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 | Glama MCP Directory | 50 | Link type unknown | glama.ai | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Do first | Not submitted | Deploy a maintained your tool MCP server from GitHub, Docker, npm, or PyPI, verify maintainer ownership, and switch it public only after production testing. | Hosted servers are private by default; public listing requires a real working server, and ranking or backlink attributes remain platform-controlled. | 2026-08-03 | Open Glama MCP Directory submit page (new tab)Glama MCP Directory details |
| 2 | 100 | MERLOT | 70 | Link type unknown | merlot.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Do first | Verified live | Publish a genuinely reusable privacy or accessibility lesson on your tool, give it a stable URL and open license, then add its educational metadata to MERLOT. | The resource must be an online OER with its own URL; subscription-only material is inappropriate. Supply discipline, audience, material type, description, author, license, cost, and accessibility metadata honestly. | 2026-08-03 | Open MERLOT submit page (new tab)MERLOT details |
| 3 | 86 | Apache Airflow Ecosystem | 90 | Nofollow | airflow.apache.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Create a real your tool Airflow provider with hooks/operators and documentation metadata, publish it, then add it to Airflow’s Ecosystem page by PR. | Provider must implement apache_airflow_provider metadata, use unique connection types, be documented and packaged; ecosystem PR is evaluated for community usefulness. | 2026-08-05 — https://airflow.apache.org/docs/apache-airflow-providers/howto/create-custom-providers.html | Open Apache Airflow Ecosystem submit page (new tab)Apache Airflow Ecosystem details |
| 4 | 86 | APIList.fun | 45 | Link type unknown | apilist.fun | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Recommend an official your tool API with its documentation URL, concise Markdown description, category, and technical details. | Submit only an active public API with accurate auth, SSL, request, and response information. | 2026-08-05 | Open APIList.fun submit page (new tab)APIList.fun details |
| 5 | 86 | APIs.guru OpenAPI Directory | 50 | Link type unknown | apis.guru | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | When your tool exposes a stable public API, host an official OpenAPI definition at a permanent URL and submit it with accurate ownership, category, logo, and metadata. | The API must be public through clearly documented access steps, persistent, independently useful, and described by a valid machine-readable definition. APIs.guru aggregates rather than hosts the specification and automatically rechecks its source, so keep the canonical spec stable and current. | 2026-08-03 | Open APIs.guru OpenAPI Directory submit page (new tab)APIs.guru OpenAPI Directory details |
| 6 | 86 | FOSSRadar | — | Link type unknown | fossradar.dev | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | After open-sourcing a maintained component, submit the TOML project file and website through GitHub PR. | Must be India-founded, India-maintained or serve Indian users; repository and license are required. | 2026-08-03 | Open FOSSRadar submit page (new tab)FOSSRadar details |
| 7 | 86 | Fourthwall | 70 | Nofollow | fourthwall.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Offer a substantial free privacy checklist, accessibility workbook, or safety template from a branded storefront and link your tool only as supporting documentation. | Publish useful rights-cleared products rather than thin promotional downloads; payment rates vary and the free plan has listing limits. | Official Fourthwall digital-products, pricing, and terms pages checked 2026-08-07 | Open Fourthwall submit page (new tab)Fourthwall details |
| 8 | 86 | Global Accessibility Awareness Day | 30 | Link type unknown | accessibility.day | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Host a genuine public accessibility learning or testing event and submit its dates, description and your tool event URL. | The event must be real and accessibility-focused; use a public event page, not a disguised product listing. | 2026-08-05 — https://accessibility.day/submit-your-event | Open Global Accessibility Awareness Day submit page (new tab)Global Accessibility Awareness Day details |
| 9 | 86 | Goodpods | 60 | Nofollow | goodpods.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Search for and claim a real your tool podcast, then keep its RSS-supplied website and episode metadata accurate. | Claim only a show AltFTool owns; authentic podcast content and RSS ownership are required. | 2026-08-04 | Open Goodpods submit page (new tab)Goodpods details |
| 10 | 86 | HSTS Preload List | 70 | Link type unknown | hstspreload.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Not submitted | Audit every your tool subdomain, stage HSTS safely, then submit the base domain only after long-term HTTPS readiness is proven. | Requires a valid certificate, HTTP-to-HTTPS redirect, HTTPS on every subdomain, and HSTS max-age of at least one year with includeSubDomains and preload. Inclusion is difficult and slow to undo, so do not submit before a staged rollout. | 2026-08-03 | Open HSTS Preload List submit page (new tab)HSTS Preload List details |
| 11 | 86 | Listen Notes | 80 | Dofollow | listennotes.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Submit a real your tool podcast RSS feed whose show website and episode notes naturally reference relevant tools. | Valid human-made podcast with substantive episodes only; low-quality or link-only feeds are rejected. | 2026-08-04 | Open Listen Notes submit page (new tab)Listen Notes details |
| 12 | 86 | OpenChain | 50 | Link type unknown | openchainproject.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Implement a scoped open-source compliance or security-assurance program, self-certify honestly, then request your tool Community of Conformance listing. | Every applicable answer must truthfully be yes and scope must be explicit; self-certification is not independent certification or endorsement. | 2026-08-05 official conformance submission, FAQ and Community of Conformance pages | Open OpenChain submit page (new tab)OpenChain details |
| 13 | 86 | Player FM | 80 | Nofollow | player.fm | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Submit a genuine your tool podcast RSS feed or Apple Podcasts URL with accurate show-website and episode metadata. | Feed must be public, accessible and contain playable audio enclosures; do not submit a fake link-only feed. | 2026-08-04 | Open Player FM submit page (new tab)Player FM details |
| 14 | 86 | Pocket Casts | 70 | Link type unknown | pocketcasts.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Submit a real public your tool podcast RSS feed whose metadata and episode notes reference the official site naturally. | Requires a valid public RSS feed and genuine episodes; do not submit a shell or private feed as public. | 2026-08-05 | Open Pocket Casts submit page (new tab)Pocket Casts details |
| 15 | 86 | PulseMCP | 45 | Link type unknown | pulsemcp.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | Submit your tool MCP repository or public server URL, preferably after publishing it to the official MCP Registry. | Registry data is processed periodically; only submit a real repository, server or client. | 2026-08-04 | Open PulseMCP submit page (new tab)PulseMCP details |
| 16 | 86 | PWA Directory | 35 | Link type unknown | pwa.directory | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Live, conditional | First pass PWA checks, then submit the installable HTTPS app with manifest, service worker, offline behavior, icons, and screenshots. | Requires a valid manifest, registered service worker, useful offline behavior, HTTPS, no broken links, and more than a bare website wrapper. | 2026-08-03 | Open PWA Directory submit page (new tab)PWA Directory details |
| 17 | 86 | Sensu Bonsai | 50 | Link type unknown | bonsai.sensu.io | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Publish an open-source Sensu check/handler for your tool, create GitHub releases and bonsai.yml, then register it with description and tags. | GitHub-hosted open-source asset; release archives, supported platforms, SHA-512 checksums, useful README and correct Bonsai metadata are required. | 2026-08-05 — https://docs.sensu.io/sensu-go/latest/plugins/assets/#share-an-asset-on-bonsai | Open Sensu Bonsai submit page (new tab)Sensu Bonsai details |
| 18 | 86 | StackStorm Exchange | 45 | Link type unknown | exchange.stackstorm.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | High | Verified live | Create a useful StackStorm integration or automation pack for an your tool workflow, then submit it through the official Exchange Incubator pull-request process. | Pack must contain real actions, workflows, rules or sensors; pack.yaml metadata must pass naming, email, Python and SemVer checks, and contribution grants the documented copyright licence. | 2026-08-05 | Open StackStorm Exchange submit page (new tab)StackStorm Exchange details |
| 19 | 68 | itch.io | 90 | Nofollow | itch.io | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | Publish a genuine browser or desktop your tool utility with screenshots, documentation and an official-site link. | Content must be an actual downloadable or browser-run project and follow itch.io quality/content rules; not a generic directory listing. | https://itch.io/developers | Open itch.io submit page (new tab)itch.io details |
| 20 | 68 | Participedia | 50 | Link type unknown | participedia.net | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Medium | Verified live | Document a real participatory public-decision deployment as a Case, Method or Organization entry with evaluations and project URL. | Community knowledge base, not a product directory; cite credible sources and show genuine participation outcomes. | 2026-08-05 — https://participedia.net/getting-started | Open Participedia submit page (new tab)Participedia details |
| 21 | 68 | ProcessWire Modules Directory | 65 | Link type unknown | processwire.com | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Medium | Verified live | Build a ProcessWire admin module for external URL, metadata, accessibility or security audits, register as a module author and submit it to the official directory. | Author login required; avoid duplicating existing SEO modules and provide a specific external-audit workflow with maintained source, documentation and support. | 2026-08-05 | Open ProcessWire Modules Directory submit page (new tab)ProcessWire Modules Directory details |
| 22 | 68 | PublicAPIs.io | 40 | Link type unknown | publicapis.io | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Medium | Live, conditional | List a legitimate documented your tool API in the relevant developer category using the normal or Pro review queue. | API must be real and documented; paid placement should be disclosed and does not guarantee organic ranking value. | 2026-08-05 | Open PublicAPIs.io submit page (new tab)PublicAPIs.io details |
| 23 | 68 | SciCrunch RRID Resource Portal | 60 | Link type unknown | scicrunch.org | Other opportunities | Free | Quick | Medium | Verified live | Register a stable, genuinely research-used your tool software, service, or database with accurate maintainer and version metadata. | Must be a persistent research resource; acceptance or identifier assignment is curated and not intended for promotional listings. | 2026-08-05 — https://scicrunch.org/resources/about/resource?form=Resource&rel=26 | Open SciCrunch RRID Resource Portal submit page (new tab)SciCrunch RRID Resource Portal 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.