AltF Backlinks

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
Filtered byNot stated— remove this filterHigh— remove this filterNot submitted— remove this filterClear all

1–7 of 7 opportunities

High impactimpact 82–77

  • Nextool.ai

    nextool.ai

    Submit a specific working AI-powered your tool utility, then claim the approved listing with a domain email to maintain features and pricing.

    Not statedQuickNot submittedAI tools directory
    SubmitNextool.ai (opens in a new tab)

  • DevOps.com

    devops.com

    Submit a 600–1,000 word practitioner article on secure CI/CD, dependency privacy, or local-first developer tooling based on real engineering experience.

    Estimated domain authority DA ~75Sometimes dofollowNot statedInvolvedNot submittedDevOps Publishing
    SubmitDevOps.com (opens in a new tab)

  • InfoWorld Expert Contributor Network

    infoworld.com

    Have a named senior practitioner apply with evidence-backed lessons from building local-first privacy tooling, secure developer utilities, or responsible AI-adjacent systems.

    Estimated domain authority DA ~90Sometimes dofollowNot statedInvolvedNot submittedEnterprise Developer Publishing
    SubmitInfoWorld Expert Contributor Network (opens in a new tab)

  • LWN.net

    lwn.net

    Pitch a timely, deeply researched Linux or open-source security story with primary sources and explain the author's direct expertise before drafting.

    Estimated domain authority DA ~85Sometimes dofollowNot statedInvolvedNot submittedLinux Publishing
    SubmitLWN.net (opens in a new tab)

  • Open Source For You

    opensourceforu.com

    Pitch a vendor-neutral tutorial on building privacy-preserving local web tools or reviewing your genuinely open-source component, then wait for topic and outline approval.

    Estimated domain authority DA ~65Sometimes dofollowNot statedInvolvedNot submittedTechnical Publishing
    SubmitOpen Source For You (opens in a new tab)

  • PenTest Magazine

    pentestmag.com

    Submit a defensive security walkthrough, reproducible tool evaluation, or privacy-testing methodology with an author bio and original examples.

    Estimated domain authority DA ~50Not statedInvolvedNot submittedPentesting Publishing
    SubmitPenTest Magazine (opens in a new tab)

  • Tripwire State of Security

    tripwire.com

    Apply with a named security practitioner, writing sample, biography, and a concrete proposal based on defensible privacy or scam-protection research.

    Estimated domain authority DA ~75Sometimes dofollowNot statedInvolvedNot submittedCybersecurity Publishing
    SubmitTripwire State of Security (opens in a new tab)

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.

  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.

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 view

An 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.