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 filters1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1001 | 36 | Awwwards | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | awwwards.com | Design galleries | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Submit your tool web design if premium/polished. | High authority; paid and design quality gate. | 2026-07-30 | Open Awwwards submit page (new tab)Awwwards details |
| 1002 | 36 | BetaTesting | 45 | Link type unknown | betatesting.com | Startup directories | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Recruit beta testers for new your tool feature. | Not pure backlink; useful launch validation. | 2026-07-30 | Open BetaTesting submit page (new tab)BetaTesting details |
| 1003 | 36 | Captivate | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | captivate.fm | Publishing platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Host a podcast with its included website and add links to your site in episode notes. | It is a paid service with a free trial. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Captivate submit page (new tab)Captivate details |
| 1004 | 36 | CiviCERT | 40 | Link type unknown | civicert.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Apply only after operating a real civil-society digital-security help desk and meeting network operations and vetting requirements. | Adopt vetting/information policies and code of conduct, track cases/share threats, and obtain vouches from two members at different organizations. | 2026-08-05 — https://www.civicert.org/apply-to-be-a-member/ | Open CiviCERT submit page (new tab)CiviCERT details |
| 1005 | 36 | CSS Design Awards | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | cssdesignawards.com | Design galleries | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Submit site for CSS/design award. | Only after homepage/tool UX polished. | 2026-07-30 | Open CSS Design Awards submit page (new tab)CSS Design Awards details |
| 1006 | 36 | CSS Winner | 55 | Link type unknown | csswinner.com | Design galleries | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Submit site for CSS award/listing. | Only if design meets award standard. | 2026-07-30 | Open CSS Winner submit page (new tab)CSS Winner details |
| 1007 | 36 | DealMirror | 50 | Nofollow | dealmirror.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Apply to run a lifetime or discount deal for your SaaS. | Revenue share on sales; product must be ready for support load. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open DealMirror submit page (new tab)DealMirror details |
| 1008 | 36 | Directory of Open Access Books | 70 | Link type unknown | doabooks.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Apply only after your tool operates a genuine OA scholarly-book publishing program, then submit peer-reviewed privacy-tech books. | Publisher-level path, not a one-off product listing; transparent peer review, open licences, HTTPS publishing site and scholarly books required. | 2026-08-05 — https://www.doabooks.org/en/publishers/join-doab | Open Directory of Open Access Books submit page (new tab)Directory of Open Access Books details |
| 1009 | 36 | Dryad | 80 | Link type unknown | datadryad.org | Developer registries | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Submit data underlying a legitimate your tool-related research paper and include related software/project identifiers. | Research-data scope only; curation, publication linkage, licensing and possible data-publishing charges apply. | https://datadryad.org/help/guides/submission | Open Dryad submit page (new tab)Dryad details |
| 1010 | 36 | Fabrik | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | fabrik.io | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Publish real your tool film, design, illustration or product case studies and connect them to the appropriate project pages. | Strong creative-work fit only; no credit card for trial, but a lasting public portfolio requires a paid plan. | 2026-08-04 | Open Fabrik submit page (new tab)Fabrik details |
| 1011 | 36 | Flippa | 80 | Nofollow | flippa.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | List a website, app or online business for sale with verified data. | Listing fees apply and claims are checked. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Flippa submit page (new tab)Flippa details |
| 1012 | 36 | Krop | 55 | Sometimes dofollow | krop.com | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Build a real founder or your tool creative portfolio and link relevant case studies to the corresponding live tools. | Designed for creative professionals; paid ongoing hosting and authentic portfolio work are required. | 2026-08-04 | Open Krop submit page (new tab)Krop details |
| 1013 | 36 | LF AI & Data Foundation | 55 | Link type unknown | lfaidata.foundation | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Join only when your tool will fund and actively contribute to open-source AI or data work. | Linux Foundation corporate membership rules apply; free associate status is limited to approved nonprofits, projects or government bodies. | 2026-08-05 official LF AI & Data join page | Open LF AI & Data Foundation submit page (new tab)LF AI & Data Foundation details |
| 1014 | 36 | Libsyn | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | libsyn.com | Publishing platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Host your podcast and use the included show site and notes to link to your website. | It is a paid hosting service. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Libsyn submit page (new tab)Libsyn details |
| 1015 | 36 | Mynewsdesk | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | mynewsdesk.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Publish press releases, images and news in a hosted newsroom that links to your site. | It is a paid service and releases must be genuine news. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Mynewsdesk submit page (new tab)Mynewsdesk details |
| 1016 | 36 | OASIS Open | 80 | Link type unknown | oasis-open.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Join only to contribute substantively to relevant security or privacy technical committees and use approved organization metadata. | Reconfirm current dues before purchase; membership is not endorsement and lower tiers may not include a linked logo. | 2026-08-05 official OASIS join and members pages | Open OASIS Open submit page (new tab)OASIS Open details |
| 1017 | 36 | Open Source Initiative | 85 | Link type unknown | opensource.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Verified live | After releasing meaningful OSI-licensed code, consider sponsorship only when supporting OSI aligns with your tool strategy. | Financial sponsorship is not certification, governance influence or product endorsement; do not pay solely for a backlink. | 2026-08-05 official OSI benefits and sponsorship document | Open Open Source Initiative submit page (new tab)Open Source Initiative details |
| 1018 | 36 | Pixpa | 60 | Link type unknown | pixpa.com | Profiles and entities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Build a portfolio site on a trial or paid plan and link it to your main site. | Paid after trial; expired sites go offline. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Pixpa submit page (new tab)Pixpa details |
| 1019 | 36 | pr.co | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | pr.co | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Host a branded newsroom with your press releases and media kit, linking back to your site. | It is paid; releases should be real announcements. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open pr.co submit page (new tab)pr.co details |
| 1020 | 36 | Prowly | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | prowly.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Use the paid PR tool to host a public newsroom and send releases to relevant journalists. | Mass irrelevant pitching harms deliverability and breaks the terms. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Prowly submit page (new tab)Prowly details |
| 1021 | 36 | ReleaseWire | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | releasewire.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Publish a newsworthy announcement through the paid distribution service with a link to your site. | Releases are reviewed for news value and links may be nofollow on syndication partners. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open ReleaseWire submit page (new tab)ReleaseWire details |
| 1022 | 36 | SmugMug | 90 | Link type unknown | smugmug.com | Profiles and entities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Create a SmugMug site for your photo work and link back to your main site. | Paid subscription required; copyrighted work must be your own. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open SmugMug submit page (new tab)SmugMug details |
| 1023 | 36 | Squarespace | 90 | Dofollow | squarespace.com | Publishing platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Build a site or blog on a paid plan, typically for a project or brand page that links to your main product. | There is no free plan beyond the trial. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Squarespace submit page (new tab)Squarespace details |
| 1024 | 36 | StackSocial | 75 | Nofollow | stacksocial.com | Marketplaces and app stores | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Apply as a vendor to offer a discounted deal on your software. | Selective partner program; revenue split applies. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open StackSocial submit page (new tab)StackSocial details |
| 1025 | 36 | Stan Store | 70 | Nofollow | stan.store | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Use only if your tool has a genuine creator offer, guide or service; complete the storefront and connect relevant site pages. | Paid commercial fit required; do not open an empty store solely for a backlink. | 2026-08-04 | Open Stan Store submit page (new tab)Stan Store details |
| 1026 | 36 | Startup Guys | 30 | Link type unknown | startupguys.net | Startup directories | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Submit startup if paid/editorial terms acceptable. | Paid per list source; verify ROI. | 2026-07-30 | Open Startup Guys submit page (new tab)Startup Guys details |
| 1027 | 36 | StartupSubmit | — | Link type unknown | startupsubmit.app | Startup directories | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Use only if you want paid done-for-you directory submissions. | Quality varies; manual review still preferred. | 2026-07-30 | Open StartupSubmit submit page (new tab)StartupSubmit details |
| 1028 | 36 | SubmitSaaS | — | Link type unknown | submitsaas.com | Software directories | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Use only if outsourcing manual directory submissions. | Vet quality; avoid low-quality guaranteed-link spam. | 2026-07-30 | Open SubmitSaaS submit page (new tab)SubmitSaaS details |
| 1029 | 36 | Superhuman AI | 50 | Link type unknown | superhuman.ai | AI tool directories | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Pitch genuinely new AI tools to the editors or book a sponsored slot in the newsletter. | Editorial coverage is selective; most guaranteed placements are paid. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Superhuman AI submit page (new tab)Superhuman AI details |
| 1030 | 36 | The FWA | 70 | Link type unknown | thefwa.com | Design galleries | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Submit an interactive site or WebGL experience for jury review; winners get a public award page linking to the work. | Submission fee per entry; judged on craft and innovation, most entries are not awarded. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open The FWA submit page (new tab)The FWA details |
| 1031 | 36 | The Neuron | 55 | Link type unknown | theneurondaily.com | AI tool directories | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Pitch notable AI launches to the editors or book a sponsorship for guaranteed placement. | Editorial selection; guaranteed mentions are paid. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open The Neuron submit page (new tab)The Neuron details |
| 1032 | 36 | Transistor | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | transistor.fm | Publishing platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Host a podcast and use the built-in website and show notes to link to your product. | It is a paid service with a free trial. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Transistor submit page (new tab)Transistor details |
| 1033 | 36 | Zenfolio | 75 | Link type unknown | zenfolio.com | Profiles and entities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Set up a photo portfolio and add your website in the About section. | Paid plans; meant for photographers. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Zenfolio submit page (new tab)Zenfolio 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.