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 | 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 |
| 2 | 81 | Built In | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | builtin.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Needs checking | Apply to the Built In expert contributor network and pitch a technical or tech-career article grounded in your own experience. | Contributors must be practitioners writing under their own name; editors review every link and remove product promotion. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Built In submit page (new tab)Built In details |
| 3 | 81 | CMSWire | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | cmswire.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Verified live | Apply with founder expertise and pitch an actionable digital-experience, privacy, AI-governance, or trust article. | Requires original, senior-level, non-promotional analysis; acceptance and any contextual AltFTool reference are editorial decisions. | https://www.cmswire.com/about-us/contributor-guidelines/ | Open CMSWire submit page (new tab)CMSWire details |
| 4 | 81 | CSS-Tricks | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | css-tricks.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Verified live | Propose a lived-experience frontend article on accessible tool interfaces, privacy-safe browser APIs, CSS, or performance. | Attach a rough draft or outline and demonstrate real expertise; the article must be useful rather than an AltFTool promotion. | https://css-tricks.com/guest-writing/ | Open CSS-Tricks submit page (new tab)CSS-Tricks details |
| 5 | 81 | LogRocket Blog | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | logrocket.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Needs checking | Apply as a guest author with code samples, then write frontend or mobile tutorials the editors assign or approve. | Tutorials must be original, technically accurate and include working code; links are added only where they help the reader. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open LogRocket Blog submit page (new tab)LogRocket Blog details |
| 6 | 81 | Moz Blog | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | moz.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Needs checking | Read the blog's submission guidelines, then send a detailed pitch for an in-depth SEO tutorial or case study with original data. | Moz accepts only a small number of expert posts; recycled advice and link-driven pitches are declined. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Moz Blog submit page (new tab)Moz Blog details |
| 7 | 81 | Search Engine Journal | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | searchenginejournal.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Needs checking | Apply to become a contributor with writing samples, then pitch practical, data-backed SEO or PPC pieces to the editors. | Editors reject promotional or thin articles and control all outbound links; expect heavy editing and a firm no on self-serving links. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Search Engine Journal submit page (new tab)Search Engine Journal details |
| 8 | 81 | Search Engine Land | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | searchengineland.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Needs checking | Use the contributor link in the site footer to apply, then pitch original search marketing analysis or tactics from your own work. | Contributors must be practitioners, not ghostwriters; vendor pitches and links to your own product are generally not allowed in the body. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Search Engine Land submit page (new tab)Search Engine Land details |
| 9 | 81 | The New Stack | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | thenewstack.io | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Needs checking | Find the contributor guidelines on the site and pitch a vendor-neutral piece on cloud-native, DevOps or developer tooling. | Contributed pieces must teach rather than sell; product mentions and links are limited and decided by editors. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open The New Stack submit page (new tab)The New Stack details |
| 10 | 81 | VentureBeat | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | venturebeat.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | High | Verified live | Pitch original your tool data, an AI/privacy industry argument, or a consequential product launch to the relevant desk. | Follow the contact and guest-post rules; a generic launch email or self-promotional draft will not earn placement. | https://venturebeat.com/contact/ | Open VentureBeat submit page (new tab)VentureBeat details |
| 11 | 77 | InfoWorld Expert Contributor Network | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | infoworld.com | Guest posting sites | Not stated | Involved | High | Not submitted | Have a named senior practitioner apply with evidence-backed lessons from building local-first privacy tooling, secure developer utilities, or responsible AI-adjacent systems. | The network seeks real IT leaders and practitioners, not anonymous brand copy; editorial independence and the publication's ethics policy apply, and admission is reviewed. | 2026-08-03 | Open InfoWorld Expert Contributor Network submit page (new tab)InfoWorld Expert Contributor Network details |
| 12 | 66 | ITNEXT | 60 | Nofollow | itnext.io | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Medium | Needs checking | Request writer access for the publication and submit engineering, cloud or DevOps articles via Medium. | Only original technical content is accepted; links inside Medium posts are typically nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open ITNEXT submit page (new tab)ITNEXT details |
| 13 | 66 | JavaScript in Plain English | 60 | Nofollow | plainenglish.io | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Medium | Needs checking | Apply to become a writer for the In Plain English publications and submit clear programming tutorials. | Posts are reviewed for quality and must be tutorials or experience pieces, not ads; most links are nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open JavaScript in Plain English submit page (new tab)JavaScript in Plain English details |
| 14 | 66 | Product Coalition | 55 | Nofollow | productcoalition.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Medium | Needs checking | Join the community and submit product management articles to the publication on Medium. | Stories must share real product lessons; sales content is declined and links are generally nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Product Coalition submit page (new tab)Product Coalition details |
| 15 | 63 | Baeldung | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | baeldung.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Apply to write for the site, then pick topics from their list and write focused Java, Spring or Kotlin tutorials. | Articles follow a strict style guide and code review; external links are kept to documentation and references. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Baeldung submit page (new tab)Baeldung details |
| 16 | 63 | Business.com | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | business.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Apply to the contributor program from the site and pitch practical advice for small and midsize business owners. | Editors vet expertise and remove promotional links; contributors cannot sell or trade link placements. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Business.com submit page (new tab)Business.com details |
| 17 | 63 | CIO | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | cio.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Apply to the publication's expert contributor network if you are a senior IT practitioner and propose a regular column topic. | Acceptance is selective and vendor employees face strict rules; promotional content is not published. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open CIO submit page (new tab)CIO details |
| 18 | 63 | Content Marketing Institute | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | contentmarketinginstitute.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Find the blog contribution guidelines on the site and pitch an actionable content strategy article backed by your experience. | Posts must be original and non-promotional; editors decide whether any outbound links stay. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Content Marketing Institute submit page (new tab)Content Marketing Institute details |
| 19 | 63 | KDnuggets | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | kdnuggets.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Follow the submission page instructions and send an original data science, machine learning or AI tutorial. | Posts must be technical and original; reposts and marketing pieces are declined. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open KDnuggets submit page (new tab)KDnuggets details |
| 20 | 63 | MarketingProfs | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | marketingprofs.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Look for the article submission guidelines and send a finished draft on a practical B2B or digital marketing topic. | Content must be original to MarketingProfs and educational; your link goes in a short author bio. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open MarketingProfs submit page (new tab)MarketingProfs details |
| 21 | 63 | MarTech | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | martech.org | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Apply through the contributor program (shared with Search Engine Land) and pitch an article on marketing operations, data or tooling. | Pieces must be vendor-neutral and educational; your link usually lives in the author bio, not the article. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open MarTech submit page (new tab)MarTech details |
| 22 | 63 | Nordic APIs | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | nordicapis.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Pitch an article on API design, security or strategy; the team also works with paid freelance writers. | Content must be vendor-neutral and educational; promotional pieces are not published. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Nordic APIs submit page (new tab)Nordic APIs details |
| 23 | 63 | SD Times | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | sdtimes.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Contact the editors with a pitch for a guest view on software development practices or industry trends. | Guest columns must be opinion or insight, not marketing; links are generally limited to the author bio. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open SD Times submit page (new tab)SD Times details |
| 24 | 63 | Serpstat Blog | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | serpstat.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Look for the guest posting guidelines on the blog and pitch an SEO or PPC topic with real examples. | Articles must be original and expert-level; links to competitors or low-quality sites are removed. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Serpstat Blog submit page (new tab)Serpstat Blog details |
| 25 | 63 | Small Business Trends | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | smallbiztrends.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Read the contributor guidelines linked from the site and pitch an original how-to for small business owners. | Articles must be exclusive and helpful to small businesses; promotional copy or paid-link offers are rejected. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Small Business Trends submit page (new tab)Small Business Trends details |
| 26 | 63 | Social Media Examiner | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | socialmediaexaminer.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Review the writer guidelines and pitch a detailed, step-by-step social media tactic you have actually used. | Articles need screenshots and real examples; self-promotion and generic overviews are not accepted. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Social Media Examiner submit page (new tab)Social Media Examiner details |
| 27 | 63 | Towards Data Science | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | towardsdatascience.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Read the writer guidelines on the site and submit a well-researched data science or ML article with code or results. | Editors review every submission for originality and depth; overt self-promotion and affiliate links are not accepted. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Towards Data Science submit page (new tab)Towards Data Science details |
| 28 | 63 | UX Collective | 70 | Nofollow | uxdesign.cc | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Publish your design article on Medium, then submit it to the publication following their submission instructions. | Editors pick only thoughtful, original design writing; links in Medium-hosted posts are typically nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open UX Collective submit page (new tab)UX Collective details |
| 29 | 60 | Real Python | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | realpython.com | Guest posting sites | Free + paid tier | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Pitch an original Python privacy, document-safety, or local-processing tutorial based on real your tool engineering lessons. | Requires strong Python expertise, a paid pilot, substantial original work, and serious commitment; the article cannot be a product pitch. | Official Real Python contributor guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open Real Python submit page (new tab)Real Python details |
| 30 | 53 | SitePoint | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | sitepoint.com | Guest posting sites | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Submit a deep technical tutorial showing a generalizable web, security, or privacy technique used while building your tool. | Must be original and educational, not promotional; current rules require human-authored work with less than 50% AI involvement. | https://www.sitepoint.com/write-for-us/ | Open SitePoint submit page (new tab)SitePoint details |
| 31 | 46 | Bits and Pieces | 60 | Nofollow | bitsrc.io | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Ask to join as a writer and submit frontend architecture, JavaScript or component-design articles. | Editors accept only original technical posts; links are usually nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Bits and Pieces submit page (new tab)Bits and Pieces details |
| 32 | 46 | CustomerThink | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | customerthink.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Register and apply to become an author, then publish articles on customer experience, CRM or service. | Posts are moderated and must offer insight rather than promote a vendor. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open CustomerThink submit page (new tab)CustomerThink details |
| 33 | 46 | Datafloq | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | datafloq.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Create an account and submit an article on big data, AI or emerging technology for editorial review. | Articles are moderated for quality and must not be thinly veiled product promotion. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Datafloq submit page (new tab)Datafloq details |
| 34 | 46 | Entrepreneur's Handbook | 60 | Nofollow | entrepreneurshandbook.co | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Apply to write for the publication and submit startup or founder lessons through Medium. | Editors pick experience-based stories and reject promotional posts; links are usually nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Entrepreneur's Handbook submit page (new tab)Entrepreneur's Handbook details |
| 35 | 46 | Java Code Geeks | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | javacodegeeks.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Join the partner program to syndicate your existing Java or software development posts, or submit original articles. | Only technical developer content is accepted and your original post must be on your own blog. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Java Code Geeks submit page (new tab)Java Code Geeks details |
| 36 | 46 | Ministry of Testing | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | ministryoftesting.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Create a community account and submit an article or short insight on software testing for review. | Content must help testers and avoid product pitches; your link goes in your profile. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Ministry of Testing submit page (new tab)Ministry of Testing details |
| 37 | 46 | ProAndroidDev | 55 | Nofollow | proandroiddev.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Ask to become a writer and submit Android or Kotlin articles through Medium. | Articles must be technical and original; links are usually nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open ProAndroidDev submit page (new tab)ProAndroidDev details |
| 38 | 46 | Stackademic | 50 | Nofollow | stackademic.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Apply to write for the publication and submit programming tutorials or developer stories through Medium. | Low-effort or AI-spun posts are rejected; links are usually nofollow. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Stackademic submit page (new tab)Stackademic details |
| 39 | 46 | UX Planet | 65 | Nofollow | uxplanet.org | Guest posting sites | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Request to become a writer for the publication, then submit your UX or UI design articles through Medium. | Stories must be original and focused on design practice; spammy or sales-heavy posts are removed. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open UX Planet submit page (new tab)UX Planet details |
| 40 | 43 | CSO Online | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | csoonline.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | If you have real security leadership experience, apply to the expert contributor network and propose recurring topics. | Contributors must be independent experts; product pitches and marketing links are not allowed. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open CSO Online submit page (new tab)CSO Online details |
| 41 | 43 | Dataversity | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | dataversity.net | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Find the contributor guidelines and pitch an educational article on data management, governance or analytics. | Articles must be vendor-neutral and original; links are limited to supporting references and the author bio. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Dataversity submit page (new tab)Dataversity details |
| 42 | 43 | EdSurge | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | edsurge.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Pitch a first-person essay for the Voices section if you work in or build tools for education. | Vendors may not pitch their own products, and editors decide on any links. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open EdSurge submit page (new tab)EdSurge details |
| 43 | 43 | GeekWire | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | geekwire.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Pitch a guest commentary on technology, startups or the Pacific Northwest tech scene to the editors. | Commentaries must be opinion pieces under your own name, not product announcements; links are editor-controlled. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open GeekWire submit page (new tab)GeekWire details |
| 44 | 43 | Hakin9 | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | hakin9.org | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Contact the editors with a proposal for a technical security article or tutorial for the magazine or blog. | Deeply technical, original content is expected; marketing pieces are declined. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Hakin9 submit page (new tab)Hakin9 details |
| 45 | 43 | Harvard Business Review | 95 | Sometimes dofollow | hbr.org | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Read the guidelines for authors and submit a short pitch with a clear, evidence-backed management idea. | Acceptance is very selective and links are rare; most value comes from authority rather than the link itself. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Harvard Business Review submit page (new tab)Harvard Business Review details |
| 46 | 43 | IoT For All | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | iotforall.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Use the contribute page to pitch an educational article on IoT technology, deployment or business use. | Content must be vendor-neutral; product promotion and keyword-stuffed links are removed. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open IoT For All submit page (new tab)IoT For All details |
| 47 | 43 | Jeff Bullas | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | jeffbullas.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Use the site's guest submission page to send a complete, original article on digital marketing, blogging or online business. | Submissions are reviewed for quality and originality; heavy keyword linking or sales pitches are removed. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Jeff Bullas submit page (new tab)Jeff Bullas details |
| 48 | 43 | MSSQLTips | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | mssqltips.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Apply to become an author and write practical SQL Server or Azure data tips in their standard format. | Tips follow a set template and are reviewed for accuracy; your link appears in the author profile. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open MSSQLTips submit page (new tab)MSSQLTips details |
| 49 | 43 | Network World | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | networkworld.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Apply to the expert contributor network with your background in networking or infrastructure and a list of article ideas. | Vendor-neutral writing is required and editors control links. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Network World submit page (new tab)Network World details |
| 50 | 43 | php[architect] | 50 | Sometimes dofollow | phparch.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Send an article proposal on a PHP topic you know well; accepted authors write for the monthly magazine. | Articles are technically edited and go into the magazine, so web links are limited to the author bio. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open php[architect] submit page (new tab)php[architect] details |
| 51 | 43 | Simple Talk | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | red-gate.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Contact the editors with an article proposal on SQL Server, databases, DevOps or .NET development. | Articles are technically reviewed and must be original; promotional content is not accepted. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Simple Talk submit page (new tab)Simple Talk details |
| 52 | 43 | SQLServerCentral | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | sqlservercentral.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Register and submit a technical article on SQL Server or data platform work for editorial review. | Articles must be original and technical; you can link to your own blog in your profile. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open SQLServerCentral submit page (new tab)SQLServerCentral details |
| 53 | 43 | StickyMinds | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | stickyminds.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Submit an article proposal on testing, QA or agile delivery to the editors through the site. | Articles must share practical experience and avoid vendor promotion. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open StickyMinds submit page (new tab)StickyMinds details |
| 54 | 43 | UXmatters | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | uxmatters.com | Guest posting sites | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Contact the editors with a proposal for an in-depth UX article or column based on your professional experience. | Articles are edited for depth and must not promote products; your link goes in the author bio. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open UXmatters submit page (new tab)UXmatters 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.