Mastering Advanced Tiered Links for 2026
Free backlinks still work in 2026, but only from websites with genuine traffic and editorial requirements., Locafy's company directory research study, and the called 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 drift over time, so re-check anything you're about to spend real time on. A few rules before you start sending: Most of the websites below are nofollow (Google Company Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and nearly every social platform are nofollow by default).
Directories cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) information. The sites in that section below decline submissions that check out like an advertisement.
A lot of are nofollow, but they're still worth claiming because they establish NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both use as a local ranking signal, and due to the fact that a claimed Google Company Profile or Bing Places listing appears straight in map and regional search results regardless of link value. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Business for local/map visibility, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's comparable, faster approval than GoogleApple Service Apple Maps and Siri company resultsFacebook Company Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso functions as a review and messaging channelLinkedIn Company Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, functions as a reliability signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial free)Free fundamental profile, paid tiers include featuresBetter Organization Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, regional rates uses for accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that license its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial free)Tradition directory, still gets real search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree fundamental listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree company listing tied to map dataMantamanta.com72NofollowFree tier, SMB-focusedAngi (formerly Angie's List)angi.com91VariesBest for home services, some categories require paid membershipNextdoor Businessnextdoor.com91Nofollow (partial free)Hyperlocal, strong for neighborhood-facing businessesCitysearchcitysearch.com72NofollowFree listingHotfroghotfrog.com60NofollowFree, immediate approvalChamber of Commerce (regional chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership charge generally applies, but the directory site listing itself is frequently includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree basic listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, immediate listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree fundamental tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the couple of totally free directory sites that stays dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing across many regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, consists of evaluation functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree fundamental company profileData Axle (InfoUSA)dataaxle.com76N/ AFeeds information to dozens of downstream directories and GPS systems Source for the directory-tier data: Locafy's business directory site list.
anchor text optimizationStrategic Multilayered Link Frameworks for 2026
These matter more for a SaaS or app than a basic business directory does, since the traffic is purchasers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Launch directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to introduce dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree fundamental business profile, greatly indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as a hiring channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software evaluation directoryFree fundamental profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software application directorySister website to Capterra, same moms and dad (Gartner)Software Application Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software directoryAlso Gartner-owned, free basic listingG2g2.com90+Software review directoryFree profile, examines bring the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Contrast directoryHigh purchaser intent, users are actively searching for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller sized but pertinent trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Startup communityFree profile plus a real conversation communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated start-up directoryFree listing optionFuturepediafuturepedia.io60+AI tool directoryRelevant specifically for AI-powered products Source for this section: cross-referenced from numerous 2026 SaaS-directory roundups (MarketingLad, GetIntel, LaunchDirectories) that separately noted the same core set of platforms.
The link usually resides in your author bio or profile, not the short article body, so the SEO value is smaller sized per link, however the platforms themselves have massive domain authority and typically outrank a brand-new website for its own name in search engine result. SiteURLReported DAFollowWhat you publishMediummedium.com95NofollowFull articles, profile bio linkWordPress.comwordpress.com95NofollowFree hosted blogBloggerblogger.com94NofollowFree hosted blog site, Google-ownedGitHub site hosting, genuinely dofollowSlideShareslideshare.net95NofollowPresentation/ deck uploads with a connected profileNotion (public page)notion.so94NofollowPublic docs/pages, indexable if shared publiclyGravatargravatar.com94NofollowProfile connected to your e-mail, appears any place Gravatar is usedSoundCloudsoundcloud.com94NofollowAudio uploads with profile link Source: BacklinkForMe's totally free backlink sites page.
They're on this list anyway because they still drive recommendation clicks, assist brand-new material get indexed much faster, and (for Pinterest and Reddit particularly) can send out significant direct traffic when a post really resonates in a pertinent 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.