Hey folks
Been doing some backlink outreach this week and wanted to share a list of free tools I’ve found super helpful. Not talking about “free trials” or “limited 3 searches/month” kind of tools. I mean real free stuff that helps you build, not just analyze, backlinks.
Would love to hear what others are using too 👇
🔗 1. HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
➤ Great for landing high-authority editorial links from real journalists.
➤ Respond to niche-relevant journalist queries → land on Forbes, TechCrunch, etc.
➤ Tip: Don’t send lazy pitches. Personalize. Give actual expertise.
🕵️ 3. Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker
➤ Lets you see the top 100 backlinks for any domain.
➤ Use it to reverse-engineer your competitors’ link strategies.
➤ Then outreach with something better (broken link fix, better resource, etc.)
🛠️ 4. SEO Review Tools - Backlink Checker
➤ Free. Fast. Unlimited.
➤ Shows anchor text, domain authority, follow/nofollow — all the essentials.
➤ No signup required.
🧟 5. Check My Links (Chrome Extension)
➤ Scan pages for broken links (especially resource pages).
➤ Found a 404? Offer your content as a replacement.
➤ Works super well for niche blogs and EDU resource pages.
🌍 6. OpenLinkProfiler
➤ Still one of the best for checking active backlinks (no login).
➤ Also useful for filtering by link age and trust score.
➤ Bonus: Export to .CSV for your link tracking doc.
🔎 7. Ubersuggest (Free version)
➤ Basic backlink insights on your competitors.
➤ Helps spot recent links and dofollow gems.
➤ Free version limits searches, but works well when focused.
👻 8. Disavow.it
➤ Not for building links — but for cleaning up junk.
➤ Helps you prep disavow files easily.
➤ Good hygiene = better trust signals long-term.
What other free tools are you guys using in 2025?
