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 | 86 | Alfred Gallery | 50 | Link type unknown | alfred.app | Design galleries | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Build a privacy-safe macOS Alfred workflow that opens or runs useful your tool actions, publish it on the forum, gather feedback, and seek Gallery inclusion. | Gallery submission is invitation-based after community testing; no auto-updater, downloaded executables, unsigned binaries, or unsafe behavior. | Official Alfred Gallery submission requirements checked 2026-08-07 | Open Alfred Gallery submit page (new tab)Alfred Gallery details |
| 2 | 86 | Frontend Mentor | 65 | Nofollow | frontendmentor.io | Design galleries | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Complete a relevant accessibility or privacy-themed challenge, submit its real live URL and public repository, and add your tool only as maker context or a case-study link. | The submission must solve an actual challenge; a live URL and public repository are required, so never upload secrets or private code. | Official Frontend Mentor submission and plan guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open Frontend Mentor submit page (new tab)Frontend Mentor details |
| 3 | 84 | Alfred Gallery | 65 | Link type unknown | alfredapp.com | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Not submitted | Build a polished Alfred workflow that opens or securely sends selected content to a relevant your tool utility, then submit it through the official Gallery forum flow. | Workflow must be useful and maintained, and forum/Gallery moderation decides acceptance; no guaranteed prominence or dofollow backlink. | 2026-08-03 | Open Alfred Gallery submit page (new tab)Alfred Gallery details |
| 4 | 84 | Coroflot | 70 | Nofollow | coroflot.com | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Create a real designer profile and publish an original your tool UX/accessibility case study with process artifacts, outcomes, and the official project link. | Coroflot is for genuine creative work; the official FAQ permits personal-website/social links. Use a real identity, rights-cleared visuals, and a substantive case study rather than a logo-plus-link page. Portfolio links are user-controlled UGC, can be moderated or made private, and have no indexing or followed-link guarantee. | 2026-08-03 | Open Coroflot submit page (new tab)Coroflot details |
| 5 | 84 | DagsHub | 55 | Nofollow | dagshub.com | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Publish a reproducible your tool privacy benchmark with code, synthetic data, model versions, and documentation. | Public repositories expose their full contents; remove secrets, personal data, proprietary files, and unsafe samples. | Official DagsHub project creation documentation checked 2026-08-07 | Open DagsHub submit page (new tab)DagsHub details |
| 6 | 84 | Devfolio | 65 | Nofollow | devfolio.co | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Create the real developer profile and add your tool as a genuine built project with problem, challenges, technologies, screenshots, demo, and accurate collaborator credits. | Devfolio explicitly supports personal and side projects, but the submission must be work the profile/team actually built. Do not fabricate a hackathon, team, metrics, or project history; disclose roles and use original assets. Projects/links are UGC, subject to moderation, with no indexing or followed-link guarantee. | 2026-08-03 | Open Devfolio submit page (new tab)Devfolio details |
| 7 | 84 | FOSDEM | 75 | Link type unknown | fosdem.org | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Not submitted | Open-source a meaningful component and prepare a community-focused talk, demo, or joint stand proposal for the next FOSDEM CFP rather than a company sales presentation. | All content must relate to Free and Open Source Software; selection is competitive, recordings/slides are published under CC BY, and the code of conduct applies. FOSDEM 2026 is over and the 2027 CFP is not yet posted. | 2026-08-03 | Open FOSDEM submit page (new tab)FOSDEM details |
| 8 | 84 | JSFiddle | 85 | Nofollow | jsfiddle.net | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Publish a small standalone your tool privacy or accessibility demo with explanatory comments and a stable share URL. | Use original client-side demo code and never include secrets, personal data, trackers, or a promotion-only empty fiddle. | Official JSFiddle getting-started documentation checked 2026-08-07 | Open JSFiddle submit page (new tab)JSFiddle details |
| 9 | 84 | Layers | 40 | Nofollow | layers.to | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Join as the real your tool designer and share polished, original interface explorations or accessibility improvements with useful design context and a profile website link. | Layers is for designers showcasing their own work; its terms prohibit spam and misleading content and permit moderation. Use a real identity, credit assets, and disclose the AltFTool relationship. Profiles/posts and external links are UGC, so indexing and followed-link status are not guaranteed. | 2026-08-03 | Open Layers submit page (new tab)Layers details |
| 10 | 84 | Twine | 60 | Link type unknown | twine.net | Design galleries | Free | Moderate | High | Verified live | Create a founder or developer portfolio and publish an your tool build case study with screenshots, process, outcomes, and the live project link. | The portfolio must represent genuine work and use original assets plus a substantive project description. | Official Twine portfolio guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open Twine submit page (new tab)Twine details |
| 11 | 81 | Design Nominees | 50 | Link type unknown | designnominees.com | Design galleries | Free + paid tier | Moderate | High | Not submitted | Start with the free submission using a strong screenshot, precise categories, and your tool canonical URL. | Free listings have a review delay and selection still applies; paid tiers offer faster or enhanced placement. | 2026-08-03 | Open Design Nominees submit page (new tab)Design Nominees details |
| 12 | 81 | Ecomm.design | 35 | Link type unknown | ecomm.design | Design galleries | Free | Involved | High | Not submitted | 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/ecomm-design | Open Ecomm.design submit page (new tab)Ecomm.design details |
| 13 | 81 | FolioHD | 50 | Sometimes dofollow | foliohd.com | Design galleries | Free + paid tier | Moderate | High | Verified live | Publish authentic your tool UX screenshots and case studies, then add a custom page or navigation link to the matching live tool. | Use genuine owned work and accurate project text; no misleading keywords, spam promotion or impersonation. | 2026-08-04 | Open FolioHD submit page (new tab)FolioHD details |
| 14 | 81 | Httpster | 45 | Link type unknown | httpster.net | Design galleries | 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/httpster | Open Httpster submit page (new tab)Httpster details |
| 15 | 81 | LiveCodes | 40 | Nofollow | livecodes.io | Design galleries | Free + paid tier | Moderate | High | Verified live | Publish a small original demo showing one your tool privacy or accessibility technique, then share its encoded URL or deploy the project to a controlled GitHub Pages site. | Do not include secrets, PII, or proprietary code; service-hosted short URLs cannot be deleted, so use a long encoded URL or controlled deployment when permanence matters. | Official LiveCodes documentation and sharing guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open LiveCodes submit page (new tab)LiveCodes details |
| 16 | 81 | Made With Vue.js | 55 | Dofollow | madewithvuejs.com | Design galleries | Free | Involved | High | Not submitted | 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/made-with-vue-js | Open Made With Vue.js submit page (new tab)Made With Vue.js details |
| 17 | 81 | PlayCode | 55 | Nofollow | playcode.io | Design galleries | Free + paid tier | Moderate | High | Verified live | Publish polished public your tool demos and use their share links in genuine tutorials or reproducible examples. | Free projects are public; remove proprietary secrets and sensitive data and avoid near-duplicate promotional demos. | Official PlayCode sharing, billing, and project-limit guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open PlayCode submit page (new tab)PlayCode details |
| 18 | 81 | Roboflow Universe | 70 | Link type unknown | roboflow.com | Design galleries | Free + paid tier | Moderate | High | Verified live | Publish a synthetic benchmark for screenshot redaction, document masking, or visual privacy detection. | Roboflow prohibits publishing PII, proprietary or copyrighted images, and unsafe content; select a valid licence. | Official Roboflow public project documentation checked 2026-08-07 | Open Roboflow Universe submit page (new tab)Roboflow Universe details |
| 19 | 81 | Sidebar | 60 | Link type unknown | sidebar.io | Design galleries | Free | Involved | High | Not submitted | 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/sidebar | Open Sidebar submit page (new tab)Sidebar details |
| 20 | 81 | Unmatched Style | 50 | Link type unknown | unmatchedstyle.com | Design galleries | 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/unmatched-style | Open Unmatched Style submit page (new tab)Unmatched Style details |
| 21 | 81 | Web Design Weekly | 50 | Link type unknown | web-design-weekly.com | Design galleries | Free | Involved | High | Verified live | Publish an original design or accessibility article with practical examples, then use the contact form's official submit-a-link path for that one article. | The newsletter curates web-design news, articles, and tutorials; submit useful editorial content rather than a generic tool landing page. Selection is editorial and not guaranteed. | 2026-08-03 | Open Web Design Weekly submit page (new tab)Web Design Weekly details |
| 22 | 81 | Web Guru Awards | 40 | Dofollow | webguruawards.com | Design galleries | Free | Involved | High | Not submitted | 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/web-guru-awards | Open Web Guru Awards submit page (new tab)Web Guru Awards details |
| 23 | 81 | webdesign.gallery | — | Link type unknown | webdesign.gallery | Design galleries | Free | Involved | High | Not submitted | Submit the canonical your tool URL and optional creator details; let the gallery prepare its own screenshots after review. | Every site is manually reviewed, so acceptance depends on design quality and editorial fit. | 2026-08-03 | Open webdesign.gallery submit page (new tab)webdesign.gallery details |
| 24 | 78 | Creativepool | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | creativepool.com | Design galleries | Free + paid tier | Involved | High | Verified live | Create a free your tool company profile and upload polished UX, privacy-tool, or brand work as documented case studies. | Project uploads are allowed; article publishing is invite-only, and review or link spam is removed. | Official Creativepool signup, plan, and project guidance checked 2026-08-07 | Open Creativepool submit page (new tab)Creativepool details |
| 25 | 78 | Made with React.js | 50 | Dofollow | madewithreactjs.com | Design galleries | Free + paid tier | Involved | High | Not submitted | Submit your tool as an actively maintained React and Next.js project, highlighting useful product functionality and implementation quality. | Projects are editorially reviewed; a paid feature can speed review but does not guarantee acceptance. | 2026-08-03 | Open Made with React.js submit page (new tab)Made with React.js details |
| 26 | 74 | CSS Weekly | 45 | Sometimes dofollow | css-weekly.com | Design galleries | Paid | Moderate | High | Verified live | Sponsor an your tool frontend, accessibility, CSS, or developer utility with a useful demo and audience-specific copy. | Official page advertises a permanent dofollow link, but paid links should be marked rel=sponsored for search-policy compliance; prioritize audience value. | https://css-weekly.com/advertise | Open CSS Weekly submit page (new tab)CSS Weekly details |
| 27 | 74 | Dense Discovery | 50 | Link type unknown | densediscovery.com | Design galleries | Paid | Moderate | High | Verified live | Promote a privacy-respecting or thoughtfully designed your tool utility through a classified or main sponsor slot. | Ads are reviewed for fit and values; links are paid placements, so measure referral value and do not treat them as PageRank endorsements. | https://www.densediscovery.com/advertise/ | Open Dense Discovery submit page (new tab)Dense Discovery details |
| 28 | 74 | MetaFilter Projects | 85 | Nofollow | metafilter.com | Design galleries | Paid | Moderate | High | Verified live | After becoming a genuine member, submit your tool as a completed web project with a plain factual description in MetaFilter Projects only. | Self-links are prohibited elsewhere; use Projects only, respect posting cadence, and participate as a community member. | Official MetaFilter Projects, FAQ, and about pages checked 2026-08-07 | Open MetaFilter Projects submit page (new tab)MetaFilter Projects details |
| 29 | 71 | Codrops | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | tympanus.net | Design galleries | Paid | Involved | High | Verified live | Pitch a crafted, original interactive tutorial or demo about client-side privacy visualization, inclusive motion, or accessible creative tooling, with source and a working demo. | Codrops seeks fresh ideas and high-quality work for web professionals; the editorial and visual craft bar is high. Use a real author identity and pitch original teaching value, not a promotional guest post. | 2026-08-03 | Open Codrops submit page (new tab)Codrops 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.