The short version
- Counts come from the published listings in our database on 30 October 2026. Directories change, so the numbers will drift.
- DR is the value stored for each listing at its last check. It does not predict ranking impact.
- Link type was recorded when we checked each listing, and a directory can change its policy later.
- We measured link type, DR and price. We did not measure traffic from any directory.
On this page
Of the 1,289 directories in our database, 681 (52.8%) give a dofollow link. Another 352 (27.3%) give a nofollow link, and 256 (19.9%) are marked unknown because we haven't confirmed the link type yet. If you only want links that can pass ranking value, plan around that first number, not 1,289.
We pulled these counts on 30 October 2026 from the live database behind our directory list. Every listing has a domain rating and the date we last checked it, and those dates run from 17 August to 30 October 2026. Link type is shown as we recorded it, so read the "unknown" group as unconfirmed, not as bad.
How many are free?
Most of them are free. 1,138 directories (88.3%) cost nothing to submit to, 145 (11.2%) are paid, and 6 are freemium.
557 directories are both free and dofollow, and 348 of those have a domain rating of 30 or higher. If you want links that count without paying anything, start there. We keep a filtered version at free dofollow directories.
How strong are they?
Across the database, the median domain rating is 35. Here is the spread:
| Domain rating | Directories | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 70 and above | 295 | 22.9% |
| 50 to 69 | 152 | 11.8% |
| 30 to 49 | 358 | 27.8% |
| 10 to 29 | 357 | 27.7% |
| Under 10 | 127 | 9.9% |
Only 187 directories are both dofollow and DR 50 or higher. If you care about link value more than the number of listings, that is a short list. The highest-DR ones are on DR 70 plus directories. A high DR does not mean the link is dofollow, though, so check the link type before you spend an afternoon on a form.
Which kinds of directory give dofollow links?
The answer depends on the type of directory. Here is the share in each group that gives a dofollow link:
| Type | Directories | Dofollow share |
|---|---|---|
| Design tool directories | 51 | 82% |
| Web directories | 101 | 81% |
| B2B review sites | 110 | 81% |
| Launch platforms | 87 | 66% |
| AI directories | 308 | 59% |
| Startup directories | 284 | 48% |
| Developer app stores | 49 | 41% |
| Communities | 210 | 16% |
Communities stand out from the rest. They help with traffic and with people finding you, but only 16% give a dofollow link, so don't treat them as a link-building tool. AI directories are the largest group at 308, and a little over half of them give a dofollow link. That's why a list of AI tool directories is worth checking one by one.
What to do with this
- Start with the 348 directories that are free, dofollow and DR 30 or higher. They cost nothing but time.
- Check the link type before you submit. About one in five listings in our database is unconfirmed, so open the page and look at the link on a live listing.
- Use communities to reach people, not to rank. Post there for traffic and feedback, and expect the links to be nofollow.
- Pick directories that match your category. A SaaS company gets more from SaaS directories and dofollow directories than from a general web directory.
Submitting to 100 of these by hand takes days of forms and follow-up. Our directory submission service does that work for you and sends a report of every listing that went live. If you'd rather do it yourself, start with the free lists above.
Method and limits
- Counts come from the published listings in our database on 30 October 2026. Directories change, so the numbers will drift.
- DR is the value stored for each listing at its last check. It does not predict ranking impact.
- Link type was recorded when we checked each listing, and a directory can change its policy later.
- We measured link type, DR and price. We did not measure traffic from any directory.
Want these links without the spreadsheet?
From $49 a month, the agent finds and pitches the pages already ranking for your keywords. Or we submit you to 100+ directories by hand, from $99 once. Either way, you approve everything.
