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 | 95 | We Are Founders Directory | — | Link type unknown | directory.wearefounders.uk | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Submit your tool for a hand-reviewed founder-tool profile and direct website CTA. | Live product with real founder value; vapourware and thin AI wrappers are rejected. | 2026-08-05 | Open We Are Founders Directory submit page (new tab)We Are Founders Directory details |
| 2 | 81 | Startup Inspire | — | Link type unknown | startupinspire.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | High | Needs checking | Submit the polished your tool landing/tool UI with clean screenshots and design credits. | Editorial/design review applies; submit only polished, relevant work. Dofollow is reported but recheck after approval. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/startup-inspire | Open Startup Inspire submit page (new tab)Startup Inspire details |
| 3 | 77 | Startupper.Tools | — | Link type unknown | startupper.tools | Startup directories | Not stated | Involved | High | Verified live | Submit your tool with a domain-matching email and accurate startup-use case. | Paid editorial submission; active, well-designed startup tool required. | 2026-08-05 | Open Startupper.Tools submit page (new tab)Startupper.Tools details |
| 4 | 63 | Clippings.me | 60 | Nofollow | clippings.me | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Medium | Not submitted | Create a founder or editor portfolio and add a small selection of substantial your tool guides and externally published articles. | Intended for journalists, bloggers, and writers; use only for a real author portfolio, with the free tier limited to a small set of clips. | 2026-08-03 | Open Clippings.me submit page (new tab)Clippings.me details |
| 5 | 63 | Failory | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | failory.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Pitch a founder interview about how you built and grew your product, with honest numbers and lessons. | They favour detailed, candid stories; generic promo pitches are ignored. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Failory submit page (new tab)Failory details |
| 6 | 63 | TechPluto | 50 | Link type unknown | techpluto.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Submit a 100-plus-word your tool startup story for editorial consideration. | Publication is editorially selected and not guaranteed. | https://www.techpluto.com/submit-startup2222/ | Open TechPluto submit page (new tab)TechPluto details |
| 7 | 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 |
| 8 | 60 | Startup World Tech | — | Link type unknown | startupworld.tech | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Medium | Not submitted | Pitch an original founder story with verifiable product milestones, team details, screenshots, logo, and a useful reader angle. | Editorial acceptance is not guaranteed; use original factual content and avoid paying solely for a dofollow backlink. | 2026-08-03 | Open Startup World Tech submit page (new tab)Startup World Tech details |
| 9 | 60 | Webfolio | — | Link type unknown | webfolio.to | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Submit your tool for an editorial tool profile and optional promotion. | Editorial approval applies; paid exposure is optional. | https://www.webfolio.to/for-founders | Open Webfolio submit page (new tab)Webfolio details |
| 10 | 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 |
| 11 | 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 |
| 12 | 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 |
| 13 | 43 | Indie Hacker Tools | — | Link type unknown | indiehacker.tools | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Submit your tool with homepage URL, privacy-first positioning, logo, screenshots and accurate pricing. | Accurate tool details required; editorial approval controls publication. Dofollow is reported but recheck after approval. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/indie-hacker-tools | Open Indie Hacker Tools submit page (new tab)Indie Hacker Tools details |
| 14 | 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 |
| 15 | 43 | The Startup Pitch | — | Link type unknown | thestartuppitch.com | Startup directories | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Create concise startup pitch linking your tool. | Older site; verify active review queue. | 2026-07-30 | Open The Startup Pitch submit page (new tab)The Startup Pitch details |
| 16 | 40 | AllTopStartups | 50 | Sometimes dofollow | alltopstartups.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Submit/pitch startup listing or story. | Editorial quality; no link-drop. | 2026-07-30 | Open AllTopStartups submit page (new tab)AllTopStartups details |
| 17 | 40 | FoundersDatabase | — | Link type unknown | foundersdatabase.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Submit your tool with homepage URL, privacy-first positioning, logo, screenshots and accurate pricing. | Accurate tool details required; editorial approval controls publication. Listing link is currently reported nofollow. | 2026-07-30 • https://www.submission.directory/site/foundersdatabase | Open FoundersDatabase submit page (new tab)FoundersDatabase details |
| 18 | 40 | StartupNation | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | startupnation.com | Startup directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Create profile/comment or pitch startup article. | Useful content required. | 2026-07-30 | Open StartupNation submit page (new tab)StartupNation details |
| 19 | 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 |
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.