Free backlink sites list: 1,964 places to get a link
A maintained list of 1,964 legitimate backlink sites: directories, profile creation sites, guest posting sites, launch platforms, registries and marketplaces. 1,628 are free or have a free tier, 44 usually give a dofollow link, and 781 have an estimated DA of 70 or more. Every row shows authority, link type, cost and effort, and links straight to the submit page.
- 1,964
- Opportunities
- 1,628
- Free or freemium
- 781
- Est. DA 70+
- 208
- Quick wins
All filters2
The table is wider than the screen — swipe it sideways for cost, effort and the preparation notes.
| # | Impact (sorted) | Site — sort by this | Est. DA — sort by this | Link | Domain | Type | Cost | Effort — sort by this | Priority | Status | What to prepare | Rules / caveat | Checked | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 97 | Atlassian Marketplace | 90 | Nofollow | atlassian.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Free + paid tier | Quick | Do first | Live, conditional | Build a Forge-based your tool integration for Jira or Confluence, create a Marketplace Partner profile, and submit a compliant public listing. | New submissions must use supported cloud/Forge paths and meet security, privacy, legal, support, and active-maintenance requirements. | https://developer.atlassian.com/platform/marketplace/introduction-to-marketplace/ | Open Atlassian Marketplace submit page (new tab)Atlassian Marketplace details |
| 2 | 97 | Dark Reading | 90 | Nofollow | darkreading.com | Publishing platforms | Free + paid tier | Quick | Do first | Verified live | Submit a sharp founder-authored opinion based on real privacy or security evidence discovered while building your tool. | Exclusive 700–800-word commentary, maximum 1,000 words; it must not be AI-written, promotional, or simultaneously submitted elsewhere. | https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/how-to-submit-a-column-to-dark-reading | Open Dark Reading submit page (new tab)Dark Reading details |
| 3 | 97 | Hugging Face Spaces | 90 | Nofollow | huggingface.co | Profiles and entities | Free + paid tier | Quick | Do first | Verified live | Publish a real your tool privacy, redaction, or local-AI demo Space and add the canonical your tool URL in its README/metadata. | Use a genuine working demo. Public Spaces expose source; protected/private visibility has plan limits. | https://huggingface.co/docs/hub/main/spaces-overview | Open Hugging Face Spaces submit page (new tab)Hugging Face Spaces details |
| 4 | 97 | RapidAPI | 80 | Link type unknown | rapidapi.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Free + paid tier | Quick | Do first | Live, conditional | Publish a real, documented your tool API, complete its Hub listing with accurate website and terms URLs, and optionally offer a free usage tier. | Conditional on a stable production API with correct auth, documentation, monitoring, support, privacy, and functional endpoint tests. | https://docs.rapidapi.com/docs/what-is-rapidapi | Open RapidAPI submit page (new tab)RapidAPI details |
| 5 | 95 | Buttondown | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | buttondown.com | Publishing platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Launch a human-reviewed Privacy & Accessibility Field Notes newsletter with original experiments, implementation lessons, and contextually relevant links to your tool resources. | Build an authentic opt-in audience, publish original issues on a consistent cadence, and do not import scraped or unconsented addresses. Hosted archives are public; advanced analytics, automations, and other add-ons cost extra. | 2026-08-03 | Open Buttondown submit page (new tab)Buttondown details |
| 6 | 95 | Craft Plugin Store | 75 | Link type unknown | craftcms.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Build a maintained Craft CMS plugin for a genuine your tool workflow, publish its code and documentation, then submit a complete store listing. | Requires a public GitHub repository, valid metadata, screenshots and approval; paid plugins are subject to commercial and support rules. | 2026-08-03 | Open Craft Plugin Store submit page (new tab)Craft Plugin Store details |
| 7 | 95 | FeaturedCustomers | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | featuredcustomers.com | Profiles and entities | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Add the company, verify ownership, and supply genuine customer references, case studies, and brand assets. | Designed for B2B software and services; customer references must be genuine and the vendor must pass verification. | 2026-08-03 | Open FeaturedCustomers submit page (new tab)FeaturedCustomers details |
| 8 | 95 | LaunchIgniter | — | Link type unknown | launchigniter.com | Launch platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Not submitted | Launch your tool with a unique tagline, screenshots and founder profile linking to your tool. | Use original launch copy; no vote manipulation; review or queue may apply. Dofollow is reported but recheck after approval. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/launchigniter | Open LaunchIgniter submit page (new tab)LaunchIgniter details |
| 9 | 95 | Open Launch | 35 | Dofollow | open-launch.com | Launch platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Not submitted | Launch your tool with a unique tagline, screenshots and founder profile linking to your tool. | Use original launch copy; no vote manipulation; review or queue may apply. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/open-launch | Open Open Launch submit page (new tab)Open Launch details |
| 10 | 95 | Podbean | 85 | Nofollow | podbean.com | Other opportunities | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Publish a real your tool episode and add contextual links to resources actually discussed in its show notes. | No keyword stuffing or shell podcast; some custom show and episode website fields require Unlimited Audio or higher. | 2026-08-04 | Open Podbean submit page (new tab)Podbean details |
| 11 | 95 | Read the Docs | 90 | Nofollow | readthedocs.org | Developer registries | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Import public your tool developer documentation, add the build config and expose versioned, searchable docs with canonical project links. | Community hosting expects a public repository and genuine documentation; configure canonical URLs to avoid duplicate-content issues. | Official Read the Docs import guide checked 2026-07-30 | Open Read the Docs submit page (new tab)Read the Docs details |
| 12 | 95 | Shopify App Store | 95 | Link type unknown | shopify.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Build a real Shopify-facing your tool utility, complete its public listing, test it on a development store, and submit it for App Store review. | Must integrate with Shopify, have a functional merchant UI, comply with data/privacy rules, and pass technical and listing review. | https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/app-store-review | Open Shopify App Store submit page (new tab)Shopify App Store details |
| 13 | 95 | Startup Fame | — | Link type unknown | startupfa.me | Launch platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Needs checking | Launch your tool with a unique tagline, screenshots and founder profile linking to your tool. | Use original launch copy; no vote manipulation; review or queue may apply. Free path requires a reciprocal badge; skip if you do not want one. Dofollow is reported but recheck after approval. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/startup-fame | Open Startup Fame submit page (new tab)Startup Fame details |
| 14 | 95 | Udemy | 95 | Nofollow | udemy.com | Profiles and entities | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Create a substantial free or paid course on practical browser privacy and accessibility auditing, with real demonstrations, exercises, and an honest your tool company or instructor profile. | The first course must pass identity and quality review and comply with restricted-topic and instructor-profile standards. A published profile can include a website link, but the course cannot be a thin marketing funnel. | 2026-08-03 | Open Udemy submit page (new tab)Udemy details |
| 15 | 95 | Uneed | 40 | Dofollow | uneed.best | Launch platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Not submitted | Submit your tool as useful no-signup online toolbox. | Free queue available; unique description required. | 2026-07-30 | Open Uneed submit page (new tab)Uneed details |
| 16 | 92 | Appvizer | 60 | Link type unknown | appvizer.com | Software directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | Register your tool as a B2B product, choose relevant categories, and complete the vendor profile in English. | The product must fit a B2B software category and is subject to editorial review; paid exposure is separate from the free profile. | 2026-08-03 | Open Appvizer submit page (new tab)Appvizer details |
| 17 | 92 | eLearning Industry | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | elearningindustry.com | Guest posting sites | Free + paid tier | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Submit an original L&D article on teaching practical privacy or accessibility skills, linking only to a genuinely informative your tool guide where it supports the lesson. | Free guest posts may link to informative content but cannot mention or promote the company/product; promotional links belong to sponsored articles. Relevant, original, reader-friendly work is editorially reviewed, HR-only topics are excluded, affiliation should be disclosed, timing/inclusion is not guaranteed, and any author/content link should be treated as editorial/UGC with no followed-link promise. | 2026-08-03 | Open eLearning Industry submit page (new tab)eLearning Industry details |
| 18 | 92 | ShowMeBest.AI | — | Link type unknown | showmebest.ai | Software directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | Submit your tool with homepage URL, privacy-first positioning, logo, screenshots and accurate pricing. | Accurate tool details required; editorial approval controls publication. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/showmebest-ai | Open ShowMeBest.AI submit page (new tab)ShowMeBest.AI details |
How to build backlinks with this list
Four steps that work for a new site, a SaaS or a side project. No paid link packages, nothing that risks a penalty.
Get the basics right first
Before submitting anywhere, have a one-line description, a 150-word description, a square logo and two or three screenshots ready. Every form asks for some mix of these.
Claim profiles and free listings
Start with the free, quick rows: profile creation sites and free directories. They are one form each and build the entity signals search engines use to understand who you are.
Go after a few strong links
Then pick a handful of high DA and dofollow sites that fit your niche, and write proper guest posts or launch posts for them. Ten relevant links beat a hundred random ones.
Track and keep it clean
Note where you submitted and when. Recheck after a month, update stale descriptions, and never pay for bulk link packages: they put the whole site at risk.
Behind the list
A link opportunity is not a link.
Every row here starts as a line in a sheet, gets normalised into one of 16 groups, scored for cost, effort and impact, and written up with the steps to actually submit. The floor below represents that pipeline.
Open the sheet viewAn illustration of the AltF Backlinks floor: opportunities sourced at the back, vetted for cost and effort by the engineering pod, written up for outreach by the design pod, then tracked to placement along a line.
Backlink sites by category
Product launch sites87
One-shot launches where timing and preparation decide the outcome.
Guest posting sites55
Publications that accept contributed articles. Slow and editorial, but the links are earned.
AI tool directories200
Fast-growing listings specifically for AI-powered tools.
App stores and marketplaces273
Extension, plugin and integration stores. Real review processes, real distribution.
Startup directory submission sites120
Startup listings, beta lists and founder media.
Software directory submission sites215
General tool and software catalogues with real search traffic.
Software review sites29
B2B review sites. Slow to approve, strong once live.
Developer platforms for backlinks139
Package, image and docs hosting that carries real authority.
Web design galleries for backlinks87
Showcases judged on craft. A good screenshot matters more than copy.
Web 2.0 and publishing sites214
Write once, link back. Editorial standards vary widely.
PR and press release sites41
Get quoted or distribute a release. Slower, higher ceiling.
Business directory submission sites109
Company and local listings. Unglamorous, consistently indexed.
Profile creation sites163
Owned pages you control: company, founder, knowledge-panel entities.
Forum and community backlink sites61
Answer real questions. Never drop a bare link.
Social bookmarking sites18
Brand surface and referral traffic more than link equity.
More backlink opportunities153
Everything that does not fit the buckets above.
Common questions
Do backlinks still matter for ranking in 2026?
Links remain one signal among many, and low-quality bulk links do more harm than good. What still works is being listed where your buyers actually look — directories with real traffic, registries your peers use, and launch platforms with engaged audiences. Every entry in this list is a place a human might plausibly find you, which is why they are worth submitting to regardless of link equity.
Which submissions should I do first?
Start with the quick wins filter: free, low effort, and not in the lowest priority band. 208 of the 1,964 entries qualify, and those are the ones where a single form submission gets you a live listing the same week. Launch platforms are worth saving until your product is genuinely ready, because you only get one good attempt at each.
How is the impact score calculated?
It starts from a hand-assigned priority band (do first, high, medium, later), then adjusts for cost and effort. A free, quick opportunity scores above a paid, involved one in the same band, because it is the one you can realistically finish today. The score is a queueing aid, not a measure of domain authority.
Are these links free?
1,628 of the 1,964 entries are free to submit to or offer a free tier that includes a listing. Cost is shown on every row, and the "nothing to pay" filter narrows the list to exactly those.
Which backlink sites are dofollow?
44 entries are known to give a followed link on a normal listing, and more give one only in some placements. The link type is shown on every row and can be filtered. Sites change their link policy without notice, so treat the label as a starting point and check the live page after you are listed. A nofollow link from a busy site still sends visitors and helps search engines discover you.
What does the DA number mean?
It is our estimate of the site's domain authority, a third-party style 0-100 score of how strong a domain's link profile is, rounded to the nearest 5. 1,580 of the 1,964 sites have one. It is useful for comparing sites, not a Google metric, so relevance to your niche still matters more.
How do I get backlinks for a new website?
1. Get the basics right first: Before submitting anywhere, have a one-line description, a 150-word description, a square logo and two or three screenshots ready. Every form asks for some mix of these. 2. Claim profiles and free listings: Start with the free, quick rows: profile creation sites and free directories. They are one form each and build the entity signals search engines use to understand who you are. 3. Go after a few strong links: Then pick a handful of high DA and dofollow sites that fit your niche, and write proper guest posts or launch posts for them. Ten relevant links beat a hundred random ones. 4. Track and keep it clean: Note where you submitted and when. Recheck after a month, update stale descriptions, and never pay for bulk link packages: they put the whole site at risk.
Will submitting everywhere hurt my site?
Submitting to spam directories can. That is why this list is curated rather than scraped, and why entries carry a status showing whether they have been verified as live. Skip anything that promises hundreds of links for a fee, and prefer places where a real person reviews submissions.