Recovery before purchase
Ahrefs broken link checker: from dead links to won-back ones
Run the report, sort the findings into reclaim, replace or buy, and start with the fix that costs least. The store holds 50,000+ vetted donor domains, from $1 a placement.
- Reclaim first, buy only when it is faster
- Dofollow placements from $1
- Basket charges nothing until you pay
Rough price per link this estimate uses
- DR 0–9~$2
- DR 10–29~$6
- DR 30–49~$18
- DR 50+~$45
Checklist
Five leaks worth checking this week
- Pages that used to rank and now return a 404 or redirect to the homepage
- Brand names in articles, newsletters and podcast notes that carry no link at all
- Backlinks that vanished from your Ahrefs report between two monthly exports
- Press coverage where the writer typed your URL as plain text
- Outbound links on other sites pointing at a page that no longer exists
What it is for
Using an Ahrefs broken link checker report as a repair list
A report only tells you what is broken. The value comes from sorting each row into the cheapest fix, and most rows never need a purchase.
Reclaim what already points at you
Dead pages with links pointing in are the best rows. A 301 to the closest live page brings that value back in minutes. The broken-link replacement guide shows how to sort an export.
Ask for the link you earned
Someone named you and forgot the anchor. A short note to the editor often fixes it. The mention email round holds the wording we would use.
Replace links that died elsewhere
A page you could substitute for a dead resource is a fair offer to its owner. Check which of your pages fits before you write, using the same guide.
Buy when the clock matters
Outreach takes weeks and sometimes gets silence. A placement from $1 goes live in about 24 hours. Use the reclaim-or-buy scorecard to decide with numbers.
Timeline
Why lost links deserve attention now
Link attributes added
Google introduced rel=sponsored and rel=ugc beside nofollow, and began treating all three as hints.
Link spam update
SpamBrain-based detection began neutralising unnatural links, so a link that counted last year may count for less.
Core and spam policy changes
Google tightened its spam policies and folded helpful-content signals into core ranking.
- vetted donor domains
- 50,000+
- cheapest placement
- $1
- top domains
- ~$500
- usual time to go live
- ~24h
Compare
Reclaim, replace or buy: where each row lands
| What the report shows | Cheapest fix | Typical wait | Page to read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead page with inbound links | Redirect to closest live page | Same day | Broken-link guide |
| Brand named, no anchor | Polite email to the editor | Days to weeks | Mention email round |
| Link vanished between exports | Find the cause, then ask | A few weeks | Lost links timeline |
| Press piece with a plain-text URL | Ask the desk for a live link | Days | Press coverage fixes |
| Newsletter or podcast mention | Ask the host for a show-notes link | Days to weeks | Newsletter mentions |
| Nothing to reclaim, deadline close | Buy a placement | About 24 hours | Scorecard |
How it works
A first afternoon with the store
- 1
Export your lost and broken rows
Pull them from Ahrefs or Search Console, one file per month so you can compare.
- 2
Fix everything you own
Redirects and restored pages come first. They cost nothing and need nobody's reply.
- 3
Shortlist donors for the rest
Filter the store by Domain Rating, traffic, niche and language, then add rows to the basket. No charge yet.
- 4
Pay, then log each placement
Once live, every link shows in the ordered list with its status. Note the date beside your outreach thread.
FAQ
Questions site owners type before they buy
What is an Ahrefs broken link checker and what does it actually find?
It is the broken-backlinks view in Ahrefs Site Explorer. It lists pages on your domain that return errors yet still have links pointing at them. Those rows are the quickest wins, because a redirect can restore the value.
Can I fix a lost backlink without paying for anything?
Often, yes. Restore the page, redirect it, or email the owner of the linking site. Buying is for the cases where no such link exists to rescue, or where waiting weeks costs you more.
Do unlinked mentions pass any value?
Nobody outside Google can prove it either way. A real link is the only thing you can measure, so asking the author to add one is a reasonable use of ten minutes.
How long should I wait after emailing an editor?
Give it about a week, then send one short follow-up. After that, move on. Chasing a third time rarely helps and can harm the relationship you wanted to keep in the first place.
When is buying a link the faster fix?
When the page is new, the linking sites are few, and a launch or seasonal date is close. Placements from $1 go live in about 24 hours, so you control the schedule rather than waiting on replies.
Are the placements dofollow and permanent?
Yes, placements are permanent dofollow. That is not a promise about rankings. Google decides what each link is worth, and a link on a weak page can be worth very little.
Will I be charged when I add links to the basket?
No. The basket is only a shortlist. You review it, top up the balance in the dashboard if needed, and pay as a separate step. Nothing leaves your balance before that.