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
High impactimpact 81–77
- Submit2600: The Hacker Quarterly (opens in a new tab)
2600: The Hacker Quarterly
2600.comSubmit an original hacker-spirit article on a privacy failure, scam-defense experiment, file-forensics method, or unusual defensive technique—not your advertisement.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60FreeInvolvedNot submitted - SubmitA List Apart (opens in a new tab)
A List Apart
alistapart.comPitch an original standards, accessibility, privacy, or responsible-web essay based on first-hand product engineering experience.
Estimated domain authority DA ~80Sometimes dofollowFreeInvolvedVerified live - SubmitC# Corner (opens in a new tab)
C# Corner
c-sharpcorner.comRegister a real founder or engineer profile and publish an original code-backed tutorial on privacy-safe browser tooling, mentioning your tool only where it is part of the implementation.
Estimated domain authority DA ~75NofollowFreeInvolvedVerified live - SubmitCodeProject (opens in a new tab)
CodeProject
codeproject.comSubmit a substantial implementation article with code samples for a local privacy or document-processing technique used in your tool.
Estimated domain authority DA ~85NofollowFreeInvolvedNot submitted - SubmitDEV Community (opens in a new tab)
DEV Community
dev.toPublish #showdev article about client-side privacy tools.
Estimated domain authority DA ~90NofollowFreeInvolvedNot submitted - SubmitDevDojo (opens in a new tab)
DevDojo
devdojo.comJoin as the developer and publish an original technical tutorial about a privacy-safe browser workflow, citing your tool only where relevant.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55Sometimes dofollowFreeInvolvedNot submitted - SubmitPointer (opens in a new tab)
Pointer
pointer.ioEmail one exceptional your tool engineering article, open-source project or deeply useful technical resource to Pointer's official share address.
Estimated domain authority DA ~50FreeInvolvedVerified live - SubmitQiita (opens in a new tab)
Qiita
qiita.comWrite an original Japanese developer tutorial or benchmark that uses your tool and cite the relevant tool or source only where it helps readers.
Estimated domain authority DA ~85NofollowFreeInvolvedVerified live - SubmitSmashing Magazine (opens in a new tab)
Smashing Magazine
smashingmagazine.comPitch a practical privacy-by-design, accessibility, frontend-security, or local-first tooling article backed by real your tool lessons.
Estimated domain authority DA ~90Sometimes dofollowFreeInvolvedVerified live - SubmitStack Overflow Blog (opens in a new tab)
Stack Overflow Blog
stackoverflow.blogPitch a rigorous developer-facing article about secure file handling, browser privacy, accessibility testing, or tool architecture.
Estimated domain authority DA ~90Sometimes dofollowFreeInvolvedVerified live - SubmitAppSignal Blog (opens in a new tab)
AppSignal Blog
appsignal.comApply with a code-heavy observability, Node, Ruby, Python, or Elixir tutorial using your real engineering problem as the case study.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60Sometimes dofollowFree + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitCurated (opens in a new tab)
Curated
curated.coLaunch a consistent Trustworthy Tools digest that mixes independent sources with occasional relevant your tool research, adding original commentary to every selected link.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60Sometimes dofollowFree + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitFrontend Focus (opens in a new tab)
Frontend Focus
frontendfoc.usSend one current, technically substantive frontend or accessibility article/tool after publishing it, explaining the concrete reader value and disclosing your tool ownership.
Estimated domain authority DA ~50Free + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitJavaScript Weekly (opens in a new tab)
JavaScript Weekly
javascriptweekly.comFirst publish a strong JavaScript/browser engineering article or genuinely novel developer utility, then reply to a current issue with one concise, disclosed editorial tip.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60Free + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitLinkedIn (opens in a new tab)
LinkedIn
linkedin.comCreate company page and publish case-study posts.
Estimated domain authority DA ~100NofollowFree + paid tierInvolvedNot submitted - SubmitMataroa (opens in a new tab)
Mataroa
mataroa.blogPublish original, text-first notes about building local-only privacy and accessibility tools, with restrained links to your relevant live implementation.
Estimated domain authority DA ~45Free + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitMind the Product (opens in a new tab)
Mind the Product
mindtheproduct.comSubmit your founder-written product or privacy case study with concrete decisions, evidence, failures, and lessons for product practitioners.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70Sometimes dofollowFree + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitOffprint (opens in a new tab)
Offprint
offprint.appUse your tool or founder social-web identity to publish original technical/privacy articles with relevant references.
Free + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitParagraph (opens in a new tab)
Paragraph
paragraph.comCreate your original engineering field-notes publication with human-approved privacy, accessibility, and local-first essays rather than republished marketing copy.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55Free + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitZenn (opens in a new tab)
Zenn
zenn.devCreate your publication or original Japanese engineering article with reproducible examples and contextual links to source or documentation.
Estimated domain authority DA ~80NofollowFree + paid tierInvolvedVerified live - SubmitDevOps.com (opens in a new tab)
DevOps.com
devops.comSubmit 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 submitted - SubmitLWN.net (opens in a new tab)
LWN.net
lwn.netPitch 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 submitted - SubmitOpen Source For You (opens in a new tab)
Open Source For You
opensourceforu.comPitch 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 submitted - SubmitPenTest Magazine (opens in a new tab)
PenTest Magazine
pentestmag.comSubmit a defensive security walkthrough, reproducible tool evaluation, or privacy-testing methodology with an author bio and original examples.
Estimated domain authority DA ~50Not statedInvolvedNot submitted - SubmitSemaphore Blog (opens in a new tab)
Semaphore Blog
semaphore.ioPitch a reproducible tutorial about CI checks for client-side privacy, dependency security, or accessible web tools, with your tool only as a genuine example.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60Sometimes dofollowNot statedInvolvedVerified live - SubmitTripwire State of Security (opens in a new tab)
Tripwire State of Security
tripwire.comApply 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 submitted
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.