How to get a backlink from AlternativeTo
Backlink signals
Editorial estimates for comparing this provider.
- Dofollow links Can pass equity
- Yes
- Authority rating Editorial estimate
- 23/100
- Spam rating Lower is better
- 2/100
- Acquisition difficulty Lower is easier
- 65/100
- Time estimate Typical setup
- ~35 min
- Free option No required spend
- Yes
- Linking domains External signal
- ~250,000
- Ranking keywords External signal
- ~320,000
- Inbound links External signal
- ~250,000
- Outbound links External signal
- ~600,000
AlternativeTo works as a backlink source when you have a genuine software product that belongs in a comparison directory. The useful backlink is usually the public app page’s Official Website link, not a profile signature or comment link.
Steps
- Create or sign in to an AlternativeTo account.
- Wait until the account is eligible to submit new applications. AlternativeTo’s FAQ says new users must wait one week after account creation before submitting a new app page.
- Open the user menu and choose Suggest new application. Fill in the required app details such as platforms, license, description, tags, screenshots, and the official website URL.
- Submit the application for review. AlternativeTo states that new apps are verified and approved by its team before publication.
- After approval, review the public app page and confirm the Official Website section points to the correct canonical URL.
Example: the Figma page on AlternativeTo shows an Official Website link to figma.com, demonstrating the type of external software-site citation an approved listing can provide.
Use this only for legitimate software listings. A low-effort submission made solely for a backlink is likely to be rejected and can damage the product’s reputation in a comparison directory.
Provider overview
AlternativeTo is a software discovery directory where community members suggest apps, compare alternatives, and maintain public software pages. A verified app listing can include an official website link, app-store links, social profiles, screenshots, descriptions, and category tags, making it useful for legitimate software products that want a public directory citation.
Minimum requirements to get a backlink from AlternativeTo
- AlternativeTo account
- Existing software product or app
- Product description, platform, license, tags, and official website URL
Key challenges to get a backlink from AlternativeTo
AlternativeTo is only suitable for real software, apps, services, or developer tools that fit its directory. New users must wait one week before submitting a new app, and submissions are manually verified before publication. The site uses bot protection, so the submission flow may require a normal browser session and account login. Thin or promotional-only submissions can be rejected by moderators.