What Is a Dofollow Link and How to Check It (Free Tool)

Quick answer: A dofollow link is any hyperlink without a rel="nofollow" attribute. It passes PageRank (link equity) to the destination page, helping it rank higher in Google. Use a free dofollow link checker tool to verify any URL instantly — no plugins needed.

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What is a dofollow link?

In HTML, every hyperlink is dofollow by default. When Google crawls a page, it follows dofollow links and counts them as votes of trust for the linked page. More high-quality dofollow links means stronger ranking potential.

A dofollow link looks like this:

<a href="https://example.com">Anchor text</a>

No special attribute is needed — the absence of rel="nofollow" makes it dofollow.

What is a nofollow link?

A nofollow link tells Google not to pass PageRank through it:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Anchor text</a>

There are also two additional variants:

• rel="sponsored" — paid or affiliate links
• rel="ugc" — user-generated content (comments, forum posts)

None of these pass full link equity the way a dofollow link does.

Dofollow vs. nofollow — key differences

| Attribute | Passes PageRank | Use case | |---|---|---| | Dofollow (default) | Yes | Editorial links, citations | | rel="nofollow" | No (hint) | Paid ads, untrusted content | | rel="sponsored" | No (hint) | Affiliate and sponsored links | | rel="ugc" | No (hint) | Comments, forum posts |

Why dofollow links matter for SEO

1. Rankings — Pages with more dofollow links from authoritative sites rank higher.
2. Domain authority — A strong dofollow backlink profile improves overall site authority.
3. Indexation — Dofollow links help Google discover and crawl new pages faster.
4. Referral traffic — High-traffic dofollow links send significant visitor volumes.

How to check if a link is dofollow

Method 1: Use a free dofollow link checker tool

The quickest method is to paste the URL into Link Checker. The tool scans the target URL, reports HTTP headers, redirect chain, and link attributes — including dofollow vs. nofollow status.

1. Go to mylinkchecker.com
2. Paste the URL you want to check
3. Click Check — results appear in seconds
4. Review the link attributes in the results panel

Method 2: Inspect the page source

In any browser, press Ctrl+U (or Cmd+U) to view source, then Ctrl+F to search for the anchor text. Look for rel="nofollow" — if absent, the link is dofollow.

Method 3: Use browser developer tools

Right-click the hyperlink and select Inspect. The <a> element highlights in the Elements panel. Check whether the rel attribute contains nofollow, sponsored, or ugc.

Checking external links for dofollow status

When auditing your site's outbound link profile, checking external links for follow status is a standard SEO practice:

• Ensure you're not accidentally passing authority to spammy sites
• Verify that affiliate links are correctly marked rel="sponsored"
• Confirm editorial dofollow links to authoritative resources are intact

The Link Checker also functions as a link redirection checker — it follows every redirect and shows whether the final destination resolves correctly.

FAQ: Dofollow link checker

Does a dofollow link always help SEO?

Not necessarily. A dofollow link from a spammy or irrelevant site can be neutral or mildly negative. Quality, relevance, and anchor text diversity all matter.

Can I convert a nofollow link to dofollow?

Only if you control the linking page. Remove the rel="nofollow" attribute from the <a> tag. On external sites, you'd need to ask the site owner.

Is a dofollow link the same as a safe link?

No. Dofollow is an SEO attribute — it has nothing to do with link safety. Always check external links for threats before clicking unfamiliar URLs.

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