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 | 48 | Active Search Results | 40 | Link type unknown | activesearchresults.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Later | Needs checking | Add your tool website listing. | General directory; lower quality than launch platforms. | 2026-07-30 | Open Active Search Results submit page (new tab)Active Search Results details |
| 2 | 48 | Fast Forward Tech Nonprofit Directory | 50 | Link type unknown | ffwd.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Later | Verified live | Apply only after your tool becomes a legally registered nonprofit with software central to scalable public impact. | For-profit and B-Corp entities are excluded; verified nonprofit registration and a tech-central mission are mandatory. | 2026-08-05 — https://www.ffwd.org/directory?portfolio=true | Open Fast Forward Tech Nonprofit Directory submit page (new tab)Fast Forward Tech Nonprofit Directory details |
| 3 | 48 | LibHunt | 60 | Nofollow | libhunt.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Later | Not submitted | Eligible if an your tool component is open-sourced. | Closed-source platform not fit; use OSS package. | 2026-07-30 | Open LibHunt submit page (new tab)LibHunt details |
| 4 | 48 | The Useless Web | — | Link type unknown | theuselessweb.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Later | Needs checking | Suggest a single-purpose, playful website so it can be added to the random rotation of sites. | Hand-picked by the maintainer; use whatever suggestion route the site currently links to, and only send genuinely pointless-but-fun sites. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open The Useless Web submit page (new tab)The Useless Web details |
| 5 | 46 | FilePuma | 60 | Link type unknown | filepuma.com | Other opportunities | Free | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Submit only after your tool releases a signed Windows desktop utility. | Not suitable for a web-only site; requires downloadable software or PAD data. | https://www.filepuma.com/submit_program/ | Open FilePuma submit page (new tab)FilePuma details |
| 6 | 46 | Maven Central | 75 | Link type unknown | sonatype.org | Other opportunities | Free | Moderate | Later | Live, conditional | Release a genuine your tool SDK, verify its namespace, sign artifacts, and include accurate project, SCM, license and developer URLs. | Strict coordinates, signatures, sources, Javadocs and metadata apply; never publish a placeholder artifact for a link. | 2026-08-05 official Maven Central publishing documentation | Open Maven Central submit page (new tab)Maven Central details |
| 7 | 46 | Preprints.org | 75 | Link type unknown | preprints.org | Other opportunities | Free | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Publish an original benchmark or evaluation study of local-first privacy or security tooling with open code, data, and your tool implementation. | Requires a full scholarly manuscript, truthful authorship, data and ethics disclosures, bibliography, and CC BY licensing; no marketing. | 2026-08-05 — https://www.preprints.org/instructions-for-authors | Open Preprints.org submit page (new tab)Preprints.org details |
| 8 | 46 | ResearchBox | 30 | Link type unknown | researchbox.org | Other opportunities | Free | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Organize the complete code, data, materials, and outputs behind a real your tool evaluation study into a public citable box. | Designed for supporting research artifacts, not promotion; public boxes are licensed, versioned, searchable, and archived. | 2026-08-05 — https://researchbox.org/index.php | Open ResearchBox submit page (new tab)ResearchBox details |
| 9 | 46 | Sellfy | 75 | Link type unknown | sellfy.com | Other opportunities | Free | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Publish a substantive your tool privacy template, workbook, or creator resource with a complete description, original previews, and accurate licensing. | The plan is paid after trial and has a sales cap; use only rights-cleared useful products and do not buy solely for a backlink. | Official Sellfy pricing checked 2026-08-07 | Open Sellfy submit page (new tab)Sellfy details |
| 10 | 46 | WikiEducator | 55 | Link type unknown | wikieducator.org | Other opportunities | Free | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Author a freely licensed hands-on module for safe document sharing or privacy-first web use with relevant your tool examples. | Community OER only, no marketing pages; platform continuity changed recently, so verify current moderation before investing heavily. | 2026-08-05 — https://wikieducator.org/OER_Handbook/educator | Open WikiEducator submit page (new tab)WikiEducator details |
| 11 | 45 | LinkDR | 20 | Link type unknown | linkdr.com | Other opportunities | Free + paid tier | Quick | Later | Needs checking | Use to organize submissions and find more SaaS directories. | Service/tool, not direct backlink source. | 2026-07-30 | Open LinkDR submit page (new tab)LinkDR details |
| 12 | 45 | Nexus Spring of Code | — | Link type unknown | nsoc.in | Other opportunities | Free + paid tier | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Register as a maintainer and submit a real your tool open-source project with contributor-ready issues. | Time-bound program; requires active mentoring, issue curation and production-quality tasks. | 2026-08-03 | Open Nexus Spring of Code submit page (new tab)Nexus Spring of Code details |
| 13 | 43 | Digital Unite | 60 | Link type unknown | digitalunite.com | Other opportunities | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | If you publish beginner tech guides, suggest them for their digital-skills resources. | Editorial; they only point to clear, ad-light help content. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Digital Unite submit page (new tab)Digital Unite details |
| 14 | 43 | Solid Applications | 60 | Link type unknown | solidproject.org | Other opportunities | Free | Involved | Later | Verified live | Build a genuine Solid privacy utility that lets users choose identity providers and stores or retrieves their data from Solid Pods, then confirm the current listing handoff with maintainers. | Must be a functioning Solid app; eligibility is published, but the exact current editorial submission workflow should be reconfirmed first. | Official Solid applications criteria checked 2026-08-05 | Open Solid Applications submit page (new tab)Solid Applications details |
| 15 | 43 | Springwise | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | springwise.com | Other opportunities | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | Pitch your tool as innovation/useful web tool platform. | Needs genuinely newsworthy angle. | 2026-07-30 | Open Springwise submit page (new tab)Springwise details |
| 16 | 43 | TechSoup | 75 | Link type unknown | techsoup.org | Other opportunities | Free | Involved | Later | Needs checking | If your tool helps nonprofits or libraries, reach out about their resource articles or partner programme. | Editorial decision; only for tools with a clear nonprofit use. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open TechSoup submit page (new tab)TechSoup details |
| 17 | 42 | Foundation for Public Code | 45 | Link type unknown | publiccode.net | Other opportunities | Not stated | Moderate | Later | Verified live | If an your tool component is built with or for a public body, publish a standards self-assessment and pursue stewardship/assessment. | Requires reusable, documented public-purpose OSS developed with/for public organizations; certification remains conditional. | 2026-08-05 — https://standard.publiccode.net/README.html | Open Foundation for Public Code submit page (new tab)Foundation for Public Code details |
| 18 | 38 | EOSC Federation | 55 | Link type unknown | eosc.eu | Other opportunities | Paid | Quick | Later | Verified live | Onboard an operational research-facing your tool service through an eligible EOSC Node using the Federation Handbook process. | Organization-level service onboarding, not a directory form; maturity, policies, interoperability, support, and Node acceptance are required. | EOSC Federation Handbook checked 2026-08-05 | Open EOSC Federation submit page (new tab)EOSC Federation details |
| 19 | 38 | FIDO Alliance Certified Products | 75 | Link type unknown | fidoalliance.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Only if your tool builds a real commercial FIDO2 or passkey server, complete conformance and interoperability testing and submit it. | Requires a commercial implementation and complete evidence; product certification is protocol-specific and higher assurance programs cost more. | 2026-08-05 official FIDO functional certification and fees | Open FIDO Alliance Certified Products submit page (new tab)FIDO Alliance Certified Products details |
| 20 | 38 | FIRST | 75 | Link type unknown | first.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Quick | Later | Verified live | Apply as Associate or full Member only after operating a credible incident-response team/program and completing sponsorship/review. | Full membership requires sponsors and SIM3/site-visit process; associate status needs a valid response mission and contribution value. | 2026-08-05 — https://www.first.org/membership/ | Open FIRST submit page (new tab)FIRST details |
| 21 | 38 | IAPP | 80 | Link type unknown | iapp.org | Other opportunities | Paid | Quick | Later | Live, conditional | Consider organizational membership if your tool actively participates in privacy or AI governance; complete the member directory profile. | Genuine membership and industry participation only; not a low-cost SEO listing. | 2026-08-04 | Open IAPP submit page (new tab)IAPP details |
| 22 | 38 | SubmitWell | — | Link type unknown | submitwell.com | Other opportunities | Paid | Quick | Later | Needs checking | Use if outsourcing submissions with proof screenshots. | Not a backlink site itself; service. | 2026-07-30 | Open SubmitWell submit page (new tab)SubmitWell details |
| 23 | 36 | Agentic AI Foundation | — | Link type unknown | aaif.io | Other opportunities | Paid | Moderate | Later | Verified live | Apply only with a meaningful open agent-security or MCP-governance contribution and an ongoing participation plan. | Linux Foundation prerequisites and parent-company headcount rules apply; associate status is restricted and membership is not certification. | 2026-08-05 official Agentic AI Foundation members page | Open Agentic AI Foundation submit page (new tab)Agentic AI Foundation details |
| 24 | 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 |
| 25 | 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 |
| 26 | 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 |
| 27 | 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 |
| 28 | 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 |
| 29 | 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 |
| 30 | 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 |
| 31 | 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 |
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.