Introduction: Are You Struggling to Get Backlinks Without Spending Money?
If you are someone who is just starting out in SEO, or even a working professional trying to grow your website's authority, you already know how hard it is to build quality backlinks. Paid link building can cost thousands of rupees. Guest posting outreach takes weeks. So what's the smart, budget-friendly alternative?
Free article submission websites.
Yes, they still work in 2026 — and when done right, they can bring you high-quality do-follow backlinks from platforms with Domain Authority (DA) of 70, 80, even 90+. In this guide, you'll get a complete, updated list of the top free article submission websites with high DA PA, what they offer, and exactly how to use them to improve your SEO — without spending a single rupee.
Whether you're a student learning digital marketing, a blogger trying to rank on Google, or a business owner looking to grow online — this guide is for you.
What is Article Submission in SEO?
Article submission is an off-page SEO technique where you write an informative article and publish it on a third-party website. Inside that article, you include a link back to your own website. That link is called a backlink.
Think of it like this: Imagine Google is a popularity contest. Every time a trusted website links back to yours, it's like that website is vouching for you. The more trusted websites that vouch for you, the higher Google ranks your website.
Article submission sites are those trusted third-party platforms that let anyone publish content for free — and in return, you get a backlink.
Simple, right?
Why Free Article Submission Sites Still Matter in 2026
A lot of people ask — "Is article submission still relevant in 2026?" The answer is yes, absolutely — but only when you focus on quality platforms.
Here's why article submission for SEO still works:
1. Free Backlinks from High DA Sites Platforms like Medium (DA 95) and LinkedIn Pulse (DA 98) are trusted by Google. A single backlink from these platforms can pass significant SEO value to your website — for free.
2. Referral Traffic When real people read your article on these platforms, they click your link and land on your website. That's free, targeted referral traffic.
3. Brand Awareness Publishing regularly on article posting sites builds your authority in your niche. People start recognizing your name and trusting your content.
4. Faster Indexing High-authority platforms get crawled by Google frequently. When your article goes live on them, Google finds your backlink faster — which speeds up your own page indexing.
5. Cost = Zero Unlike paid link building or sponsored posts, article submission sites are completely free. Perfect for students, beginners, and small business owners.
Key SEO Metrics You Must Know Before Submitting Articles
Before you start submitting articles, it's important to understand three numbers that tell you whether a website is worth your time:
Domain Authority (DA)
DA is a score from 0 to 100 developed by Moz. It predicts how well a website will rank on search engines. A higher DA means more trust. Always target sites with DA 40 or above. DA 70+ is considered excellent.
Page Authority (PA)
PA is similar to DA but applies to a specific page instead of the whole domain. A high PA page passes more SEO value through its links.
Spam Score
Spam Score (also by Moz) indicates how likely a website is to be penalized by Google. Always choose sites with a Spam Score below 5%. High spam score sites can hurt your SEO instead of helping it.
Quick Rule: High DA + High PA + Low Spam Score = Valuable Backlink.
Top Free Article Submission Websites with High DA PA (2026 Updated List)
Here is a carefully curated list of the best article submission sites that are working in 2026, organized by their authority and approval speed:
Tier 1: Premium High DA Platforms (DA 80–100) — Instant Approval
Website | DA | PA | Spam Score | Link Type |
95 | 78 | 2% | NoFollow | |
linkedin.com | 98 | 80 | 1% | NoFollow |
90 | 65 | 3% | DoFollow | |
82 | 60 | 2% | DoFollow | |
85 | 62 | 2% | DoFollow | |
83 | 58 | 3% | NoFollow | |
89 | 64 | 2% | NoFollow | |
90 | 66 | 4% | NoFollow | |
91 | 68 | 2% | DoFollow | |
93 | 72 | 2% | NoFollow |
Tier 2: Strong Mid-Authority Platforms (DA 50–79)
Website | DA | PA | Spam Score | Link Type |
72 | 55 | 5% | DoFollow | |
65 | 50 | 4% | DoFollow | |
55 | 45 | 5% | DoFollow | |
52 | 40 | 6% | DoFollow | |
50 | 42 | 5% | DoFollow | |
58 | 46 | 5% | DoFollow | |
74 | 55 | 3% | NoFollow | |
60 | 48 | 6% | DoFollow | |
54 | 43 | 5% | DoFollow | |
56 | 44 | 5% | DoFollow |
Tier 3: Good Starter Platforms with Instant Approval (DA 30–50)
Website | DA | PA | Spam Score | Link Type |
45 | 38 | 7% | DoFollow | |
38 | 30 | 6% | DoFollow | |
35 | 28 | 6% | DoFollow | |
42 | 36 | 7% | DoFollow | |
36 | 30 | 8% | DoFollow | |
40 | 33 | 7% | DoFollow | |
33 | 27 | 8% | DoFollow | |
48 | 40 | 5% | NoFollow | |
34 | 28 | 7% | DoFollow | |
44 | 37 | 6% | DoFollow |
Free Article Submission Sites with Instant Approval — Quick Reference List
For those who want quick results, here are the article submission sites with instant approval:
linkedin.com/pulse
How to Submit Articles the Right Way (Step-by-Step)
Getting a backlink is not just about submitting — it's about submitting the right way. Here's how:
Step 1: Choose the Right Platform
Match the platform to your niche. If you write about technology, Dev.to and Hashnode are perfect. If you write about business or marketing, Medium and LinkedIn Pulse are ideal.
Step 2: Create an Account
Most platforms require a free account. Fill in your profile completely — including a professional photo and a bio that links back to your website.
Step 3: Write Original, High-Quality Content
Never copy-paste your existing blog post. Write a unique version — at least 70-80% different. Google penalizes duplicate content, even on third-party platforms.
Step 4: Naturally Include Your Backlink
Place your website link naturally inside the article body — not in the headline or at the top. One or two links per article is the ideal limit. Also add a link in your author bio.
Step 5: Optimize Your Article for SEO
Include your target keyword in the title, first paragraph, and a couple of subheadings. Keep it natural — don't stuff keywords.
Step 6: Submit and Track
After publishing, add UTM parameters to your link (using Google's Campaign URL Builder) so you can track how much referral traffic you're getting from each platform.
Pro Tips for Getting Maximum SEO Value from Article Submission
Focus on quality, not quantity. Two well-written articles on DA 80+ sites beat 50 articles on low-quality directories.
Post consistently. Aim for 4 to 6 quality submissions per month. Results typically show in 3 to 6 months.
Use a mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links. A 100% DoFollow profile looks unnatural. Mix it up.
Vary your anchor text. Don't always use the same keyword. Use branded anchors, URLs, and natural phrases too.
Avoid article spinning software. Google's Helpful Content Update in 2024 specifically targeted AI-spun and low-quality content. Always write for humans first.
Engage with the platform's community. On Medium or Dev.to, respond to comments on your article. This builds organic reach.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many beginners make these mistakes that can hurt their SEO instead of helping it:
Submitting duplicate content — Always write a fresh article for each platform.
Choosing sites with high spam scores — Always check Spam Score on Moz before submitting. Avoid sites above 7-8%.
Using exact match anchor text every time — This looks manipulative to Google. Vary your anchors.
Placing links in headings — Keep your backlinks inside the body paragraphs. Links in headings look spammy.
Mass submitting to hundreds of low-DA sites — This is a waste of time in 2026 and can even hurt your domain's credibility.
FAQs About Free Article Submission Websites
Q1. Are free article submission sites still effective for SEO in 2026?
Yes, but only when you use high-authority platforms like Medium, HubPages, LinkedIn Pulse, and Dev.to. Low-quality directories with no editorial standards have lost nearly all SEO value due to Google's algorithm updates. Focus on DA 70+ platforms for real results.
Q2. What is the difference between DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks from article submission sites?
A DoFollow backlink passes SEO authority (called "link juice") from the submitting site to yours. A NoFollow link does not pass authority directly, but it still helps with brand visibility, referral traffic, and creating a natural-looking backlink profile. Most article submission sites offer NoFollow links, but several like HubPages, Hashnode, and Dev.to offer DoFollow.
Q3. How many articles should I submit per month?
Quality beats quantity. Aim for 4 to 6 well-written, unique articles per month across a mix of high-DA platforms. Submitting 50 articles to low-quality sites in one week is far less effective than 5 articles on trusted platforms over a month.
Q4. Can I submit the same article to multiple article submission sites?
No. Submitting identical content to multiple platforms creates duplicate content issues. Google may de-index your submissions. Always rewrite your content substantially — at least 70% different — before submitting to a new platform.
Q5. What DA should I target when choosing article submission sites?
Target a minimum of DA 40 as your baseline. DA 70 and above is considered top tier. Pair this with a Spam Score below 5% for the safest and most valuable backlinks.
Q6. How long does it take to see results from article submission?
Typically 3 to 6 months for consistent SEO improvement. However, referral traffic can start coming in within days if your articles are published on high-traffic platforms like Medium or LinkedIn Pulse.
Q7. Is article submission the same as guest posting?
Not exactly. Guest posting means writing for someone else's blog at their invitation, usually with stricter editorial control and higher authority. Article submission sites are open platforms where anyone can publish. Both are valid off-page SEO strategies and work best when combined.
Conclusion: Start Building Backlinks Today — and Learn the Skills to Do It Like a Pro
Free article submission websites are one of the most underrated SEO tools available to marketers, bloggers, and business owners in 2026. When used strategically — focusing on high DA PA platforms, writing original content, and tracking your results — they can meaningfully boost your domain authority, referral traffic, and Google rankings without costing anything.
Start with the top-tier platforms: Medium, LinkedIn Pulse, HubPages, Hashnode, and Dev.to. These five alone give you backlinks from DA 80+ domains and exposure to millions of real readers.
Remember: consistency is everything. Submit 4 to 6 quality articles a month, track your referral traffic in Google Analytics, and watch your authority grow over time.
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