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 | 84 | Bioconductor | 75 | Link type unknown | bioconductor.org | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | If your tool ships a legitimate genomics or bioinformatics utility, package it for R with complete vignettes and submit it for review. | Only in-scope, scientifically useful and maintainable packages qualify; peer review and continuous checks apply. | 2026-08-03 | Open Bioconductor submit page (new tab)Bioconductor details |
| 2 | 84 | CrawlRabbit | — | Link type unknown | crawlrabbit.com | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Create a free owner account, submit your tool and manage the approved public listing. | Site must be live with original content; misleading or thin submissions are rejected. | 2026-08-03 | Open CrawlRabbit submit page (new tab)CrawlRabbit details |
| 3 | 84 | Dailyweb.Design | — | Link type unknown | dailyweb.design | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Submit your tool strongest polished page for free manual design review and possible gallery inclusion. | Approval is selective; submit only production-ready original design and do not repeatedly resubmit or solicit links. | Official Dailyweb.Design submission page checked 2026-08-07 | Open Dailyweb.Design submit page (new tab)Dailyweb.Design details |
| 4 | 81 | LottieFiles | 80 | Nofollow | lottiefiles.com | Review platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | High | Verified live | Publish original your tool privacy, safety, or accessibility micro-animations as a coherent creator collection, with a contextual project link where the profile permits it. | Public uploads are reviewed and use the Lottie Simple License; upload only original rights-cleared work and avoid duplicate promotional variants. | Official LottieFiles public upload, limits, and licensing guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open LottieFiles submit page (new tab)LottieFiles details |
| 5 | 66 | ADPList | 60 | Nofollow | adplist.org | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Apply only if the founder or team member has real design/engineering leadership experience and intends to provide genuine mentoring, then add an accurate personal website/profile reference. | Mentor approval criteria apply and a public profile must represent a real person, expertise, availability, and service—not a company backlink. Deliver actual mentorship and disclose AltFTool affiliation. Acceptance timing, profile discovery, external-link display, and rel/follow status are not guaranteed. | 2026-08-03 | Open ADPList submit page (new tab)ADPList details |
| 6 | 66 | MentorCruise | 55 | Link type unknown | mentorcruise.com | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Have a qualified founder or senior team member apply as a privacy, accessibility, product, or engineering mentor and add your tool only as truthful experience/personal-site evidence. | Applications are manually reviewed, typically within 14 days, and official help says fewer than 10% are accepted; a real headshot, bio, LinkedIn, and relevant expertise are required. The profile must support actual paid mentoring, not link placement. External links are profile UGC with no approval, traffic, or followed-link guarantee. | 2026-08-03 | Open MentorCruise submit page (new tab)MentorCruise details |
| 7 | 66 | Nmap NSE Documentation | 80 | Link type unknown | nmap.org | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Develop a safe, useful Nmap NSE script related to an your tool security check and include accurate author or homepage metadata. | Script must be original, valuable, documented, tested, properly licensed, and accepted into Nmap; never add intrusive behavior merely for exposure. | 2026-08-05 — https://nmap.org/book/nse-script-format.html | Open Nmap NSE Documentation submit page (new tab)Nmap NSE Documentation details |
| 8 | 66 | ProjectDiscovery Nuclei Templates | 60 | Link type unknown | projectdiscovery.io | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Create high-confidence defensive templates for authorized checks of privacy leaks or misconfigurations, include safe matchers and test evidence, then submit them for review. | Authorized defensive use only; avoid intrusive actions, require reproducible evidence, minimize false positives, follow severity and metadata rules, and provide safe testing. | Official Nuclei template creation guide and contribution repository checked 2026-08-05 | Open ProjectDiscovery Nuclei Templates submit page (new tab)ProjectDiscovery Nuclei Templates details |
| 9 | 66 | SigmaHQ Rules | 45 | Link type unknown | sigmahq.io | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Create generic defensive Sigma rules for privacy-leak, credential-exposure, or scam-related log patterns, validate them, cite legitimate references, and submit a PR. | Rules need unique IDs, accurate log sources, low false-positive logic, valid references, tests and conventions; no offensive payloads or unverified claims. | Official Sigma rule repository, contribution guide, and 2025 rule guide checked 2026-08-05 | Open SigmaHQ Rules submit page (new tab)SigmaHQ Rules details |
| 10 | 63 | Trustpilot | 95 | Nofollow | trustpilot.com | Review platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Medium | Not submitted | Claim business profile for your tool. | Review link value mostly brand/reputation. | 2026-07-30 | Open Trustpilot submit page (new tab)Trustpilot details |
| 11 | 62 | PoPETs / PETS | 60 | Link type unknown | petsymposium.org | Review platforms | Not stated | Moderate | Medium | Verified live | Submit novel privacy-technology research plus a reproducibility artifact that links to its public implementation. | Strict novelty, ethics, anonymization and AI policies; artifact link appears only after review and acceptance. | 2026-08-05 — https://petsymposium.org/cfp27.php | Open PoPETs / PETS submit page (new tab)PoPETs / PETS details |
| 12 | 46 | CoMSES Computational Model Library | 50 | Link type unknown | comses.net | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Publish a documented social, ecological, or computational model with source, narrative documentation, contributors, and reproducibility metadata. | Only genuine computational models qualify; optional peer review and DOI require stronger documentation and reproducibility. | Official CoMSES publishing guide and FAQ checked 2026-08-05 | Open CoMSES Computational Model Library submit page (new tab)CoMSES Computational Model Library details |
| 13 | 46 | nf-core | 50 | Link type unknown | nf-co.re | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Propose and contribute a standards-compliant your tool-related bioinformatics privacy module, subworkflow, or full Nextflow pipeline. | Must solve a real bioinformatics need, avoid overlap, use nf-core templates, include tests and docs, pass linting, review, and maintenance expectations. | 2026-08-05 — https://nf-co.re/docs/contributing/overview | Open nf-core submit page (new tab)nf-core details |
| 14 | 46 | ReScience C | 35 | Link type unknown | rescience.github.io | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Independently reproduce a published computational privacy or security result with open code and data, using your tool only where scientifically justified. | Must replicate existing research rigorously with a fully open stack; reviewers must reproduce the results before acceptance. | 2026-08-05 — https://rescience.github.io/write/ | Open ReScience C submit page (new tab)ReScience C details |
| 15 | 46 | SoftwareReviews | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | softwarereviews.com | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Claim your vendor profile and invite verified users to review your software. | Reviews are vetted; vendors cannot edit or remove them. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open SoftwareReviews submit page (new tab)SoftwareReviews details |
| 16 | 46 | The Manifest | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | themanifest.com | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Service businesses can create a profile, which is shared with Clutch, and collect verified reviews. | Reviews are verified through interviews; only service providers fit. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open The Manifest submit page (new tab)The Manifest details |
| 17 | 46 | Visual Objects | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | visualobjects.com | Review platforms | Free | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Creative and design agencies can create a profile and add portfolio items. | Shared with the Clutch network; reviews are verified. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Visual Objects submit page (new tab)Visual Objects details |
| 18 | 43 | AppFutura | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | appfutura.com | Review platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | App development firms can create a profile with portfolio and client reviews. | Premium tiers improve ranking; reviews are verified. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open AppFutura submit page (new tab)AppFutura details |
| 19 | 43 | ProvenExpert | 75 | Nofollow | provenexpert.com | Review platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Later | Not submitted | Create business profile linking site. | Mostly reputation/profile backlink. | 2026-07-30 | Open ProvenExpert submit page (new tab)ProvenExpert details |
| 20 | 43 | Qeios | 50 | Link type unknown | qeios.com | Review platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Post a substantive study of privacy-preserving browser tools or redaction reliability with transparent methods and data. | Research only; promotional content is forbidden, conflicts are public, and DOI versions are permanent. Never buy Pro solely for a link. | 2026-08-05 — https://www.qeios.com/publishing-policy | Open Qeios submit page (new tab)Qeios details |
| 21 | 43 | Sitejabber | 85 | Nofollow | sitejabber.com | Review platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Later | Not submitted | Claim business profile. | Reputation link; no spam reviews. | 2026-07-30 | Open Sitejabber submit page (new tab)Sitejabber details |
| 22 | 43 | Techreviewer | 50 | Sometimes dofollow | techreviewer.co | Review platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Create a company profile and gather verified client reviews for your dev or IT services. | Reviews are checked; paid plans boost visibility. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Techreviewer submit page (new tab)Techreviewer 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.