Domain Rating (DR) and Domain Authority (DA) are two of the most common metrics in SEO evaluation, but they are not the same and often disagree on the same domain. Domain Rating is Ahrefs' 0-100 backlink strength metric, while Domain Authority is Moz's 1-100 predicted ranking score. Neither is a Google metric, and neither is perfect for evaluating expired domains. Understanding which to trust requires knowing what each measures and where they diverge.
Domain Authority and Page Authority
Domain Authority, or DA, is Moz's proprietary metric. It predicts how well a domain will rank in Google search results on a 1-100 scale. Page Authority, or PA, predicts the ranking potential of a single page. Both are predictions built from patterns that correlate with ranking, not measurements of it. A site with DA 50 does not have a "50" in Google's algorithm; DA is a prediction tool, not a Google signal.
Because DA is a predictive score, it can move when a domain's link profile changes, but how often and how much is for Moz to say; check Moz's documentation for the current details.
Page Authority works the same way but at the page level, useful for evaluating whether a specific page will rank.
Domain Rating
Domain Rating, Ahrefs' metric, is simpler: it measures the relative strength of a domain's backlink profile on a 0-100 logarithmic scale. It does not predict rankings. It measures only the quality and quantity of backlinks relative to other sites. A domain with DR 50 has a backlink profile stronger than most sites, but Ahrefs makes no claim about its ranking potential.
Because DR reflects the links Ahrefs has found, it changes as Ahrefs discovers or loses links.
Why they differ: database and formula
Domain Authority and Domain Rating often disagree on the same domain because they rely on different backlink data and use different algorithms.
Each company maintains its own backlink database and may weight links differently. This means the two tools can see different backlink profiles for the same domain. A site might have strong links in Ahrefs' database but weaker ones in Moz's, or vice versa.
The goals are also different. DR is purely backlink-focused, while DA is a prediction of ranking potential built by Moz. This helps explain why a domain can have a higher DR than DA, or vice versa.
A practical example: a site might show DR 45, DA 38. The backlink profile is strong by Ahrefs' analysis, but Moz's algorithm sees less ranking potential, perhaps because the links are from narrow sources or the domain's history does not suggest broad authority.
Comparison table
| Aspect | Domain Rating (DR) | Domain Authority (DA/PA) |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | Ahrefs | Moz |
| Scale | 0-100 (logarithmic) | 1-100 |
| What it measures | Backlink profile strength | Predicted ranking potential |
| Data source | Ahrefs backlink database | Moz backlink database |
| Considers ranking potential | No | Yes (as a prediction) |
| Considers topic, traffic and spam | No | Not as a direct measure |
| Is it a Google metric | No | No |
Which is easier to inflate
Domain Rating can be pushed up by aggressive link building. Because DR measures only backlink strength and ignores topic, traffic and spam, a domain with links from several strong sites can see its DR rise even if those links are artificial or irrelevant.
Domain Authority is a prediction that Moz builds differently, so the two scores can react differently to the same links. Neither is immune to manipulation, and a link spike from a private blog network can distort either one.
For expired domains, this matters: a 10-year-old domain with DR 40 from organic links is more trustworthy than a 2-year-old domain with DR 40 from recent bulk linking.
Which to use for an expired domain
For expired domain evaluation, Domain Rating is more relevant. Why? Because you care about the backlink inheritance you gain from buying the domain, and DR directly measures that. If a domain has DR 35 from legitimate backlinks earned over years, you inherit that link equity. On hunter.domains, the Ahrefs Domain Rating is part of the filtering and of the Hunter score, alongside Majestic Trust Flow, referring domains and archive history.
Domain Authority is a ranking prediction, useful as a second opinion on a domain's strength. But it can be misleading for expired domains: a score that reflected a site's past performance may no longer describe a domain that now has a different owner and different content.
In practice, evaluate both, but weight DR more heavily for expired domain decisions. Look for domains where DR and DA are in reasonable alignment; if the two differ widely in either direction, investigate why. The tools may be seeing different backlink data, or the links may be concentrated, outdated or off-topic.
Pair both with Trust Flow, which flags spam links, and archive review to spot history issues that neither metric captures.
A practical evaluation example
You find a domain with DR 42, DA 39, and 95 referring domains from a mix of industry sites. The Wayback Machine shows active content from 2008 to 2019. This alignment between DR and DA, plus the referring domain count and consistent history, suggests genuine authority earned over time. The domain is worth evaluating further.
Compare this to a domain with DR 48, DA 22, and only eight referring domains, all added in the last two years. The high DR with low DA and concentrated, recent backlinks is a warning sign. Either the links are from very high-authority sources (good luck building on that) or they are artificial. The divergence between the metrics is a red flag.
Neither is a Google metric
This is the most important point. Google does not use DA, PA or DR in its ranking algorithm. These are all third-party approximations. Google's actual signals are internal and not shared. Whatever Google does with links internally, it is not Moz DA or Ahrefs DR.
A correlation between high DA/DR and rankings is plausible: if a site ranks well, it probably has good backlinks, which both Moz and Ahrefs would detect. But correlation is not causation. High DA does not cause high rankings; sites with high authority tend to rank well, so they end up with high DA.
For expired domains, this means: do not assume a domain with DA 60 or DR 55 will automatically rank well after you buy it. These metrics are useful signals of past authority and backlink strength, but they guarantee nothing. Your content and topical relevance still have to earn rankings, and you should stay clear of expired domain abuse.
Frequently asked questions
Is domain rating the same as Domain Authority?
No. Domain Rating (Ahrefs) measures backlink strength; Domain Authority (Moz) predicts ranking potential. They use different databases and formulas, so they often disagree on the same domain. For expired domains, DR is more directly relevant to the backlink equity you inherit.
Is 20 Domain Authority good?
There is no official threshold. For expired domains, DA 20 with backlinks from relevant sites and clean history can be acceptable. It depends on the domain's niche and your goals. A premium name with DA 20 might be worth more than a generic name with DA 40. Always pair DA with other metrics and archive review.
Which matters more, DA or DR?
For SEO and expired domains, Domain Rating (backlink strength) is usually more important because it directly measures what you inherit. But use both. If they align (a domain has DA 40 and DR 40), you have confidence the metrics agree. If they diverge widely, investigate further to understand why. On hunter.domains, we filter by DR and Trust Flow, which focus on backlink quality rather than ranking prediction alone.
