Where to Find Good Backlinks for Software (2026 Guide)
For a software or SaaS product, backlinks are still one of the strongest signals Google uses to decide who ranks. But not all links are equal — a single relevant, trusted, do-follow link is worth more than a hundred spammy directory submissions. The real question is not “how do I get more links?” but where do I find good ones? This guide walks through the backlink sources that actually move the needle for software, and how to earn a link from each.
What makes a backlink “good” for software?
Before chasing links, keep four filters in mind. A good backlink is relevant (from a site about software, tech or your niche), trusted (a real domain with its own audience and authority), indexed (Google can actually find and crawl the page), and ideally do-follow (it passes ranking signal rather than being marked nofollow). A link that ticks the first three is valuable even if it is nofollow — but when relevance, trust and do-follow line up, that is the link worth pursuing. Chase that combination, not raw volume.
1. Software directories and discovery sites
The most natural home for a software backlink is a directory built for software. Listing your product on the right ones earns a relevant link and puts you in front of buyers actively searching for tools like yours. Strong options include Product Hunt, G2, Capterra, AlternativeTo, SaaSHub and, of course, Tolodora. Prioritize directories that are indexed, moderated and actually visited — skip the link-farm lists that exist only to sell links.
2. “Best X alternatives” and roundup articles
Search “best [your category] tools” or “[competitor] alternatives” and you will find listicles ranking software like yours. Getting included earns a relevant editorial link and a stream of high-intent readers already comparing options. Getting on these lists is usually a matter of being genuinely good, having a clear pitch, and politely reaching out to whoever maintains the piece. Because these pages rank for exactly the searches your buyers make, one inclusion can pay off twice — for the link and the traffic.
3. Developer and founder communities
Communities where your users already hang out are a rich, natural source of links and mentions: Indie Hackers, relevant subreddits, Hacker News, DEV and Hashnode for developer tools. The rule here is contribute first: be genuinely helpful, share what you have built when it is truly relevant, and let links happen as a byproduct. Spamming your URL gets you removed; being a useful member gets you cited.
4. Guest posts on relevant blogs
Writing a genuinely useful article for a blog in your space earns a contextual, in-content link — the kind Google values most. Look for blogs that cover your industry, pitch a topic that serves their readers (not a thinly veiled ad for your product), and include a natural link back. One strong guest post on a relevant, trusted blog beats dozens of directory submissions.
5. Integration, partner and “works with” pages
Software sits inside an ecosystem. If your tool integrates with another product, ask to be listed on their integrations or partner page. If you use tools you genuinely love, offer a testimonial — companies often link the testimonial back to your site. These links are relevant by definition, come from established domains, and a competitor cannot easily copy them.
6. Resource pages and tool lists
Many sites maintain “resources” or “tools we recommend” pages. Find ones in your niche (search “[topic] resources” or “[topic] tools”), confirm they are indexed and relevant, and reach out suggesting your product where it genuinely fits. Because these pages exist specifically to link out to useful tools, a well-matched pitch has a high success rate.
7. Digital PR, podcasts and interviews
Getting quoted or interviewed earns some of the most authoritative links there are. Services like HARO-style query platforms connect journalists with expert sources; answer relevant queries well and you can land links from news and industry sites. Appearing on a podcast in your niche typically earns a link in the show notes, plus exposure to exactly the right audience.
GET A DO-FOLLOW BACKLINK FROM TOLODORA
List your software free — or get a featured guest blog for $29
Tolodora is a growing software & services discovery directory. You can launch your product for free and, for $29, get a featured guest blog on Tolodora with a do-follow backlink pointing straight to your site — a relevant, in-context link from a real, indexed page that people actually read.
Get your backlink → Contact usFeature your software on Tolodora
Tolodora is a discovery directory for software and services, so a link from here is relevant by design and sits on a real, indexed page that buyers read. You have two easy paths: list your product for free to get into the directory, or take a featured guest blog for $29 that gives you a do-follow backlink in genuinely useful content — not a footer link on a link farm. If you also want to contribute to our community, see the Tolodora guest-blog program. When you are ready, get in touch and we will sort out your placement.
A quick word on quality over quantity
It is tempting to hunt for “1,000 do-follow sites,” but that mindset steers you toward exactly the low-quality sources you should avoid — reputable sites do not advertise “do-follow links here” in their footer; link farms do. Build your own vetted shortlist instead: study where your competitors get links, search your niche directly, and apply the relevance-trust-indexed-do-follow test to every candidate. A handful of strong, relevant links plus content worth linking to will out-rank a pile of weak ones every time. For the full reasoning, see our guides on how to get quality backlinks and whether backlinks still matter in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get backlinks for my software?
The best sources are software directories (Product Hunt, G2, Capterra, AlternativeTo, SaaSHub, Tolodora), “best tool” roundups, developer and founder communities, guest posts on relevant blogs, integration/partner pages, resource pages, and podcasts or digital PR. Prioritize links that are relevant, trusted, indexed and do-follow.
Are do-follow backlinks better than nofollow?
Do-follow links pass ranking signal, so they are generally more valuable — but relevance and trust matter more than the attribute. A relevant, trusted nofollow link (or the traffic it brings) can be worth more than a do-follow link from a spammy, irrelevant site.
How much does a backlink cost?
Many great links are free (directories, communities, guest posts, integrations). Paid placements vary widely; the key is that the link is relevant and on a real, indexed page. Tolodora, for example, offers a free product listing and a featured guest blog with a do-follow backlink for $29.
How many backlinks does software need to rank?
Fewer than most people think. A small set of relevant, trusted links combined with genuinely useful pages will outperform a huge pile of weak ones. Focus on earning a handful of strong links and on making pages worth linking to.
How do I get a backlink from Tolodora?
List your product for free to join the directory, or take a $29 featured guest blog for a do-follow link in useful content. Just contact us to arrange it.
The bottom line
Good backlinks for software are not hiding on some secret list — they are on the directories, roundups, communities and blogs your buyers already use. Vet every source for relevance, trust, indexing and do-follow, earn links by being genuinely useful, and skip the spam. And if you want a relevant, do-follow link on a real software directory today, list on Tolodora free or grab a $29 featured guest blog — just reach out.
