Safe and Effective Tiered Topology for Competitive Niches
Free backlinks still work in 2026, but just from websites with genuine traffic and editorial standards., Locafy's company directory site research, and the called platforms Ahrefs and Backlinko point to in their own link building guides.
Moz's DA and Ahrefs' DR are different scoring systems, and third-party quotes wander over time, so re-check anything you're about to spend real time on. A few rules before you begin sending: Most of the sites below are nofollow (Google Service 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 listed below decline submissions that check out like an advertisement.
Most are nofollow, however they're still worth declaring because they develop NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both utilize as a regional ranking signal, and since a declared Google Service Profile or Bing Places listing appears directly in map and local search results page no matter link worth. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Business for local/map exposure, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's comparable, much faster approval than GoogleApple Organization Apple Maps and Siri service resultsFacebook Business Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso works as an evaluation and messaging channelLinkedIn Business Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, functions as a credibility signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial complimentary)Free basic profile, paid tiers add featuresBetter Business Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, local prices uses for accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that certify its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial free)Tradition directory, still gets real search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree basic listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree business listing tied 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 (regional chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership fee normally uses, however the directory listing itself is often includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree basic listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, immediate listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree standard tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the couple of free directory sites that remains dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing across many regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, includes evaluation functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree basic 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 company directory list.
Elite Guides for Advanced Link Acquisition
These matter more for a SaaS or app than a general business directory site does, because the traffic is purchasers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Release directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to launch dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree standard business profile, heavily indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as a hiring channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software review directoryFree fundamental profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software application directorySister site to Capterra, very same moms and dad (Gartner)Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software directoryAlso Gartner-owned, complimentary basic listingG2g2.com90+Software application evaluation directoryFree profile, evaluates carry the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Comparison directoryHigh buyer intent, users are actively searching for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller sized but appropriate trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Startup communityFree profile plus a real discussion communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated start-up directoryFree listing optionFuturepediafuturepedia.io60+AI tool directoryRelevant particularly for AI-powered products Source for this area: cross-referenced from numerous 2026 SaaS-directory roundups (MarketingLad, GetIntel, LaunchDirectories) that individually 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 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 posts, 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 email, appears anywhere Gravatar is usedSoundCloudsoundcloud.com94NofollowAudio uploads with profile link Source: BacklinkForMe's free backlink sites page.
They're on this list anyway since they still drive referral clicks, assist brand-new material get indexed faster, and (for Pinterest and Reddit particularly) can send meaningful direct traffic when a post really 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.
