Scaling Digital Marketing Workflows in 2026
Free backlinks still work in 2026, however only from websites with real traffic and editorial standards., Locafy's service directory site research study, 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 genuine time on. A few guidelines before you begin sending: Many of the sites below are nofollow (Google Service Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and almost every social platform are nofollow by default).
Below that, a listing seldom gets crawled often sufficient to matter, and it's more most likely to sit beside spam. Directory sites cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) information. Irregular details throughout listings actively injure regional SEO rather of assisting it. The websites because area below reject submissions that check out like an ad.
Many are nofollow, but they're still worth claiming due to the fact that they establish NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both utilize as a regional ranking signal, and because a claimed Google Service Profile or Bing Places listing appears directly in map and local search engine result no matter link worth. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Organization for local/map exposure, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's equivalent, quicker approval than GoogleApple Business Apple Maps and Siri service resultsFacebook Company Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso works as a review and messaging channelLinkedIn Business Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, doubles as a credibility signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial free)Free basic profile, paid tiers add featuresBetter Business 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)Tradition directory site, still gets real search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree fundamental listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree business 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 free)Hyperlocal, strong for neighborhood-facing businessesCitysearchcitysearch.com72NofollowFree listingHotfroghotfrog.com60NofollowFree, instant approvalChamber of Commerce (local chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership fee generally applies, but the directory site listing itself is frequently includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree fundamental listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, instant 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 review functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree fundamental company profileData Axle (InfoUSA)dataaxle.com76N/ AFeeds information to dozens of downstream directory sites and GPS systems Source for the directory-tier information: Locafy's company directory site list.
GSA SER link listRobust Backlink Topology for Competitive Niches
These matter more for a SaaS or app than a basic business directory site does, due to the fact that the traffic is purchasers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Introduce directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to introduce dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree fundamental company profile, greatly indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, doubles as an employing channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software evaluation directoryFree standard profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software directorySister site to Capterra, exact same moms and dad (Gartner)Software Application Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software directoryAlso Gartner-owned, free basic listingG2g2.com90+Software evaluation directoryFree profile, evaluates bring the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Contrast directoryHigh purchaser intent, users are actively browsing for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller however relevant trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Start-up communityFree profile plus a real conversation communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated startup directoryFree listing optionFuturepediafuturepedia.io60+AI tool directoryRelevant particularly for AI-powered products Source for this area: cross-referenced from several 2026 SaaS-directory roundups (MarketingLad, GetIntel, LaunchDirectories) that independently noted the exact same core set of platforms.
The link typically resides in your author bio or profile, not the article body, so the SEO value is smaller per link, however the platforms themselves have enormous domain authority and often outrank a new website for its own name in search results. SiteURLReported DAFollowWhat you publishMediummedium.com95NofollowFull posts, profile bio linkWordPress.comwordpress.com95NofollowFree hosted blogBloggerblogger.com94NofollowFree hosted blog, Google-ownedGitHub site hosting, genuinely dofollowSlideShareslideshare.net95NofollowPresentation/ deck submits 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 totally free backlink websites page.
They're on this list anyhow because they still drive recommendation clicks, help brand-new material get indexed quicker, and (for Pinterest and Reddit particularly) 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 (previously 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 opted for years.