Last Updated on October 2, 2025 by Becky Halls
Building backlinks is one of the most important things you can do for your site’s SEO but it can get expensive very quickly! We’re here to show you how it doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, there are plenty of high-quality free backlink websites out there that can help you grow your authority and traffic without spending a penny.
Below, we’ll walk you through exactly where to find them, how to use them properly, and what you need to watch out for…
A Quick Overview
- What free backlink websites actually are
- Why free backlinks still matter in 2025
- A curated list of the most effective free backlink sources
- How to avoid spammy traps and dead-end directories
- Actionable tips to make free backlinks work harder for your rankings
- Answers to common FAQs
Why Free Backlink Websites Still Matter
We’ve been in the SEO world for a while now (too long to think about!) and we know link building is hard. It is super time consuming and worst of all, it’s soooo expensive!! But it doesn’t have to be. If you’re just starting out, building a new niche site, or working with a lean budget, free backlink websites are your best friend.
Sure, not all free backlinks are great… Some are low-value. Some are spammy. But a few? Surprisingly powerful.
When done right, free backlinks can:
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Help with indexing new pages faster
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Build early domain trust
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Drive real referral traffic (yes, even in today’s AI era!)
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Lay the foundation for higher-quality links down the line
“Getting your first 20 backlinks from free sources isn’t just a growth hack — it’s a great way to start a successful SEO campaigns.”
— Becky Halls, 3Way.Social
What Makes a Free Backlink Site Worth Your Time?
Before we jump into the list, here’s what to look for in a quality free backlink source:
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Dofollow options (not all, but at least some)
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Relevance to your niche or topic
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A clean, crawlable site structure
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Real users or community activity (bonus!)
“You don’t need a hundred shady links — just a few real ones from legit sites.”
— Ian Naylor, 3Way.Social
15 Free Backlink Websites That Still Work in 2025
These platforms offer ways to drop a link, build authority, or get indexed — and best of all… they won’t charge you a penny.
1. Medium.com
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Post your own articles and include contextual links
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Nofollow by default but great for exposure, indexing, and topical authority
2. Quora.com
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Add links in profile and answers (be helpful, not spammy)
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Great for long-tail traffic and relevancy
3. Reddit.com
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Nofollow but high authority
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Links can rank in Google on their own
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Post in relevant subreddits with useful content
4. Pinterest.com
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Add links to pins and boards
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Nofollow but excellent for traffic and indexing
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Great for visual brands and e-commerce
5. LinkedIn.com
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Publish articles or posts linking back to your site
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Link in bio + high-trust traffic
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Especially strong for B2B niches
6. YouTube.com
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Add links in your video descriptions
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Helps build topical signals
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Even low-view videos can pass value when embedded
7. Crunchbase.com
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Great for startups and SaaS
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Add website and social links in your profile
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Often dofollow + shows up high in brand SERPs
8. Business.site (via Google Business Profile)
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Create a free site linked to your GMB listing
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Great for local SEO and map visibility
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Google-owned = high trust
9. About.me
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Personal landing page with link options
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Dofollow backlink in profile
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Fast and easy setup
10. Mix.com (formerly StumbleUpon)
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Share your blog posts
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Links are nofollow but can drive social-style traffic
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Good for helping with early discovery
11. SlideShare.net
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Upload presentations or slide decks
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Include backlink in descriptions and within slides
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Bonus: content syndication benefits
12. ProductHunt.com (if launching a product)
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Add your website link when listing a product
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High DR and indexed quickly
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Strong for SaaS and tech tools
13. Dev.to (for tech/startup content)
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Write tech blogs and tutorials
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Link back to your original posts or product
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Dofollow links in certain contexts
14. Scribd.com
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Upload PDFs, ebooks, or whitepapers
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Add links in your document and profile
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Indexed and can rank in search
15. 3Way.Social (Earn Free Links via Credit System)
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Join for free and get matched with relevant websites
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Offer a link to earn credits — then spend those on backlinks to your own content
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Safe, ethical, AI-assisted link exchange with zero cold outreach
3Way Tips for Using Free Backlink Sites Effectively
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Add value before you drop a link. Forums and platforms won’t tolerate spam.
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Use varied anchor text to avoid over-optimization.
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Track your links in a spreadsheet or with SEO tools (like Ahrefs or Semrush).
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Check indexing — a backlink isn’t useful if Google can’t see it.
Free Backlink Websites: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are free backlinks as good as paid ones?
A: Sometimes! Free backlinks from high-authority sites like Medium, LinkedIn, or Crunchbase can be just as powerful as paid placements — especially early in your SEO journey.
Q: How many free backlinks should I build?
A: There’s no fixed number. Aim for a mix. Start with 10–20 high-quality free links, then gradually diversify with guest posts, partnerships, and platform-based exchanges.
Q: Do free backlinks help with SEO rankings?
A: Yes — when they come from relevant, indexed, trusted sites. They can improve indexing speed, build topical authority, and even drive real traffic.
Q: Are all free backlinks nofollow?
A: No — some free platforms (like Crunchbase, About.me, and SlideShare) offer dofollow links. Others like Reddit or Medium are nofollow, but still valuable for indexing, engagement, and trust.
Q: Should I avoid low-DA free sites?
A: Not necessarily. If the site is relevant, indexed, and used by a real community, it can still be useful — even with lower metrics.
Q: Can I automate free backlink creation?
A: Be careful with this. Automation often leads to spammy footprints. Manual placement with real context is still the safest way to go.
Final Thoughts: Start Free, Then Scale
Free backlink websites won’t replace high-level PR or niche editorial links — but they’re an excellent place to start. They’re how you build early momentum, get noticed by search engines, and gain confidence in your link-building skills.
Use the list above to kick off your strategy, then level up with tools like 3Way.Social to trade, earn, or buy high-authority links the smart way.
