Proven SEO Tactics to Improve Authority
Free backlinks still work in 2026, but only from sites with genuine traffic and editorial requirements. The other kind (mass directories with a DA above 40 and absolutely nothing behind it) primarily get you a nofollow tag and a lost afternoon. This list pulls from real website inventories: BacklinkForMe's own free backlink sites page, Locafy's business directory site research study, and the called platforms Ahrefs and Backlinko indicate in their own link building guides.
Where a source reported a DA or DR figure, it's consisted of and labeled with its scale. Deal with every number as directional. Moz's DA and Ahrefs' DR are various scoring systems, and third-party quotes wander over time, so re-check anything you're about to spend actual time on. A few guidelines before you start submitting: The majority of the websites listed below are nofollow (Google Service Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and almost every social platform are nofollow by default).
2 tier data packListed below that, a listing seldom gets crawled often adequate to matter, and it's most likely to sit beside spam. Directory sites cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) data. Irregular details across listings actively injure regional SEO instead of assisting it. The sites because area below decline submissions that read like an advertisement.
The majority of are nofollow, but they're still worth declaring since they establish NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both use as a regional ranking signal, and because a declared Google Business Profile or Bing Places listing appears directly in map and local search results despite link worth. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Organization for local/map exposure, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's comparable, quicker approval than GoogleApple Organization Apple Maps and Siri business resultsFacebook Business Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso operates as an evaluation and messaging channelLinkedIn Company Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, functions as a trustworthiness signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial totally free)Free fundamental profile, paid tiers include featuresBetter Service Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, local pricing obtains accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that license its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial complimentary)Tradition directory site, still gets real search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree basic listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree service listing connected to map dataMantamanta.com72NofollowFree tier, SMB-focusedAngi (previously Angie's List)angi.com91VariesBest for home services, some categories need paid membershipNextdoor Businessnextdoor.com91Nofollow (partial complimentary)Hyperlocal, strong for neighborhood-facing businessesCitysearchcitysearch.com72NofollowFree listingHotfroghotfrog.com60NofollowFree, instant approvalChamber of Commerce (regional chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership charge usually applies, however the directory listing itself is typically includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree fundamental listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, immediate listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree basic tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the few complimentary directories that stays dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing throughout most regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, includes evaluation functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree basic business profileData Axle (InfoUSA)dataaxle.com76N/ AFeeds information to lots of downstream directory sites and GPS systems Source for the directory-tier data: Locafy's service directory site list.
2 tier data packUpdated 2026 SEO Link Lists for Growth
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Purpose-built for software and startups. These matter more for a SaaS or app than a basic business directory site does, due to the fact that the traffic is buyers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Introduce directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to introduce dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree basic company profile, greatly indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as an employing channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software evaluation directoryFree basic profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software directorySister site to Capterra, very same moms and dad (Gartner)Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software application directoryAlso Gartner-owned, complimentary basic listingG2g2.com90+Software application review directoryFree profile, examines bring the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Comparison directoryHigh buyer intent, users are actively searching for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller however relevant trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Startup communityFree profile plus a real conversation 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 separately listed the same core set of platforms.
The link typically resides in your author bio or profile, not the post body, so the SEO value is smaller per link, but the platforms themselves have huge domain authority and typically outrank a brand-new site 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, really dofollowSlideShareslideshare.net95NofollowPresentation/ deck publishes with a connected profileNotion (public page)notion.so94NofollowPublic docs/pages, indexable if shared publiclyGravatargravatar.com94NofollowProfile tied to your e-mail, shows up any place Gravatar is usedSoundCloudsoundcloud.com94NofollowAudio uploads with profile link Source: BacklinkForMe's totally free backlink sites page.

They're on this list anyhow since they still drive referral clicks, help brand-new content get indexed quicker, and (for Pinterest and Reddit specifically) can send out significant direct traffic when a post actually 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 chosen years.