts.
Comparing your backlink profile against competitors for free
The most useful feature in the tool is the Backlinks to any site module. Most commercial tools charge hefty subscription fees for competitive link graphs. Here, it is completely free.
Click the Backlinks to any site tab at the top. Select Add a site to compare. Type in the website address of a rival business.
You can add up to two competitors at the same time. The dashboard graphs their referring domains, total link counts, and anchor texts against yours.
Study domains that link to both competitors but not to you. These shared referrers are high-intent link prospects. Pitch them directly. For more research tactics, read our guide on how to find competitors backlinks free.
Bing Webmaster Tools vs Google Search Console backlink features
Backlink totals rarely match between search engines due to divergent crawl cycles and filters. Each platform maintains its own crawl infrastructure and reporting rules.
| Audit feature | Bing Webmaster Tools | Google Search Console | Audit impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitor link checks | Built-in for up to 2 rival sites | Not offered for outside sites | Enables free competitor gap audits |
| Referring domains limit | Up to 1,500 hosts in web interface | 1,000 rows in web UI (100k export) | Displays larger domain tables in browser |
| Links per domain breakdown | Up to 10,000 URLs per host | Sampled links per landing page | Offers deeper page-level URL auditing |
| Anchor text reporting | Aggregated table with fast export | Top linking text card in Links report | Both help monitor anchor ratios |
| Disavow tool support | Retired in late 2023 | Legacy standalone disavow portal | Modern crawlers ignore spam links on their own |
Consult official Bing Webmaster Tools Backlinks documentation for technical details on domain caps and export formats. In late 2023, Microsoft confirmed in an official webmaster blog update that its disavow tool was discontinued because modern machine learning algorithms ignore link spam automatically.
Verifying publisher placements and traffic authenticity
Seeing a backlink in this report proves that the crawler found and stored the page. Even so, discovery does not guarantee commercial results.
When buying guest posts or editorial links, ensure the publisher has real human visitors. Real reader traffic separates valuable PR from low-tier link networks. You can review our transparent link placement pricing to see our vetted quality standards.
Watch whether referral clicks turn into genuine leads. Read our step-by-step guide on how to check referral traffic in GA4 to track visitors coming from your top linking domains. Combining search crawler data with web analytics gives you total visibility over your link performance.
Frequently asked questions
Can you check competitor backlinks in Bing Webmaster Tools?
Yes, Microsoft provides a free comparison tool called Backlinks to any site. You can input two competing domains to contrast referring hosts, anchor phrases, and inbound links side by side.
What are the row limits for Bing backlink exports?
The portal displays up to 1,500 referring hosts. Inside each domain report, you can inspect and download up to 10,000 URL records.
Why do link counts differ between Bing and Google Search Console?
Each engine uses its own crawler with distinct crawl frequencies and independent filters. Consequently, a page discovered by one bot can take several weeks to appear in another index.
Does Bing Webmaster Tools still have a disavow tool?
No. Microsoft retired the link disavow tool in late 2023. Search algorithms now ignore manipulative links on their own without penalizing site owners.
Disclosure: RankPulse provides vetted guest post placements on genuine publications. Always audit publisher metrics before investing.