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 | Accessibility Weekly | 35 | Dofollow | a11yweekly.com | Publishing platforms | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | First publish a fresh, human-authored accessibility case study or tutorial with real lessons and disabled-user perspective where available, then suggest that single article by email. | Prefer content from the last two months; it must be accurate, educational, accessible without paywall/signup, and not a product page or press release. No overlays, link exchanges, guest-post deals, paid links, or strong paid-product calls to action. | 2026-08-03 | Open Accessibility Weekly submit page (new tab)Accessibility Weekly details |
| 2 | 95 | Console.dev | 50 | Sometimes dofollow | console.dev | Software directories | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Email the strongest developer-focused your tool feature with a self-service demo, documentation, privacy model, and concise reason it is novel. | Primary users must be developers; the tool should be high quality, fast, maintained, documented, privacy-safe, and independently interesting. | https://console.dev/selection-criteria | Open Console.dev submit page (new tab)Console.dev details |
| 3 | 95 | Educative | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | educative.io | Other opportunities | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Propose a text-based, interactive course on web privacy, security headers, local-first tools, or accessible frontend testing, with practical code exercises and clear outcomes. | Applicants need real subject expertise and clear teaching ability. The outline, lessons, code, and claims receive Author Success, technical, and editorial review; the course must teach independently of AltFTool promotion. | 2026-08-03 | Open Educative submit page (new tab)Educative details |
| 4 | 95 | Good AI Tools | — | Link type unknown | goodaitools.com | AI tool directories | Free | Involved | Do first | 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/good-ai-tools | Open Good AI Tools submit page (new tab)Good AI Tools details |
| 5 | 95 | Help Net Security | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | helpnetsecurity.com | Publishing platforms | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Send a concise exclusive angle on a new your tool security feature, dataset, vulnerability study, or expert commentary. | Send pitches to the listed editorial address; relevance is essential and the team cannot reply to or publish every pitch. | https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/contact/ | Open Help Net Security submit page (new tab)Help Net Security details |
| 6 | 95 | OECD.AI Tools Catalogue | 75 | Link type unknown | oecd.ai | AI tool directories | Free | Involved | Do first | 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/oecd-ai-tools-catalogue | Open OECD.AI Tools Catalogue submit page (new tab)OECD.AI Tools Catalogue details |
| 7 | 95 | Security Boulevard | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | securityboulevard.com | Publishing platforms | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Pitch a vendor-neutral security article using original your tool tests, threat-model findings, or privacy research. | Content must be original, transparent about authorship, and vendor-neutral; promotional posts belong in paid programs. | https://securityboulevard.com/write-for-security-boulevard/ | Open Security Boulevard submit page (new tab)Security Boulevard details |
| 8 | 95 | Softpedia | 90 | Nofollow | softpedia.com | Software directories | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | 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/softpedia | Open Softpedia submit page (new tab)Softpedia details |
| 9 | 95 | The A11Y Project | 70 | Dofollow | a11yproject.com | Publishing platforms | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Pitch a short, beginner-friendly, human-authored accessibility post through an issue, or submit one established free your tool accessibility resource under the correct Resources category. | Maintainers assess quality, host accessibility, mission, and author standing. No press releases, overlays, Medium links, affiliate/referral schemes, UTM tracking, SEO/backlink deals, plagiarism, or product promotion; contributions use the project's APLv2 license. | 2026-08-03 | Open The A11Y Project submit page (new tab)The A11Y Project details |
| 10 | 95 | ToolFame | — | Link type unknown | toolfame.com | Software directories | Free | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | 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/toolfame | Open ToolFame submit page (new tab)ToolFame details |
| 11 | 95 | ToolPilot | 35 | Link type unknown | toolpilot.ai | Software directories | Free | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | 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/toolpilot | Open ToolPilot submit page (new tab)ToolPilot details |
| 12 | 95 | Towards AI | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | towardsai.com | Publishing platforms | Free | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Submit a useful AI privacy, local processing, prompt-security, or responsible-tooling tutorial with reproducible examples. | Submit a complete draft for editorial review; avoid thin AI-generated or product-led content and expect no guaranteed placement. | https://towardsai.com/contribute/ | Open Towards AI submit page (new tab)Towards AI details |
| 13 | 95 | Turbo0 | — | Link type unknown | turbo0.com | Software directories | Free | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | 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/turbo0 | Open Turbo0 submit page (new tab)Turbo0 details |
| 14 | 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 |
| 15 | 95 | Web Tools Weekly | 45 | Link type unknown | webtoolsweekly.com | Software directories | Free | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | Submit one polished your tool web utility that is directly useful to front-end developers, programmers, or designers, with a precise one-line explanation and working URL. | The newsletter accepts tools such as libraries, scripts, web apps, APIs, editors, and services, but not articles or tutorials. Submit via the stated X or Bluesky channel and do not repeatedly pitch the whole directory. | 2026-08-03 | Open Web Tools Weekly submit page (new tab)Web Tools Weekly details |
| 16 | 92 | Appvizer | 60 | Link type unknown | appvizer.com | Software directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | Register your tool as a B2B product, choose relevant categories, and complete the vendor profile in English. | The product must fit a B2B software category and is subject to editorial review; paid exposure is separate from the free profile. | 2026-08-03 | Open Appvizer submit page (new tab)Appvizer details |
| 17 | 92 | eLearning Industry | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | elearningindustry.com | Guest posting sites | Free + paid tier | Involved | Do first | Verified live | Submit an original L&D article on teaching practical privacy or accessibility skills, linking only to a genuinely informative your tool guide where it supports the lesson. | Free guest posts may link to informative content but cannot mention or promote the company/product; promotional links belong to sponsored articles. Relevant, original, reader-friendly work is editorially reviewed, HR-only topics are excluded, affiliation should be disclosed, timing/inclusion is not guaranteed, and any author/content link should be treated as editorial/UGC with no followed-link promise. | 2026-08-03 | Open eLearning Industry submit page (new tab)eLearning Industry details |
| 18 | 92 | ShowMeBest.AI | — | Link type unknown | showmebest.ai | Software directories | Free + paid tier | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | 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/showmebest-ai | Open ShowMeBest.AI submit page (new tab)ShowMeBest.AI details |
| 19 | 91 | LinuxSecurity | 60 | Link type unknown | linuxsecurity.com | Publishing platforms | Not stated | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | Pitch an original advanced article with reproducible examples, such as local PII redaction or malicious-document inspection on Linux, linking only to a genuinely informative supporting page. | At least 1,200 words, intermediate-to-advanced depth, directly related to Linux/open source/cybersecurity, and at least three original images. Product promotion, company marketing, simple listicles, and links to promotional product pages are rejected. | 2026-08-03 | Open LinuxSecurity submit page (new tab)LinuxSecurity details |
| 20 | 85 | Black Hat Arsenal | 80 | Link type unknown | blackhat.com | Software directories | Paid | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | Prepare a focused open-source defensive tool with English documentation, reproducible demos, and a technical presenter, then submit to the next relevant Arsenal Call for Tools. | Arsenal is selected by a review board and demonstrations must focus on the submitted open-source tool. Product pitches, upsells, unrelated company branding, and closed-source marketing demos are prohibited. Europe 2026 submissions closed 2026-07-19. | 2026-08-03 | Open Black Hat Arsenal submit page (new tab)Black Hat Arsenal details |
| 21 | 85 | TechnologyAdvice | 70 | Link type unknown | technologyadvice.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Involved | Do first | Not submitted | Apply for the free Basic profile with a current website, clear business value, category, pricing, and authentic reviews. | Must be business-use software that fits an established category and has a clear value proposition; editorial acceptance is discretionary. | 2026-08-03 | Open TechnologyAdvice submit page (new tab)TechnologyAdvice 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
Product launch sites87
One-shot launches where timing and preparation decide the outcome.
Guest posting sites55
Publications that accept contributed articles. Slow and editorial, but the links are earned.
AI tool directories200
Fast-growing listings specifically for AI-powered tools.
App stores and marketplaces273
Extension, plugin and integration stores. Real review processes, real distribution.
Startup directory submission sites120
Startup listings, beta lists and founder media.
Software directory submission sites215
General tool and software catalogues with real search traffic.
Software review sites29
B2B review sites. Slow to approve, strong once live.
Developer platforms for backlinks139
Package, image and docs hosting that carries real authority.
Web design galleries for backlinks87
Showcases judged on craft. A good screenshot matters more than copy.
Web 2.0 and publishing sites214
Write once, link back. Editorial standards vary widely.
PR and press release sites41
Get quoted or distribute a release. Slower, higher ceiling.
Business directory submission sites109
Company and local listings. Unglamorous, consistently indexed.
Profile creation sites163
Owned pages you control: company, founder, knowledge-panel entities.
Forum and community backlink sites61
Answer real questions. Never drop a bare link.
Social bookmarking sites18
Brand surface and referral traffic more than link equity.
More backlink opportunities153
Everything that does not fit the buckets above.
Common questions
Do backlinks still matter for ranking in 2026?
Links remain one signal among many, and low-quality bulk links do more harm than good. What still works is being listed where your buyers actually look — directories with real traffic, registries your peers use, and launch platforms with engaged audiences. Every entry in this list is a place a human might plausibly find you, which is why they are worth submitting to regardless of link equity.
Which submissions should I do first?
Start with the quick wins filter: free, low effort, and not in the lowest priority band. 208 of the 1,964 entries qualify, and those are the ones where a single form submission gets you a live listing the same week. Launch platforms are worth saving until your product is genuinely ready, because you only get one good attempt at each.
How is the impact score calculated?
It starts from a hand-assigned priority band (do first, high, medium, later), then adjusts for cost and effort. A free, quick opportunity scores above a paid, involved one in the same band, because it is the one you can realistically finish today. The score is a queueing aid, not a measure of domain authority.
Are these links free?
1,628 of the 1,964 entries are free to submit to or offer a free tier that includes a listing. Cost is shown on every row, and the "nothing to pay" filter narrows the list to exactly those.
Which backlink sites are dofollow?
44 entries are known to give a followed link on a normal listing, and more give one only in some placements. The link type is shown on every row and can be filtered. Sites change their link policy without notice, so treat the label as a starting point and check the live page after you are listed. A nofollow link from a busy site still sends visitors and helps search engines discover you.
What does the DA number mean?
It is our estimate of the site's domain authority, a third-party style 0-100 score of how strong a domain's link profile is, rounded to the nearest 5. 1,580 of the 1,964 sites have one. It is useful for comparing sites, not a Google metric, so relevance to your niche still matters more.
How do I get backlinks for a new website?
1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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.
Will submitting everywhere hurt my site?
Submitting to spam directories can. That is why this list is curated rather than scraped, and why entries carry a status showing whether they have been verified as live. Skip anything that promises hundreds of links for a fee, and prefer places where a real person reviews submissions.