Backlink provider statistics

What the 84 provider guides in the directory add up to. Every figure is recomputed from the live directory each time the site is built.

Headline numbers

Providers tracked

84

The number of provider guides published in the directory when this page was last built.

Dofollow share

45%

Share of providers whose recommended backlink method typically outputs a dofollow link, as documented on each provider page.

Free option share

96%

Share of providers where the recommended backlink path can be completed without paying the provider.

Free + dofollow

37

Providers that are both free and dofollow — the combination most link builders look for first.

Median authority

15/100

Median of the per-provider Domain Authority scores shown on provider pages. These score the actual backlink surface, not the provider homepage.

Median time

23m

Median of the per-provider time estimates: the minimum minutes a prepared user needs to sign up, set up, and place the backlink.

Median spam score

02

Median of the per-provider spam scores shown on provider pages, from researched values or conservative editorial estimates.

Median paid cost

$16

Median minimum cost among paid providers with a documented price. Prices change; each provider page carries the current researched figure.

Free versus paid

Free providers dominate the directory, and paying does not automatically buy a stronger link — compare the median authority scores before spending.

Segment Providers Dofollow share Median authority Median time Median difficulty
Free providers 81 46% 15/100 20m 38/100
Paid providers 3 33% 16/100 60m 40/100
All providers 84 45% 15/100 23m 39/100

Methodology

Figures on this page are computed at build time from the provider directory — the same per-provider values shown on each guide, aggregated. Domain authority, spam score, and difficulty are editorial comparison estimates scored per backlink surface; time is the estimated minimum for a prepared user; costs are researched minimums that can change at any time. Medians are used instead of averages so a few outliers cannot distort the picture. Last computed on August 19, 2026.

Citing these numbers? Link this page as the source — it stays current with the directory.

Browse the directory