Dofollow vs Nofollow Links: What’s the Difference?

“Dofollow” and “nofollow” are two of the first terms you’ll meet in link building — and one of the most misunderstood. Some people chase only dofollow links and dismiss nofollow ones entirely, which is a mistake. This guide explains the difference clearly, whether nofollow links help your SEO, and why a healthy backlink profile needs both. For the wider picture, see our complete guide to backlinks.

What is a dofollow link?

A dofollow link is a normal, standard link. By default, every link is “dofollow” — it passes ranking signals (link equity) from the linking page to the destination, telling search engines to follow it and count it as a vote of confidence. You don’t add anything special to make a link dofollow; it just is one unless told otherwise. These are the links that most directly help your rankings, which is why they’re what most link building aims for.

What is a nofollow link?

A nofollow link includes a small piece of code — rel="nofollow" — that tells search engines not to pass full ranking credit through it. It was introduced years ago to let sites link to a page without “vouching” for it, originally to fight comment spam. Common places you’ll find nofollow links include blog comments, forum posts, many social media links, and some paid or sponsored placements.

Importantly, Google now treats nofollow as a hint rather than a strict command — it may choose to consider these links for certain purposes — but as a rule, you should assume a nofollow link passes little to no direct ranking value.

Do nofollow links help SEO?

Yes — just not in the direct way dofollow links do. Even without passing full ranking credit, nofollow links are valuable:

• They drive real traffic. A nofollow link on a busy, relevant site still sends visitors who may become customers.
• They build brand awareness. Being mentioned across reputable sites makes your brand more visible and credible.
• They make your profile look natural. Real sites earn a mix of link types — a profile of only dofollow links, especially from paid-looking contexts, looks engineered.
• They can lead to more links. Visibility from a nofollow link often results in others linking to you with dofollow links.

So the common belief that “nofollow links are worthless” is wrong. They play a real role in a healthy strategy.

Related attributes: sponsored and ugc

Google later introduced two more specific link attributes that work like nofollow: rel=”sponsored” for paid or sponsored links, and rel=”ugc” for user-generated content like comments and forum posts. You don’t have to obsess over these as a link builder, but it helps to recognise them — they’re part of how a natural, honest profile is structured. We cover them in sponsored and ugc link attributes.

The right balance for a natural profile

The goal isn’t “all dofollow.” A natural backlink profile contains a realistic mix of dofollow, nofollow, sponsored and ugc links — because that’s what a genuine, popular site accumulates over time. Chasing exclusively dofollow links, particularly from paid placements, actually looks less natural than a varied profile. Focus on relevance and quality first; let the dofollow/nofollow mix fall out naturally from where your links come from. We cover what “quality” means in high-quality backlinks.

How to check if a link is dofollow or nofollow

You can check any link by viewing the page’s source code and looking for rel="nofollow" (or sponsored/ugc) on the link, or by using a free browser extension that highlights nofollow links on a page. Backlink tools like Ahrefs and Semrush also label your links as dofollow or nofollow in their reports.

FAQ

What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow?

A dofollow link passes ranking signals; a nofollow link (rel=”nofollow”) tells search engines not to pass full credit. Links are dofollow by default.

Do nofollow links count for SEO?

Not directly in the way dofollow links do, but they drive traffic, build brand awareness, make your profile look natural, and often lead to more links.

Should all my backlinks be dofollow?

No. A natural profile contains a mix of dofollow and nofollow (plus sponsored and ugc). An all-dofollow profile, especially from paid links, looks engineered.

How do I check if a link is nofollow?

View the page source for rel=”nofollow”, use a browser extension that highlights nofollow links, or check a backlink tool’s report.

In summary

Dofollow links pass ranking value; nofollow links don’t pass full credit but still drive traffic, build brand and keep your profile natural. The smart approach isn’t chasing only dofollow — it’s earning relevant, quality links and letting a healthy mix develop. Read our complete guide to backlinks or get a free plan.