Backlinks for small businesses
We list backlink software like any other category, and link-building services only when they earn links within Google’s rules. Vendors that sell followed paid links get explainers, never a place on our lists.
Where we draw the line
Google’s spam policies count “exchanging money for links” as link spam unless the link is marked sponsored or nofollow. Its advice to site owners is blunt: “You should never have to link to an SEO.”
Every provider we cover carries one of these labels:
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Earned | Links an editor chose to give: digital PR, expert quotes, outreach without payment. Low risk. |
| Paid but marked sponsored | Paid placements labeled rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow". Allowed by Google, with little ranking value. |
| Paid followed links | Links bought to pass ranking credit. Against Google’s spam policies. We explain these vendors but never list them. |
| Excluded | Private blog networks, link farms, automated or tiered links, inflated authority scores and bulk directory submission. |
Backlink software
Prices checked between Oct 6, 2026 and Oct 13, 2026.
Ahrefs
- Researched
Backlink-index-led SEO suite (Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker) with Brand Radar for AI visibility.
From $29/mo billed monthly
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools
- Researched
Free Ahrefs access for verified sites: Site Audit (170+ issues), Site Explorer (your keywords/backlinks) and Web Analytics.
Free
BuzzStream
- Researched
Outreach CRM for link building and digital PR with contact discovery and email sequencing.
From $49/mo billed monthly
Featured
- Researched
PR platform from the company that owns HARO, matching journalist requests, podcasts and byline openings to your expertise and drafting pitches.
From $39/mo billed monthly
Majestic
- Researched
Specialist backlink index (Trust Flow/Citation Flow) with historic link data.
From $49.99/mo billed monthly
Mangools
- Researched
Beginner-friendly bundle (KWFinder, SERPChecker, SERPWatcher, LinkMiner, SiteProfiler) plus AI Search Watcher.
From $61/mo billed monthly
Moz Pro
- Researched
Long-running SEO suite (Domain Authority, Keyword Explorer, Link Explorer, site crawl) now bundling AI-visibility dashboards and prompt tracking.
From $49/mo billed monthly
MozBar
- Researched
Free Chrome and Firefox toolbar showing Domain Authority, Page Authority, link counts and on-page elements; Spam Score, Brand Authority and ranking keywords need a Moz Pro subscription.
Free
Pitchbox
- Researched
Outreach and link-building CRM with prospecting, sequences and agency workflows.
From $300/mo billed monthly
SEO PowerSuite
- Researched
Desktop four-app toolkit (Rank Tracker, WebSite Auditor, SEO SpyGlass, LinkAssistant) sold as annual licenses, with a free edition.
From $29.08/mo billed yearly
Serpstat
- Researched
All-in-one SEO suite for keyword research, rank tracking, site audits and backlinks, with API access, AI tools and unlimited projects on Team plans.
From $69/mo billed monthly
Source of Sources
- Researched
Free email of journalists' requests for expert sources, up to three times a day, from the founder of HARO; you reply to reporters directly.
Free
All link building and backlink tools, with filters
Link-building services
We list a service only once it passes our inclusion rules: a real, identifiable business; no private blog networks or guaranteed authority scores; no selling of followed paid placements; at least three live sample links from the last 90 days on sites with real traffic; published prices and minimums; a written replacement and refund policy; and no ranking guarantees. We re-check every listed service every six months.
No link-building services are listed yet.
Guides
- HARO in 2026: where to answer journalists for freeHARO is still running and still free, under a new owner. Where small businesses can answer journalists' requests for expert sources, and the rules each list sets.
- Link building for small businesses: what Google allowsWhat Google counts as link spam and how it wants paid links marked, from Google's own pages, and what to ask a link-building service before you pay it.