A maintained list of 1,854 legitimate backlink sites: directories, profile creation sites, guest posting sites, launch platforms, registries and marketplaces. 1,532 are free or have a free tier, 44 usually give a dofollow link, and 772 have an estimated DA of 70 or more. Every row shows authority, link type, cost and effort, and links straight to the submit page.
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 | 78 | Featured | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | featured.com | PR and source platforms | Free + paid tier | Involved | High | Needs checking | Create expert source profile and answer tech/privacy/tool queries. | Earn editorial backlinks only from real quotes; no generic AI replies. | 2026-07-30 | Open Featured submit page (new tab)Featured details |
| 2 | 78 | Podnews | 70 | Sometimes dofollow | podnews.net | PR and source platforms | Free + paid tier | Involved | High | Live, conditional | Email a genuinely newsworthy your tool podcast or audio-tool launch story with concise facts, human artwork, and release timing. | No paid guest posts or link insertions; coverage is selective and only relevant to podcasting or on-demand audio. | 2026-08-05 | Open Podnews submit page (new tab)Podnews details |
| 3 | 63 | HARO (Help a Reporter Out) | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | helpareporter.com | PR and source platforms | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Sign up as a source and answer reporter queries in your area with short, quotable expert responses. | Answer only queries you are qualified for, and expect most pitches to go unused; links depend on the outlet. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open HARO (Help a Reporter Out) submit page (new tab)HARO (Help a Reporter Out) details |
| 4 | 43 | ExpertFile | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | expertfile.com | PR and source platforms | Free + paid tier | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Create an expert profile with your topics, bio and website so journalists and event organisers can find you. | Profiles need real credentials; premium features cost extra. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open ExpertFile submit page (new tab)ExpertFile details |
| 5 | 36 | Mynewsdesk | 75 | Sometimes dofollow | mynewsdesk.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Publish press releases, images and news in a hosted newsroom that links to your site. | It is a paid service and releases must be genuine news. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Mynewsdesk submit page (new tab)Mynewsdesk details |
| 6 | 36 | pr.co | 60 | Sometimes dofollow | pr.co | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Host a branded newsroom with your press releases and media kit, linking back to your site. | It is paid; releases should be real announcements. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open pr.co submit page (new tab)pr.co details |
| 7 | 36 | Prowly | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | prowly.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Use the paid PR tool to host a public newsroom and send releases to relevant journalists. | Mass irrelevant pitching harms deliverability and breaks the terms. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Prowly submit page (new tab)Prowly details |
| 8 | 36 | ReleaseWire | 65 | Sometimes dofollow | releasewire.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Moderate | Later | Needs checking | Publish a newsworthy announcement through the paid distribution service with a link to your site. | Releases are reviewed for news value and links may be nofollow on syndication partners. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open ReleaseWire submit page (new tab)ReleaseWire details |
Four steps that work for a new site, a SaaS or a side project. No paid link packages, nothing that risks a penalty.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.