Free Tool list · Updated 2026-10

24 Free Backlinks Any Website Can Get This Weekend

Real business profiles, review sites, publishing platforms and journalist-request sites. No PBNs, no spam directories, no link swaps.

Twenty-four legitimate places to get a free link to your website, each checked live, sorted into business profiles, review and industry listings, and communities or press. Most won't rank you on their own, but together they help Google find you and show you're a real business.

For: Founders and small businesses with few or no backlinks who want safe, free links before spending money on outreach.

1. Business profiles you should own today · 9
2. Review and industry listings buyers really use · 5
3. Communities and publishing platforms where answers earn links · 7
4. Journalist requests: free press links · 3
Free links to skip · 4

How to use it

Do group 1 first. Use the exact same business name, address, phone and description everywhere.
From group 2, only pick listings your buyers actually use. Skip the rest.
Group 3 takes time, not money. Pick one platform and show up every week.

1. Business profiles you should own today

These are profiles customers and search engines expect a real business to have. Most profile links are nofollow; their value is discovery, trust and traffic, not ranking credit.

Google Business ProfileFree · needs verification · for businesses that meet customers in person or serve an area
Your listing on Google Search and Maps with a website link, hours, reviews and photos.
Best for: Any local or service-area business. The one every eligible business should do first.
Ritik's note: Online-only businesses aren't eligible. Don't fake an address; Google suspends those listings.
Bing Places for BusinessFree · can import from Google Business Profile
Bing's business listing for Bing Search and Maps.
Best for: Local businesses. Takes five minutes if you import.
Apple Business ConnectFree · Apple Account and ownership verification needed
Manage how your business appears in Apple Maps, Siri and other Apple apps.
Best for: Local businesses. iPhone users searching Apple Maps see this, not Google.
Yelp for BusinessFree to claim · ads are optional and paid
Claim your Yelp page with website link, hours and photos, and reply to reviews.
Best for: Restaurants, home services and local shops, mainly in the US.
Facebook PageFree · needs a personal Facebook account to create
A business Page with your website in the About section.
Best for: Local and consumer businesses whose customers use Facebook.
LinkedIn Company PageFree · needs a personal LinkedIn profile
Your company profile on LinkedIn, with website link and employee connections.
Best for: B2B companies and anyone hiring.
YouTube channelFree · Google account
A channel with links in the About section and links in every video description.
Best for: Any business that can film a how-to. Each video description is another place to link.
Ritik's note: Link to the specific page the video is about, not just the homepage.
Pinterest BusinessFree
A business account where every Pin links to a page on your site.
Best for: Visual niches: food, home, fashion, design, weddings, crafts.
Nextdoor Business PageFree page · ads are paid
A free page for local businesses that neighbours can recommend.
Best for: Home services and neighbourhood businesses in countries Nextdoor covers.

2. Review and industry listings buyers really use

Only do the ones in your category. If no customer ever browses a directory, skip it.

G2Free basic profile · G2 says new listings are reviewed in 1-3 business days
Software review site. Free profile, seller page and review collection.
Best for: SaaS and software companies.
Ritik's note: G2 bought Capterra, GetApp and Software Advice from Gartner in early 2026, so check whether one G2 submission now feeds those listings too.
ClutchFree profile and reviews · sponsorship is paid
Directory of agencies and service firms with verified client reviews.
Best for: Agencies, developers, consultants and B2B service firms.
TrustpilotFree plan · paid plans add more invites and features
Public review profile with a link to your website.
Best for: Online stores and consumer services.
Product HuntFree to launch
Daily launch site for new tech products. Each product page links to your site.
Best for: Software, apps and AI tools with something new to show.
Ritik's note: Launch when you have a real demo and a few people ready to try it. A launch with no audience disappears in hours.
AlignableFree profile · paid upgrades exist
Networking site for local small business owners, with a business profile.
Best for: Local B2B and service businesses in the US and Canada.

3. Communities and publishing platforms where answers earn links

These links come from being useful, not from filling in a form. Post real answers and helpful articles; link only when your page genuinely answers the question.

GitHubFree
Profile and repository README files can link to your site.
Best for: Developer tools, open-source projects and technical founders.
MediumFree to write
Publishing platform. Bio and articles can link back to your site.
Best for: Republishing your best articles (set the canonical link to your original).
DEV CommunityFree
Developer community for posts and tutorials, with profile and post links.
Best for: Developer and technical SaaS content.
Ritik's note: It supports a canonical URL setting when you cross-post, so your site stays the original.
HashnodeFree
Developer blogging platform with a public profile.
Best for: Technical writing and developer audiences.
SubstackFree to publish
Newsletter and blog platform with a public profile and posts.
Best for: Founders building an audience who link to deeper guides on their site.
QuoraFree
Q&A site. Profile and answers can include links.
Best for: Answering the exact questions your buyers ask.
RedditFree
Communities on every topic. Links in genuinely helpful comments get clicks.
Best for: Expert answers in niche subreddits.
Ritik's note: Read each subreddit's rules first. Many ban self-promotion. Help first, link rarely.

4. Journalist requests: free press links

Journalists post questions, you answer as an expert, and if they use your quote they often link to you. These are the strongest links on this list and the hardest to get.

FeaturedFree forever plan · small daily usage allowance · paid from $29/month billed yearly
Matches you to journalist requests, including queries from HARO, LinkedIn and more.
Best for: Founders with real expertise and a few minutes a day.
QwotedFree Basic plan · 2 pitches/month · 2-hour pitch delay
Platform connecting journalists with expert sources.
Best for: Pick your two best-fit requests each month.
SourceBottleFree expert profile · paid pitching service optional
Call-outs from journalists, bloggers and podcasters looking for sources.
Best for: Businesses in Australia and nearby markets; many call-outs are Australia-focused.

Free links to skip

Mass directory submission services ('500 directories for $10')
Most are low-quality directories no buyer visits. Google's spam policies name low-quality directory and bookmark links as link spam.
Link exchanges and 'link to me, I'll link to you' emails
Excessive link exchanges are listed as link spam.
Forum signature and blog comment spam
Comment links are usually nofollow or ugc, and spamming them can get you banned from the community.
Private blog networks (PBNs) and 'guest posts' on sites that sell links
Built to manipulate rankings. They're the main thing Google's link spam systems look for.

Unlock the full tool list

Everything above, plus the branded PDF to keep.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Are free backlinks worth it?

Free profile links won't rank you on their own and many are nofollow. They help Google discover you, confirm you're a real business and bring some visitors. Press links from journalist requests can carry real weight.

Are directory backlinks bad for SEO?

Real directories your customers use, like Google Business Profile, Yelp, G2 or Clutch, are fine. Mass submissions to low-quality directories are named as link spam in Google's spam policies.

Do nofollow links help SEO?

Google treats nofollow, ugc and sponsored as hints, so they may or may not be used for ranking. They still send visitors and help discovery.

What's the fastest free backlink to get?

For local businesses, Google Business Profile. For software, a G2 profile or a Product Hunt launch. For anyone with expertise, journalist-request sites like Featured and Qwoted.