I built a free backlink intelligence skill for AI agents (no Ahrefs subscription needed)

SEO experts often advise checking competitors' backlinks, but accessing such data requires expensive tools like Ahrefs or Semrush. This hinders curiosity and progress for new websites. However, valuable link data is publicly available through Common Crawl, Google Search Console, and Open PageRank. The challenge lies in seamlessly integrating this data into AI agents without costly subscriptions.

To address this gap, a free backlink intelligence skill called backlink-radar has been developed. By adding the skill to an agent's skill directory, users can ask questions such as "Who links to stripe.com? Give me referring domains." The skill also provides a comprehensive 19-check on-page SEO and GEO audit, requiring no API keys.

The skill acknowledges the limitations of free data sources, such as Common Crawl's potential delay and inability to confirm dofollow vs. nofollow links. When users outgrow free resources, the skill offers an upgrade path through DataForSEO, which charges only for actual API calls, avoiding hidden subscription fees.

Alongside the skill, a Backlink Hub has been created, a member directory of websites open to guest posts, resource listings, and niche edits. Users can query the directory via an MCP server integrated into the agent. The free tier allows 20 directory queries per month, with additional credits earned by submitting high-quality sites to the directory or by subscribing for more convenience.

The skill's code enforces strict guardrails, ensuring paid placements include the rel=sponsored attribute, vetting each site before inclusion, and placing the publishing decision in the hands of the respective publishers. The source code for the skill is available on GitHub (Links Repo - MIT license), and a free Backlink Hub API key can be obtained from the provided URL. Feedback, issues, and pull requests are welcome, and collaboration to integrate the tools into other agent frameworks is encouraged.