Best Directory Submission Services in 2026 (Honest Comparison)

You want more referring domains, a higher Domain Rating, and you do not want to spend months on manual outreach. Directory submission services handle all of that for you — but the market is crowded and the quality varies wildly.

If you want to understand what Domain Rating is and why it matters, read our what is Domain Rating guide. To check your current score before choosing a service, use our free Domain Rating checker.

Why directory submissions work for SEO#

The logic is straightforward. Ahrefs Domain Rating is driven primarily by the number and quality of unique referring domains linking to your site. Each directory you get listed on is a new referring domain. More referring domains means higher DR.

Why this method is so effective:

• Each directory = a new referring domain. Unlike guest posts where you might get one link after hours of work, directory submissions give you one referring domain per submission. Submit to 100 directories, earn up to 100 new referring domains.
• Referring domains are the primary factor for DR. Ahrefs has confirmed that the number and quality of unique referring domains is the main input for DR calculation. Directory submissions target this directly.
• Faster and more predictable than alternatives. Guest posting, outreach, and HARO all work — but they take weeks or months and the results are uncertain. Directory submissions deliver a known number of backlinks on a predictable timeline.
• Foundation for broader link building. Once your DR reaches 15-25 through directories, other link building tactics become easier. Sites with higher DR get more responses to guest post pitches and outreach emails.

Directory submissions alone will not take you to DR 60. But they are the fastest way to build the foundation that makes every other link building tactic more effective. For the full playbook on increasing DR, see our how to increase Domain Rating guide. If you are tracking Domain Authority instead, our increase Domain Authority guide covers the Moz side.

What to look for in a directory submission service#

Not all services are created equal. Here is what separates the good ones from the ones that waste your money:

Number of directories (and quality, not just quantity)#

A service claiming 10,000 directories sounds impressive until you realize most of them are spam sites with DR 0 and no traffic. What matters is how many of those directories are curated, maintained, and have their own authority. 100 quality directories beat 1,000 junk ones every time.

Manual vs automated submissions#

Manual submissions mean a real person fills out each directory's submission form with tailored descriptions for your product. Automated submissions blast the same generic text across hundreds of sites. Manual submissions have higher acceptance rates and produce better listings.

Do-follow vs no-follow ratio#

Do-follow links pass link equity and directly impact your DR. No-follow links have indirect value (traffic, brand awareness) but do not move the DR needle. A good service should be transparent about the expected ratio. Most quality directories use a mix, and that is fine — even no-follow links from high-DR directories contribute to a natural backlink profile.

Transparency#

Does the service share the list of directories they submit to? Do they tell you which directories accepted your listing? Services that operate as a black box — "trust us, we submitted to 500 directories" — are a red flag. You should know exactly where your product was listed.

Proof of submission#

Screenshots, live URLs, or a detailed report showing each submission and its status. Without proof, you have no way to verify the work was done.

Guaranteed results#

Some services guarantee a specific DR increase. This is a strong signal of confidence. If a service will not guarantee results, ask yourself why.

Pricing and value#

Pricing varies widely — from under $100 to over $500. The cheapest option is rarely the best, but the most expensive is not automatically the best either. Evaluate the cost per quality directory submission.

Support and turnaround time#

How long does the service take to complete all submissions? Days, weeks, or months? And if something goes wrong, can you actually reach someone?

Best directory submission services compared#

1. RankInPublic#

RankInPublic's directory submission service focuses on manual submissions to curated, quality directories. Every listing is submitted by hand with a tailored description for your product.

Pricing:

• $199 tier: 100+ curated directories, guaranteed DR increase from 0 to 15+
• $249 tier: 140+ curated directories, guaranteed DR increase from 0 to 20+

What you get:

• Manual submissions to every directory — no automation
• Detailed report with every submission and its status
• Guaranteed DR increase (or your money back)
• Real, verifiable customer results (see the case studies below)

Pros:

• Best price-to-value ratio on the market
• Guaranteed DR increase with real case studies to back it up
• Manual submissions with tailored descriptions
• Full transparency — you see every directory and every submission
• Fast turnaround

Cons:

• Smaller directory database than services claiming thousands (by design — quality over quantity)
• Newer brand compared to some established competitors

Best for: Startups, SaaS founders, and indie hackers who want the highest ROI on directory submissions with guaranteed results.

2. ListingBott#

ListingBott is one of the most well-known directory submission services, created by JohnRush. It has built a strong reputation in the indie hacker and SaaS community.

Pricing: Premium pricing — around $499 for 100 directory submissions

What you get:

• Access to a database of 10,000+ directories
• Semi-automated submission process
• Dashboard to track submissions

Pros:

• Largest directory database in the space
• Well-known brand with strong community presence
• Good dashboard and tracking interface

Cons:

• Significantly more expensive than alternatives for comparable directory counts
• Automated/semi-automated process may result in lower acceptance rates compared to manual submissions
• The 10,000 directory claim includes many low-quality sites — the number of high-quality directories that actually accept and publish your listing is much smaller

Best for: Teams with larger budgets who value the established brand and want access to the largest directory database.

3. SubmitSaaS#

SubmitSaaS offers done-for-you submissions to 100+ directories using AI-assisted automation. It has built a solid reputation in the SaaS space.

Pricing: Multiple pricing tiers depending on directory count and features

What you get:

• AI-powered submission process to 100+ directories
• Done-for-you service
• Tracking dashboard

Pros:

• Good reputation in the SaaS community
• Decent directory count (100+)
• AI automation can process submissions quickly

Cons:

• AI-driven submissions may miss nuance — generic descriptions that do not highlight what makes your product unique
• Less human oversight compared to fully manual services

Best for: SaaS founders who want a hands-off service and are comfortable with AI-generated submissions.

4. LaunchDirectories#

LaunchDirectories combines a curated directory database with a managed submission service. Each directory in their database includes DR ratings and traffic data, so you can see exactly what you are getting.

Pricing: Packages for 30, 60, or 100+ directories at various price points

What you get:

• Curated directory database with metrics (DR, traffic) for each directory
• Managed submission service
• Multiple package sizes

Pros:

• Transparent about directory quality — shows DR and traffic data for each directory
• Flexible package sizes for different budgets
• Good for people who want to see exactly which directories they are being submitted to

Cons:

• Base packages have a smaller directory count (30-60) compared to competitors
• Getting to 100+ directories requires the premium package

Best for: Users who prioritize transparency and want to see detailed metrics for every directory before committing.

5. LinkDR#

LinkDR is a directory submission tool with a strong domain (DR 52) and an established presence in the market.

Pricing: Multiple tiers available

What you get:

• Directory submission tool
• Established service with high DR

Pros:

• High DR (52) — one of the most authoritative services in the space
• Established track record

Cons:

• Less transparent about the exact submission process and directory list
• Harder to evaluate what you get before buying

Best for: Users who prioritize working with an established, high-authority service.

6. 300 AI Directories#

300 AI Directories is a niche service focused specifically on AI product directories. If your product is in the AI space, this is worth considering as a complement to a broader service.

Pricing: Varies by package

What you get:

• Manual submissions to 300+ AI-specific directories
• Niche targeting for AI products

Pros:

• Deep specialization in AI directories — they know the space well
• Large count of niche-specific directories (300+)
• Manual submission process

Cons:

• Only useful if your product is AI-related
• Low DR themselves (DR 7), which may reflect on the quality of directories in their database
• Niche focus means you still need a general service for non-AI directories

Best for: AI startups looking for maximum coverage in AI-specific directories.

7. GetMoreBacklinks#

GetMoreBacklinks claims to provide 500+ directory listings, positioning itself as a high-volume option.

Pricing: Varies by package

What you get:

• Submissions to 500+ directories
• Higher volume than most competitors

Pros:

• Large directory count (500+)
• Good for maximum volume

Cons:

• Low DR (18) — raises questions about the quality of directories in their network
• Less established brand
• High volume often comes at the cost of directory quality

Best for: Users who want maximum volume and are less concerned about directory quality.

8. Submt#

Submt is a newer entrant offering submissions to 85+ directories with a focus on quality over quantity.

Pricing: Varies by package

What you get:

• Submissions to 85+ directories
• Quality-focused approach

Pros:

• Quality-over-quantity philosophy
• Focused approach rather than spray-and-pray

Cons:

• Very new — DR 0, which means the service itself has no established backlink authority
• Unproven track record
• Smaller directory count than competitors

Best for: Early adopters willing to try a new service at potentially lower prices.

Comparison table#

DIY vs done-for-you: when to do it yourself#

Directory submissions are not complicated. The question is whether your time is better spent submitting to directories or building your product.

When DIY makes sense#

• You have more time than money. If you are bootstrapping and cannot afford $199-$499, doing it yourself is a valid option.
• You only need a few directories. If you want to submit to 10-20 directories, a service is overkill. Just do it manually.
• You want to learn the process. Submitting to directories yourself teaches you which ones are quality, what descriptions work, and how the backlink ecosystem operates.

When a service makes sense#

• You value your time. Submitting to 100+ directories manually takes 15-30+ hours. At a $199-$249 price point, the service pays for itself if your time is worth more than $8-17 per hour.
• You want 100+ submissions. The real DR impact comes from volume — 50-150 new referring domains. That is a lot of manual work.
• You need guaranteed results. A service with a DR guarantee takes the risk off the table. If it does not work, you get your money back.
• You want to focus on your product. Every hour spent submitting to directories is an hour not spent on product development, marketing, or sales.

DIY resources#

If you decide to go the DIY route, we have free resources to help:

• Startup directories list — a curated list of directories worth submitting to
• Startup directories that send traffic — directories that do not just help DR but also drive real visitors

Real DR results from RankInPublic customers#

Claims are easy. Data is harder to argue with. Here are real before-and-after Domain Rating results from sites that used RankInPublic's directory submission service:

What these results tell you#

renderly.video started at DR 0 — a brand new domain with zero backlinks — and reached DR 24 through directory submissions alone. A 24-point jump from nothing demonstrates exactly how powerful adding unique referring domains is for a fresh site.

psychiatryexams.co.uk gained 21 points, going from DR 5 to DR 26. This is a niche medical education site, proving that directory submissions work across industries — not just tech and SaaS.

blitzcutai.com jumped from DR 8 to DR 25, moving from "invisible" to "competitive" in terms of backlink profile strength. That 17-point increase happened through curated directory submissions.

interactivecircleoffifths.com climbed from DR 5 to DR 22 — a music education tool that is about as far from typical SaaS as you can get. Directory submissions work regardless of your niche.

clipt.cc started at DR 21 with an existing backlink foundation and still gained 7 points to reach DR 28. The logarithmic scale means each additional point above DR 20 requires more effort, so a 7-point increase at that level is significant.

The pattern is clear: directory submissions are the most efficient way to build your initial DR foundation. For more on how to keep climbing after that foundation is set, see our complete guide to increasing Domain Rating and our high authority backlinks guide.

FAQs#

Are directory submission services worth it?#

Yes, if you choose a quality service. Directory submissions are the fastest way to increase your Domain Rating, especially for new sites starting at DR 0-10. A good service handles 100+ submissions manually, saving you 15-30 hours of tedious work. The key is choosing a service that submits to curated, quality directories — not one that blasts your URL to thousands of spam sites. At $199-$249, the ROI is excellent for most startups and SaaS businesses.

How many directories should I submit to?#

For meaningful DR impact, aim for at least 50-100 directory submissions. Below 30, the DR increase will be modest. Between 50-100, you should see a noticeable jump (typically DR 10-20+ from zero). Above 100, you are building a strong foundation. There are diminishing returns past 150-200 for most niches, so do not chase the highest number — focus on quality. Our directory list covers the best ones to target.

How long until I see DR results?#

Most customers see DR changes within 1-4 weeks after submissions are completed. Ahrefs needs to crawl and index the new backlinks, which takes time. Some directories also have review queues that add a few days. The full DR impact typically stabilizes within 4-8 weeks. Do not check daily — track monthly and look at the trend.

Are directory backlinks do-follow or no-follow?#

It is a mix, and that is normal. Quality directory submission services target directories that offer do-follow links where possible, but many legitimate directories use no-follow links. Both types contribute to a natural backlink profile. Do-follow links directly impact DR, while no-follow links from high-authority directories still provide value through traffic, brand visibility, and link profile diversity. A natural-looking mix is actually better for long-term SEO than 100% do-follow.

Can directory submissions hurt my SEO?#

Not if done correctly. Submitting to quality, curated directories is a legitimate link building tactic endorsed by the SEO community. The risk comes from submitting to thousands of spammy, auto-approve directories or link farms — those can trigger spam detection. A quality service that manually submits to vetted directories carries no SEO risk. For context, Google's own John Mueller has said that directory links from quality directories are fine. The key word is quality.

What is the difference between directory submissions and link building?#

Directory submissions are one form of link building. Link building is the broader strategy of earning backlinks from other websites through various methods: guest posting, outreach, HARO, content marketing, broken link building, and directory submissions. Think of directory submissions as the foundation of your link building strategy — the fastest, most predictable method to get started. From there, you layer on other tactics like those covered in our link building strategies guide.

Which directory submission service should I choose?#

If you want the best value with guaranteed results, RankInPublic is our recommendation (yes, we are biased — but the case studies back it up). If you have a larger budget and want the biggest directory database, ListingBott is worth considering. If your product is specifically AI-related, 300 AI Directories is a good complement to a general service. If you want maximum transparency about directory metrics, LaunchDirectories shows DR and traffic data for each directory. For a broader perspective on building your site's authority, see our guides on DR vs Domain Authority and increasing Domain Authority.

Can I use multiple directory submission services?#

You can, but there is significant overlap. Most services submit to many of the same popular directories. Using two services means you are likely paying twice for some of the same submissions. A better approach: use one quality service for the bulk of your submissions, then use our free directory guides to manually submit to any directories they missed.