7 Best LinksThatRank Alternatives for Link Building in 2026
Top pick: MentionAgent ($99/mo) for automated outreach, Authority Builders for a marketplace-style managed service, or Pitchbox ($165/mo) for enterprise software with SEO integrations.
LinksThatRank charges $177-$327 per link and $697-$4,997/month for packages. If that's not a fit, here are 7 cheaper alternatives ranked by fit. See our LinksThatRank review and pricing breakdown for background.
Quick comparison
| Tool/Service | Type | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| MentionAgent | Automated software | $99/mo | Automated outreach, no per-link fees |
| Authority Builders | Managed service | Per-link (varies) | Matt Diggity's vetted marketplace |
| Pitchbox | Self-service software | $165/mo | Enterprise link building |
| BuzzStream | Self-service software | $24/mo | Budget manual outreach |
| FATJOE | Pay-per-link | ~$75/link | One-off orders, no commitment |
| The Hoth | Managed service | ~$100/link | Lower-budget per-link orders |
| Stellar SEO | Managed agency | Custom | Full-service outreach campaigns |
1. MentionAgent
Best for: Automated outreach at a flat price, no per-link fees
MentionAgent automates what LinksThatRank does manually. It finds relevant blogs in your niche, looks up contacts, writes personalized pitches, and follows up. You approve the emails before they send. No credits, no per-link tax.
- Finds and qualifies prospects automatically
- Personalized emails written per recipient
- Built-in deliverability optimization
- Flat monthly price, build as many links as your niche supports
- Pricing: From $99/mo
2. Authority Builders (ABC)
Best for: Matt Diggity's vetted link marketplace
Authority Builders is Matt Diggity's (not to be confused with Matthew Woodward) link building service. It runs as a marketplace of pre-vetted guest post opportunities, so you can browse and select specific sites rather than submitting a brief. A direct alternative if you want per-link managed placements with more target control.
- Vetted marketplace of placement opportunities
- Select your own sites rather than being assigned them
- Quality filters similar in spirit to the 23-point check
- Pricing: Per-link, varies by site metrics
3. Pitchbox
Best for: Enterprise link building with SEO tool integrations
Pitchbox is self-service outreach software with native Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, and Majestic integrations. You run campaigns yourself, but filter and score prospects directly on SEO metrics. See our Pitchbox review.
- 20+ prospecting methods with OEP response scoring
- Native Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz integration
- Assembly-line workflow for teams
- Pricing: $165/mo (Pro) / $420/mo (Advanced) / $675/mo (Scale)
4. BuzzStream
Best for: Manual outreach on a tight budget
BuzzStream is the most affordable self-service outreach tool. It's relationship-focused with contact history tracking, Chrome extension prospecting, and link monitoring. Less flashy than Pitchbox, but solid and very cheap. See our BuzzStream review.
- Contact relationship management with full history
- Link monitoring after placement
- Chrome extension for one-click prospecting
- Pricing: $24/mo (Starter) / $124/mo (Growth) / $299/mo (Professional)
5. FATJOE
Best for: Pay-per-link with no commitment
FATJOE is a link marketplace where you order placements individually. Prices vary by target site metrics. Good for occasional links without a monthly retainer. Quality is lower on average than LinksThatRank's 23-point-screened placements, but pricing is much flatter.
- Pay-per-link, no subscription
- Multiple link types: blogger outreach, niche edits, guest posts
- White-label for agencies
- Pricing: From ~$75/link (varies by metrics)
6. The Hoth
Best for: Lower-budget per-link orders
The Hoth is an established SEO agency that sells link packages, SEO services, and content at per-link or per-package rates. Generally cheaper per link than LinksThatRank, though with looser quality screening. See our The Hoth review.
- Large catalog of link types (guest posts, niche edits, PR links)
- Lower per-link cost than premium vendors
- Additional services (SEO, content, web design) under one account
- Pricing: From ~$100 per link depending on type
7. Stellar SEO
Best for: Full-service outreach campaigns with custom strategy
Stellar SEO runs managed link building campaigns similar in style to LinksThatRank but with a more bespoke, agency-style approach. Expect a strategy call rather than a per-link menu. See our Stellar SEO review.
- Custom campaign strategy per client
- Manual outreach, no marketplaces or recycled lists
- Content creation included
- Pricing: Custom, typically $2K+/month
You want per-link managed placements but prefer to pick your own target sites from a list. Which alternative fits?
Right. Authority Builders runs as a marketplace of pre-vetted opportunities, so you browse and pick specific sites instead of submitting a brief and receiving an assignment.
Authority Builders is the marketplace-style managed service, so you get pre-vetted sites to choose from. BuzzStream and Pitchbox are outreach software, not link marketplaces.
Why people look for LinksThatRank alternatives
- Per-link cost. $177 for a DR 20 link is above market for a placement you could source yourself for less.
- No target pre-selection. You approve final placements, but you don't pick sites upfront. Some SEOs want that control.
- Monthly packages get pricey fast. Gold is $4,997/mo. Most teams want either a cheaper retainer or a flexible per-link menu.
- Mixed reviews on Trustpilot. Quality claims aren't externally audited, and some buyers report placements similar to cheaper sources.
How to choose
| If you need... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Automated outreach at a flat price | MentionAgent ($99/mo) |
| Vetted marketplace of guest post opportunities | Authority Builders (per-link) |
| Enterprise software with SEO data | Pitchbox ($165/mo) |
| Budget manual outreach | BuzzStream ($24/mo) |
| One-off links, no retainer | FATJOE (~$75/link) |
| Cheaper per-link managed links | The Hoth (~$100/link) |
| Custom managed campaigns | Stellar SEO (custom) |
You have $100/month and want to build backlinks through outreach. What's the best-fit option?
Correct. MentionAgent at $99/mo automates the entire outreach workflow and isn't charged per link, so a $100 budget stretches to multiple placements over the month.
At $100/month, managed per-link services eat your whole budget on a single link. MentionAgent ($99/mo) automates outreach with no per-link fees, so budget stretches further.
Your SEO team wants to filter prospects by Ahrefs DR inside the outreach tool. Which alternative integrates natively?
Right. Pitchbox is the only self-service platform with native integrations across Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, and Majestic, which lets you filter prospects by SEO metrics inside the tool.
Pitchbox ($165/mo) has native Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, and Majestic integrations built in. You can filter and prioritize prospects by DR directly in the platform.
Flat-rate link building, no per-link tax
MentionAgent runs the same outreach workflow as a managed service, finding relevant sites, writing pitches, and following up, at a flat $99/mo with no per-link fees.
Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFrequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to LinksThatRank?
For automated outreach at a flat rate, MentionAgent ($99/mo). For a marketplace-style managed service, Authority Builders. For enterprise self-service software, Pitchbox ($165/mo).
Is software cheaper than LinksThatRank?
Yes, dramatically. LinksThatRank links cost $177-$327 each. MentionAgent ($99/mo flat) or BuzzStream ($24/mo) let you build multiple links at a fraction of the cost.
What is similar to LinksThatRank?
Other managed per-link services: Authority Builders (Matt Diggity), FATJOE, The Hoth, Stellar SEO, and Search Intelligence. All sell placements but with different price points and screening standards.
Can I run the 23-point check myself?
Yes. Verify target site traffic with Ahrefs/Semrush, filter niche relevance manually, and cross-check against LinksThatRank's free Backlink Blacklist. Automated tools like MentionAgent handle the outreach once your filters are set.
Which alternative has the fastest turnaround?
MentionAgent starts pitching within hours of setup. BuzzStream and Pitchbox depend on how fast you run outreach. FATJOE's pay-per-link model typically takes 2-4 weeks. Managed agencies like Stellar SEO need a strategy call first.
Are there free LinksThatRank alternatives?
No tool automates the full workflow for free. The closest free path: manual outreach with spreadsheets, Hunter's free tier for email finding, HARO for reactive expert quotes, and LinksThatRank's own free Backlink Blacklist to screen prospects.
Should I use multiple alternatives at once?
Yes, most teams do. Run MentionAgent or Pitchbox for ongoing outreach, use HARO for reactive expert quotes, and order one-off links from FATJOE or The Hoth for quick boosts. Different tools fit different link types.