ChatGPT answers, unedited

For client-facing backlink reports, I’d shortlist:

• AgencyAnalytics — strongest for agency reporting: white-label dashboards, scheduled reports, and explicit new/lost backlink tracking. It can combine Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, GA4, GSC, etc. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics
• Ahrefs — strongest for the underlying backlink data. It tracks new/lost backlinks and referring domains and now has a Report Builder for scheduled PDF reports. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs
• Semrush — good alternative if you already use its backlink database, particularly when you want broader SEO reporting alongside link data.
• Looker Studio + Ahrefs/Semrush — useful if you want highly customized branded dashboards, but requires more setup.

Typical agency setup: Ahrefs for backlink intelligence + AgencyAnalytics for the polished client dashboard/report. AgencyAnalytics

For client-facing backlink growth/loss reporting, I’d shortlist:

• AgencyAnalytics — strongest fit for agencies: tracks new/lost backlinks, referring domains, link metrics, scheduled reports, dashboards, and white-label branding. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics
• Semrush — strong backlink database plus new/lost backlink reporting and customizable/white-label PDF reports. Semrush
• Ahrefs — excellent for deeper backlink analysis and new/lost link monitoring, but generally works better paired with a separate client-reporting layer. AgencyAnalytics
• SE Ranking — more budget-oriented, with backlink monitoring and agency reporting/white-label capabilities. AgencyAnalytics

For an agency specifically: I’d look hardest at AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs/Semrush—the SEO platform supplies the backlink intelligence, while AgencyAnalytics turns it into branded client reports. AgencyAnalytics

For client-facing backlink reports, you usually want a tool that does two things:

1. Tracks link changes (new backlinks, lost backlinks, referring domains, authority metrics)
2. Turns the data into polished reports/dashboards clients can understand (white-label, scheduled PDFs, commentary, charts)

Here are the main options:

Common agency setups

Option 1: Easiest client reporting

• Ahrefs or Semrush → data source
• AgencyAnalytics → branded client dashboard/report
• Monthly PDF/email delivery

AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalyticsOption 2: Link-building focused agency

• Ahrefs as the source of truth
• Report sections: - Total backlinks gained
• Referring domains gained
• Lost links recovered/prevented
• Authority of new links
• Top new referring pages
• Anchor text distribution
• Link-building activity notes

Option 3: Budget-conscious

• Semrush + Looker Studio or a lightweight reporting platform

For most SEO agencies, I’d shortlist:

1. AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs → best client experience + strongest backlink data
2. Semrush alone → if you already use it for the whole SEO workflow
3. Ahrefs alone → if clients are technical and care more about raw link intelligence than presentation

A good client backlink report should avoid just showing “+342 backlinks” — clients usually understand the value better when you show quality gained (new referring domains, authority, relevance, and links to priority pages).

Yes. If the key client-facing metrics are backlinks gained, backlinks lost, referring-domain growth, and the quality of those links, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Ahrefs + Looker Studio

ahrefs.com is particularly strong for this use case. Its Site Explorer data tracks new and lost backlinks and referring domains, including day-to-day changes. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs Help Center

Ahrefs also has a Report Builder that can turn backlink data into branded/client reports and automatically deliver scheduled PDFs. Ahrefs

If you want a live dashboard rather than PDFs, Ahrefs provides a Site Explorer connector for Looker Studio, allowing backlink data to be incorporated alongside other marketing metrics. Ahrefs

AgencyAnalytics is worth looking at

If the main requirement is "I want something my agency can white-label and send to clients without building dashboards myself," agencyanalytics.com is arguably the better reporting layer. It specifically supports reporting on new/lost links and key backlinks, with integrations for Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz and Majestic. AgencyAnalytics

What I'd put in the client report

Rather than just showing "backlinks: +247," I'd make the report tell a story:

• New backlinks: 247
• Lost backlinks: 83
• Net change: +164
• New referring domains: 38
• Lost referring domains: 12
• High-authority links won: 7
• Top new links: publication + linking page + authority/traffic
• Important lost links: linking page + reason lost
• Trend: backlinks/referring domains over the last 3–6 months
• Competitive comparison: referring domains vs. major competitors

Ahrefs is particularly useful for the lost-link section, because its lost-backlink reporting includes reasons such as page not found, redirects, noindex, canonical changes, and crawl errors. Ahrefs Help Center

If you're an SEO/link-building agency, my ranking would be: Ahrefs for the data → AgencyAnalytics for turnkey white-label reports → Looker Studio for highly customized dashboards. Semrush is the strongest alternative if you already use it for the rest of your SEO workflow. semrush.com semrush.com

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you want PDFs, dashboards, or both, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options.

AgencyAnalytics is worth looking at

If the main requirement is "I want something my agency can white-label and send to clients without building dashboards myself," agencyanalytics.com is arguably the better reporting layer. It specifically supports reporting on new/lost links and key backlinks, with integrations for Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz and Majestic.

What I'd put in the client report

Rather than just showing "backlinks: +247," I'd make the report tell a story:

Yes. For client-facing backlink reporting, I’d separate the tools into two categories: backlink intelligence and presentation/reporting.

Best options

• Ahrefs — probably the strongest choice if backlink data quality is the priority. Its Site Explorer tracks new and lost backlinks and referring domains, including daily changes, and its Report Builder can turn SEO data into client PDFs. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs

ahrefs.com

• Semrush — similarly strong for backlink growth/loss. Its Backlinks reports let you filter for new and lost links, identify the specific links that disappeared, and build branded/scheduled PDF reports through My Reports. Semrush
• AgencyAnalytics — my pick if the main requirement is polished, automated client reporting rather than doing backlink research itself. Its Backlink Monitor reports new/lost links, and it can pull in Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic and other SEO data into white-labeled dashboards and scheduled reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

agencyanalytics.com

What I'd use for an agency

Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics is probably the cleanest setup:

Ahrefs → discovers/validates backlinks → AgencyAnalytics → turns them into a client-friendly report.

A monthly report could show:

Then include a “New & Lost Links” section showing the actual referring page, target page, anchor text, and authority/quality metric. That's much more useful to a client than simply showing that the backlink count went up.

If you're choosing one tool only, I'd pick AgencyAnalytics for client deliverables and Ahrefs for the underlying backlink intelligence. AgencyAnalytics specifically positions its backlink reporting around client-ready reports and automated reporting, while Ahrefs is stronger as the underlying research database. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

Yes. If the client-facing report needs to clearly show links gained, links lost, net growth, referring-domain growth, and the quality of those links, I’d shortlist these:

• ahrefs.com — best overall for backlink reporting. Its Site Explorer tracks new and lost backlinks and referring domains over time, and its Calendar report specifically visualizes daily new/lost links. Its Report Builder can turn backlink data into branded/scheduled PDF reports, which is particularly useful for client reporting. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs
• semrush.com — best if you want backlink reporting alongside broader SEO reporting. Its Backlinks report has explicit New and Lost filters plus date ranges, while My Reports can combine backlink, GA4, GSC and other data into scheduled, branded PDFs. Semrush Semrush
• agencyanalytics.com — best as the client-reporting layer. Rather than being primarily a backlink database, it can aggregate SEO data into white-label dashboards/reports. This is attractive if you're managing lots of clients and want the same branded report format every month.
• Moz Link Explorer — worth considering if the client audience responds well to simpler metrics such as Domain Authority and Spam Score. It's generally more presentation-friendly for non-SEO audiences, though I'd favor Ahrefs/Semrush for deeper link-change analysis.

What I'd choose

For an agency, I'd probably use:

Ahrefs → AgencyAnalytics/Looker Studio → client-facing monthly report

The report itself could have a simple executive section:

Then show Top New Links and Important Lost Links, including source domain, target page, link type, and authority/quality metric.

One important distinction: I'd report referring domains alongside raw backlinks. Ten new links from one website aren't equivalent to ten links from ten independent websites; Ahrefs explicitly distinguishes the two metrics. Ahrefs Help Center

If you tell me whether you're an agency, in-house SEO team, or freelancer and roughly how many clients you report on, I can recommend the most cost-effective stack and a client-report layout.

Yes. For client-facing backlink reports specifically showing link growth + lost links, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: AgencyAnalytics

If the report itself is the priority, AgencyAnalytics is probably the cleanest fit. Its Backlink Monitor specifically tracks new and lost links, shows link-growth graphs, and lets you put backlink summaries or detailed backlink tables into scheduled client reports. It also supports white-labeled dashboards. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

It can also pull in data from Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, Google Search Console, GA4, etc., so you can make the client report more than just a backlink report. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

If you want the strongest backlink data: Ahrefs

Ahrefs is stronger as the underlying SEO/backlink intelligence platform. Its Backlinks report tracks new and lost backlinks over time, and its reporting tools can create scheduled PDF reports. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs

A good agency setup is therefore:

Ahrefs → AgencyAnalytics → branded client report

That gives your team the deeper backlink analysis while giving clients a much simpler dashboard/report.

Semrush

Semrush is another solid option if you're already using it for SEO. Its Backlinks reports can be exported to PDF, and its My Reports functionality supports customized, branded, automated reports. Semrush

The main distinction I'd make is that Ahrefs/Semrush are primarily SEO research platforms, whereas AgencyAnalytics is designed around turning data from multiple platforms into client-facing reports. AgencyAnalytics

For your use case, I'd rank them:

1. AgencyAnalytics — best client reporting
2. Ahrefs — best backlink intelligence
3. Semrush — best if you want broader SEO/marketing data
4. SE Ranking — good lower-complexity alternative

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you need white-label PDFs, live dashboards, or both, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare pricing/features.

If the report itself is the priority, AgencyAnalytics is probably the cleanest fit. Its Backlink Monitor specifically tracks new and lost links, shows link-growth graphs, and lets you put backlink summaries or detailed backlink tables into scheduled client reports. It also supports white-labeled dashboards. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

It can also pull in data from Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, Google Search Console, GA4, etc., so you can make the client report more than just a backlink report. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

If you want the strongest backlink data: Ahrefs

Ahrefs is stronger as the underlying SEO/backlink intelligence platform. Its Backlinks report tracks new and lost backlinks over time, and its reporting tools can create scheduled PDF reports. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs

A good agency setup is therefore:

Ahrefs → AgencyAnalytics → branded client report

That gives your team the deeper backlink analysis while giving clients a much simpler dashboard/report.

Semrush

Semrush is another solid option if you're already using it for SEO. Its Backlinks reports can be exported to PDF, and its My Reports functionality supports customized, branded, automated reports. semrush.com

The main distinction I'd make is that Ahrefs/Semrush are primarily SEO research platforms, whereas AgencyAnalytics is designed around turning data from multiple platforms into client-facing reports.

For your use case, I'd rank them:

Yes. If the goal is client-facing reporting specifically around backlink growth + lost links, I’d shortlist these:

1. AgencyAnalytics — probably the best fit

AgencyAnalytics has a dedicated Backlink Monitor that explicitly tracks new and lost links, with graphs showing link growth over time. You can put those metrics into scheduled client reports and white-label the dashboard/report with your agency branding. agencyanalytics.com

It can also pull in Ahrefs or Majestic data, so you can have something like:

Backlink Growth

• 127 new backlinks this month
• 18 lost backlinks
• +109 net backlinks
• 24 new referring domains
• Top 10 new links
• Top 5 lost/high-value links
• Trust Flow / Citation Flow

That's much closer to a client deliverable than simply giving the client an Ahrefs login.

AgencyAnalytics backlink reporting

2. Ahrefs — best underlying backlink intelligence

Ahrefs is particularly strong if you care about why links were lost, not merely the count. Its backlink reports can track new/lost links, and its lost-link data includes reasons such as redirects, noindex, crawl errors, and pages no longer being found. help.ahrefs.com

It also now has a Report Builder that can create and automatically email PDF reports, including backlink-related reports. ahrefs.com

Ahrefs Report Builder

My preference: use Ahrefs for the data/analysis, then AgencyAnalytics for the client presentation.

3. Semrush

Semrush's Backlink Audit has a Lost & Found report specifically for tracking new and lost backlinks over time. Its reporting system can turn backlink data into customized, scheduled PDFs and supports branding/white-label reporting. www.semrush.com

Semrush Backlink Audit

I'd choose Semrush over Ahrefs if you're already using it as your broader SEO platform.

What I'd recommend

If you're an agency producing monthly client SEO reports, I'd go:

Ahrefs → AgencyAnalytics → client

Ahrefs gives you the deep backlink intelligence; AgencyAnalytics turns it into a polished, branded report alongside rankings, traffic, Search Console, etc. AgencyAnalytics specifically supports bringing Ahrefs backlink data into white-labeled client reports. agencyanalytics.com

If you want one tool only, I'd lean AgencyAnalytics for the reporting requirement. If the priority is best backlink analysis, I'd lean Ahrefs.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you report on and whether you're already using Ahrefs/Semrush, I can narrow this down to the cheapest/best setup.

Yes. If the client-facing story is specifically “how many backlinks did we gain, how many did we lose, and what happened to the overall link profile?”, there are a few good setups.

Best options

My pick for an agency: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs.

AgencyAnalytics has a dedicated backlink monitor that tracks new and lost links, shows growth graphically, and lets you put those metrics into scheduled, white-labeled client reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

agencyanalytics.com

Then use Ahrefs as the underlying data/analysis platform. Ahrefs' Site Explorer tracks new and lost backlinks over time and provides reasons why links were lost, such as redirects, noindex changes, crawl errors, or the linking page disappearing. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs Help Center

ahrefs.com

What I'd put in the client report

I'd avoid dumping a giant backlink table on the client. A useful monthly page would be:

• New backlinks: 47
• Lost backlinks: 19
• Net backlinks: +28
• New referring domains: 16
• Lost referring domains: 5
• Net referring domains: +11
• High-authority links acquired: 8
• Top 5 new links
• Top 5 lost links
• Lost-link reasons
• Backlink growth chart: last 6–12 months

That gives the client a very easy narrative: “We acquired 47 links, lost 19, and finished the month +28.”

One important distinction

If you're choosing between Ahrefs/Semrush and a reporting platform, they're really two different layers.

Ahrefs/Semrush = the SEO data and analysis.
AgencyAnalytics = turning that data into a polished, recurring client deliverable.

Ahrefs itself now has a Report Builder that can create and automatically email PDF reports, including backlink reporting. Ahrefs Ahrefs

If you're managing multiple clients, I'd lean toward AgencyAnalytics because it is purpose-built around white-label dashboards, scheduled reports, and combining backlink data with rankings, GSC, GA4, etc. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you're already using Ahrefs, Semrush, or another SEO platform, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 setups and approximate costs.

Yes. If the client-facing report specifically needs to show backlink growth, new links, lost links, and ideally the quality of those links, I’d shortlist these:

• Ahrefs + a reporting layer — probably the strongest choice for backlink data itself. Ahrefs tracks new and lost backlinks daily and lets you analyze referring domains, anchors, and link history. Its own Reports builder can also pull backlink-profile data into recurring reports. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs
• AgencyAnalytics — probably the best fit if the deliverable is the client report, rather than just SEO analysis. Its Backlink Monitor explicitly tracks new/lost links and can put them into scheduled, white-labeled reports. It can also pull in Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, GSC, GA4, etc. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics
• Semrush — good if you're already using Semrush for SEO. Its Backlinks reports can be exported to PDF and its My Reports system supports customized, branded, scheduled reports. Semrush Semrush
• SE Ranking — worth considering for a lower-cost agency setup. It combines backlink monitoring with white-label dashboards and scheduled reporting. AgencyAnalytics
• Looker Studio — best if you want a completely customized executive report, but you'll generally need connectors/data sources and more setup. It's more of a reporting canvas than a backlink-monitoring system. AgencyAnalytics

What I'd choose

If you're producing reports for multiple SEO clients, I'd lean:

Ahrefs → AgencyAnalytics → client

That gives you Ahrefs' deeper backlink intelligence while AgencyAnalytics turns it into a branded client-facing report/dashboard. AgencyAnalytics specifically supports Ahrefs data and can combine it with rankings, GSC, analytics, etc. AgencyAnalytics

For the backlink section, I'd show something like:

Then underneath: Top New Links and Top Lost Links, with the referring site, target page, anchor, authority metric, and date.

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you're already using Ahrefs/Semrush/Majestic, I can narrow this down to the 2–3 best options and compare their reporting workflow and cost.

Yes. For client-facing backlink growth + lost-link reporting, I’d separate the tools into two categories: the backlink data source and the client-reporting layer.

Best options

My top pick: AgencyAnalytics

agencyanalytics.com is particularly well suited if the actual deliverable needs to look client-ready, rather than just being an SEO analyst's dashboard.

Its Backlink Monitor specifically tracks new and lost backlinks over time, and can show referring domains, anchor text, Trust Flow/Citation Flow, etc. You can turn that into graphs and tables in scheduled reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

It also supports white-label dashboards, automated reports, client portals, annotations, and integrations with Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, GSC, GA4, etc. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

A useful client report could literally have:

• Backlinks gained: +47
• Backlinks lost: -12
• Net growth: +35
• Referring domains: +18
• Authority of newly acquired links
• Top 10 new backlinks
• Top 10 lost backlinks
• Links from target publications
• A simple 30/90-day backlink growth chart
• Commentary explaining why the changes matter

If backlink analysis itself is the priority: Ahrefs

ahrefs.com is probably the stronger underlying SEO/backlink research platform. Its reporting functionality can create custom reports containing backlink metrics, and its alerts can notify you about backlink changes. Ahrefs Ahrefs

The common agency setup is therefore:

Ahrefs → AgencyAnalytics → client-facing report

AgencyAnalytics explicitly supports bringing Ahrefs backlink data into branded client reports. AgencyAnalytics

Semrush

semrush.com is another strong choice if you're already using it for keyword research, competitor analysis, and link building. It has backlink monitoring/reporting, but it's more of an SEO intelligence platform than a dedicated client-reporting system. AgencyAnalytics

So I'd lean:

• Agency needs polished recurring client reports: AgencyAnalytics
• SEO team needs deepest backlink analysis: Ahrefs
• Already standardized on Semrush: Semrush + reporting layer
• Want one agency reporting platform: AgencyAnalytics with Ahrefs/Semrush connected

One important distinction: if by "backlink growth" you mean links your team actively built rather than all backlinks Google/SEO crawlers discovered, you may want a backlink-management system in addition to a crawler-based backlink index. AgencyAnalytics' Backlink Manager, for example, lets you manually track the specific links that matter to a client and monitor whether they remain live. help.agencyanalytics.com

If you tell me how many clients you have and whether you're already using Ahrefs, Semrush, or another SEO platform, I can narrow this down to the 2–3 best setups and what the actual client report would look like.

semrush.com is another strong choice if you're already using it for keyword research, competitor analysis, and link building. It has backlink monitoring/reporting, but it's more of an SEO intelligence platform than a dedicated client-reporting system.

For client-facing SEO reports focused on backlink growth, new links, and lost links, you’ll generally want a tool that combines:

• backlink index data
• new/lost link tracking
• referring domain trends
• authority metrics
• white-label PDFs or dashboards
• scheduled delivery

The main options agencies use are:

What I’d include in a backlink client report

A useful monthly report usually has:

1. Backlink growth summary

• Total backlinks gained
• Total backlinks lost
• Net backlink change
• New referring domains
• Quality of acquired links

• New referring domains
• Domain authority/rating trend
• Follow vs nofollow split
• Top linking pages
• Lost link analysis

• Lost links this month
• Lost high-value domains
• Whether recovery outreach is recommended
• Wins

• “Earned 18 new referring domains”
• “Secured 3 links from DR 60+ sites”
• “Recovered 2 previously lost links”

Practical agency setups

• Premium SEO/link-building agency: Ahrefs + Looker Studio or Ahrefs Report Builder. Ahrefs
• Full-service marketing agency: Semrush My Reports because it combines backlink data with rankings, traffic, and other channels. Semrush
• Client portal experience: AgencyAnalytics pulling from Ahrefs/Semrush/Google tools.

If your clients are mostly asking “show me the value of your link building,” I’d lean toward Ahrefs for the data + a branded reporting layer. If they want a complete SEO marketing report, Semrush or AgencyAnalytics tends to be easier to package. Ahrefs Semrush

For client-facing backlink reports, you’ll generally want a tool that can do four things:

• Show new backlinks gained over a reporting period
• Show lost links (with the referring domain, URL, anchor text, and loss date if possible)
• Provide white-label/client-ready dashboards or PDFs
• Automate recurring monthly reporting

Here are the strongest options by use case:

A few more backlink-specific tools worth considering:

• LinkSwapy — built around link-building reporting workflows, including new links, lost/recovered links, and white-label client reports. LinkSwapy
• Monitolink — focuses on backlink monitoring, lost link alerts, and white-label PDF/CSV reporting. Monitolink
• Linkwake — designed for agencies tracking backlink movement across multiple client domains, with scheduled reports. Linkwake

Common agency setups

Premium SEO agency stack

• Ahrefs or Semrush → backlink data
• AgencyAnalytics or Looker Studio → client dashboard
• Monthly automated PDF/email delivery

Link-building agency stack

• Ahrefs/Semrush → verify link quality
• Linkody/LinkSwapy/Monitolink → monitor link survival and losses
• White-label PDF report → client deliverable

Simple monthly client report
Include:

• Total referring domains
• New backlinks this month
• Lost backlinks this month
• Net backlink growth
• Top new referring domains
• Lost high-value links requiring recovery
• Domain authority/rating trend
• Anchor text distribution

If you’re managing multiple SEO clients, I’d lean toward AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs/Semrush for a polished client experience; if the main deliverable is proving link-building ROI and showing recoveries, a dedicated backlink monitoring/reporting tool may fit better. AgencyAnalytics LinkSwapy

Yes. If the goal is client-facing reports specifically showing backlink growth, new links, and lost links, I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation: Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics

If you're an agency, this is probably the cleanest setup.

Ahrefs gives you the backlink intelligence: backlink/referring-domain trends, individual links, and daily new/lost backlink changes. Its current reporting system also supports custom reports, PDF sharing, alerts, and Looker Studio connectors. Ahrefs Ahrefs Ahrefs Help Center

AgencyAnalytics is better for turning that data into something a client actually wants to see. It has dedicated backlink reporting, graphs for new/lost links, backlink metrics, scheduled reports, dashboards, and white-labeling. It can also pull Ahrefs data directly into client reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

A good monthly client report could therefore show:

• Total backlinks: 4,821 → 5,146 (+325)
• Referring domains: 412 → 438 (+26)
• New backlinks: 387
• Lost backlinks: 62
• Net backlink growth: +325
• New high-authority referring domains
• Most valuable links acquired
• Important links lost + recovery status
• Backlink growth chart: last 6–12 months
• Short commentary explaining why the changes matter

If you want one platform

I'd lean AgencyAnalytics if the primary requirement is client reporting. It specifically positions its backlink checker around tracking new/lost links and putting those results into shareable dashboards/reports. AgencyAnalytics

I'd lean Ahrefs if your team also needs serious backlink research and link-building analysis. Its Calendar report tracks new/lost backlinks and referring domains day-by-day, while its reporting tools can turn the data into client-facing PDFs/dashboards. Ahrefs Ahrefs Help Center

Semrush + Looker Studio is another good route if you already use Semrush. Semrush's Looker Studio integration exposes backlink history, top referring domains, and backlink overview data for custom dashboards. Semrush Semrush

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you already use Ahrefs/Semrush, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare pricing, white-labeling, automation, and exactly what the backlink report can display.

Yes. For client-facing SEO reports specifically showing backlink growth, new links, lost links, and link quality, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs

If your goal is something clients can actually look at every month, AgencyAnalytics is particularly well suited. Its backlink reporting can show new and lost links, backlink growth, referring domains, Trust Flow/Citation Flow, and can be incorporated into scheduled client reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

agencyanalytics.com

You can also connect Ahrefs to AgencyAnalytics, so Ahrefs supplies the backlink data while AgencyAnalytics becomes the presentation/reporting layer. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

That's a strong setup if you want a report like:

Backlink Growth — August 2026
1,284 total backlinks ↑ 8.4%
43 new referring domains
17 links lost
Net gain: +26 referring domains
12 high-authority links acquired
Top new links → [list]
Lost links requiring outreach → [list]

If you want one tool instead

Ahrefs is probably my first choice. Its Site Explorer tracks new/lost backlinks daily, and its current Report Builder lets you create custom client reports with backlink widgets and automatically deliver scheduled PDFs. Ahrefs Ahrefs Ahrefs Help Center

ahrefs.com

Semrush is another good option if you're already using it for rankings/technical SEO. Its Backlink Analytics tracks new and lost backlinks over time, and its My Reports system can produce branded/white-label PDF reports. Semrush Semrush

semrush.com

One important distinction

If you're selling link-building as a service, I'd prioritize AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs over just a generic SEO reporting platform. You want the report to make the client's progress obvious: links acquired → links lost → net growth → quality of links → referring-domain growth → links that need recovery.

If you tell me whether you're an SEO agency, in-house team, or link-building agency, I can narrow this down to the 3 best tools and show exactly what the client report would look like in each.

Yes. If the deliverable is client-facing reporting that clearly shows backlink growth, new links, lost links, and ideally the quality of those links, I’d narrow it to these:

My recommendation: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs

AgencyAnalytics is probably the best reporting layer if you're sending reports to clients. Its backlink reporting can graph new vs. lost backlinks over time, show referring domains and link-quality metrics, and combine that with rankings, GSC, GA4, etc. It also supports white-labeled dashboards and automated reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

agencyanalytics.com

For the underlying backlink intelligence, Ahrefs is excellent. Its Site Explorer has dedicated new/lost backlink and referring-domain reporting, including reasons why links were lost. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs Help Center

help.ahrefs.com

If you want something simpler: Linkody

Linkody is particularly interesting if backlinks themselves are the main thing you're reporting. It monitors links continuously, identifies gained/lost links, and can generate branded PDF reports for clients. Linkody Linkody

linkody.com

If you're already a Semrush shop

Semrush has explicit New/Lost backlink filters and time-period filtering, plus PDF and customizable report generation. Semrush Semrush

semrush.com

For a typical agency workflow, I'd rank them:

1. AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs — best overall client experience + strong data
2. AgencyAnalytics + Semrush — best if you already use Semrush for SEO
3. Linkody — best if backlink acquisition/loss is the primary service
4. Ahrefs alone — best for SEO specialists, less ideal as the polished client-reporting layer

One important distinction: Ahrefs/Semrush are primarily data/analysis platforms, while AgencyAnalytics is designed around turning that data into recurring client reports. AgencyAnalytics

If you tell me how many clients you have and whether you're already using Ahrefs, Semrush, or another SEO platform, I can recommend the most economical setup and what the actual monthly client report should contain.

For the underlying backlink intelligence, Ahrefs is excellent. Its Site Explorer has dedicated new/lost backlink and referring-domain reporting, including reasons why links were lost. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs Help Center

help.ahrefs.com

If you want something simpler: Linkody

Linkody is particularly interesting if backlinks themselves are the main thing you're reporting. It monitors links continuously, identifies gained/lost links, and can generate branded PDF reports for clients. linkody.com linkody.com

linkody.com

If you're already a Semrush shop

Semrush has explicit New/Lost backlink filters and time-period filtering, plus PDF and customizable report generation. semrush.com semrush.com

Yes. For client-facing backlink reports that clearly show links gained, links lost, and net growth, I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs

If the report itself is the priority, agencyanalytics.com is probably the cleanest fit. Its Backlink Monitor specifically tracks new and lost backlinks over time, and you can put those metrics into automated client reports/dashboards. It also supports white-label branding, scheduled reports, and client access. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

You can also connect Ahrefs to AgencyAnalytics, so you get Ahrefs' backlink data + AgencyAnalytics' client-facing presentation. AgencyAnalytics

For example, your monthly client report could have:

• Backlinks: 1,248 → 1,317 (+69)
• New links: 94
• Lost links: 25
• Net growth: +69
• New referring domains: 31
• Lost referring domains: 12
• Top new links: 5–10 highest-quality acquisitions
• Important lost links: 5–10 links worth recovering
• Authority/quality metrics: Trust Flow, DR, etc.
• Trend chart: backlinks/referring domains over the last 6–12 months

If you want the strongest backlink intelligence

I'd use ahrefs.com as the underlying data source. Its Site Explorer can track new and lost backlinks daily, and its Calendar report visualizes changes over time. Ahrefs Help Center

The catch is that Ahrefs is more of an SEO analysis platform than a polished agency reporting platform, so I'd generally pair it with AgencyAnalytics for client deliverables.

Semrush is another strong option

semrush.com can export backlink reports to PDF and use its My Reports system to create branded, scheduled reports. Semrush

So if you're already using Semrush for rankings, audits, and competitor research, you may not need another backlink-data platform.

Bottom line: If you're an agency and the goal is "I want clients to open a beautiful report and immediately understand how our link building performed," I'd go AgencyAnalytics for reporting + Ahrefs for backlink intelligence. AgencyAnalytics also has a dedicated link-building report template designed around backlink growth. AgencyAnalytics

If you tell me how many clients you have and whether you're already using Ahrefs/Semrush, I can narrow this down to the most cost-effective setup.

For client-facing backlink reports, you’ll usually want a tool that does more than just export backlink data — look for white-label dashboards/PDFs, historical growth charts, new vs. lost links, referring domains, authority metrics, and easy client explanations. Siteguru Monitolink

Here are the main options:

For an SEO agency, I’d typically structure it like this:

• Monthly executive report

• Referring domains gained/lost
• Net backlink growth
• Authority/trust metrics
• Top new links acquired
• Important lost links needing recovery
• Link-building wins tied to pages/campaigns
• Detailed appendix (optional)

• Full new backlink list
• Full lost backlink list
• Anchor text changes
• Follow/nofollow breakdown
• Toxic/spam link review

A few good stacks:

• Agency-friendly: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs/Majestic data AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics
• All-in-one SEO suite: Semrush or Ahrefs + their reporting exports Siteguru The Digital Project Manager
• Highly branded agency portal: Looker Studio + backlink data connectors Siteguru

If the goal is specifically “send a polished PDF to clients every month showing backlink growth/lost links”, I’d shortlist AgencyAnalytics, Semrush, Ahrefs + Looker Studio, and Majestic integrations. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

Yes. For client-facing backlink growth + lost-link reporting, I’d separate the tools into two categories: backlink intelligence and client reporting/white-labeling.

Best options

• Ahrefs — Probably my first choice if backlink analysis is the priority. Its Site Explorer tracks new and lost backlinks and referring domains, including daily changes and historical periods. Ahrefs Help Center Ahrefs Help Center

• Best for: serious link-building teams
• Strongest feature: detailed backlink database and historical analysis
• Client reporting: built-in Report Builder can schedule branded PDF reports. Ahrefs
• Semrush — Also very strong. Its Backlinks report lets you filter specifically for New and Lost links and choose a time period. It also has customizable PDF reporting and automated reports. Semrush Semrush

• Best for: agencies already using Semrush for broader SEO
• Strongest feature: tying backlink reporting into keywords, competitors, audits, etc.
• AgencyAnalytics — This is the one I'd look at if the presentation to clients matters more than doing backlink research inside the reporting tool. Its Backlink Monitor explicitly tracks new/lost links and can put those into scheduled client reports; it also integrates with Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz and Majestic. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

• Best for: agencies with lots of clients
• Strongest feature: white-label dashboards, client portals, automated reports
• Particularly useful setup: Ahrefs/Semrush for data + AgencyAnalytics for client delivery.

What I'd recommend

If your report needs something like:

Backlink Growth — Last 30 Days
+47 new backlinks
-12 lost backlinks
Net: +35
18 new referring domains
4 high-authority links acquired
3 important links lost
[chart showing growth over time]

I'd use Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics.

Ahrefs gives you the underlying link intelligence, while AgencyAnalytics turns it into a much more polished, recurring client report. AgencyAnalytics specifically supports graphs for new links over time and scheduled backlink reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

If you only want one platform: go with Semrush or Ahrefs.
If you're an agency producing reports for many clients: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs is the combination I'd shortlist.

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you need white-label PDFs, dashboards, or both, I can narrow it down to the 2–3 best setups and compare pricing/features.

For client-facing backlink reports, you’ll usually want a tool that does more than just export link data. The best ones combine:

• New backlinks gained
• Lost backlinks
• Referring domains growth
• Link quality metrics (DR/DA, Trust Flow, spam signals, etc.)
• Historical charts
• White-label PDFs/dashboards
• Scheduled client delivery

Here are the main options:

Common agency setups

Simple client reporting stack

• Ahrefs or Semrush → backlink data
• AgencyAnalytics → polished client dashboard/report

Enterprise SEO reporting

• Ahrefs/Semrush/Majestic → data
• Looker Studio → custom executive dashboard

Link-building agency focus

• Majestic or Ahrefs → prove link acquisition
• AgencyAnalytics or a dedicated link management platform → client delivery AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

Metrics I’d include in a client report

• Referring domains: “We gained 18 new websites linking to you”
• New backlinks acquired
• Lost backlinks recovered or explained
• Net link growth: gained minus lost
• Authority of new links
• Top new linking pages
• Top lost links requiring outreach
• Link growth trend (3–12 months)

For most SEO agencies, I’d shortlist AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs or AgencyAnalytics + Semrush because the client sees a clean report while your team still has strong backlink data behind it. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

Yes. There are two slightly different categories: backlink intelligence tools that detect new/lost links, and client-reporting platforms that turn that data into polished recurring reports.

Best options

My pick depends on your workflow:

• If you need the best backlink data: Ahrefs. Its Site Explorer can show backlink/referring-domain growth over time and specifically identify new and lost links. Its Calendar report also tracks daily new/lost backlinks. Ahrefs Ahrefs Help Center
• If you want SEO research + client PDFs in one system: Semrush. Its Backlink Analytics tracks new/lost backlinks over time, and its My Reports system supports customized, branded, scheduled PDF reports. Semrush Semrush
• If the priority is polished client-facing reporting: AgencyAnalytics is particularly compelling. It has backlink reporting, new/lost-link metrics, white-label dashboards, automated reports, and integrations with Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, and other data sources. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics
• If backlinks are the core deliverable: Majestic is worth considering, especially through AgencyAnalytics, where new/lost links plus Trust Flow/Citation Flow can be presented in client reports. AgencyAnalytics

What I'd use for an agency

A strong setup is Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics:

Ahrefs → backlink data → AgencyAnalytics → white-labeled client report

That gives you the analytical depth of Ahrefs while letting clients see a simple report such as:

• Backlinks: 1,284 → 1,467 (+183)
• Referring domains: 342 → 379 (+37)
• New backlinks this month: 214
• Lost backlinks: 31
• Net growth: +183
• High-authority links acquired
• Most valuable new links
• Important/lost links requiring outreach
• Trend chart over 3/6/12 months

AgencyAnalytics even has a dedicated link-building report template designed around backlink growth and client presentation. AgencyAnalytics

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you already use Ahrefs/Semrush, I can narrow this down to the 2–3 best setups, including approximate cost and how automated the reports can be.

Yes. If the requirement is specifically client-facing reporting of backlink growth + new/lost links, I’d narrow the field to these:

My recommendation

If the report itself is the priority: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs.

agencyanalytics.com has a dedicated backlink monitor that tracks new and lost links, backlink growth, link quality, etc., and turns that into shareable dashboards/reports. It can also pull Ahrefs data into white-labeled client reports. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

Ahrefs is what I'd use as the underlying backlink intelligence. Its Site Explorer can show backlink/referring-domain growth over time and specifically track new and lost backlinks. Its newer Calendar report lets you see daily changes in both new/lost referring domains and backlinks. Ahrefs Ahrefs Help Center

ahrefs.com also has its own report builder, PDF sharing, dashboards, alerts, and Data Studio connectors. Ahrefs

What I'd put in the client report

Rather than dumping a backlink table on clients, I'd make the report tell a simple story:

• Total backlinks: 12,450 → 13,180 (+730)
• Referring domains: 820 → 864 (+44)
• New links: 215
• Lost links: 87
• Net growth: +128
• New high-authority referring domains: 12
• Lost high-value links: 3
• Top new links: domain, page, anchor, authority/traffic
• Top lost links: domain, page, reason if identifiable
• Trend chart: new vs. lost links over the reporting period

That gives the client an immediately understandable “we gained X, lost Y, net +Z” story instead of making them interpret SEO-tool metrics.

If you're already using Ahrefs or Semrush, I would not necessarily replace it. I'd add a reporting layer such as AgencyAnalytics. AgencyAnalytics explicitly supports Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz and Majestic integrations and is designed around automated, white-label agency reporting. AgencyAnalytics

If you tell me what you're currently using (Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz, etc.) and roughly how many clients you report for, I can recommend the cheapest/cleanest stack and what the actual client report should look like.

ahrefs.com also has its own report builder, PDF sharing, dashboards, alerts, and Data Studio connectors.

What I'd put in the client report

Rather than dumping a backlink table on clients, I'd make the report tell a simple story:

For client-facing backlink reporting, you’ll usually want a tool that can do three things:

1. Show backlink growth over time (new referring domains, new links, authority trends)
2. Highlight lost links (removed backlinks, broken pages, lost referring domains)
3. Produce white-labeled client reports/dashboards rather than raw SEO exports

Good options:

Common agency setups

Option A: “Premium SEO agency” stack

• Ahrefs or Semrush → data source
• AgencyAnalytics or Looker Studio → client dashboard
• Monthly PDF/email summary → executive reporting

Option B: “Link-building campaign reporting”

• Ahrefs/Majestic → backlink discovery + monitoring
• AgencyAnalytics → client-facing dashboard
• Include: - New referring domains
• Links acquired this month
• Links lost this month
• Domain Rating/Authority changes
• Top earned links
• Anchor text distribution

Option C: Simple white-label reports

• AgencyAnalytics or DashThis if the main goal is “send the client something polished every month.” The Digital Project Manager AgencyAnalytics

For most SEO agencies, I’d shortlist Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics or Semrush + AgencyAnalytics. The backlink platforms are better at finding and validating links; the reporting platforms are better at making the client experience clean. Ahrefs AgencyAnalytics

If you’re reporting specifically on link-building campaigns you sold to clients (e.g., “we earned 25 links this month”), the ideal tool mix is slightly different than general SEO reporting.

For client-facing backlink reports, you’ll usually want a tool that does more than just show link counts. The best ones combine new links, lost links, referring domains, authority metrics, and white-label dashboards/PDFs. Siteguru

Here are the main options:

A common agency setup is:

1. Data source: Ahrefs / Semrush / Majestic for backlink intelligence
2. Client presentation layer: AgencyAnalytics, Looker Studio, or another white-label reporting platform
3. Monthly narrative: highlight: - New referring domains gained
4. High-value links earned
5. Lost links recovered or explained
6. Net backlink growth
7. Authority improvements
8. Link-building activity completed

For clients, I’d avoid reporting only “total backlinks” because it can be misleading. A better executive view is:

• +X new referring domains
• -Y lost referring domains
• Net growth: +Z
• Top earned links (with domain authority/traffic context)
• Lost links requiring outreach or monitoring

If you’re an agency sending these monthly, AgencyAnalytics paired with Ahrefs or Semrush is one of the more common workflows. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics

Yes. For client-facing backlink growth + lost-link reporting, I’d separate the tools into two categories:

My recommendation

If you want the actual client report to look polished: use AgencyAnalytics as the reporting layer, connected to Ahrefs or Semrush.

AgencyAnalytics specifically supports tracking new/lost links and backlink growth, with customizable dashboards, white-label branding, scheduled reports, annotations, and client permissions. It also integrates with Ahrefs and Semrush. agencyanalytics.com

AgencyAnalytics

If backlink intelligence is the priority: I'd choose Ahrefs. Its Site Explorer can track new and lost backlinks and referring domains over time, including a calendar view of daily changes. It also categorizes why links were lost, such as the linking page disappearing, redirecting, becoming noindex, etc. help.ahrefs.com

Ahrefs

Semrush is a strong alternative if you're already using it for keyword/rank/technical SEO reporting. Its Backlinks reports can be exported to PDF and incorporated into branded, scheduled My Reports. www.semrush.com

Semrush

What I'd put in the client report

Rather than dumping a backlink list on the client, I'd make the report show:

• Net new backlinks: +X
• New referring domains: +X
• Lost backlinks: −X
• Lost referring domains: −X
• Net link growth: +X%
• Authority/quality trend
• Top new links — domain, page, authority, anchor
• Important lost links — domain, page, reason lost
• Links earned from your campaigns
• A simple 30/90-day growth chart

That gives the client a clear “we gained X, lost Y, net +Z” story rather than making them interpret SEO metrics.

If you tell me what you're using now (Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz, Majestic, etc.) and whether this is for an agency with multiple clients, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 setups.

For client-facing backlink reports, you’ll usually want a tool that does three things well:

1. Tracks new backlinks gained
2. Shows lost backlinks with dates and details
3. Creates branded/white-label reports or dashboards clients can understand

Here are the main options:

Common agency setups

1. Premium SEO agency stack

• Ahrefs → backlink intelligence
• AgencyAnalytics → client-facing dashboard/report
• Google Looker Studio → optional custom visuals

2. All-in-one SEO reporting

• Semrush → backlink data + rankings + audits + automated PDFs Semrush

3. Link-building agency workflow

• Ahrefs or Semrush → discover and validate links
• Dedicated monitor like Linkody → alerts when placements disappear Linkody

Metrics clients usually care about

Avoid sending a raw backlink dump. A better monthly report usually includes:

• New referring domains earned
• Total backlinks gained/lost
• Net link growth (gained minus lost)
• Authority of new links (DR/DA/Trust Flow)
• Top earned links (with URLs)
• Lost valuable links and recovery actions
• Anchor text distribution
• Link-building campaign wins

For most agencies, Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics or Semrush alone are the two most common approaches: one prioritizes backlink depth, the other prioritizes a complete client reporting workflow. serpforge.io AgencyAnalytics

Yes. For client-facing backlink reporting, I’d separate the tools into two categories: the backlink data source and the presentation/reporting layer.

Best options

• ahrefs.com — best backlink data

• Tracks backlink growth and decline over time.
• Its Site Explorer Calendar shows new and lost backlinks and referring domains by day. Ahrefs Help Center
• You can drill into individual lost links and see reasons such as redirects, noindex, crawl errors, etc. Ahrefs Help Center
• Ahrefs also has a Report Builder for client-facing PDF reports and Data Studio connectors. Ahrefs
• My pick if backlink accuracy/depth is the priority.
• agencyanalytics.com — best for agency/client reporting

• Has dedicated backlink monitoring for new and lost links and can put that alongside rankings, traffic, GSC, etc. AgencyAnalytics
• Integrates with Ahrefs, Majestic, Moz and Semrush, so you can use a specialist backlink database while giving the client a much cleaner dashboard. AgencyAnalytics AgencyAnalytics
• Strong white-labeling, scheduled reports and client dashboards.
• My pick if you're managing lots of clients.
• semrush.com — good all-in-one SEO option

• Backlink Analytics explicitly tracks new and lost backlinks over time. Semrush
• The Backlinks report has New/Lost filters and time-period filtering. Semrush
• Its My Reports system can create branded/white-label PDF reports and schedule them. Semrush
• Good choice if you're already using Semrush for keyword/rank/competitor reporting.

What I'd use for an agency

If your goal is something like:

Client SEO Report → Backlinks

+184 referring domains
+427 backlinks
−63 lost backlinks
Net: +364

Top links acquired this month
Important links lost this month
Domain Rating / authority distribution
Backlink growth chart

I'd probably go Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics. Ahrefs supplies the serious backlink intelligence, while AgencyAnalytics turns it into a much more polished, client-friendly reporting experience. AgencyAnalytics specifically supports white-labeled Ahrefs reporting. AgencyAnalytics

If you want one platform rather than a stack, I'd lean Semrush or AgencyAnalytics, depending on whether you care more about SEO research or agency reporting.

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you need white-label PDFs, live dashboards, or both, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best choices and compare pricing/features.

For client-facing backlink reports, you’ll usually want a tool that can do three things well:

1. Track new backlinks earned
2. Track lost backlinks and lost referring domains
3. Turn the data into branded dashboards/PDFs clients can understand

The main options:

Common agency setup

Option A — Fastest client reporting

• Ahrefs or Semrush → export/report template → monthly PDF/email

Good metrics:

• Total backlinks gained
• Total backlinks lost
• Net backlink growth
• New referring domains
• Lost referring domains
• Authority/DR/DA changes
• Top earned links
• Top lost links

Option B — More polished agency dashboard

• Ahrefs or Semrush data → Looker Studio dashboard → client login/share link

Typical dashboard pages:

• Overview: “+42 referring domains this month”
• Growth chart: backlinks/referring domains over time
• Wins: new high-authority links
• Losses: links removed or broken
• Quality: authority distribution, follow vs nofollow, anchor text

My usual shortlist

• SEO agency with many clients: Semrush + Looker Studio
• Link-building agency: Ahrefs + Looker Studio
• Small agency wanting simple reports: SE Ranking
• Enterprise/custom reporting: Ahrefs/Semrush API → BI dashboard

If you’re specifically reporting link-building campaign results to clients, I’d prioritize tools that show earned links by campaign/date rather than just total backlink counts.

Yes. For client-facing backlink reporting, I’d narrow it to these:

My pick: AgencyAnalytics

If your main goal is “give the client a clean monthly report showing we gained X backlinks, lost Y, and here's how the profile is trending”, AgencyAnalytics is probably the easiest fit.

Its backlink reporting specifically supports new and lost links, backlink growth, domain authority, and link-quality metrics, and it has white-labeled dashboards/reports. agencyanalytics.com

It can also pull in data from Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, Moz, GSC, GA4, etc., so you can make the backlink section part of a broader SEO report rather than maintaining a separate report. agencyanalytics.com

If you want the SEO tool itself to do the reporting: Semrush

Semrush is strong if your team already uses it for link research. Its Backlinks report has explicit New and Lost filters, date ranges, referring domains, source URLs, anchor text, and first/last-seen dates. agencyanalytics.comwww.semrush.comwww.semrush.comwww.semrush.comhelp.ahrefs.com

It also has My Reports, which can combine backlink data with GA4, GSC, and other Semrush data into branded, scheduled PDF reports. www.semrush.com

A particularly useful setup is Semrush → Looker Studio, where you can visualize backlink history and referring-domain trends in a custom dashboard. www.semrush.com

Ahrefs is excellent for the underlying data

Ahrefs has a very good backlink dataset and a dedicated Lost backlinks report that explains why a link was considered lost—for example, the linking page disappeared, redirected, became noindex, or had a crawl error. help.ahrefs.com

Its Report Builder can turn Ahrefs data into client-facing PDF reports, and Ahrefs also offers Looker Studio connectors. ahrefs.com

For an agency, I'd choose:

AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs if you want polished automated client reporting and Ahrefs for the underlying backlink intelligence.

AgencyAnalytics + Semrush if you're already a Semrush shop.

Semrush alone if you don't need a separate reporting platform.

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you want PDF reports, live dashboards, or both, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare pricing/workflow.

Yes. If the client-facing requirement is specifically “show backlink growth + new/lost links clearly”, I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation

For an agency, I’d seriously consider Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics.

• Ahrefs is particularly strong for the underlying backlink data. Its Site Explorer can track daily new/lost backlinks and referring domains, and its backlink history shows growth/decline over time. help.ahrefs.comagencyanalytics.comwww.semrush.comahrefs.com
• AgencyAnalytics is better as the presentation layer: it specifically supports new/lost link tracking, backlink-growth graphs, scheduled reports, dashboards, and white-label client reporting. It can also pull in Ahrefs data. agencyanalytics.com
• Semrush is a good alternative if you're already using it for SEO. Its Looker Studio integration includes backlink history, referring domains, backlink counts, and related metrics. www.semrush.com
• Looker Studio makes sense if you want to build your own highly customized client dashboard. Ahrefs has a Site Explorer connector for backlink data, while Semrush also provides backlink connectors. www.semrush.comahrefs.com

What I'd put in the client report

A useful backlink section would have:

Backlink Growth

• Total backlinks
• Net backlinks gained
• Referring domains
• Net new referring domains
• Growth chart over the reporting period

New Links

• New referring domains
• New backlinks
• Highest-authority new links
• Linking page/domain
• Anchor text

Lost Links

• Lost backlinks
• Lost referring domains
• Highest-value links lost
• Reason/status where available
• Suggested recovery actions

That gives the client both the “we grew” headline and the “here's what changed” evidence.

If you tell me whether you're an SEO agency, in-house team, or freelancer and roughly how many clients you report on, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best tools and their current pricing/workflow.

Yes. If the client-facing requirement is specifically “show backlink growth + what was lost + make it presentable to clients,” I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Ahrefs

Ahrefs is particularly strong for this use case because its Site Explorer can show new and lost backlinks and referring domains over time, including daily changes. help.ahrefs.com

More importantly for an agency, its Report Builder lets you turn the data into branded/client-facing reports, add commentary, and automatically deliver PDFs by email. Clients don't need an Ahrefs account to receive them. ahrefs.com

So a monthly client report could have:

• Total referring domains: 425 → 468
• Net new referring domains: +43
• New backlinks: 127
• Lost backlinks: 38
• Net backlinks: +89
• Authority/quality of links gained
• Top links earned
• Important links lost
• Backlink growth trend
• Commentary explaining why the numbers changed

Semrush is the other obvious choice

Semrush's Backlink Analytics explicitly tracks new and lost backlinks over time, and its Backlink Audit has a Lost & Found report. Its My Reports system can turn the backlink data into customized, branded, scheduled PDFs. www.semrush.com

I'd choose Semrush over Ahrefs if your client reports already contain lots of rankings, technical SEO, PPC, GA4, and Search Console data and you want everything in one broader marketing report.

Bottom line:
If backlink acquisition/PR/link-building is a major service you're reporting on, Ahrefs is probably the cleanest fit. If backlinks are just one section of a much larger SEO/marketing report, Semrush is compelling.

If you tell me whether you're an agency, in-house SEO team, or link-building agency, I can narrow this down to the 2–3 reporting setups that would work best.

Yes. For client-facing backlink reporting, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs

If the goal is “show the client what happened this month”, rather than giving them an SEO research interface, AgencyAnalytics is particularly well suited. Its backlink reporting can show new vs. lost links, backlink growth, referring domains, and link-quality metrics, while letting you put those into branded dashboards and scheduled reports. agencyanalytics.com

You can also feed Ahrefs data into AgencyAnalytics, which gives you Ahrefs' backlink database/analysis while AgencyAnalytics handles the client presentation layer. agencyanalytics.com

AgencyAnalytics backlink reporting

If you want one tool instead

Ahrefs is probably my choice when backlink intelligence itself is the priority. Its Site Explorer can track daily new/lost backlinks and referring domains, and its Lost Backlinks report provides reasons why links disappeared. help.ahrefs.com

Ahrefs Site Explorer help

Semrush is another strong option. Its Backlinks reports explicitly distinguish New and Lost links and let you filter by time period; its My Reports functionality can turn the data into branded, scheduled PDFs. www.semrush.comagencyanalytics.com

Semrush Backlinks reporting

What I'd put in the actual client report

Keep it simple:

• Total backlinks: 1,842 → 1,967 (+125)
• Referring domains: 412 → 438 (+26)
• New backlinks: 147
• Lost backlinks: 22
• Net growth: +125
• Top links acquired: 5–10 important domains
• Important links lost: 5–10, with reason
• Trend chart: backlinks + referring domains over 6–12 months
• Optional: DR/Authority/Trust Flow trend
• A short “What this means” commentary tying link growth to rankings/traffic

That gives clients a much more understandable story than dumping a backlink table on them.

If you're an agency choosing a reporting stack, I'd go: Ahrefs for backlink intelligence → AgencyAnalytics for the client-facing dashboard/report. If you want to minimize the number of subscriptions, Semrush is a good all-in-one alternative. www.semrush.comagencyanalytics.com

Yes. For client-facing backlink growth + lost-link reporting, I’d narrow it to these:

My pick: Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics

If the report needs to tell a client something like:

Backlinks: +127 this month
Lost backlinks: −34
Net growth: +93
Referring domains: +18
High-authority links gained: 7
Important links lost: 3

…I'd use Ahrefs for the underlying backlink intelligence and AgencyAnalytics for the client presentation.

Ahrefs can track new and lost backlinks on a daily basis, including historical changes, and its lost-link reporting can identify why a link was lost (redirect, page gone, noindex, crawl error, etc.). help.ahrefs.com

AgencyAnalytics is particularly strong on the presentation layer: it can pull Ahrefs backlink data into branded dashboards, show lost vs. new backlinks, and schedule automated client reports. agencyanalytics.com

If you want one platform

I'd lean Ahrefs if backlink analysis itself is the priority. Its current Report Builder can create custom reports with backlink metrics, add narrative commentary, and automatically schedule PDF delivery. ahrefs.com

I'd lean AgencyAnalytics if the priority is running reports for lots of clients. It is designed around agency reporting, white-label dashboards, client access, scheduling, and combining backlink data with rankings, GA4, GSC, etc. agencyanalytics.com

One important distinction: don't report just "backlinks gained." For clients, I'd show new links, lost links, net change, referring-domain growth, and a short list of the most important links gained/lost. That makes the report much more meaningful than a raw backlink count.

If you tell me how many clients you have and whether you already use Ahrefs/Semrush, I can recommend the cheapest/cleanest stack for this.

Yes. For client-facing backlink growth + lost-link reporting, I’d separate the options into two categories:

My recommendation: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs/Semrush

If the goal is “send the client a polished monthly report showing we gained X backlinks, lost Y, and netted Z”, AgencyAnalytics is probably the cleanest fit.

Its reporting platform specifically supports new and lost links, backlink metrics, automated report scheduling, white-label branding, client dashboards, and integrations with Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz, and Majestic. agencyanalytics.com

AgencyAnalytics backlink reporting

You can essentially structure the client report as:

• Total backlinks: 12,450 → 13,120 (+670)
• New backlinks: 840
• Lost backlinks: 170
• Net growth: +670
• New referring domains: 95
• Lost referring domains: 22
• Top new links: list of valuable placements
• Important lost links: list + reason/status
• Domain authority/DR/Trust Flow trend
• Commentary: “Link acquisition exceeded link loss by 670 links this month…”

If backlink data quality is the priority: Ahrefs

Ahrefs is excellent for the underlying backlink analysis. Its Site Explorer can track new and lost backlinks and referring domains over time, including daily changes. help.ahrefs.com

Ahrefs backlink analysis

The catch is that Ahrefs is primarily an SEO research/analysis platform rather than a dedicated agency reporting platform. Agencies commonly put Ahrefs underneath a reporting layer such as AgencyAnalytics. agencyanalytics.com

Semrush is also very good

Semrush has Backlink Analytics/Backlink Audit, including Lost & Found data, and can export backlink reports to PDF. Its My Reports system lets you combine backlink information with GA4, GSC, and other SEO data, brand the report, and schedule updates. www.semrush.com

Semrush backlink reporting

One important distinction: if you're already paying for Ahrefs or Semrush, I wouldn't necessarily replace it. I'd use it as the data engine and AgencyAnalytics as the client presentation layer.

For an agency, my ranking would be:

1. 🥇 AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs — best polished client reporting + strong backlink data
2. 🥈 AgencyAnalytics + Semrush — excellent if Semrush is already your SEO platform
3. 🥉 Semrush alone — good if you want to keep everything inside one platform
4. Ahrefs alone — strongest for SEO practitioners, less ideal for polished recurring client reports

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you're already using Ahrefs, Semrush, or neither, I can narrow this down to the best setup and approximate monthly cost.

Yes. If the requirement is specifically client-facing reporting that clearly shows backlinks gained, backlinks lost, and overall link growth, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs/SEMrush

AgencyAnalytics Backlink Monitor is probably closest to what you're describing. It specifically supports new and lost link tracking, graphs the changes over time, and lets you put backlink summaries or detailed analyses into scheduled client reports. agencyanalytics.com

If you want the best underlying backlink intelligence, Ahrefs is stronger. Its Site Explorer can track new/lost backlinks and referring domains, including daily changes via its Calendar report. help.ahrefs.com

Semrush is another strong option: its backlink tooling tracks gained/deleted links and lets you examine links over particular time periods. www.techradar.com

For a client report, I'd structure the backlink section around:

• Total backlinks: 4,820 → 5,140 (+320)
• New backlinks: +387
• Lost backlinks: −67
• Net growth: +320
• New referring domains: +42
• Lost referring domains: −11
• Top new links: domain, URL, authority/quality metric
• Important lost links: particularly high-value domains
• Trend chart: new vs. lost links by month

That distinction between backlinks and referring domains is important: one site can give you multiple backlinks, while still counting as only one referring domain. help.ahrefs.com

If you're choosing a tool specifically for an SEO agency with multiple clients, I'd rank them AgencyAnalytics for presentation → Ahrefs for backlink data → SE Ranking for value. Community discussions from 2026 also commonly mention AgencyAnalytics, SE Ranking, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Looker Studio in this agency-reporting use case. www.reddit.com

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you're already using Ahrefs, SEMrush, or neither, I can narrow this down to the 2–3 best setups and what the client report would actually look like.

Yes. If the client-facing requirement is specifically “show backlink growth + show links we lost + make it presentable to clients,” I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation

For an agency, I'd use AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs.

AgencyAnalytics has a dedicated backlink monitor that explicitly tracks new and lost links, plots link changes over time, and can put backlink summaries or detailed analyses into scheduled client reports. It also supports white-labeled reporting. agencyanalytics.com

AgencyAnalytics Backlink Monitor

Then use Ahrefs as the underlying link database. Ahrefs provides historical backlink/referring-domain trends and lets you investigate the individual links behind gains and losses. Its reporting product can also build custom SEO reports and export them as PDFs. ahrefs.com

Ahrefs Reporting

The client report I'd build would be very simple:

• Backlinks: 4,820 → 5,140 (+320)
• New referring domains: +47
• Lost referring domains: −12
• Net link growth: +35 domains
• New high-authority links: 8
• Lost important links: 3
• A line chart showing new vs. lost links by month
• A table of the 5–10 most important links gained
• A table of important links lost + recovery status

That tells the client a much better story than dumping a backlink count into a PDF.

One important distinction: backlinks and referring domains aren't the same metric—a single site can provide multiple backlinks. help.ahrefs.com I'd report both, with referring-domain growth as the headline KPI.

If you tell me how many clients you have and whether you're already using Ahrefs or Semrush, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options for your workflow.

Yes. For client-facing backlink reports, I’d separate the tools into two categories: the backlink data source and the presentation/reporting layer.

My recommendation

If backlinks are the main thing you want to demonstrate:
Go with Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics. Ahrefs provides the underlying backlink intelligence, including new/lost links and historical changes, while AgencyAnalytics turns that into white-labeled client dashboards/reports. AgencyAnalytics specifically supports new and lost links and integrates with Ahrefs. agencyanalytics.com

If you want a polished custom monthly report:
Ahrefs + Looker Studio is probably the most flexible. Ahrefs has a Site Explorer connector for Looker Studio, allowing you to build your own charts and dashboards. help.ahrefs.com

If you want fewer moving parts:
Ahrefs itself now has a Report Builder with backlink widgets, custom commentary, and scheduled PDF delivery. Its reporting system also includes alerts for backlink changes. ahrefs.com

What I'd put in the client report

Rather than dumping a backlink list on the client, I'd make the first page something like:

• Total backlinks: 4,820 → 5,164 (+344)
• Referring domains: 412 → 438 (+26)
• New links this period: 387
• Lost links: 43
• Net growth: +344
• High-authority links gained: 12
• Important links lost: 3
• Top new referring domains: list of 5–10
• Top lost links: list with reason/action
• A simple 6–12 month backlink-growth graph

Ahrefs' Calendar report can visualize daily changes in new/lost referring domains and backlinks, which is useful for the underlying trend data. help.ahrefs.com

For an agency, I'd pick AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs. It gives you the SEO intelligence of Ahrefs without making the client stare at an SEO research interface.

Yes. For client-facing backlink reports, I’d shortlist these:

My picks

1. Semrush — easiest turnkey option.
Its Backlinks reports explicitly distinguish New, Active, and Lost links, with date filtering and detailed link-level information. You can export the backlink data to PDF or incorporate it into My Reports, where reports can be branded and scheduled. www.semrush.com

2. Ahrefs — my pick if backlink quality is the priority.
Ahrefs' current Reporting product supports custom SEO reports, trend graphs, PDF sharing, and backlink alerts. That makes it a strong choice if you want the underlying link intelligence to be the centerpiece of the report. ahrefs.com

3. AgencyAnalytics — best if you're an agency.
I'd consider this if the report needs to look like a monthly client dashboard, rather than simply an SEO-tool export. You can pull backlink information alongside rankings, traffic, conversions, etc.

One important distinction: "backlink data" and "client reporting" are separate problems. A tool like Ahrefs/Semrush may have excellent backlink detection, while a tool like AgencyAnalytics/Looker Studio can give you a much better client presentation layer.

For the report itself, I'd show:

• Total referring domains: current vs. previous month
• New backlinks: count + notable links
• Lost backlinks: count + notable lost links
• Net backlink growth: gained − lost
• New/lost referring domains
• Authority/quality of acquired links
• Top 5–10 new links
• Top 5–10 lost links
• A simple 90-day trend chart

Semrush is particularly convenient for this because its Backlink Audit also has a Lost & Found report that tracks new, lost, and broken referring domains over time. www.semrush.com

If you're producing these for multiple clients every month, I'd lean toward Semrush + a client-reporting layer or Ahrefs + a client-reporting layer, rather than manually exporting spreadsheets.

If you tell me roughly how many clients you report on and whether you want white-label PDFs or live dashboards, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best options and compare pricing/workflow.

Yes. If the report needs to be client-facing—not just an SEO analyst’s backlink database—I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation

If you're producing monthly SEO reports for clients, I'd use AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs.

AgencyAnalytics specifically supports new and lost backlink graphs, backlink summaries, detailed analyses, scheduled reports, white-labeling, and client access. It can also pull Ahrefs data into those reports. agencyanalytics.com

That gives you a clean client report such as:

Backlink Growth — July

• 47 new referring links
• 18 lost links
• +29 net links
• 12 new referring domains
• 5 high-authority links acquired
• 3 priority lost links requiring outreach

Then the client doesn't have to understand Ahrefs' interface.

If you mainly care about link acquisition

Linkody is worth a serious look. It's specifically built around backlink monitoring, detects gained/lost links, provides email alerts, and can generate white-label PDF reports. Its reporting can include things like source/target URLs, anchor text, link status, DA/DR, spam score, and other link metrics. www.linkody.com

So I'd think of the options this way:

• Best client presentation: AgencyAnalytics
• Best dedicated backlink monitoring: Linkody
• Best backlink intelligence: Ahrefs
• Best all-in-one SEO platform: Semrush
• Best budget-conscious agency setup: SE Ranking

One important distinction: Ahrefs/Semrush are primarily SEO intelligence platforms; AgencyAnalytics is primarily a reporting layer. For client-facing reporting at scale, that distinction matters. agencyanalytics.com

If you tell me how many clients you report on and whether you need white-label PDFs, live dashboards, or both, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best options and compare pricing/workflow.

Yes. Tools that handle backlink growth + lost links well include:

• Ahrefs — strong for client reporting; shows new/lost backlinks, referring domains, historical growth, and link-level details.
• Semrush — good all-in-one option with backlink monitoring, new/lost links, referring domains, and report generation.
• SE Ranking — more budget-friendly, with backlink monitoring and automated client reports.
• AgencyAnalytics — useful if you want a polished client-facing dashboard; it can pull backlink data from SEO platforms rather than being the backlink database itself.
• Looker Studio + a backlink data source — best if you want highly customized branded reports, but requires more setup.

For an agency/client-reporting workflow, I'd generally shortlist Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics or Semrush + AgencyAnalytics. If you tell me your approximate number of clients and monthly budget, I can compare the reporting capabilities and pricing of the best options.

For client-facing backlink reports, you’ll usually want tools that can track new/lost backlinks, show historical growth, visualize trends, and export branded reports (PDF/Looker Studio/Slides). These are the main options:

Common agency setups

Premium SEO agency stack

• Ahrefs or Semrush → backlink data
• Looker Studio → custom client dashboard
• Google Slides/PDF export → monthly executive report

White-label reporting workflow

• AgencyAnalytics or SE Ranking → automated client portal
• Connect Ahrefs/Semrush/Moz data
• Schedule monthly emails

Link-building campaign reporting
Include:

• Total referring domains gained
• New backlinks acquired (with URL, anchor text, target page)
• Links lost (with loss date and reason if known)
• Domain Rating/Authority trend
• Follow vs. nofollow/sponsored/UGC breakdown
• Top linking pages
• Competitor link growth comparison

If your reports are primarily for SEO clients paying for link building, Ahrefs + Looker Studio is a common choice. If you manage many clients and need white-label automation, AgencyAnalytics or Semrush’s agency features are usually easier.

If the goal is client-facing SEO reports that clearly show backlink growth, new links, and lost links on a recurring basis, there are a few categories of tools depending on whether you want an all-in-one reporting platform or you're already using a backlink data provider.

Here's how they compare:

Best options

AgencyAnalytics

• Probably the easiest if client reporting is the primary objective.
• White-label client portals.
• Scheduled PDF reports.
• Historical backlink charts.
• Can combine rankings, traffic, backlinks, GA4, Search Console, and more in one report.

Ideal if you're managing multiple SEO clients.

SE Ranking
One of the strongest values for agencies because it includes:

• Backlink monitoring
• New backlinks
• Lost backlinks
• Referring domains
• Anchor text
• White-label reports
• Scheduled reporting

Less expensive than Ahrefs or Semrush while covering most agency needs.

Ahrefs
Excellent backlink database with reports showing:

• New backlinks
• Lost backlinks
• Referring domains
• Link velocity
• Domain Rating trends
• Anchor distribution

Clients love the data quality, though the reporting customization isn't as polished as dedicated reporting platforms.

Semrush
Offers attractive reports including:

• New vs. lost backlinks
• Authority Score changes
• Toxic link monitoring
• Referring domains
• Link acquisition trends

Good if you're already using Semrush for keyword tracking.

If you want polished executive reports

Many agencies use this stack:

• Ahrefs (backlink data)
• Google Search Console (search performance)
• GA4 (traffic)
• AgencyAnalytics or Looker Studio (client-facing dashboard)

That gives clients one report instead of logging into multiple tools.

Metrics clients actually understand

Rather than overwhelming clients with hundreds of metrics, a monthly backlink report often includes:

• Total backlinks
• Referring domains
• New referring domains this month
• Lost referring domains this month
• Net link growth
• Highest-authority new links
• Top lost links
• Domain Authority/Domain Rating trend
• Link acquisition chart (last 6–12 months)
• Top anchor text changes

These tell a clear story of progress without requiring SEO expertise.

Recommendation by agency size

• Solo consultant (1–10 clients): SE Ranking
• Growing agency (10–50 clients): AgencyAnalytics + Ahrefs
• Larger agency (50+ clients): Looker Studio with data connectors or AgencyAnalytics Enterprise for fully branded dashboards

If you're already using a backlink crawler (like Ahrefs or Semrush), adding a reporting layer is usually more cost-effective than switching platforms. If you're starting from scratch, SE Ranking offers one of the strongest combinations of backlink monitoring and client-ready reporting.

If the goal is client-facing backlink reports (rather than just internal SEO analysis), you'll want a tool that can automatically show:

• New backlinks gained
• Lost backlinks
• Referring domains growth
• Link velocity over time
• Anchor text distribution
• Top linked pages
• White-label or branded reports
• Scheduled email delivery

Here are the strongest options:

Best Overall: Ahrefs

Pros:

• Tracks new and lost backlinks daily
• Excellent historical link graphs
• Referring domains growth
• Lost links categorized by reason
• Easy exports (PDF/CSV)

Typical client report includes:

• Backlinks gained this month
• Links lost
• Net growth
• DR growth
• Referring domains trend

The downside is that its reporting and white-label features aren't as agency-focused as dedicated reporting platforms.

Best Agency Option: AgencyAnalytics

This is one of the most common choices for agencies because it combines data from multiple SEO platforms into polished client dashboards.

Typical widgets include:

• Backlinks over time
• New backlinks
• Lost backlinks
• Referring domains
• Anchor text
• Organic traffic
• Keyword rankings

Advantages:

• White-label branding
• Client portals
• Scheduled monthly PDFs
• Live dashboards

Best Budget Choice: SE Ranking

SE Ranking offers much of what larger platforms provide at a lower cost:

• New/lost backlink tracking
• Historical graphs
• White-label reports
• Client access
• Scheduled reports

It's often a good fit for smaller agencies managing multiple clients.

Best Custom Reporting: Looker Studio

If you're already collecting backlink data from Ahrefs, Semrush, or another source via exports or connectors, you can build a fully branded dashboard showing:

• Monthly backlink growth
• New vs. lost links
• Referring domain trend
• Domain authority distribution
• Top earned links
• Campaign summaries

This gives you maximum flexibility but requires setup and maintenance.

A Reporting Structure Clients Understand

Instead of overwhelming clients with raw backlink lists, many agencies use a one-page summary:

Backlink Summary (July 2026)

• New backlinks: 42
• Lost backlinks: 9
• Net growth: +33
• New referring domains: 18
• Total referring domains: 427
• Highest-authority new link: DR 78
• Average authority of new links: DR 41

Then include charts for:

• Referring domains over time
• New vs. lost backlinks by week
• Top new links
• Anchor text breakdown

This format highlights progress and makes it easy for clients to understand the impact of your link-building work.

If you're running an SEO agency with multiple clients, a common stack is:

• Ahrefs (or Semrush) for backlink discovery and analysis.
• AgencyAnalytics for automated, branded client dashboards and scheduled reports.

That combination gives you robust backlink tracking along with polished, client-ready reporting without needing to build custom dashboards from scratch.

If you want client-facing backlink reports (rather than just internal SEO dashboards), the best options depend on whether you're looking for white-label reporting, automated reporting, or the strongest backlink database.

Here's how the major tools compare:

Best overall: AgencyAnalytics

If you're sending monthly SEO reports, this is one of the strongest choices because it includes:

• Backlinks gained this month
• Lost backlinks
• Referring domains gained/lost
• Anchor text distribution
• Top linked pages
• Domain Authority / Domain Rating trends (depending on integration)
• White-label branding
• Scheduled PDF delivery
• Live client dashboard

It integrates with Ahrefs, Semrush, Google Search Console, and other marketing platforms.

Best backlink data: Ahrefs

If backlink accuracy is the priority, Ahrefs is hard to beat.

Reports include:

• New backlinks
• Lost backlinks
• Referring domains
• Link growth over time
• Link velocity
• New vs. lost referring domains
• DR distribution
• Anchor text changes

The tradeoff is that it's more of an SEO tool than a polished client reporting platform.

Best value: SE Ranking

Many agencies choose SE Ranking because it combines:

• Backlink monitoring
• Lost link alerts
• Historical backlink tracking
• White-label reports
• Client logins
• Lower pricing than Ahrefs or Semrush

Best for custom executive dashboards: Looker Studio

If you already collect data from:

• Google Search Console
• Ahrefs
• Semrush
• BigQuery
• CSV exports

You can build dashboards showing:

• Monthly backlinks gained
• Lost backlinks
• Net backlink growth
• Referring domain growth
• Link acquisition by campaign
• Links by authority
• Landing pages earning links

This is ideal if you want reports that match your agency's branding and KPIs exactly.

Metrics clients actually understand

Instead of listing every backlink, highlight metrics such as:

• Total backlinks
• New backlinks this month
• Lost backlinks this month
• Net backlink growth
• Referring domains
• High-authority links acquired
• Top new referring domains
• Top pages earning links
• Link velocity trend
• Follow vs. nofollow ratio
• Authority score (DR, DA, or Authority Score)
• Links by campaign or PR initiative

These are generally easier for clients to interpret than raw link inventories.

A recommended stack for agencies

A common setup is:

• Ahrefs for backlink discovery and monitoring.
• AgencyAnalytics or Looker Studio for branded client dashboards and automated monthly reports.
• Google Search Console data alongside backlink metrics to show whether link growth aligns with increases in impressions, clicks, and organic traffic.

This combination gives clients a clearer picture of both the quantity and the impact of your link-building efforts.

If you need client-facing backlink reports (not just internal SEO dashboards), there are a few tools that stand out. The best choice depends on whether you want polished white-label reports, live dashboards, or automated monthly PDFs.

What clients typically want to see

A good backlink report usually includes:

• Total backlinks
• Referring domains
• New backlinks this month
• Lost backlinks this month
• Net backlink growth
• New referring domains
• Lost referring domains
• Domain Authority / Domain Rating trend
• Top new links earned
• Highest-value lost links
• Anchor text distribution
• Follow vs. nofollow
• Link acquisition trend (6–12 months)

A simple chart showing New Links vs Lost Links over time is often the clearest way to demonstrate progress.

Best options by use case

For agencies

• AgencyAnalytics is one of the strongest choices. It connects with multiple SEO platforms, automates monthly reports, offers white labeling, and provides client logins.

For custom executive dashboards

• Looker Studio works well if your backlink data comes from APIs or connectors. You can combine backlinks with rankings, traffic, conversions, and revenue in one dashboard.

For budget-conscious teams

• SE Ranking includes backlink monitoring and client reporting at a lower price than many enterprise platforms.

For backlink-heavy SEO campaigns

• Ahrefs remains one of the strongest tools for tracking:
  • New backlinks
  • Lost backlinks
  • Referring domain growth
  • Link velocity
  • Historical backlink changes

Many agencies use Ahrefs for analysis while presenting the data through AgencyAnalytics or Looker Studio.

A reporting template that works well

A monthly client report can follow this structure:

1. Executive summary
2. Total backlinks (current vs. previous month)
3. Referring domain growth
4. New links acquired
5. Lost links
6. Net link growth
7. Top 10 highest-authority new links
8. Notable lost links requiring attention
9. Link acquisition trend (last 12 months)
10. Next month's link-building goals

This format gives clients both a high-level view and enough detail to understand what changed.

If you're building reports for multiple clients at scale (50+ accounts), I'd recommend Ahrefs + AgencyAnalytics or Semrush + AgencyAnalytics. If you prefer a fully customizable reporting stack, Looker Studio backed by backlink data from your SEO platform is often the most flexible solution.