Backlink monitor

Are the links you built still there? Watch individual links and whole backlink profiles.

Backlink monitor: plan and usage

GET/api/v1/backlinks

Scope backlinks:read

The plan, how many links and profiles may be watched, profile refreshes a month included and used, the refreshes your chosen cadences plan for, and how many watched links are live, gone or changed.

Example

curl -s "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks", {
  method: "GET",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "active": true,
    "plan": "Pro",
    "paid_until": "2026-10-31",
    "links": {
      "used": 380,
      "limit": 1000
    },
    "domains": {
      "used": 7,
      "limit": 10
    },
    "refreshes_this_month": {
      "used": 22,
      "limit": 60,
      "planned": 30
    },
    "watched_links": {
      "live": 350,
      "gone": 18,
      "changed": 6,
      "pending": 4,
      "errors": 2
    }
  }
}

Errors: rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

List watched links

GET/api/v1/backlinks/links

Scope backlinks:read

Every link you watch, problems first.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`status`	query	string (one of: live, lost, changed, pending, error, problem)	no	Only links in this state. "problem" means gone or changed.
`host`	query	string	no	Only links from or to this domain (www. ignored).
`search`	query	string	no	Part of an address or an anchor.
`limit`	query	integer	no	Items per page. Default: `50`.
`cursor`	query	string	no	next_cursor of the previous page.

Example

curl -s "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links", {
  method: "GET",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": 4120,
      "source_url": "https://blog.example.com/post/",
      "target_url": "https://mysite.com/page/",
      "status": "live",
      "problem": "",
      "anchor_wanted": "best widgets",
      "anchor_found": "best widgets",
      "rel": "",
      "dofollow": true,
      "http_status": 200,
      "frequency": "weekly",
      "last_checked_at": "2026-09-22T10:00:00Z",
      "last_change_at": null,
      "first_seen_at": "2026-08-01T10:00:00Z",
      "checks": 8,
      "hosted_site_id": null
    }
  ],
  "next_cursor": null,
  "has_more": false
}

Errors: rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

One watched link and its history

GET/api/v1/backlinks/links/{link_id}

Scope backlinks:read

The link and up to 100 of its most recent checks.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`link_id`	path	integer	yes	The watched link id.

Example

curl -s "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id", {
  method: "GET",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "id": 4120,
    "source_url": "https://blog.example.com/post/",
    "target_url": "https://mysite.com/page/",
    "status": "live",
    "problem": "",
    "anchor_wanted": "best widgets",
    "anchor_found": "best widgets",
    "rel": "",
    "dofollow": true,
    "http_status": 200,
    "frequency": "weekly",
    "last_checked_at": "2026-09-22T10:00:00Z",
    "last_change_at": null,
    "first_seen_at": "2026-08-01T10:00:00Z",
    "checks": 8,
    "hosted_site_id": null,
    "history": [
      {
        "checked_at": "2026-09-22T10:00:00Z",
        "status": "live",
        "changed": false,
        "anchor": "best widgets",
        "rel": "",
        "dofollow": true,
        "http_status": 200
      }
    ]
  }
}

Errors: not_found, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

Watch links

POST/api/v1/backlinks/links

Scope backlinks:write

Adds links with the panel's own rules: anything past the plan's link limit is not added (see not_added). Checking a link costs nothing - we fetch the page ourselves.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`links`	body	array	yes	Up to 2,000 objects: {"source_url": "...", "target_url": "...", "anchor": "optional expected anchor text"}.
`frequency`	body	string (one of: daily, weekly, monthly)	no	How often the link is checked. Checking links is included in every plan. Default: `weekly`.

Example

curl -s -X POST "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.post("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

201

{
  "data": {
    "added": [
      {
        "id": 4120,
        "source_url": "https://blog.example.com/post/",
        "target_url": "https://mysite.com/page/",
        "status": "live",
        "problem": "",
        "anchor_wanted": "best widgets",
        "anchor_found": "best widgets",
        "rel": "",
        "dofollow": true,
        "http_status": 200,
        "frequency": "weekly",
        "last_checked_at": "2026-09-22T10:00:00Z",
        "last_change_at": null,
        "first_seen_at": "2026-08-01T10:00:00Z",
        "checks": 8,
        "hosted_site_id": null
      }
    ],
    "already_watched": 0,
    "invalid": [
      {
        "url": "not a url",
        "reason": "..."
      }
    ],
    "not_added": {
      "count": 0,
      "reason": null
    }
  }
}

Errors: payment_required, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized, validation_failed

Change how often a link is checked

PATCH/api/v1/backlinks/links/{link_id}

Scope backlinks:write

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`link_id`	path	integer	yes	The watched link id.
`frequency`	body	string (one of: daily, weekly, monthly)	no	How often the link is checked. Checking links is included in every plan. Default: `weekly`.

Example

curl -s -X PATCH "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.patch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id", {
  method: "PATCH",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "id": 4120,
    "source_url": "https://blog.example.com/post/",
    "target_url": "https://mysite.com/page/",
    "status": "live",
    "problem": "",
    "anchor_wanted": "best widgets",
    "anchor_found": "best widgets",
    "rel": "",
    "dofollow": true,
    "http_status": 200,
    "frequency": "weekly",
    "last_checked_at": "2026-09-22T10:00:00Z",
    "last_change_at": null,
    "first_seen_at": "2026-08-01T10:00:00Z",
    "checks": 8,
    "hosted_site_id": null
  }
}

Errors: not_found, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized, validation_failed

Stop watching a link

DELETE/api/v1/backlinks/links/{link_id}

Scope backlinks:write

Stops watching. Its history is kept and comes back if you add the link again.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`link_id`	path	integer	yes	The watched link id.

Example

curl -s -X DELETE "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.delete("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id", {
  method: "DELETE",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "deleted": true,
    "id": 4120
  }
}

Errors: not_found, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

Check a link now

POST/api/v1/backlinks/links/{link_id}/check

Scope backlinks:write

Fetches the page immediately and re-reads the link. Costs nothing and uses no allowance; at most once every 10 minutes per link.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`link_id`	path	integer	yes	The watched link id.

Example

curl -s -X POST "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id/check" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.post("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id/check", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/links/link_id/check", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "id": 4120,
    "source_url": "https://blog.example.com/post/",
    "target_url": "https://mysite.com/page/",
    "status": "live",
    "problem": "",
    "anchor_wanted": "best widgets",
    "anchor_found": "best widgets",
    "rel": "",
    "dofollow": true,
    "http_status": 200,
    "frequency": "weekly",
    "last_checked_at": "2026-09-22T10:00:00Z",
    "last_change_at": null,
    "first_seen_at": "2026-08-01T10:00:00Z",
    "checks": 8,
    "hosted_site_id": null
  }
}

Errors: not_found, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

List watched backlink profiles

GET/api/v1/backlinks/domains

Scope backlinks:read

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`limit`	query	integer	no	Items per page. Default: `50`.
`cursor`	query	string	no	next_cursor of the previous page.

Example

curl -s "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains", {
  method: "GET",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": 77,
      "domain": "mysite.com",
      "cadence": "weekly",
      "authority": 249,
      "backlinks": 881,
      "referring_domains": 461,
      "dofollow": 820,
      "nofollow": 61,
      "broken": 635,
      "spam_score": 27,
      "new_referring_domains": 4,
      "lost_referring_domains": 1,
      "last_refresh_at": "2026-09-22T03:00:00Z",
      "refreshes": 12
    }
  ],
  "next_cursor": null,
  "has_more": false
}

Errors: rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

One backlink profile

GET/api/v1/backlinks/domains/{domain_id}

Scope backlinks:read

The profile with its top referring domains, anchors, linked pages and monthly history. Reads what is stored - it never spends a refresh.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`domain_id`	path	integer	yes	The watched domain id.
`show`	query	string (one of: live, new, lost)	no	Which referring domains to return. Default: `live`.

Example

curl -s "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id", {
  method: "GET",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "id": 77,
    "domain": "mysite.com",
    "cadence": "weekly",
    "authority": 249,
    "backlinks": 881,
    "referring_domains": [
      {
        "domain": "news.example",
        "authority": 141,
        "backlinks": 4,
        "dofollow": 4,
        "spam_score": 13,
        "state": "live"
      }
    ],
    "dofollow": 820,
    "nofollow": 61,
    "broken": 635,
    "spam_score": 27,
    "new_referring_domains": 4,
    "lost_referring_domains": 1,
    "last_refresh_at": "2026-09-22T03:00:00Z",
    "refreshes": 12,
    "anchors": [
      {
        "anchor": "best widgets",
        "backlinks": 36,
        "referring_domains": 30
      }
    ],
    "top_pages": [
      {
        "url": "https://mysite.com/",
        "backlinks": 400,
        "referring_domains": 210
      }
    ],
    "history": [
      {
        "month": "2026-08",
        "backlinks": 733,
        "referring_domains": 383,
        "new_referring_domains": 57,
        "lost_referring_domains": 6
      }
    ]
  }
}

Errors: not_found, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

Watch a backlink profile

POST/api/v1/backlinks/domains

Scope backlinks:write

Refused when it would pass the plan's domain limit, or when the chosen cadence would plan more refreshes a month than the plan includes.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`domain`	body	string	yes	Any domain.
`cadence`	body	string (one of: weekly, monthly, manual)	no	How often the backlink profile is refreshed. A weekly domain uses about 4.3 refreshes a month, monthly 1; "manual" only when you ask. Default: `weekly`.

Example

curl -s -X POST "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.post("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

201

{
  "data": {
    "id": 77,
    "domain": "mysite.com",
    "cadence": "weekly",
    "authority": 249,
    "backlinks": 881,
    "referring_domains": 461,
    "dofollow": 820,
    "nofollow": 61,
    "broken": 635,
    "spam_score": 27,
    "new_referring_domains": 4,
    "lost_referring_domains": 1,
    "last_refresh_at": "2026-09-22T03:00:00Z",
    "refreshes": 12
  }
}

Errors: payment_required, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized, validation_failed

Stop watching a backlink profile

DELETE/api/v1/backlinks/domains/{domain_id}

Scope backlinks:write

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`domain_id`	path	integer	yes	The watched domain id.

Example

curl -s -X DELETE "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.delete("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id", {
  method: "DELETE",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "deleted": true,
    "id": 77
  }
}

Errors: not_found, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized

Refresh a backlink profile now

POST/api/v1/backlinks/domains/{domain_id}/refresh

Scope backlinks:write

Uses one profile refresh of the monthly allowance, unless a recent shared snapshot of that domain can be reused, in which case it costs nothing. At most once a day per domain.

Parameters

Name	In	Type	Required	Description
`domain_id`	path	integer	yes	The watched domain id.

Example

curl -s -X POST "https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id/refresh" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PBN_API_KEY"

import os
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["PBN_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.post("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id/refresh", headers=headers, timeout=120)
print(r.status_code, r.json())

const res = await fetch("https://app.pbn.ltd/api/v1/backlinks/domains/domain_id/refresh", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.PBN_API_KEY}`}
});
console.log(res.status, await res.json());

Response

200

{
  "data": {
    "id": 77,
    "domain": "mysite.com",
    "cadence": "weekly",
    "authority": 249,
    "backlinks": 881,
    "referring_domains": 461,
    "dofollow": 820,
    "nofollow": 61,
    "broken": 635,
    "spam_score": 27,
    "new_referring_domains": 4,
    "lost_referring_domains": 1,
    "last_refresh_at": "2026-09-22T03:00:00Z",
    "refreshes": 12
  }
}

Errors: not_found, rate_limited, scope_missing, unauthorized, unavailable