## OpenAlternative

OpenAlternative is a curated directory of open-source alternatives to popular proprietary software. Accepted project pages can link to a product website and repository, but inspected public links currently include `rel="nofollow"`, so treat it as a referral and discovery citation rather than a dofollow SEO shortcut.

- URL: https://openalternative.co/
- Guide: https://backlinkbadger.com/provider/openalternative/
- Link type: nofollow
- Free option: yes
- Domain authority: 18/100
- Spam score: 1/100
- Difficulty: 35/100
- Estimated time: 25 minutes
- Requirements: OpenAlternative account, Open-source product, Website URL, Repository URL, Short product description, Category or alternative target

OpenAlternative is useful when you have a legitimate open-source product that belongs in a directory of alternatives to proprietary software. The practical backlink is the public project page's website or repository button, not a comment, profile, or paid ad placement.

### Recommended method: submit a real open-source alternative

1. Confirm that your project is open source and can be positioned as an alternative to a known proprietary product. The directory is organized around tools, alternatives, categories, tech stacks, and self-hosted software.
2. Open the [OpenAlternative submit page](https://openalternative.co/submit). During this run, the submit route redirected to the sign-in page, so create or sign in to an account before expecting the submission form.
3. Prepare a concise project name, tagline, canonical website URL, public repository URL, license, screenshot or favicon, and the proprietary product or category it competes with.
4. Submit the project for review. Keep the description factual and focused on the open-source alternative angle rather than generic marketing copy.
5. After publication, open the public listing and verify the live buttons. The sampled Hermes Agent listing linked to the website and repository with `rel="noopener nofollow"`, so record the listing as referral/discovery value rather than dofollow link equity.

The screenshot below shows a public OpenAlternative listing with the visible **Visit Hermes Agent** button and repository card. It proves the directory can expose a project website and repository from an accepted listing, while the rendered DOM inspection showed those outbound links as nofollow.

[Image: OpenAlternative public project page showing the Visit Hermes Agent website button and repository card]

### What to avoid

Do not submit a closed-source product, a thin landing page, or a product that has no clear alternative target. OpenAlternative is closer to an editorial software directory than an open link farm; the listing can be valuable for qualified visitors, but the inspected outbound links were nofollow and should not be sold internally as direct PageRank acquisition.