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 filters3
High impactimpact 88
- SubmitFOSS United Grants (opens in a new tab)
FOSS United Grants
fossunited.orgPropose a genuinely open-source, privacy-preserving your tool component with a public roadmap, Indian community benefit, budget, milestones, and maintenance plan.
Estimated domain authority DA ~45PaidModerateLive, conditional
Usefulimpact 74
- SubmitCivic Tech Field Guide (opens in a new tab)
Civic Tech Field Guide
civictech.guideSubmit only your tool tools with a clear civic or public-interest use case, using the official project name, URL, one-sentence description, accurate category, and contact email.
Estimated domain authority DA ~40PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitIAAP (opens in a new tab)
IAAP
accessibilityassociation.orgEnroll your eligible entity as a small-organization Associate Corporate member and opt into the directory.
Estimated domain authority DA ~45PaidModerateLive, conditional - SubmitMyData Global (opens in a new tab)
MyData Global
mydata.orgJoin as an eligible small business and opt in to publication of your tool organization name and profile.
Estimated domain authority DA ~45PaidModerateLive, conditional
Long tailimpact 56–36
- SubmitDigital Public Goods Alliance (opens in a new tab)
Digital Public Goods Alliance
digitalpublicgoods.netAfter your tool has a genuinely open-source, well-documented public-interest component, complete the eligibility assessment and nominate that specific component.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitDunked (opens in a new tab)
Dunked
dunked.comCreate a portfolio for genuine your tool product/design work and use each project's external URL field for the matching live page.
Estimated domain authority DA ~50PaidModerateLive, conditional - SubmitFormat (opens in a new tab)
Format
format.comCreate a founder or product-design portfolio with your original case study and add the canonical site as an external menu link.
Estimated domain authority DA ~75Sometimes dofollowPaidModerateNot submitted - SubmitLemon Squeezy (opens in a new tab)
Lemon Squeezy
lemonsqueezy.comCreate a legitimate free or paid your tool resource or software product and publish it on a branded hosted storefront.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70NofollowPaidModerateLive, conditional - SubmitOpen Technology Fund (opens in a new tab)
Open Technology Fund
opentech.fundApply only with a validated open-source privacy or anti-surveillance project that directly helps users facing repressive censorship or surveillance.
Estimated domain authority DA ~65PaidModerateLive, conditional - SubmitOpenSSF (opens in a new tab)
OpenSSF
openssf.orgApply as a General Member only if your tool will meaningfully contribute engineering or resources to open-source security.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70PaidModerateLive, conditional - SubmitPrinciples for Digital Development (opens in a new tab)
Principles for Digital Development
digitalprinciples.orgObtain senior approval, submit the signed endorsement materials, implement the Principles and share a real case study.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitAgentic AI Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Agentic AI Foundation
aaif.ioApply only with a meaningful open agent-security or MCP-governance contribution and an ongoing participation plan.
PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitCiviCERT (opens in a new tab)
CiviCERT
civicert.orgApply only after operating a real civil-society digital-security help desk and meeting network operations and vetting requirements.
Estimated domain authority DA ~40PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitDirectory of Open Access Books (opens in a new tab)
Directory of Open Access Books
doabooks.orgApply only after your tool operates a genuine OA scholarly-book publishing program, then submit peer-reviewed privacy-tech books.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitFabrik (opens in a new tab)
Fabrik
fabrik.ioPublish real your tool film, design, illustration or product case studies and connect them to the appropriate project pages.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55Sometimes dofollowPaidModerateLive, conditional - SubmitKrop (opens in a new tab)
Krop
krop.comBuild a real founder or your tool creative portfolio and link relevant case studies to the corresponding live tools.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55Sometimes dofollowPaidModerateLive, conditional - SubmitLF AI & Data Foundation (opens in a new tab)
LF AI & Data Foundation
lfaidata.foundationJoin only when your tool will fund and actively contribute to open-source AI or data work.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitOASIS Open (opens in a new tab)
OASIS Open
oasis-open.orgJoin only to contribute substantively to relevant security or privacy technical committees and use approved organization metadata.
Estimated domain authority DA ~80PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitOpen Source Initiative (opens in a new tab)
Open Source Initiative
opensource.orgAfter releasing meaningful OSI-licensed code, consider sponsorship only when supporting OSI aligns with your tool strategy.
Estimated domain authority DA ~85PaidModerateVerified live - SubmitStan Store (opens in a new tab)
Stan Store
stan.storeUse only if your tool has a genuine creator offer, guide or service; complete the storefront and connect relevant site pages.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70NofollowPaidModerateLive, conditional
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
One-shot launches where timing and preparation decide the outcome.
Publications that accept contributed articles. Slow and editorial, but the links are earned.
Fast-growing listings specifically for AI-powered tools.
Extension, plugin and integration stores. Real review processes, real distribution.
Startup listings, beta lists and founder media.
General tool and software catalogues with real search traffic.
B2B review sites. Slow to approve, strong once live.
Package, image and docs hosting that carries real authority.
Showcases judged on craft. A good screenshot matters more than copy.
Write once, link back. Editorial standards vary widely.
Get quoted or distribute a release. Slower, higher ceiling.
Company and local listings. Unglamorous, consistently indexed.
Owned pages you control: company, founder, knowledge-panel entities.
Answer real questions. Never drop a bare link.
Brand surface and referral traffic more than link equity.
Everything that does not fit the buckets above.