Proven SEO Techniques to Boost Authority
Free backlinks still work in 2026, but just from websites with real traffic and editorial requirements. The other kind (mass directory sites with a DA above 40 and absolutely nothing behind it) mainly get you a nofollow tag and a wasted afternoon. This list pulls from actual website stocks: BacklinkForMe's own free backlink sites page, Locafy's service directory site research, and the named platforms Ahrefs and Backlinko point to 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 different scoring systems, and third-party price quotes wander over time, so re-check anything you will invest actual time on. A few rules before you begin submitting: Many of the sites below are nofollow (Google Business Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and nearly every social platform are nofollow by default).
Below that, a listing hardly ever gets crawled typically enough to matter, and it's more most likely to sit beside spam. Directories cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) data. Irregular information across listings actively harm regional SEO rather of helping it. The sites in that section listed below reject submissions that check out like an ad.
The majority of are nofollow, however they're still worth declaring due to the fact that they develop NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both utilize as a regional ranking signal, and because a claimed Google Company Profile or Bing Places listing appears directly in map and regional search results despite link worth. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Service for local/map presence, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's comparable, quicker approval than GoogleApple Organization Apple Maps and Siri business resultsFacebook Company Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso operates as an evaluation and messaging channelLinkedIn Business Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, functions as a credibility signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial complimentary)Free standard profile, paid tiers include featuresBetter Organization Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, regional pricing applies for accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that license its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial complimentary)Tradition directory, still gets genuine search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree fundamental listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree business 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 totally free)Hyperlocal, strong for neighborhood-facing businessesCitysearchcitysearch.com72NofollowFree listingHotfroghotfrog.com60NofollowFree, immediate approvalChamber of Commerce (local chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership fee normally uses, however the directory listing itself is frequently includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree basic listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, immediate listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree standard tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the few totally free directories that remains dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing across a lot of regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, includes review functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree fundamental company 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 list.
LPM versus link qualityScaling Digital Marketing Workflows in 2026
These matter more for a SaaS or app than a general organization directory does, because the traffic is buyers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Release directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to introduce dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree basic business profile, heavily indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as a working with channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software evaluation directoryFree fundamental profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software directorySister website to Capterra, exact same parent (Gartner)Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software directoryAlso Gartner-owned, free standard listingG2g2.com90+Software evaluation directoryFree profile, examines bring the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Comparison directoryHigh purchaser intent, users are actively searching for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller but pertinent trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Start-up communityFree profile plus a genuine conversation communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated start-up 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 listed the exact same core set of platforms.
The link typically lives in your author bio or profile, not the 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 outcomes. SiteURLReported DAFollowWhat you publishMediummedium.com95NofollowFull short articles, profile bio linkWordPress.comwordpress.com95NofollowFree hosted blogBloggerblogger.com94NofollowFree hosted blog site, Google-ownedGitHub website hosting, really 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 any place Gravatar is usedSoundCloudsoundcloud.com94NofollowAudio uploads with profile link Source: BacklinkForMe's complimentary backlink websites 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 actually resonates in an appropriate subreddit or board. SiteURLReported DAFollowPinterestpinterest.com94-97NofollowRedditreddit. com91-94NofollowX (Twitter)x.com99NofollowInstagraminstagram.com98NofollowDiigodiigo.com78NofollowMix (previously 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 actually been opted for years.
