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
Usefulimpact 66
- SubmitAsk Different (opens in a new tab)
Ask Different
apple.stackexchange.comAnswer Mac and iPhone questions in full, linking your own page only when it adds detail the answer cannot hold.
Estimated domain authority DA ~80NofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingApple Q&A community - SubmitAwesome-AITools (ikaijua) (opens in a new tab)
Awesome-AITools (ikaijua)
github.com/ikaijua/awesome-aitoolsAdd the AI prompt generator tools via PR in the existing table format (English + Chinese columns).
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - SubmitAwesome-Design-Tools (opens in a new tab)
Awesome-Design-Tools
github.com/goabstract/awesome-design-toolsPropose the colour, image-resize and SVG tools in the matching design tool category.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - Submitawesome-devtools (devtoolsd) (opens in a new tab)
awesome-devtools (devtoolsd)
github.com/devtoolsd/awesome-devtoolsSubmit the developer tools hub as a browser-based utilities collection.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - Submitawesome-json (opens in a new tab)
awesome-json
github.com/burningtree/awesome-jsonAdd your JSON formatter/validator under online tools via PR.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - SubmitAwesome-Prompt-Engineering (opens in a new tab)
Awesome-Prompt-Engineering
github.com/promptslab/awesome-prompt-engineeringAdd the AI prompt tools to the Tools/Apps section via PR.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - Submitawesome-web-dev-tools (opens in a new tab)
awesome-web-dev-tools
github.com/naughtyspirit/awesome-web-dev-toolsAdd the developer utilities hub (encoders, formatters, minifiers) under tools.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - SubmitBeebom (opens in a new tab)
Beebom
beebom.comPitch the India-built free tools platform for their tools/how-to articles.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitBest of Web (opens in a new tab)
Best of Web
bestofweb.siteSubmit your tool as startup/tool; source says free dofollow.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingStartup/founder directory - SubmitCool Tools (kk.org) (opens in a new tab)
Cool Tools (kk.org)
kk.orgSubmit a reader-style recommendation of the step counter or PDF tools explaining real use.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitCrazyGames Developer Portal (opens in a new tab)
CrazyGames Developer Portal
crazygames.comUpload a finished HTML5 game through the developer portal; it goes through a playtest phase before a full release, and the game page credits you as the developer.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70FreeModerateNeeds checkingBrowser game portal - SubmitCurlie (opens in a new tab)
Curlie
curlie.orgSubmit your tool (or its blog/feed where required) under productivity, privacy or developer tools.
Estimated domain authority DA ~80DofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingWeb / business directory - SubmitEducators Technology (opens in a new tab)
Educators Technology
educatorstechnology.comPitch the free tools for their teacher tool roundups.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitFileHippo (opens in a new tab)
FileHippo
filehippo.comContact them to have your Windows or Mac software added to the catalogue.
Estimated domain authority DA ~85NofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingSoftware download portal - SubmitFileHorse (opens in a new tab)
FileHorse
filehorse.comSend your Windows or Mac software for review via their submission or contact page.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70FreeModerateNeeds checkingSoftware download portal - SubmitFree Technology for Teachers (opens in a new tab)
Free Technology for Teachers
freetech4teachers.comPitch one classroom-useful tool (e.g., PDF merge) with a short use case.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - Submitfree-for-dev (opens in a new tab)
free-for-dev
github.com/ripienaar/free-for-devOnly if a developer-facing free tier fits (e.g., an API), add it under the right section with the exact free limits.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - SubmitgHacks (opens in a new tab)
gHacks
ghacks.netSend a tip about the browser extension or a useful web tool.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitHasgeek (opens in a new tab)
Hasgeek
hasgeek.comPropose a talk on building privacy-first browser tools at a relevant Hasgeek event.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingCommunity - SubmitHelp a B2B Writer (opens in a new tab)
Help a B2B Writer
helpab2bwriter.comRegister as source for B2B content quote opportunities.
Estimated domain authority DA ~45FreeModerateNeeds checkingPR/source platform - SubmitHongkiat (opens in a new tab)
Hongkiat
hongkiat.comPitch the free online tools for their tool roundup posts.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitInternet Scout (Scout Report) (opens in a new tab)
Internet Scout (Scout Report)
wisc.eduSuggest the free tools platform as a resource for the Scout Report.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitITNEXT (opens in a new tab)
ITNEXT
itnext.ioRequest writer access for the publication and submit engineering, cloud or DevOps articles via Medium.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60NofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingSoftware engineering publication - SubmitJavaScript in Plain English (opens in a new tab)
JavaScript in Plain English
plainenglish.ioApply to become a writer for the In Plain English publications and submit clear programming tutorials.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60NofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingDeveloper publication network - SubmitKagi Small Web (opens in a new tab)
Kagi Small Web
kagi.comSubmit your tool (or its blog/feed where required) under productivity, privacy or developer tools.
Estimated domain authority DA ~70FreeModerateNeeds checkingWeb / business directory - SubmitMacUpdate (opens in a new tab)
MacUpdate
macupdate.comAdd your Mac app and keep version updates current so users get notified.
Estimated domain authority DA ~75NofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingMac software directory - SubmitMajorGeeks (opens in a new tab)
MajorGeeks
majorgeeks.comSubmit your Windows utility with a PAD file or download link for editorial review.
Estimated domain authority DA ~80FreeModerateNeeds checkingSoftware download portal - SubmitMakeUseOf (opens in a new tab)
MakeUseOf
makeuseof.comSend a tip about the free no-signup tools for their free-tools articles.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitOne Thing Well (opens in a new tab)
One Thing Well
onethingwell.orgSuggest your single-purpose tool (e.g., image compressor).
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - Submitooh.directory (opens in a new tab)
ooh.directory
ooh.directorySuggest your personal or independent blog through the site's suggestion option.
Estimated domain authority DA ~40FreeModerateNeeds checkingCurated blog directory - SubmitPlanet PostgreSQL (opens in a new tab)
Planet PostgreSQL
postgresql.orgIf you blog about PostgreSQL, register your feed so your Postgres posts are syndicated on the planet.
Estimated domain authority DA ~85Sometimes dofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingPostgreSQL blog aggregator - SubmitPlanet Python (opens in a new tab)
Planet Python
planetpython.orgAsk to have your Python-tagged blog feed added so your Python posts appear on the aggregator.
Estimated domain authority DA ~60Sometimes dofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingPython blog aggregator - SubmitProduct Coalition (opens in a new tab)
Product Coalition
productcoalition.comJoin the community and submit product management articles to the publication on Medium.
Estimated domain authority DA ~55NofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingProduct management publication - SubmitRecomendo (opens in a new tab)
Recomendo
recomendo.comSuggest one your tool tool as a short, useful recommendation.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page - SubmitSaaSBoomi (opens in a new tab)
SaaSBoomi
saasboomi.orgJoin the community and share learnings from building a free tools platform.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingCommunity - Submitsearch-engine-optimization (opens in a new tab)
search-engine-optimization
github.com/marcobiedermann/search-engine-optimizationAdd the free SEO utilities (meta tag checker, robots/sitemap tools) under Tools.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingAwesome list - SubmitSnapFiles (opens in a new tab)
SnapFiles
snapfiles.comSubmit freeware or shareware for Windows via their author submission page.
Estimated domain authority DA ~65FreeModerateNeeds checkingSoftware download portal - SubmitSpiceworks Community (opens in a new tab)
Spiceworks Community
community.spiceworks.comA good fit for IT and admin tools: answer IT pro questions and fill in your vendor or personal profile.
Estimated domain authority DA ~80NofollowFreeModerateNeeds checkingIT pro community - SubmitStartupBase (opens in a new tab)
StartupBase
startupbase.ioCreate startup profile linking canonical homepage.
Estimated domain authority DA ~45FreeModerateNeeds checkingStartup directory - SubmitTeachersFirst (opens in a new tab)
TeachersFirst
teachersfirst.comSuggest the calculators and PDF tools for teacher review.
FreeModerateNeeds checkingResource page
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.