Google PageRank is an algorithm originally developed by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the late 1990s. It was one of the first methods used to rank websites based on the number and quality of links pointing to a page. While PageRank played a significant role in early SEO practices, Google has moved away from openly using or displaying PageRank as a ranking factor in the same way it did before.

Does Google Still Use PageRank?

Google still uses some form of link-based authority, but PageRank as it was originally conceived is no longer a direct or public ranking factor. Here’s why:

  1. PageRank is no longer publicly updated or visible: The last time Google provided PageRank scores publicly was in 2013. Since then, Google stopped updating the public toolbar version of PageRank and no longer makes this information available to the public.
  2. It’s part of a larger ranking algorithm: While PageRank itself is no longer the primary algorithm, Google still uses link authority (the concept of backlinks and their quality) as part of its complex ranking algorithms. Links are still a crucial ranking signal in modern SEO, but Google’s algorithm now considers a wide range of factors beyond PageRank, such as content quality, relevance, user experience, site speed, and mobile optimization.

How to Determine the PageRank or Link Authority of Pages Today?

While you can’t directly access PageRank anymore, several third-party tools and metrics can give you insights into the link authority and potential ranking strength of pages.

  1. Domain Authority (DA) / Page Authority (PA):
    • Tools like Moz use Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) to estimate the strength of a webpage or domain. While these metrics are not the same as PageRank, they serve as proxies to evaluate link-based authority and can help gauge a page’s likelihood of ranking well on Google.
    • You can use Moz’s Link Explorer or the MozBar browser extension to check DA and PA.
  2. Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR):
    • Ahrefs offers the Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR) to assess the link authority of entire domains and specific URLs, respectively. These metrics are based on the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to the page or domain.
    • Ahrefs is known for its extensive backlink database, so it’s a popular tool for link-based analysis.
  3. Semrush Authority Score:
    • Semrush provides an Authority Score, which is similar to Moz’s DA and Ahrefs’ DR. It’s a combined metric that considers the number of backlinks, referring domains, and their quality.
    • This score can give you an understanding of how authoritative a page is in the context of SEO.
  4. Majestic Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF):
    • Majestic SEO offers Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF), which are designed to measure the quality and quantity of backlinks, respectively. TF focuses more on the quality of the backlinks pointing to a page, while CF looks at the quantity of backlinks.
    • Majestic’s metrics are often used to evaluate link profiles for SEO purposes.
  5. Google Search Console:
    • Although Google Search Console (GSC) doesn’t show PageRank, it does give you insights into the number of backlinks and referring domains pointing to your site. This can help you understand the link profile of your pages and monitor which pages are getting the most backlinks.
    • You can see the Top Linked Pages and the domains linking to your site in the Links section of Google Search Console.

Conclusion:

While Google no longer uses or updates the PageRank publicly, the concept of link-based authority still exists within Google’s algorithms. Today, you can use tools like Moz, Ahrefs, Semrush, Majestic, and Google Search Console to assess the link authority and potential ranking strength of a page. These tools provide useful proxies for understanding how links influence rankings and can help inform your SEO strategy.