High-Authority Link Lists for Competitive Markets
Free backlinks still work in 2026, but just from sites with real traffic and editorial requirements., Locafy's service directory site research study, and the named platforms Ahrefs and Backlinko point to in their own link building guides.
Moz's DA and Ahrefs' DR are various scoring systems, and third-party quotes drift over time, so re-check anything you're about to spend real time on. A couple of guidelines before you begin sending: Many of the sites below are nofollow (Google Company Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and almost every social platform are nofollow by default).
Listed below that, a listing seldom gets crawled frequently enough to matter, and it's most likely to sit beside spam. Directories cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) data. Irregular information throughout listings actively hurt regional SEO instead of helping it. The websites because area below decline submissions that read like an ad.
Most are nofollow, but they're still worth declaring because they develop NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both utilize as a local ranking signal, and because a declared Google Business Profile or Bing Places listing reveals up directly in map and regional search engine result regardless of link value. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Organization for local/map presence, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's equivalent, faster approval than GoogleApple Organization Apple Maps and Siri organization resultsFacebook Organization Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso operates as an evaluation and messaging channelLinkedIn Business Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, functions as a trustworthiness signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial complimentary)Free fundamental profile, paid tiers add featuresBetter Organization Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, local rates obtains accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that certify its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial free)Legacy directory, still gets real search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree basic listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree organization listing connected to map dataMantamanta.com72NofollowFree tier, SMB-focusedAngi (formerly Angie's List)angi.com91VariesBest for home services, some classifications need 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 listing itself is frequently includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree standard listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, instant listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree basic tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the couple of free directories that stays dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing throughout the majority of regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, includes evaluation functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree fundamental business profileData Axle (InfoUSA)dataaxle.com76N/ AFeeds information to dozens of downstream directory sites and GPS systems Source for the directory-tier information: Locafy's service directory list.
binding URLs with anchor textFree SEO Techniques to Boost Authority
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Purpose-built for software and start-ups. These matter more for a SaaS or app than a general business directory does, since the traffic is buyers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Release directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to launch dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree basic business profile, greatly indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as an employing channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software application review directoryFree standard profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software application directorySister website to Capterra, exact same parent (Gartner)Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software directoryAlso Gartner-owned, totally free basic listingG2g2.com90+Software evaluation directoryFree profile, examines bring the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Comparison directoryHigh purchaser intent, users are actively browsing for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller however pertinent trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Startup communityFree profile plus a genuine discussion communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated startup directoryFree listing optionFuturepediafuturepedia.io60+AI tool directoryRelevant specifically for AI-powered items Source for this section: cross-referenced from several 2026 SaaS-directory roundups (MarketingLad, GetIntel, LaunchDirectories) that individually noted the same core set of platforms.
The link normally resides in your author bio or profile, not the short article body, so the SEO worth is smaller per link, but the platforms themselves have massive domain authority and often outrank a brand-new site for its own name in search results page. SiteURLReported DAFollowWhat you publishMediummedium.com95NofollowFull short articles, profile bio linkWordPress.comwordpress.com95NofollowFree hosted blogBloggerblogger.com94NofollowFree hosted blog site, Google-ownedGitHub site hosting, truly dofollowSlideShareslideshare.net95NofollowPresentation/ deck publishes with a linked profileNotion (public page)notion.so94NofollowPublic docs/pages, indexable if shared publiclyGravatargravatar.com94NofollowProfile tied to your e-mail, appears wherever Gravatar is usedSoundCloudsoundcloud.com94NofollowAudio uploads with profile link Source: BacklinkForMe's complimentary backlink sites page.
They're on this list anyhow since they still drive referral clicks, help new content get indexed much faster, and (for Pinterest and Reddit specifically) can send out significant direct traffic when a post in fact 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 shut down by Mozilla in July 2025 and Delicious has been opted for years.
