Effective Guides for High-Quality Link Acquisition
Free backlinks still operate in 2026, but only from sites with real traffic and editorial standards. The other kind (mass directories with a DA above 40 and nothing behind it) primarily get you a nofollow tag and a squandered afternoon. This list pulls from actual website stocks: BacklinkForMe's own totally free backlink websites page, Locafy's company directory research, and the named platforms Ahrefs and Backlinko point to in their own link structure guides.
Moz's DA and Ahrefs' DR are various scoring systems, and third-party price quotes wander over time, so re-check anything you're about to spend genuine time on. A few guidelines before you begin sending: Many of the websites listed below are nofollow (Google Organization Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and nearly every social platform are nofollow by default).
Directories cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) information. The websites in that section below turn down submissions that check out like an advertisement.
A lot of are nofollow, but they're still worth declaring because they develop NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both use as a regional ranking signal, and since a declared Google Business Profile or Bing Places listing appears straight in map and local search results page no matter link worth. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Business for local/map presence, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's equivalent, quicker approval than GoogleApple Service Apple Maps and Siri company resultsFacebook Business Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso functions as an evaluation and messaging channelLinkedIn Business Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, doubles as a reliability signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial free)Free basic profile, paid tiers add featuresBetter Service Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, local pricing obtains accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that certify its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial complimentary)Tradition directory site, still gets real search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree standard listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree organization listing connected to map dataMantamanta.com72NofollowFree tier, SMB-focusedAngi (formerly Angie's List)angi.com91VariesBest for home services, some classifications require paid membershipNextdoor Businessnextdoor.com91Nofollow (partial complimentary)Hyperlocal, strong for neighborhood-facing businessesCitysearchcitysearch.com72NofollowFree listingHotfroghotfrog.com60NofollowFree, instant approvalChamber of Commerce (local chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership fee typically uses, but the directory site listing itself is frequently includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree fundamental listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, instant listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree basic tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the few totally free directories that remains dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing across the majority of regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, includes evaluation functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree fundamental business profileData Axle (InfoUSA)dataaxle.com76N/ AFeeds data to dozens of downstream directory sites and GPS systems Source for the directory-tier data: Locafy's organization directory site list.
5 tier data packStrategic Multilayered Link Strategies for 2026
These matter more for a SaaS or app than a basic company directory does, due to the fact that the traffic is buyers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Release directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to release dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree fundamental company profile, heavily indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as an employing channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software review directoryFree basic profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software application directorySister site to Capterra, exact same parent (Gartner)Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software application directoryAlso Gartner-owned, free fundamental listingG2g2.com90+Software review directoryFree profile, evaluates carry the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Comparison directoryHigh purchaser intent, users are actively searching for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller however pertinent trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Start-up communityFree profile plus a real conversation communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated start-up directoryFree listing optionFuturepediafuturepedia.io60+AI tool directoryRelevant particularly for AI-powered products Source for this area: cross-referenced from multiple 2026 SaaS-directory roundups (MarketingLad, GetIntel, LaunchDirectories) that independently listed the exact same core set of platforms.
The link normally lives in your author bio or profile, not the article body, so the SEO value is smaller per link, however the platforms themselves have huge domain authority and typically outrank a brand-new site for its own name in search results page. SiteURLReported DAFollowWhat you publishMediummedium.com95NofollowFull posts, profile bio linkWordPress.comwordpress.com95NofollowFree hosted blogBloggerblogger.com94NofollowFree hosted blog, Google-ownedGitHub site hosting, genuinely dofollowSlideShareslideshare.net95NofollowPresentation/ deck uploads with a connected profileNotion (public page)notion.so94NofollowPublic docs/pages, indexable if shared publiclyGravatargravatar.com94NofollowProfile tied to your e-mail, appears anywhere Gravatar is usedSoundCloudsoundcloud.com94NofollowAudio uploads with profile link Source: BacklinkForMe's complimentary backlink sites page.
They're on this list anyway since they still drive referral clicks, help new content get indexed much faster, and (for Pinterest and Reddit specifically) can send out meaningful direct traffic when a post actually resonates in a relevant subreddit or board. SiteURLReported DAFollowPinterestpinterest.com94-97NofollowRedditreddit. com91-94NofollowX (Twitter)x.com99NofollowInstagraminstagram.com98NofollowDiigodiigo.com78NofollowMix (formerly StumbleUpon)mix.com73NofollowScoop.itscoop.it72NofollowInstapaperinstapaper.com74NofollowBizSugarbizsugar.com65NofollowFolkdfolkd.com62NofollowFlipboardflipboard.com90+NofollowRaindrop.ioraindrop.io60+Nofollow Note: Pocket was closed down by Mozilla in July 2025 and Delicious has been gone for years.
