Plan pages tend to answer "what do I get?" with a feature grid and little else. This guide takes a different approach. It covers how to decide which integrations, API access, alerts and browser extension matter for your workflow, and how to check what each Backrefs plan includes. I haven't listed plan-by-plan inclusions or prices here because they change. Confirm current details on the official Backrefs site before you buy or upgrade.
Short answer
Plan limits for integrations, API access, alerts and the extension can differ by tier, and the exact split is only reliable on the official pricing page. Use this page to work out which of those four things you need, then check whether the plan you're considering covers them.
What each piece is for
Integrations
Integrations move link data into the tools where you already work. They are worth paying for if you hand off data regularly, such as to a reporting dashboard or a team workspace. If you only look at link data once a month, a manual export is often enough. See Backrefs Reports and Exports for what the built-in output looks like.
API
An API suits people who build their own reports, join link data to rankings or revenue data, or run checks across many sites. It costs you setup time, and you may hit rate or row limits. Ask these before relying on it:
- Is API access included on your plan, or sold separately?
- What are the request or row limits?
- Does API data match what the interface shows, including freshness?
Freshness depends on how data is collected and refreshed, which is covered in How Backrefs Collects, Refreshes and Scores Link Data.
Alerts
Alerts save you from checking dashboards by hand. The most useful kind flags changes to your backlink profile. Any alert is only as good as the underlying detection, so read Does Backrefs show new and lost backlinks? to understand what a "new" or "lost" signal actually means. Expect some lag and some noise. A link that disappears may simply not have been recrawled.
Browser extension
An extension is for quick checks while browsing: a prospect's page, a competitor's article, a possible partner site. It is a convenience, not a replacement for the full workflow. It helps most during research and review, such as the steps in Finding Competitor Link Gaps in Backrefs.
A simple way to decide
| If you mostly... | Prioritize | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Check one or two sites weekly | Alerts, extension | Low setup, little automation |
| Send reports to clients or teammates | Integrations, exports | Depends on which destinations are supported |
| Build custom analysis | API | Needs technical time and attention to limits |
| Do prospecting research | Extension, gap workflow | Outreach itself happens elsewhere |
On that last row: Backrefs is not an email tool. Does Backrefs include outreach or email tools? explains the boundary.
Recommended for youBackrefs Features Overview: What the Platform Does and What It Doesn'tHow to verify a plan before paying
- List your must-haves. Write down which of the four items you would use in a normal month, not an ideal one.
- Open the official pricing page. Look for each item by name, plus any limits attached to it.
- Check usage limits. Number of projects, tracked sites, alert counts and API quotas matter as much as whether a feature exists.
- Test with real work. If a trial or entry plan is available, run your actual routine through it. The setup guide and the weekly routine give you a 30-minute test script.
- Ask support about gaps. If a listing is vague, ask in writing and keep the answer.
Honest trade-offs
- More automation is not always better. Alerts you ignore are noise, and an API you never build on is wasted spend.
- Higher tiers solve volume, not strategy. Extra limits help you track more. They don't tell you which links are worth pursuing.
- Link data has blind spots. No index sees every link, so treat alerts and gap lists as leads to verify.
- Nothing here guarantees ranking changes. These tools make your link work faster and better organized. Results depend on much more.
Where to go next
If you're still comparing tools, start with Backrefs Features Overview: What the Platform Does and What It Doesn't and the broader Features & How Backrefs Works guide. Then read our review and comparison pages to see how Backrefs stacks up against alternatives for your use case, and confirm plan details on the official site before deciding.
Keep reading
How to Set Up Backrefs: From First Signup to Your First Backlink ReportThis guide walks through setting up Backrefs, from creating an account to reading your first backli…
How Backrefs Collects, Refreshes and Scores Link DataEvery backlink tool is a snapshot of the web taken by someone else's crawler, on someone else's sch…
Workflow Walkthrough: Finding Competitor Link Gaps in BackrefsA link gap analysis answers one question: which sites link to your competitors but not to you? It i…