What is DA?
Domain Authority (Moz)
Definition, formula, India benchmarks, and the operator-grade nuance behind it.
Domain Authority is Moz's 0–100 score of a domain's likelihood to rank in search. DA is calculated from backlink quantity, quality, and other signals. DA is comparable to Ahrefs' DR but uses different weighting.
DA = Moz's 0–100 ranking-likelihood score.
Comparable to Ahrefs DR; not always equal due to different algorithms.
Useful for competitor analysis; less directly actionable than DR.
Domain Authority is Moz's proprietary 0–100 score combining backlink profile strength with linking-domain signals.
DA = f(Linking Root Domains × Quality × MozTrust) on 0–100 logarithmic scaleThe operator's read on DA
DA was the dominant domain metric pre-Ahrefs but Ahrefs' DR has overtaken in operator usage. DA still matters for legacy SEO tools and some agency reporting. Track DA only if your tool stack uses it; otherwise prefer DR for consistency. Indian SEO operators in 2026 mostly track DR; DA is residual.
India 2026 benchmarks — DA
- Same patterns as DR — Indian D2C DA: 20–55, B2B SaaS DA: 25–60
- DA correlates ~0.85 with DR for most Indian sites
- DA tends to be 5–10 points lower than DR for the same domain
- DA-30+ minimum for ranking on competitive head terms
- DA-50+ for top-3 rankings on most commercial queries
Common mistakes to avoid
- Tracking both DA and DR redundantly without choosing one.
- Treating DA as updates-frequently — Moz updates monthly.
- Using DA as the only ranking signal.
- Comparing DA across very different niche categories.
Frequently asked questions
What's a typical DA value in India?
India 2026 benchmarks vary by category: Same patterns as DR — Indian D2C DA: 20–55, B2B SaaS DA: 25–60; DA correlates ~0.85 with DR for most Indian sites; DA tends to be 5–10 points lower than DR for the same domain. Bands compress in saturated CPM regimes and widen as products move from impulse to considered. The right benchmark for your business depends on stage, gross margin, and channel mix.
What are the most common mistakes when tracking DA?
Three mistakes recur most often: Tracking both DA and DR redundantly without choosing one.; Treating DA as updates-frequently — Moz updates monthly.; Using DA as the only ranking signal.. The simplest defense is to define each metric explicitly in your reporting playbook and avoid mixing definitions across teams.
How does DA relate to other unit-economics metrics?
DA is most useful in context. Pair it with DR and BACKLINKS to build a complete picture. DA alone can mislead — the relationship between metrics matters more than any single number.
Should I optimize DA or accept industry-standard values?
Optimization depends on your stage. Early-stage businesses often have DA values outside healthy bands and need to fix structural issues (audience, creative, retention) before chasing the metric. Established businesses can compound through marginal improvements. Frameleads' Growth System maps which lever moves which metric in your specific category.
How DA behaves per industry
DA is a universal metric, but its band, drivers, and optimisation levers vary by category. Drill into the industry-specific version below for the deep view.
- DA for Real Estate DevelopersCAC 3,500–35,000 ₹ · CPC 40–280 ₹Open
- DA for D2C BrandsCAC 250–2,200 ₹ · CPC 8–60 ₹Open
- DA for B2B SaaS StartupsCAC 15,000–3,00,000 ₹ · CPC 50–1,200 ₹Open
- DA for Healthcare Clinics & HospitalsCAC 500–15,000 ₹ · CPC 15–250 ₹Open
- DA for Education & EdTechCAC 400–4,500 ₹ · CPC 12–160 ₹Open
- DA for Financial ServicesCAC 1,500–20,000 ₹ · CPC 30–950 ₹Open
- DA for Professional ServicesCAC 800–12,000 ₹ · CPC 20–500 ₹Open
- DA for Restaurants, Cafes & Cloud KitchensCAC 150–2,500 ₹ · CPC 8–120 ₹Open
- DA for Fashion & Apparel D2CCAC 200–1,200 ₹ · CPC 10–55 ₹Open
- DA for Gyms, Studios & Fitness AppsCAC 250–1,800 ₹ · CPC 12–80 ₹Open
- DA for Automotive Dealers & OEMsCAC 600–4,500 ₹ · CPC 18–120 ₹Open
- DA for Manufacturing & MSMEsCAC 3,000–35,000 ₹ · CPC 25–220 ₹Open
Questions about DA
- How to launch a D2C brand in India in 90 days
- How to validate a D2C product before manufacturing
- How to reduce CAC by 30% without lowering ad spend
- How to rank in Google Maps in a tier-2 Indian city
- How to run Ramadan campaigns in UAE and Saudi Arabia
- How to scale Meta ads from ₹3L to ₹30L per month
- How to plan a content calendar for an Indian D2C brand
- How to rank a local business on Google in Mumbai
Long-form guides on related topics
Pair this with
Sources & references
Cited primary and analyst sources. Independent of Frameleads' own data.
- IBEF — India Brand Equity Foundation: Indian Industry Reports — IBEF (Ministry of Commerce & Industry)
Sector-level market size, growth, and policy context for Indian industries.
- IAMAI — Internet & Mobile Association of India — IAMAI
Digital advertising industry body; reports on India internet user base, ad spend, and platform shares.
- MoSPI — Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation — Government of India
Primary source for India macro-economic indicators (CPI, GDP, household consumption).
- ASCI Code for Self-Regulation of Advertising in India — Advertising Standards Council of India
Mandatory baseline for all advertising claims in India — including digital, influencer, and comparative ads.
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