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 filters2
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 | 81 | Instructables | 90 | Nofollow | instructables.com | Communities and forums | Free | Involved | High | Verified live | Publish a detailed build or usage tutorial around an original your tool workflow, with the relevant tool link only where it helps readers. | Commercial projects are acceptable only when the article is genuinely instructional; include original steps, images, and results. | https://www.instructables.com/create/ | Open Instructables submit page (new tab)Instructables details |
| 2 | 63 | Hackster.io | 80 | Nofollow | hackster.io | Communities and forums | Free | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Publish a detailed hardware or IoT project that genuinely uses your tool, with code, parts, instructions and an external tutorial link where useful. | Hardware-specific; sales pitches and non-project blog posts are prohibited, and discoverable projects must be complete. | Official Hackster project docs checked 2026-07-30 | Open Hackster.io submit page (new tab)Hackster.io details |
| 3 | 63 | js13kGames | 50 | Link type unknown | js13kgames.com | Communities and forums | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Enter the yearly competition with a web game that fits in 13 kB zipped; each entry gets a page linking to your source and profile. | Runs once a year from mid-August to mid-September; strict size limit and no external libraries or services. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open js13kGames submit page (new tab)js13kGames details |
| 4 | 43 | Global Game Jam | 65 | Link type unknown | globalgamejam.org | Communities and forums | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Take part in the yearly jam through a local or online site and upload your game to get a public game page. | Held once a year, usually in January; you register through a jam site. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Global Game Jam submit page (new tab)Global Game Jam details |
| 5 | 43 | Habr | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | habr.com | Communities and forums | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Publish an in-depth technical article in Russian and link your project where relevant. | Moderated; advertising requires a company blog. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Habr submit page (new tab)Habr details |
| 6 | 43 | Ludum Dare | 60 | Link type unknown | ldjam.com | Communities and forums | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Make a game during a Ludum Dare event and publish your entry page with a playable web build link. | Only during scheduled events; Compo and Jam rules differ on team size and assets. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Ludum Dare submit page (new tab)Ludum Dare details |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Backlink sites by category
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.