A maintained list of 1,854 legitimate backlink sites: directories, profile creation sites, guest posting sites, launch platforms, registries and marketplaces. 1,532 are free or have a free tier, 44 usually give a dofollow link, and 772 have an estimated DA of 70 or more. Every row shows authority, link type, cost and effort, and links straight to the submit page.
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 | 88 | FOSS United Grants | 45 | Link type unknown | fossunited.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Propose a genuinely open-source, privacy-preserving your tool component with a public roadmap, Indian community benefit, budget, milestones, and maintenance plan. | Funding is for FOSS creators, maintainers, projects, and communities in India; a closed-source commercial site or a marketing-only proposal is not eligible. | 2026-08-03 | Open FOSS United Grants submit page (new tab)FOSS United Grants details |
| 2 | 76 | C2PA | 55 | Link type unknown | c2pa.org | Publishing platforms | Paid | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Apply through the official Linux Foundation enrollment if your tool will genuinely implement or contribute to C2PA standards. | Strong technical fit and participation are required; acceptance and roster visibility are not a self-serve directory shortcut. | 2026-08-04 | Open C2PA submit page (new tab)C2PA details |
| 3 | 76 | ESC India | 40 | Link type unknown | escindia.in | Profiles and entities | Paid | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Apply as an eligible Indian software or ITeS exporter with company, GST, IEC/DGFT and RCMC evidence as requested. | Exporter eligibility and documentation apply; official member pages exist but an external website link is not guaranteed. | 2026-08-04 | Open ESC India submit page (new tab)ESC India details |
| 4 | 76 | Global Cyber Alliance | 60 | Link type unknown | globalcyberalliance.org | Profiles and entities | Paid | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Propose a concrete funded or in-kind your tool anti-scam, privacy or cyber-safety collaboration through Become a Partner. | A formal agreement and real contribution are required; partner-page publication is not self-serve or guaranteed. | 2026-08-04 | Open Global Cyber Alliance submit page (new tab)Global Cyber Alliance details |
| 5 | 74 | Apple App Store | 100 | Nofollow | developer.apple.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Ship a real your tool iOS or macOS app and add the product, support and privacy URLs in App Store Connect. | Requires Apple Developer membership, native app functionality, privacy disclosures and successful App Review. | https://developer.apple.com/app-store/submitting/ | Open Apple App Store submit page (new tab)Apple App Store details |
| 6 | 74 | Google Play | 100 | Nofollow | play.google.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Publish a genuine your tool Android app and use the website, support and privacy-policy fields for official links. | Developer verification, testing requirements, privacy/data-safety disclosures and Play policy compliance are required. | https://play.google.com/console/about/ | Open Google Play submit page (new tab)Google Play details |
| 7 | 74 | IAAP | 45 | Link type unknown | accessibilityassociation.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Enroll an eligible your tool entity as a small-organization Associate Corporate member and opt into the directory. | Approval and membership terms apply; strong fit requires genuine accessibility practice and participation. | 2026-08-04 | Open IAAP submit page (new tab)IAAP details |
| 8 | 74 | IDSA | 50 | Link type unknown | idsalliance.org | Profiles and entities | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Choose an appropriate corporate, partner or vendor tier and apply with your tool genuine identity-security work. | Identity/security relevance and approval required; the official benefit includes an IDSA website listing. | 2026-08-04 | Open IDSA submit page (new tab)IDSA details |
| 9 | 74 | Kantara Initiative | 55 | Link type unknown | kantarainitiative.org | Profiles and entities | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Use the organization signup path and participate in relevant identity, privacy or assurance working groups. | Community and standards participation are expected; membership should not be purchased solely for a backlink. | 2026-08-04 | Open Kantara Initiative submit page (new tab)Kantara Initiative details |
| 10 | 74 | MyData Global | 45 | Link type unknown | mydata.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Join as an eligible small business and opt in to publication of your tool organization name and profile. | Strong fit only if AltFTool commits to human-centric data-rights principles; not for backlink-only membership. | 2026-08-04 | Open MyData Global submit page (new tab)MyData Global details |
| 11 | 74 | Open Source Collective | 40 | Link type unknown | oscollective.org | Profiles and entities | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Apply for fiscal hosting only for a legitimate open-source your tool project or community with active development, public impact, and preferably two project administrators. | OSC reviews legitimacy, open-source alignment, and its hosting terms. It does not host an individual spanning unrelated projects; project finances become transparent and formal agreements require host approval. | 2026-08-03 | Open Open Source Collective submit page (new tab)Open Source Collective details |
| 12 | 74 | OpenID Foundation | 80 | Link type unknown | openid.net | Profiles and entities | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Join as a small organization if your tool genuinely implements or contributes to OpenID, OAuth or related identity standards. | Standards participation and truthful brand use are expected; company name/logo visibility should not be the sole reason to join. | 2026-08-04 | Open OpenID Foundation submit page (new tab)OpenID Foundation details |
| 13 | 74 | OWASP Foundation Projects | 85 | Link type unknown | owasp.org | Software directories | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Offer a standalone, vendor-neutral security tool or documentation project with open governance and a committed leader, then submit the official new-project request. | OWASP projects must be genuinely open source and maintained as community projects; approval is required, official source hosting is mandated, and the project page must be created within the stated onboarding period. Do not submit a branded sales funnel. | 2026-08-03 | Open OWASP Foundation Projects submit page (new tab)OWASP Foundation Projects details |
| 14 | 74 | PitchGround | 55 | Link type unknown | pitchground.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | High | Live, conditional | Create the product in PitchGround's vendor dashboard and prepare a tested redemption, onboarding, documentation, and support flow. | A functional SaaS and sustainable offer are required; review the 60-day refund maturation, payout threshold, support, and testing rules first. | 2026-08-03 | Open PitchGround submit page (new tab)PitchGround details |
| 15 | 71 | PodcastGuests.com | 45 | Link type unknown | podcastguests.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Involved | High | Live, conditional | Create a genuine founder expert profile with your tool website, topics, bio, and real media appearances so relevant hosts can invite you. | Profile must represent a real expert; no fake appearances or mass pitching. Basic allows one website link. | 2026-08-05 | Open PodcastGuests.com submit page (new tab)PodcastGuests.com details |
| 16 | 58 | Cybersecurity Tech Accord | 55 | Link type unknown | cybertechaccord.org | Profiles and entities | Paid | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | After publishing a mature security policy and VDP, contact the Secretariat to apply as a signatory to all four principles. | Acceptance is discretionary and requires genuine defensive-security, capacity-building and collective-action commitments; never treat it as a badge shortcut. | 2026-08-05 official commitments, signatory and contact pages | Open Cybersecurity Tech Accord submit page (new tab)Cybersecurity Tech Accord details |
| 17 | 58 | DoMore.ai | — | Link type unknown | domore.ai | AI tool directories | Paid | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | Submit a working AI feature with accurate categorization, pricing, description, and screenshots for quality review. | Only genuine AI tools that meet quality standards should be submitted; paid placement does not guarantee users or rankings. | 2026-08-03 | Open DoMore.ai submit page (new tab)DoMore.ai details |
| 18 | 58 | Homey App Store | 60 | Link type unknown | homey.app | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | Build a Homey app only if your tool adds a genuine IoT privacy or local-device workflow; package, test, validate, and submit it for certification. | Requires a working app, compliant manifest, support information, testing, validation, and Athom certification before public release. | Official Homey App Store publishing documentation checked 2026-08-07 | Open Homey App Store submit page (new tab)Homey App Store details |
| 19 | 58 | SourceHut | 60 | Link type unknown | sr.ht | Developer registries | Paid | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | Host a maintained your tool open-source component with complete README, homepage/source metadata, releases and optional pages.sr.ht docs. | Use for a genuine maintained FOSS project, not an empty promotional mirror; SourceHut actively fights abuse. | 2026-08-04 | Open SourceHut submit page (new tab)SourceHut details |
| 20 | 58 | TopTools | — | Link type unknown | toptools.ai | AI tool directories | Paid | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | Submit only a specific your tool AI tool with the official site and contact email, not the platform as a generic tools directory. | The directory explicitly rejects AI newsletters and directories; AltFTool is eligible only if the submission represents a real standalone AI capability. | 2026-08-03 | Open TopTools submit page (new tab)TopTools details |
| 21 | 56 | Apple App Store | 100 | Nofollow | apple.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Build a useful your tool iOS or macOS app and submit complete support, privacy, accessibility and marketing metadata through App Store Connect. | Requires legal enrollment, current SDK, working app, privacy disclosures and App Review approval; listing is not for a web-wrapper backlink. | 2026-08-05 official Apple Developer Program and App Store submission pages | Open Apple App Store submit page (new tab)Apple App Store details |
| 22 | 56 | Contentful Marketplace | 85 | Link type unknown | contentful.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Build a production Contentful app for your tool privacy or content checks and apply through the Marketplace submission flow. | Interest and eligibility screening precedes phased review; a functional app, support, privacy, terms, and documentation are required. | Official Contentful Marketplace app submission guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open Contentful Marketplace submit page (new tab)Contentful Marketplace details |
| 23 | 56 | Dunked | 50 | Link type unknown | dunked.com | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Create a portfolio for genuine your tool product/design work and use each project's external URL field for the matching live page. | Only showcase work actually produced; complete project descriptions and avoid duplicate promotional pages. | 2026-08-04 | Open Dunked submit page (new tab)Dunked details |
| 24 | 56 | Lemon Squeezy | 70 | Nofollow | lemonsqueezy.com | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Create a legitimate free or paid your tool resource or software product and publish it on a branded hosted storefront. | Store activation requires identity and business review; never create a dummy product only for a link. | 2026-08-05 | Open Lemon Squeezy submit page (new tab)Lemon Squeezy details |
| 25 | 56 | Open Technology Fund | 65 | Link type unknown | opentech.fund | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Apply only with a validated open-source privacy or anti-surveillance project that directly helps users facing repressive censorship or surveillance. | OTF requires concrete internet-freedom impact and identifiable beneficiary communities in repressive environments; a generic privacy-tool catalogue or claim that it helps everyone will not qualify. | 2026-08-03 | Open Open Technology Fund submit page (new tab)Open Technology Fund details |
| 26 | 56 | OpenSSF | 70 | Link type unknown | openssf.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Apply as a General Member only if your tool will meaningfully contribute engineering or resources to open-source security. | Not worthwhile for a backlink alone; free Associate tier is restricted to qualifying nonprofits, academia or government. | 2026-08-04 | Open OpenSSF submit page (new tab)OpenSSF details |
| 27 | 56 | PWAStore | 25 | Link type unknown | pwastore.io | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Submit the production PWA URL only after its manifest, service worker, installability, icons, and offline flow pass validation. | The automated PWA check must recognize the app; eligibility depends on genuine PWA behavior rather than a normal responsive website. | 2026-08-03 | Open PWAStore submit page (new tab)PWAStore details |
| 28 | 56 | Samsung Galaxy Store | 95 | Nofollow | samsung.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | Medium | Live, conditional | Publish a genuine your tool Android app with accurate support/privacy URLs, data-safety declarations, assets and compatible binary. | Samsung account, Seller Portal registration, commercial seller status and review are required even for distribution; metadata must match actual data handling. | 2026-08-05 official Samsung Galaxy Store developer guides | Open Samsung Galaxy Store submit page (new tab)Samsung Galaxy Store details |
| 29 | 53 | AI Tools Explorer | 25 | Link type unknown | aitoolsexplorer.com | AI tool directories | Paid | Involved | Medium | Live, conditional | Submit a specific AI-powered product with a functional site, clear pricing, precise name, original description, and suitable images. | SFW, functional, clearly priced AI products only; human review applies, links are nofollow, and rejected refunds may exclude Stripe fees. | 2026-08-03 | Open AI Tools Explorer submit page (new tab)AI Tools Explorer details |
| 30 | 53 | AIPure | 40 | Link type unknown | aipure.ai | Launch platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Live, conditional | Submit a specific, working AI-powered your tool experience with honest copy, pricing, images, and a direct product URL. | Must be a genuine AI product and pass editorial review; illegal, fraudulent, malicious, sexual, or violent content is rejected, and traffic is not guaranteed. | 2026-08-03 | Open AIPure submit page (new tab)AIPure details |
| 31 | 53 | MatchMaker.fm | 40 | Link type unknown | matchmaker.fm | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Involved | Medium | Live, conditional | Build a truthful founder or your tool show profile, link relevant credentials, and book privacy, security or accessibility interviews. | Use real expertise and personalized pitches; social links and accolades must be accurate. | 2026-08-05 | Open MatchMaker.fm submit page (new tab)MatchMaker.fm details |
| 32 | 38 | Accessibility.com Vendor Directory | 50 | Link type unknown | accessibility.com | Profiles and entities | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Email the directory team to request an your tool profile for its genuine accessibility tools. | Only pursue with a clear accessibility product offering; ask for current pricing and terms first. | 2026-08-03 | Open Accessibility.com Vendor Directory submit page (new tab)Accessibility.com Vendor Directory details |
| 33 | 38 | Cloud Security Alliance | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | cloudsecurityalliance.org | Startup directories | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Consider only after your tool becomes a substantive cloud or AI security vendor and can participate in CSA programs. | Commercial membership, not a backlink purchase; directory placement does not equal certification or product endorsement. | 2026-08-05 official Startup Membership Agreement | Open Cloud Security Alliance submit page (new tab)Cloud Security Alliance details |
| 34 | 38 | EOSC Marketplace | 50 | Link type unknown | marketplace.eosc-portal.eu | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Onboard only when your tool is a mature, live and independently valuable service for the European research community, under a legal or hosting entity. | Provider must control delivery; service should meet EOSC relevance and maturity criteria, generally TRL 7+, and pass profile validation. | 2026-08-05 official EOSC Provider Portal inclusion criteria and marketplace | Open EOSC Marketplace submit page (new tab)EOSC Marketplace details |
| 35 | 38 | FIDO Alliance Certified Products | 75 | Link type unknown | fidoalliance.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Only if your tool builds a real commercial FIDO2 or passkey server, complete conformance and interoperability testing and submit it. | Requires a commercial implementation and complete evidence; product certification is protocol-specific and higher assurance programs cost more. | 2026-08-05 official FIDO functional certification and fees | Open FIDO Alliance Certified Products submit page (new tab)FIDO Alliance Certified Products details |
| 36 | 38 | IAPP | 80 | Link type unknown | iapp.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Consider organizational membership if your tool actively participates in privacy or AI governance; complete the member directory profile. | Genuine membership and industry participation only; not a low-cost SEO listing. | 2026-08-04 | Open IAPP submit page (new tab)IAPP details |
| 37 | 38 | OpenID Certified Implementations | 80 | Link type unknown | openid.net | Profiles and entities | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | If your tool ships an OpenID Provider or Relying Party, pass the suite, publish evidence, sign the declaration and submit the implementation. | Applicant must own or operate the implementation; separate fees apply and self-certification is not an independent security audit. | 2026-08-05 official OpenID certification guide, fees and implementation directory | Open OpenID Certified Implementations submit page (new tab)OpenID Certified Implementations details |
| 38 | 36 | Dryad | 80 | Link type unknown | datadryad.org | Developer registries | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Submit data underlying a legitimate your tool-related research paper and include related software/project identifiers. | Research-data scope only; curation, publication linkage, licensing and possible data-publishing charges apply. | https://datadryad.org/help/guides/submission | Open Dryad submit page (new tab)Dryad details |
| 39 | 36 | Fabrik | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | fabrik.io | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Publish real your tool film, design, illustration or product case studies and connect them to the appropriate project pages. | Strong creative-work fit only; no credit card for trial, but a lasting public portfolio requires a paid plan. | 2026-08-04 | Open Fabrik submit page (new tab)Fabrik details |
| 40 | 36 | Krop | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | krop.com | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Build a real founder or your tool creative portfolio and link relevant case studies to the corresponding live tools. | Designed for creative professionals; paid ongoing hosting and authentic portfolio work are required. | 2026-08-04 | Open Krop submit page (new tab)Krop details |
| 41 | 36 | Stan Store | 70 | Nofollow | stan.store | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Use only if your tool has a genuine creator offer, guide or service; complete the storefront and connect relevant site pages. | Paid commercial fit required; do not open an empty store solely for a backlink. | 2026-08-04 | Open Stan Store submit page (new tab)Stan Store details |
Four steps that work for a new site, a SaaS or a side project. No paid link packages, nothing that risks a penalty.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.