Links from high-authority sites count for more. These 53 directories all carry a Domain Rating of 70 or higher, the top tier in the backlinks.fyi database of 182+ sites. Submitting to this list should be your first priority in any startup link-building campaign.
53
DR 70+ Dirs
47
Free to Submit
DR 93
Top Score
Google's PageRank algorithm weights links from authoritative sites much more heavily than links from low-authority sites. One dofollow link from a high-DR directory can be worth more than many links from low-DR directories.
For early-stage startups starting with a low or zero domain rating, high-DR directory backlinks are the fastest path to visible DR improvement. As your DR rises, your other pages tend to rank better too.
Of these 53 high-DR directories, 47 are free to submit to and 46 offer dofollow links. The ones that are both free and dofollow are your best targets.
Authority Floor
DR 70 minimum
Median DR 79
Link Value
86.8% dofollow
88.7% free in this tier
Execution Cost
81.1% account-required
0% include CAPTCHA
These are high-authority targets, so favor completeness over speed: stronger listing copy, richer media, and category-relevant positioning all improve approval rates on competitive platforms.
SourceForge
⏱ 3-7 days
Crunchbase
⏱ 1-3 days
Product Hunt
⏱ Instant after launch
Capterra
⏱ 3-7 days
AngelList / Wellfound
⏱ 1-3 days
GeekWire
⏱ 7-14 days
Tech in Asia
⏱ 5-10 days
MakeUseOf
⏱ 14-30 days
G2
⏱ 3-7 days
Software Advice
⏱ 5-10 days
GetApp
⏱ 3-7 days
Get App
⏱ 5-10 days
F6S
⏱ Instant
Devpost
⏱ Instant
Clutch
⏱ 3-7 days
FinancesOnline
⏱ 5-10 days
Changelog
⏱ 3-7 days
TrustRadius
⏱ 3-5 days
StackShare
⏱ Instant
AlternativeTo
⏱ 1-3 days
SiteJabber
⏱ Instant
Built In
⏱ 5-10 days
Webwiki
⏱ Instant
EU-Startups
⏱ 7-14 days
SoftwareSuggest
⏱ 3-7 days
Inc42
⏱ 7-14 days
Dang
⏱ 1-3 days
Gust
⏱ 3-7 days
CrozDesk
⏱ 3-7 days
SaaSHub
⏱ 1-3 days
SoftwareWorld
⏱ 3-7 days
Tool Pilot
⏱ 1-3 days
SaaSworthy
⏱ 1-3 days
Trustpilot
⏱ Instant
DEV Community (dev.to)
⏱ Instant
e27
⏱ 5-10 days
Alternative.me
⏱ 3-7 days
Slant
⏱ Instant
Toolify
⏱ 1-3 days
Side Projectors
⏱ 1-3 days
CrowdReviews
⏱ 3-7 days
Hacker News (Show HN)
⏱ Instant
Tekpon
⏱ 3-7 days
Softonic
⏱ 7-14 days
AppSumo
⏱ 14-30 days
BetaList
⏱ 3-7 days
Futurepedia
⏱ 2-3 days
GoodFirms
⏱ 3-7 days
KillerStartups
⏱ 3-7 days
There's An AI For That
⏱ 3-7 days
Indie Hackers
⏱ Instant
StackSocial
⏱ 7-14 days
PeerPush
⏱ 1-3 days
Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs' metric for measuring the overall backlink authority of a website, on a scale of 0–100. A higher DR means a stronger, more authoritative site. When a high-DR directory links to your startup, it passes more link equity (PageRank) than a low-DR directory would. For startups building their SEO foundation, prioritizing high-DR directories gives you the fastest improvements to your own domain rating.
In the backlinks.fyi database, we define high DR as 70 or above. Directories in the DR 70-79 range are strong authority sites, and DR 80+ directories are the strongest tier. A backlink from any high-DR directory contributes to your domain's authority, especially if you are starting from a low DR.
Start with high-DR directories, but don't stop there. A diverse backlink profile that includes a range of DRs looks more natural to Google and is harder for competitors to replicate. After submitting to all high-DR directories, work through the rest of the backlinks.fyi database. Lower-DR links still contribute to your profile's diversity and can drive qualified referral traffic in their own niches.
No — not all high-DR directories are dofollow. Some large platforms like review sites use nofollow or sponsored link attributes. Of the 53 directories listed here, 46 offer dofollow links. Filter or sort by link type to prioritize the highest-value targets.