Backlink provider statistics

What the 90 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

90

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

Dofollow share

42%

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 backlink value

5/100

Median of the per-provider backlink value scores shown on provider pages. Each one estimates the authority of the page a user would actually create, not the provider homepage.

Median time

20m

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

$12

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 backlink value before spending.

SegmentProvidersDofollow shareMedian backlink valueMedian timeMedian difficulty
Free providers8643%5/10020m38/100
Paid providers425%5/10053m48/100
All providers9042%5/10020m39/100

Methodology

Figures on this page are computed at build time from the provider directory - the same per-provider values shown on each guide, aggregated. Backlink value, 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 September 8, 2026.

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

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