Domain Authority vs Page Authority: What Is DA & PA in SEO? (Simple Moz Metrics Guide)
If you are learning SEO, you have surely heard terms like DA, PA, domain authority, and page authority. Many beginners think higher DA means higher Google ranking, but that is not fully true.
In this blog, you will clearly understand what is DA and PA in SEO, how Moz calculates these metrics, and how to use them correctly. We will also explain page authority vs domain authority in very simple words so you don’t get confused again.
What Is Domain Authority (DA)?
Domain Authority (DA) is a score created by Moz that predicts how strong a website’s domain is compared to others. In simple words, DA tells you how likely a website is to rank on search engines when compared with competitors.
Key Points About DA:
DA score ranges from 1 to 100
Higher DA means stronger website authority
New websites usually start with low DA
DA is calculated at domain level, not page level
One thing to note: DA is a Moz metric, not a Google metric.
What Is Page Authority (PA)?
Page Authority (PA) measures the ranking strength of a single page, not the entire website. In simple words, PA tells you how strong a specific page is in search results.
Key Points About PA:
PA score also ranges from 1 to 100
Every page on the same website can have a different PA
Blog posts, landing pages, and service pages each have their own PA
PA depends heavily on page-level backlinks
This is why PA in SEO is very important for ranking individual pages.
Domain Authority vs Page Authority: Key Differences Explained
Long story short: DA measures website strength, PA measures page strength.
How Moz Calculates DA and PA
Moz calculates domain authority and page authority using multiple data signals to predict how strong a website or page is compared to others. These scores are not fixed and can change over time.
Main Factors Include:
Quality of backlinks: Links from trusted and relevant websites carry more value than random or spammy links.
Number of linking domains: Getting links from many different websites is better than getting many links from the same site.
Link relevance: Links from websites related to your niche help more than unrelated links.
Spam score: Websites or pages with spam-like links can see lower DA or PA scores.
Overall link profile strength: Moz looks at how natural and balanced your backlink profile is.
Moz uses machine learning to compare your site with millions of others in its index. This is why your DA or PA score may change even when you don’t make updates to your website, it depends on how other websites grow or lose authority.
Is DA or PA a Google Ranking Factor?
The clear and simple answer is no. Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) are not Google ranking factors. Google does not use Moz metrics or any third-party scores to rank websites or pages in search results.
DA and PA are created by Moz to predict ranking potential, not to control rankings. Google uses its own algorithms, signals, and data to decide which pages appear on top.
However, DA and PA are still useful for SEO work because:
They help compare your website with competitors in the same niche
They show backlink strength and growth trends over time
They help plan and measure link-building strategies
They give a rough idea of website and page authority
So, when we talk about DA page or PA scores, remember that they are SEO indicators, not ranking signals. They support analysis and planning, but real rankings depend on content quality, search intent, and user experience.
Why Domain Authority and Page Authority Are Still Important
Even though domain authority and page authority are not Google ranking factors, they are still helpful for making better SEO decisions. These metrics give you a clear idea of how strong a website or page is compared to others.
DA Helps With:
Comparing websites within the same niche
Understanding how difficult it is to outrank competitors
Checking the overall quality of a site’s backlink profile
PA Helps With:
Measuring the SEO strength of individual blog posts
Checking how powerful landing pages are in search results
Planning internal linking to support weaker pages
Smart SEOs use DA and PA as reference metrics, not final goals. The real focus should always be on quality content and user intent.
How to Check DA and PA of a Website
You can easily check domain authority and seo page authority using official Moz tools. Moz is the creator of DA and PA, so its tools give the most accurate scores.
Method 1: Using Moz Link Explorer
Visit the Moz Link Explorer tool
Enter the website URL or a specific page URL
Click on Analyze
You will see the Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) scores along with backlink data
Method 2: Using MozBar Browser Extension
Install the MozBar extension in Chrome or Firefox
Open any website or webpage
MozBar will show DA and PA directly on the browser
Method 3: Using Moz Pro Account
Moz Pro users get detailed insights, including link history, spam score, and authority trends.
Some other SEO tools show similar scores, but DA and PA are Moz-owned metrics, so Moz tools are the most reliable for checking them.
How to Improve Domain Authority and Page Authority
Improving domain authority vs page authority requires long-term effort.
Best Practices:
Get backlinks from trusted websites
Create useful and original content
Use proper internal linking
Remove spammy backlinks
Improve technical SEO
Publish content regularly
Remember that there is no shortcut to increase DA or PA overnight.
Common Myths About DA and PA
Let’s clear some common confusion:
Myth: Higher DA guarantees Google ranking
Truth: Content and intent matter moreMyth: PA is useless if DA is low
Truth: A strong page can rank even on low-DA sitesMyth: DA increases daily
Truth: DA updates depend on Moz’s index refresh
DA, PA, and Real SEO Success
While domain authority and page authority are useful SEO metrics, real SEO success depends on factors that directly help users. Google rewards pages that provide value, not pages with high third-party scores.
Real SEO success depends on:
Content quality that clearly answers user questions
Search intent match so users find exactly what they are looking for
User experience, including mobile-friendly design and easy navigation
Technical SEO, such as page speed, indexing, and site structure
Backlink relevance from trusted and related websites
Page authority and domain authority only support your analysis. They do not guarantee rankings.
Conclusion
Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) both have their place in SEO, but they serve different purposes.
Use PA when you are optimizing or improving a specific page, such as a blog post or landing page.
Use DA when you want to compare websites and understand competition in your niche.
Most importantly, do not chase scores. Google ranks pages based on useful content, search intent match, and user experience, not Moz metrics.
If your content genuinely helps users and answers their questions clearly, rankings will improve naturally with or without a high DA score.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q1. What is DA and PA in SEO?
Ans. DA and PA are Moz metrics that predict ranking strength of domains and pages.
Q2. What is a good domain authority score?
Ans. There is no perfect score. A good DA is one that is competitive in your niche.
Q3. Is page authority more important than domain authority?
Ans. For ranking a single page, PA is usually more important.
Q4. Does Google use DA or PA?
Ans. No, Google does not use Moz metrics for ranking.
Q5. Can a low DA website rank on Google?
Ans. Yes, if the page content matches search intent and is useful.
