Now that the service for checking page backlinks, including secondary pages, has just ended at http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/

What is the next best free alternative?

Is Yahoo providing this somewhere else now as I see they've merged with Bling?

try reading this Yahoo Site Explorer alternatives (http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2126582/Yahoo-Site-Explorer-Shuts-Down-Today-What-Alternatives-Are-There)

- Looks like tough going. Thanks for the link,

anyone who knows of any real sites that fill some of the YSE loss list them here

no spam

I would definitely add Open Site Explorer and Majestic SEO to the list.

yes they are good

Theres also ahrefs - but no experience with them. Only toying with it.

Someone needs to drop the price on this!

I think this loss of Yahoo alternative might bring about a change for many sites. A lot of people simply can't afford, or won't spend 50 or 100 a month on this. Might make some of those backlink-builder packagess more attractive though - the ones that verify who is keeping their links to you, while seeking inbound candidates - for those that were using Y for this. There is an increase in the chance of sites taking advantage of this - becoming more apt to drop their links to you, relying on less chance of discovery.

This has been an important development.

- Does Bing webmaster tools now or plan to offer, competitor backlink checking? Anyone know?

bing is not offering competitor info just your own sites

I sometimes use backlinkwatch dot com

Christoph Cemper is giving something close with just limited numbers but enough to be interesting and helpful

and can get for free with a tweet http://www.linkresearchtools.com/lp/free-quick-account/