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 | 100 | AlternativeTo | 80 | Nofollow | alternativeto.net | Startup directories | Free | Quick | Do first | Not submitted | Create account, wait cooldown if new, submit your tool as platform alternative. | Avoid per-tool submissions for calculators/converters; no URLs in description. | 2026-07-30 | Open AlternativeTo submit page (new tab)AlternativeTo details |
| 2 | 100 | SaaSHub | 70 | Dofollow | saashub.com | Startup directories | Free | Quick | Do first | Not submitted | Submit platform, add competitor alternatives, verify domain email. | Add competitors; avoid paid multi-submit page confusion. | 2026-07-30 | Open SaaSHub submit page (new tab)SaaSHub details |
| 3 | 100 | Tracxn | 75 | Nofollow | tracxn.com | Startup directories | Free | Quick | Do first | Not submitted | Submit the company website and concise product, market, founder, funding, and traction details for analyst review. | Analysts decide inclusion and may request documents; provide only verifiable company, funding, team, and traction data. | 2026-08-03 | Open Tracxn submit page (new tab)Tracxn details |
| 4 | 98 | Dealroom | 75 | Nofollow | dealroom.co | Startup directories | Free | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Create or claim your tool, add its verified website, product description, sector, founding details, team, and milestones. | Use a company-domain email and accurate data; profile approval and public visibility depend on Dealroom verification. | https://knowledge.dealroom.co/knowledge/creating-claiming-editing-company-profile | Open Dealroom submit page (new tab)Dealroom details |
| 5 | 98 | e27 | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | e27.co | Startup directories | Free | Moderate | Do first | Not submitted | Create your tool company profile with accurate product, team, media, and website details, then submit it for verification. | Profiles are manually verified; agencies, consulting, non-tech, and pure software-development service companies are prohibited. | 2026-08-03 | Open e27 submit page (new tab)e27 details |
| 6 | 86 | Indie Hackers | 75 | Nofollow | indiehackers.com | Startup directories | Free | Quick | High | Not submitted | Add product and post build-in-public story with honest numbers. | Avoid link-drop; founder story performs better. | 2026-07-30 | Open Indie Hackers submit page (new tab)Indie Hackers details |
| 7 | 86 | Keybase | 75 | Nofollow | keybase.io | Startup directories | Free | Quick | High | Not submitted | Create the founder Keybase profile and cryptographically prove control of your tool so the public identity record links the verified domain. | The founder must control the website or DNS proof and keep account keys secure; this verifies identity rather than acting as a marketing listing. | 2026-08-03 | Open Keybase submit page (new tab)Keybase details |
| 8 | 86 | Startup Grind | 70 | Link type unknown | startupgrind.com | Startup directories | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Join a relevant chapter, complete the founder profile, attend suitable events, and share your tool only in genuine networking context. | Choose a relevant chapter or event and follow organizer rules; member access is not a broadcast or mass-messaging channel. | Official Startup Grind chapter community path checked 2026-08-07 | Open Startup Grind submit page (new tab)Startup Grind details |
| 9 | 86 | UN SDG Actions Platform | 90 | Link type unknown | sdgs.un.org | Startup directories | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Register a concrete ongoing your tool initiative with measurable milestones, dates, resources, SDG targets, partners and website evidence. | Action must be specific, measurable, achievable, resource-based, time-bound and ongoing; not a proposal, completed activity or organization profile. | 2026-08-05 — https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/acceleration-actions/register | Open UN SDG Actions Platform submit page (new tab)UN SDG Actions Platform details |
| 10 | 84 | Startup India | 75 | Link type unknown | startupindia.gov.in | Startup directories | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Apply only if the legal entity behind your tool meets DPIIT eligibility, innovation, age, and turnover conditions. | This is entity validation rather than a guaranteed public backlink; incorporation and eligibility evidence are mandatory. | https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/startupgov/startup_recognition_page.html | Open Startup India submit page (new tab)Startup India details |
| 11 | 83 | Contra | 75 | Nofollow | contra.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Quick | High | Not submitted | Create the founder or studio portfolio and publish your tool as a detailed product case study with the live project link. | Use a real professional identity and show genuine work, process, and outcomes; do not create a shell profile only for a backlink. | 2026-08-03 | Open Contra submit page (new tab)Contra details |
| 12 | 83 | Crunchbase | 90 | Nofollow | crunchbase.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Quick | High | Not submitted | Create/claim company profile linking your tool/Anslation. | High authority entity/profile; company details needed. | 2026-07-30 | Open Crunchbase submit page (new tab)Crunchbase details |
| 13 | 68 | F6S | 75 | Nofollow | f6s.com | Startup directories | Free | Quick | Medium | Not submitted | Create startup profile and link website. | Good startup entity citation. | 2026-07-30 | Open F6S submit page (new tab)F6S details |
| 14 | 68 | ORCID | 90 | Nofollow | orcid.org | Startup directories | Free | Quick | Medium | Needs checking | If the founder contributes to research or innovation, create an ORCID record and add your tool under public website and relevant work links. | This is an individual scholarly or innovation identity, not a company listing; add only truthful contributions and public profile fields. | 2026-08-03 | Open ORCID submit page (new tab)ORCID details |
| 15 | 68 | Wellfound | 85 | Nofollow | wellfound.com | Startup directories | Free | Quick | Medium | Not submitted | Create startup profile if hiring/startup positioning. | Use company story; not just backlink. | 2026-07-30 | Open Wellfound submit page (new tab)Wellfound details |
| 16 | 65 | Dun & Bradstreet | 90 | Nofollow | dnb.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Quick | Medium | Verified live | Claim or update your tool’s legal business record, website, address, phone, industry, and ownership details. | Free manager eligibility is limited to qualifying US-based non-public companies; use the regional D&B process elsewhere. | https://www.dnb.com/en-us/smb/duns/duns-manager.html | Open Dun & Bradstreet submit page (new tab)Dun & Bradstreet details |
| 17 | 65 | Gust | 80 | Nofollow | gust.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Quick | Medium | Verified live | Create an your tool company profile with product, team, traction, and website information. | Best fit for a scalable/fundable startup; control which profile information is public. | https://gust.com/accelerate-your-progress/ | Open Gust submit page (new tab)Gust details |
| 18 | 63 | Comparably | 80 | Nofollow | comparably.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Claim your tool’s company page and complete its verified website, company description, leadership, and employer information. | Claimant generally needs a valid company email and an HR, marketing, employer-brand, or authorized role. | https://www.comparably.com/faq/ | Open Comparably submit page (new tab)Comparably details |
| 19 | 63 | Glassdoor Employer Center | 90 | Nofollow | glassdoor.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Claim your tool employer profile and verify website, headquarters, logo, company mission, and benefits. | Glassdoor approves authorized HR, marketing, operations, or executive users; reviews remain independent. | https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/resources/glassdoor-employer-center-guide/ | Open Glassdoor Employer Center submit page (new tab)Glassdoor Employer Center details |
| 20 | 63 | Indeed Company Pages | 90 | Nofollow | indeed.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Claim your tool’s page and add the verified website, social profiles, logo, location, industry, and accurate employer story. | An employer account and verification may be required; reviews cannot be edited by the company and features vary by market. | https://www.indeed.com/hire/resources/howtohub/faq?co=US | Open Indeed Company Pages submit page (new tab)Indeed Company Pages details |
| 21 | 63 | YourStory | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | yourstory.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Pitch your tool founder/product story. | India fit; needs strong story/data. | 2026-07-30 | Open YourStory submit page (new tab)YourStory details |
| 22 | 46 | vc.ru | 75 | Nofollow | vc.ru | Startup directories | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Publish a useful case study or launch story in Russian on your company blog section. | Thin promotional posts get downvoted or hidden by moderators. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open vc.ru submit page (new tab)vc.ru details |
| 23 | 43 | 36Kr | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | 36kr.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | If you target China, submit your project through their startup coverage request with Chinese-language materials. | Editorial selection; relevant mainly for China-facing products. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open 36Kr submit page (new tab)36Kr details |
| 24 | 43 | EU-Startups | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | eu-startups.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Pitch if EU/startup angle exists. | Geography fit needed. | 2026-07-30 | Open EU-Startups submit page (new tab)EU-Startups details |
| 25 | 43 | Inc42 | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | inc42.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Pitch if there is funding/traction/product news. | High bar; no generic backlink ask. | 2026-07-30 | Open Inc42 submit page (new tab)Inc42 details |
| 26 | 43 | Starter Story | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | starterstory.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Pitch founder story if revenue/traffic story is strong. | Often paid; needs real metrics. | 2026-07-30 | Open Starter Story submit page (new tab)Starter Story details |
| 27 | 40 | Webrazzi | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | webrazzi.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Submit startup for coverage/listing. | Regional/media; pitch quality matters. | 2026-07-30 | Open Webrazzi submit page (new tab)Webrazzi details |
| 28 | 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 |
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.