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 | CB Insights | 90 | Nofollow | cbinsights.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Do first | Not submitted | Request an Analyst Briefing and complete the company survey with product, customer, growth, funding, and market evidence. | Submission does not guarantee profile or research inclusion; all metrics and claims must be supportable and current. | 2026-08-03 | Open CB Insights submit page (new tab)CB Insights details |
| 2 | 100 | Postman | 90 | Nofollow | postman.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Do first | Live, conditional | Create an your tool public workspace with sanitized API collections, examples, documentation, and a canonical homepage link on the publisher profile. | Never publish tokens, cookies, secrets, private endpoints, or user data; run the secret scan before making a workspace public. | https://learning.postman.com/v11/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-workspaces/public-workspaces | Open Postman submit page (new tab)Postman details |
| 3 | 100 | Product Hunt | 90 | Nofollow | producthunt.com | Launch platforms | Free | Quick | Do first | Not submitted | Launch your platform first; prepare maker comment and assets. | No upvote asks; personal accounts; schedule proper launch. | 2026-07-30 | Open Product Hunt submit page (new tab)Product Hunt details |
| 4 | 86 | Apache Airflow Ecosystem | 90 | Nofollow | airflow.apache.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Create a real your tool Airflow provider with hooks/operators and documentation metadata, publish it, then add it to Airflow’s Ecosystem page by PR. | Provider must implement apache_airflow_provider metadata, use unique connection types, be documented and packaged; ecosystem PR is evaluated for community usefulness. | 2026-08-05 — https://airflow.apache.org/docs/apache-airflow-providers/howto/create-custom-providers.html | Open Apache Airflow Ecosystem submit page (new tab)Apache Airflow Ecosystem details |
| 5 | 86 | Capterra | 90 | Nofollow | capterra.com | Software directories | Free | Quick | High | Not submitted | List product under software categories. | Part of Gartner Digital Markets; good B2B fit. | 2026-07-30 | Open Capterra submit page (new tab)Capterra details |
| 6 | 86 | CodePen | 90 | Nofollow | codepen.io | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Build an original interactive demo of an your tool utility, document the use case in Pen Details, and add your tool as one of the public profile links. | Public Pens are searchable and MIT-licensed; publish original useful code, not a blank redirect or copied landing page. | https://blog.codepen.io/docs/getting-around/your-profile/ | Open CodePen submit page (new tab)CodePen details |
| 7 | 86 | CodeSandbox | 90 | Nofollow | codesandbox.io | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | High | Not submitted | Publish a small open demo that explains one your tool algorithm or UI pattern and add the product website to the founder profile links. | The sandbox must run and provide reusable technical value; public projects and profile links are UGC and may be nofollowed. | 2026-08-03 | Open CodeSandbox submit page (new tab)CodeSandbox details |
| 8 | 86 | Eclipse Marketplace | 90 | Nofollow | eclipse.org | Marketplaces and app stores | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Publish a functional Eclipse plugin for an your tool developer use case, then create a complete marketplace listing with official support and source links. | Requires an Eclipse account, a working installable plugin and compliance with marketplace content and trademark rules. | 2026-08-03 | Open Eclipse Marketplace submit page (new tab)Eclipse Marketplace details |
| 9 | 86 | GitHub | 95 | Nofollow | github.com | Developer registries | Free | Quick | High | Not submitted | Create org/repo README linking your tool; submit to relevant awesome lists. | Only publish original/clean licensed code; no fake stars. | 2026-07-30 | Open GitHub submit page (new tab)GitHub details |
| 10 | 86 | Tableau Public | 90 | Nofollow | public.tableau.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Publish an original dashboard using public your tool benchmark or ecosystem data and add an appropriate project permalink in workbook details. | Everything published is publicly accessible and may be downloadable; never include secrets, private analytics, user-level records, or confidential data. | https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/publish_workbooks_tableaupublic.htm | Open Tableau Public submit page (new tab)Tableau Public details |
| 11 | 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 |
| 12 | 86 | Webex App Hub | 90 | Link type unknown | webex.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Build a production Webex integration or bot for deliberate sharing of your tool checklists or sanitized files, then submit its branded App Hub profile. | Must be production-ready, use minimum scopes, avoid Cisco trademark misuse, and provide complete support and marketing material. | Official Webex App Hub submission documentation checked 2026-08-07 | Open Webex App Hub submit page (new tab)Webex App Hub details |
| 13 | 86 | Wikimedia Toolhub | 95 | Link type unknown | toolhub.wikimedia.org | Software directories | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Build a tool that genuinely interacts with Wikimedia, publish accurate toolinfo.json metadata, and register it through Toolhub UI, crawler, or API. | Must serve Wikimedia projects; Wikimedia login is required and submitted metadata is CC0; unrelated utilities do not qualify. | Official Wikimedia developer search and Toolhub documentation checked 2026-08-05 | Open Wikimedia Toolhub submit page (new tab)Wikimedia Toolhub details |
| 14 | 86 | WordPress.org Plugins | 95 | Nofollow | wordpress.org | Marketplaces and app stores | Free | Quick | High | Not submitted | Submit your tool widgets plugin after /embed is live. | Credit link must be opt-in/default hidden; GPL-compatible plugin. | 2026-07-30 | Open WordPress.org Plugins submit page (new tab)WordPress.org Plugins details |
| 15 | 68 | Flickr | 95 | Nofollow | flickr.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Not submitted | Create a truthful your tool/founder profile or content page and add the website link where allowed. | Use a real brand/founder identity; do not create thin duplicate pages. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/flickr | Open Flickr submit page (new tab)Flickr details |
| 16 | 68 | GitLab | 90 | Nofollow | gitlab.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Not submitted | Mirror open-source embed SDK or examples with homepage link. | Useful only with real OSS artifact. | 2026-07-30 | Open GitLab submit page (new tab)GitLab details |
| 17 | 68 | Goodreads | 90 | Nofollow | goodreads.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Verified live | Create a truthful your tool/founder profile or content page and add the website link where allowed. | Use a real brand/founder identity; do not create thin duplicate pages. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/goodreads | Open Goodreads submit page (new tab)Goodreads details |
| 18 | 68 | Google Business Profile | 100 | Nofollow | google.com | Business directories | Free | Quick | Medium | Needs checking | Create business profile only if eligible with real business details. | Do not fake location; follow Google rules. | 2026-07-30 | Open Google Business Profile submit page (new tab)Google Business Profile details |
| 19 | 68 | Gravatar | 90 | Nofollow | gravatar.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Needs checking | Create brand/founder profile with verified links. | Easy entity citation; low traffic. | 2026-07-30 | Open Gravatar submit page (new tab)Gravatar details |
| 20 | 68 | itch.io | 90 | Nofollow | itch.io | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | Publish a genuine browser or desktop your tool utility with screenshots, documentation and an official-site link. | Content must be an actual downloadable or browser-run project and follow itch.io quality/content rules; not a generic directory listing. | https://itch.io/developers | Open itch.io submit page (new tab)itch.io details |
| 21 | 68 | Joomla Extensions Directory | 90 | Sometimes dofollow | joomla.org | Marketplaces and app stores | Free | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | Build a functional your tool Joomla integration and submit a complete listing with an approved download route. | Actual installable extension required; GPL, trademark, update-system, security and listing checks apply. | 2026-08-05 official JED submission guide and entry checklist | Open Joomla Extensions Directory submit page (new tab)Joomla Extensions Directory details |
| 22 | 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 |
| 23 | 68 | Patreon | 95 | Nofollow | patreon.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Needs checking | Create a truthful your tool/founder profile or content page and add the website link where allowed. | Use a real brand/founder identity; do not create thin duplicate pages. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/patreon | Open Patreon submit page (new tab)Patreon details |
| 24 | 68 | ResearchGate | 95 | Nofollow | researchgate.net | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | An eligible active researcher can publish genuine your tool studies, code or datasets and add the official website where appropriate. | Membership is for active researchers; upload only owned research and respect publisher copyright. | 2026-08-04 | Open ResearchGate submit page (new tab)ResearchGate details |
| 25 | 68 | Sketchfab | 90 | Nofollow | sketchfab.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Verified live | Publish an original educational 3D asset connected to a real your tool tutorial, with accurate credits and a contextual project link in the description. | Upload only content you own or can license; descriptions should explain the model rather than serve as link ads, and UGC links may be nofollow. | 2026-08-03 | Open Sketchfab submit page (new tab)Sketchfab details |
| 26 | 68 | SlideShare | 95 | Nofollow | slideshare.net | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Needs checking | Create a truthful your tool/founder profile or content page and add the website link where allowed. | Use a real brand/founder identity; do not create thin duplicate pages. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/slideshare | Open SlideShare submit page (new tab)SlideShare details |
| 27 | 68 | Stack Exchange | 90 | Nofollow | stackexchange.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Not submitted | Build a real founder profile and answer narrowly relevant questions, linking to an your tool resource only when it directly substantiates the answer. | Strict anti-self-promotion rules apply; disclose affiliation, never seed questions, and expect links in posts to be UGC or nofollow. | 2026-08-03 | Open Stack Exchange submit page (new tab)Stack Exchange details |
| 28 | 68 | Stack Overflow | 95 | Nofollow | stackoverflow.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Not submitted | Create a truthful your tool/founder profile or content page and add the website link where allowed. | Use a real brand/founder identity; do not create thin duplicate pages. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/stack-overflow | Open Stack Overflow submit page (new tab)Stack Overflow details |
| 29 | 68 | Upwork | 95 | Nofollow | upwork.com | Design galleries | Free | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | If your tool maker genuinely offers related services, add the project as a detailed portfolio item with role, outcomes, visuals, and permitted project links. | Use only an authentic accepted freelancer profile; no contact details or brand-only backlink account, and follow portfolio link rules. | Official Upwork profile and portfolio guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open Upwork submit page (new tab)Upwork details |
| 30 | 68 | Wattpad | 90 | Nofollow | wattpad.com | Profiles and entities | Free | Quick | Medium | Needs checking | Create a truthful your tool/founder profile or content page and add the website link where allowed. | Use a real brand/founder identity; do not create thin duplicate pages. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/wattpad | Open Wattpad submit page (new tab)Wattpad 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.