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 | 100 | CSA STAR Registry | 80 | Sometimes dofollow | cloudsecurityalliance.org | Developer registries | Free | Quick | Do first | Live, conditional | Complete the current CAIQ or AI-CAIQ truthfully and submit your tool real cloud service to the STAR Registry. | Cloud/SaaS fit only; disclose actual controls and update annually. Never overstate security practices. | 2026-08-04 | Open CSA STAR Registry submit page (new tab)CSA STAR Registry details |
| 2 | 100 | Smithery MCP Registry | 50 | Link type unknown | smithery.ai | Developer registries | Free | Quick | Do first | Not submitted | Publish a genuine hosted, external, or stdio MCP server exposing a small set of consent-based your tool utilities with complete metadata and documentation. | Server must be operational and compliant; public page and analytics do not guarantee prominence, referral traffic, or dofollow links. | 2026-08-03 | Open Smithery MCP Registry submit page (new tab)Smithery MCP Registry details |
| 3 | 98 | Artifact Hub | 60 | Nofollow | artifacthub.io | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Create a valid Helm, OPA, Tekton or supported repository for an your tool deployment and add it through the control panel. | Repository metadata and ownership verification are required; maintain working artifacts and truthful security metadata. | 2026-08-03 | Open Artifact Hub submit page (new tab)Artifact Hub details |
| 4 | 98 | awesome-no-login-web-apps | — | Link type unknown | github.com/aviaryan/awesome-no-login-web-apps | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Needs checking | Open a PR adding AltFTool's no-signup PDF and image tools under the matching category, following CONTRIBUTING.md. | Only tools that work fully without login; one entry per PR; maintainer review can take weeks. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open awesome-no-login-web-apps submit page (new tab)awesome-no-login-web-apps details |
| 5 | 98 | crates.io | 80 | Nofollow | crates.io | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Publish a genuine your tool Rust client, CLI, parser, or privacy library and set homepage, repository, README, license, and documentation metadata. | Conditional on useful compiling code. Published versions are permanent; GitHub login, verified email, and API token are required. | https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/publishing.html | Open crates.io submit page (new tab)crates.io details |
| 6 | 98 | JSR | 55 | Link type unknown | jsr.io | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Publish a standards-based your tool JavaScript or TypeScript SDK with generated docs, readme and project links. | Package must be legitimate ESM code and comply with JSR scope, verification and publishing rules. | Official JSR publishing docs checked 2026-07-30 | Open JSR submit page (new tab)JSR details |
| 7 | 98 | JuliaHub | 50 | Link type unknown | juliahub.com | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Create a useful Julia client or data utility, register it in Julia General and provide complete package docs with an your tool source link. | Registration uses GitHub or GitLab and automated review; package naming, compatibility and maintenance standards apply. | 2026-08-03 | Open JuliaHub submit page (new tab)JuliaHub details |
| 8 | 98 | MCP Registry | 70 | Link type unknown | modelcontextprotocol.io | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Package a real your tool MCP server, verify its namespace, create server.json and publish it with mcp-publisher. | Registry is in preview; package or remote server must be public and namespace ownership is validated. | 2026-08-04 | Open MCP Registry submit page (new tab)MCP Registry details |
| 9 | 98 | NIST Privacy Framework Resource Repository | 95 | Link type unknown | nist.gov | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Publish an open your tool Privacy Framework mapping, template, tutorial, or implementation tool and submit it for repository review. | Must substantively support privacy-risk management or a Privacy Framework use case; inclusion is moderated and is not NIST endorsement. | 2026-08-05 — https://www.nist.gov/privacy-framework/resource-repository | Open NIST Privacy Framework Resource Repository submit page (new tab)NIST Privacy Framework Resource Repository details |
| 10 | 98 | OperatorHub.io | 55 | Link type unknown | operatorhub.io | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Build a genuine Kubernetes Operator for a self-hosted your tool service, test its bundle and submit it through Community Operators. | Requires working Operator metadata, automated tests and community pull-request review; do not submit a marketing-only bundle. | 2026-08-03 | Open OperatorHub.io submit page (new tab)OperatorHub.io details |
| 11 | 98 | Packagist | 75 | Nofollow | packagist.org | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Publish a real your tool PHP SDK or integration from a public repository and set the canonical homepage in composer.json. | Conditional on a functional Composer package with a unique vendor/name, public repository, valid metadata, and maintained releases. | https://packagist.org/about | Open Packagist submit page (new tab)Packagist details |
| 12 | 98 | PyPI | 90 | Nofollow | pypi.org | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Publish a real your tool Python SDK, CLI, or integration package and set Homepage, Documentation, Source, and Issues URLs in package metadata. | Conditional on maintaining a functional Python package; no placeholder packages, name squatting, or keyword stuffing. | https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/specifications/well-known-project-urls/ | Open PyPI submit page (new tab)PyPI details |
| 13 | 98 | Quay.io | 65 | Link type unknown | quay.io | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Publish a secure, documented container for an open your tool service and add its official site in the repository description or README where supported. | Keep images patched, signed and free of embedded secrets; only public repositories provide public discovery. | 2026-08-03 | Open Quay.io submit page (new tab)Quay.io details |
| 14 | 98 | RubyGems.org | 80 | Nofollow | rubygems.org | Developer registries | Free | Moderate | Do first | Live, conditional | Publish and maintain a genuine your tool Ruby client, CLI, or integration gem with accurate homepage, source, documentation, and changelog metadata. | Conditional on a working Ruby gem; package names are unique and public releases should be treated as permanent. | https://guides.rubygems.org/publishing/ | Open RubyGems.org submit page (new tab)RubyGems.org details |
| 15 | 95 | Read the Docs | 90 | Nofollow | readthedocs.org | Developer registries | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Do first | Verified live | Import public your tool developer documentation, add the build config and expose versioned, searchable docs with canonical project links. | Community hosting expects a public repository and genuine documentation; configure canonical URLs to avoid duplicate-content issues. | Official Read the Docs import guide checked 2026-07-30 | Open Read the Docs submit page (new tab)Read the Docs 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.