If you want to improve your website's Google ranking, you already know that not all backlinks are equal. Dofollow backlink sites are the ones that actually pass link equity to your website directly influencing your domain authority, keyword rankings, and organic traffic. This guide gives you a verified list of 200+ free backlink submission sites broken down by category and DA range, so you can build a safe, diverse, and high-authority link profile in 2026.

What Are Dofollow Backlink Sites?

A dofollow backlink is a hyperlink that does not carry the rel="nofollow" attribute. When a high-DA platform links to your page without that tag, Google's crawler follows the link, reads it as a vote of confidence, and transfers a portion of that domain's authority known as link equity or "link juice" to your page.

Dofollow backlink sites are platforms that let you publish content, create profiles, or submit links in a way that results in a dofollow link pointing to your website. These range from Web 2.0 Submission Sites List list and article directories to forum profiles and document-sharing platforms.

Link Type Passes Link Equity? Counted by Google? SEO Value
Dofollow Yes Yes High — boosts rankings directly
Nofollow No Sometimes (as signal) Low-Medium — traffic & brand signal
Sponsored No No Zero for rankings
UGC No No Zero for rankings

Even nofollow links from high-DA platforms like Medium (DA 95) or Reddit (DA 99) add brand signals and referral traffic. A healthy backlink profile mixes both but dofollow links are the ones that move rankings.

Google's algorithm has evolved significantly, but the core principle has not changed: authoritative, relevant links signal that your content is trustworthy and worth ranking. Here is why free backlink submission sites remain effective when used correctly:

  • They sit on high-DA parent domains platforms like Blogger (DA 99), WordPress.com (DA 93), and Tumblr (DA 97) are domains Google has been trusting for over a decade.
  • They are crawled daily links placed on these platforms get discovered by Google within hours, not weeks, enabling faster ranking movement.
  • They are free unlike guest posts ($50–$500 per placement), free backlink submission sites let you build authority without a budget.
  • They are diversifiable a mix of Web 2.0 blogs, article directories, social bookmarks, and profile backlinks creates a natural-looking link profile that Google rewards.

Category 1: Web 2.0 Blog Platforms (DA 70–99)

These are the highest-value dofollow backlink sites available for free. You create a subdomain blog, publish original content, and link back from within the article giving you full control over anchor text and link placement.

Platform DA Link Type Submission Method
Blogger (Blogspot) 99 Dofollow Free blog creation
Tumblr 97 Dofollow Free blog creation
GitHub Pages 96 Dofollow Published repo page
Medium 95 Nofollow* Story with embedded link
SlideShare 95 Dofollow Presentation with link
WordPress.com 93 Dofollow Free blog creation
Wix 93 Dofollow Free site builder
Telegra.ph 91 Dofollow Instant article publish
Notion (Public) 90 Dofollow Published public page
Dev.to 87 Dofollow Technical article
Substack 88 Dofollow Newsletter post
Hashnode 82 Dofollow Developer blog post

Category 2: High DA Profile Creation Backlink Sites (DA 80–99)

Profile creation is one of the fastest ways to build backlinks from high-DA domains. Create a complete branded profile, add your website URL, and earn an instant dofollow backlink with minimal time investment.

Platform DA Link Type Best For
About.me 91 Dofollow Personal/brand profile
Crunchbase 91 Dofollow Business profile
Gravatar 90 Dofollow Universal author profile
Product Hunt 89 Dofollow Product/SaaS launch
Stack Overflow 93 Dofollow Developer profile
Academia.edu 92 Dofollow Research/education
Scribd Profile 94 Dofollow Document publishers
Issuu 94 Dofollow Branded publications

Category 3: Article Submission & Social Bookmarking Sites (DA 50–99)

Free backlink submission sites like article directories and social bookmarking platforms let you publish useful content and share URLs publicly. When submissions receive upvotes or saves, they drive referral traffic in addition to dofollow link value.

Platform DA Link Type Category
EzineArticles 88 Dofollow Article Directory
HubPages 86 Dofollow Article Directory
Pocket 91 Dofollow Social Bookmark
Flipboard 90 Dofollow Social Bookmark
Scoop.it 89 Dofollow Social Bookmark
Hacker News 93 Dofollow Social Bookmark (Tech)
Slashdot 91 Dofollow Social Bookmark (Tech)
Scribd 94 Dofollow Document Sharing

Step 1 Build in Tiers, Not Blasts

Do not submit to 200 platforms at once. Instead, build your dofollow backlink campaign in a structured tiered approach: start with 5–6 Web 2.0 blogs in weeks 1–2, add 10–15 high-DA profile backlinks in weeks 3–4, then diversify with article directories and social bookmarks on an ongoing monthly schedule.

Step 2 Write Unique Content for Each Platform

The biggest mistake SEOs make with free backlink submission sites is recycling the same article across 20 platforms. Google identifies duplicate content, indexes one version, and ignores the rest meaning you get one backlink out of 20 submissions. Write a different angle for each platform.

Step 3 Use a Natural Anchor Text Mix

Linking to your site with the same keyword anchor text on every dofollow backlink site is one of the clearest spam signals Google recognises. A healthy anchor text distribution across your backlink profile should look like this:

Anchor Type Example Recommended Share
Branded Cronbay Technologies 30–40%
Naked URL www.cronbay-tech.com 20–25%
Generic click here, read more 15–20%
Partial match SEO agency Bangalore backlinks 10–15%
Exact match dofollow backlink sites 5–10%
  • Mistake 1:Submitting to hundreds of sites in one week a sudden spike of 30–50 new backlinks flags unnatural link velocity. Spread submissions over 60–90 days minimum.
  • Mistake 2:Using spun or duplicate content Google's Helpful Content system deindexes thin or duplicate posts, deleting the backlink along with them.
  • Mistake 3:Over-optimising anchor text if 60%+ of your backlinks use the same exact-match keyword, you risk a Penguin penalty.
  • Mistake 4:Ignoring platform guidelines posts that violate WordPress.com, Medium, or Tumblr content policies get removed, taking the backlink with them.
  • Mistake 5:Abandoning your Web 2.0 blogs after one post a single-post blog looks like a link farm. Publish 3–5 posts over 60–90 days on every platform you create.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dofollow backlink sites safe for SEO in 2026?

Yes when used correctly. The risk comes from spammy execution (bulk submissions, duplicate content, bot accounts), not from the platforms themselves. Blogger, WordPress.com, and Tumblr are legitimate publishing platforms that Google trusts. Build links at a natural pace, publish original content, and diversify across categories for safe, sustainable ranking improvement.

How many dofollow backlinks should I build per month?

For a new website (under 12 months old), 15–25 quality dofollow backlinks per month is a healthy velocity. For an established site, 30–50 per month across diverse sources is reasonable. Never try to build 200 links in a single week the velocity spike is a red flag even when the links are from legitimate dofollow backlink sites.

Do free backlink submission sites still work after Google's Helpful Content update?

Yes Google's Helpful Content update penalises low-quality content, not the platforms themselves. A well-written, genuinely useful article on EzineArticles (DA 88) or HubPages (DA 86) that links naturally to your site is unaffected. What got penalised was keyword-stuffed filler content, spun articles, and thin AI-generated posts with no real value.

Final Thoughts

Dofollow backlink sites remain one of the most cost-effective off-page SEO strategies available in 2026 especially when you combine high-DA Web 2.0 platforms with profile creation, article directories, and social bookmarking. The key is consistency, original content, and a natural link-building pace. Start with the Tier 1 platforms in this list, build steadily over 60–90 days, and you will see real, sustainable ranking improvements without risking a Google penalty.