Why Multi-Tiered Link Building Is Effective
Free backlinks still operate in 2026, but only from sites with real traffic and editorial requirements. The other kind (mass directories with a DA above 40 and nothing behind it) mainly get you a nofollow tag and a lost afternoon. This list pulls from real website stocks: BacklinkForMe's own complimentary backlink sites page, Locafy's company directory research, and the named platforms Ahrefs and Backlinko indicate in their own link building 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 guidelines before you begin submitting: Many of the websites listed below are nofollow (Google Company Profile, Yelp, Reddit, Pinterest, and almost every social platform are nofollow by default).
7 tier data packBelow that, a listing hardly ever gets crawled typically enough to matter, and it's most likely to sit beside spam. Directories cross-reference NAP (name, address, phone) information. Inconsistent information across listings actively harm local SEO instead of assisting it. The sites in that section below decline submissions that read like an ad.
Many are nofollow, however they're still worth declaring because they establish NAP consistency, which Google and Bing both use as a local ranking signal, and since a claimed Google Organization Profile or Bing Places listing shows up straight in map and local search engine result no matter link value. SiteURLReported DAFollowNotesGoogle Organization for local/map presence, not optionalBing Placesbingplaces.com93NofollowBing's equivalent, quicker approval than GoogleApple Service Apple Maps and Siri business resultsFacebook Business Pagefacebook.com96NofollowAlso works as a review and messaging channelLinkedIn Company Pagelinkedin.com98-99NofollowB2B-relevant, doubles as a trustworthiness signalYelpyelp.com93Nofollow (partial totally free)Free standard profile, paid tiers add featuresBetter Organization Bureau (BBB)bbb.org91NofollowFree accredited-status application, local rates looks for accreditation itselfFoursquarefoursquare.com92NofollowStill indexed by other map apps that accredit its dataYellowPages.comyellowpages.com88Nofollow (partial free)Tradition directory, still gets genuine search trafficSuperpagessuperpages.com82NofollowFree standard listingMapQuestmapquest.com88NofollowFree organization listing connected to map dataMantamanta.com72NofollowFree tier, SMB-focusedAngi (previously Angie's List)angi.com91VariesBest for home services, some classifications need paid membershipNextdoor Businessnextdoor.com91Nofollow (partial complimentary)Hyperlocal, strong for neighborhood-facing businessesCitysearchcitysearch.com72NofollowFree listingHotfroghotfrog.com60NofollowFree, instant approvalChamber of Commerce (regional chapter)chamberofcommerce.com66VariesMembership fee typically applies, however the directory site listing itself is often includedLocal.comlocal.com62NofollowFree standard listingShowMeLocalshowmelocal.com52NofollowFree, instantaneous listingEZLocalezlocal.com52NofollowFree basic tierUSCity.netuscity.net46NofollowCity-organized directoryBrownbook.netbrownbook.net64DofollowOne of the few totally free directory sites that remains dofollowCylexcylex.com62NofollowFree listing throughout the majority of regionsiBeginibegin.com45NofollowFree, Canada/US focusedTupalotupalo.com54NofollowFree, consists of review functionalitySpoke.comspoke.com58NofollowFree basic company profileData Axle (InfoUSA)dataaxle.com76N/ AFeeds information to dozens of downstream directory sites and GPS systems Source for the directory-tier data: Locafy's service directory list.
7 tier data packAdvanced Strategies for Multi-Level SEO Architectures
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Purpose-built for software and start-ups. These matter more for a SaaS or app than a basic company directory site does, due to the fact that the traffic is buyers actively comparing tools. SiteURLReported DR/DACategoryNotesProduct Huntproducthunt.com90+Launch directoryFree launch, ranking is time-boxed to launch dayCrunchbasecrunchbase.com92Company profileFree basic company profile, greatly indexedAngelList (Wellfound)wellfound.com80+Startup/talent directoryFree listing, functions as an employing channelCapterracapterra.com85+Software application review directoryFree standard profile, part of Gartner Digital MarketsGetAppgetapp.com80+Software application directorySister site to Capterra, same moms and dad (Gartner)Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com80+Software directoryAlso Gartner-owned, totally free standard listingG2g2.com90+Software application evaluation directoryFree profile, examines carry the most SEO and trust weightAlternativeToalternativeto.net80+Comparison directoryHigh buyer intent, users are actively looking for a swapSaaSHubsaashub.com60+SaaS directoryFree listing, smaller sized but appropriate trafficStackSharestackshare.io70+Tech stack directoryFree, developer-facing audienceIndie Hackersindiehackers.com80+Start-up communityFree profile plus a genuine conversation communityStartupStashstartupstash.com60+Curated startup directoryFree listing optionFuturepediafuturepedia.io60+AI tool directoryRelevant specifically for AI-powered items Source for this area: cross-referenced from multiple 2026 SaaS-directory roundups (MarketingLad, GetIntel, LaunchDirectories) that independently noted the very same core set of platforms.
The link generally resides in your author bio or profile, not the post body, so the SEO worth is smaller sized per link, but the platforms themselves have huge domain authority and often outrank a brand-new website for its own name in search results. SiteURLReported DAFollowWhat you publishMediummedium.com95NofollowFull articles, profile bio linkWordPress.comwordpress.com95NofollowFree hosted blogBloggerblogger.com94NofollowFree hosted blog, Google-ownedGitHub website hosting, genuinely dofollowSlideShareslideshare.net95NofollowPresentation/ deck publishes with a connected profileNotion (public page)notion.so94NofollowPublic docs/pages, indexable if shared publiclyGravatargravatar.com94NofollowProfile connected 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 anyway since they still drive referral clicks, assist brand-new material get indexed much faster, and (for Pinterest and Reddit specifically) can send out significant direct traffic when a post actually 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 shut down by Mozilla in July 2025 and Delicious has been chosen years.
