Buy Backlinks: 5 Best Providers by Quality, Not Volume

Latest update: December 12, 2025

Buying backlinks means paying to have a link to your site placed on someone else’s website. You exchange money for that link’s potential SEO value and referral traffic.

A fair question comes up now: Does anyone still do this in the age of AI search? 

Absolutely, they do. 

The core activity hasn’t really changed. Companies still allocate budgets to acquire links.

The difference is in how they do it. 

Some teams log into a platform, browse listings, and complete a purchase in minutes. 

Others write a check to an agency that manages the whole campaign from start to finish. 

Data backs this up. Editorial.Link’s 2025 industry survey polled over 500 SEOs, and 91.9% of them are convinced their rivals are buying links. 

This belief cuts across everyone: people working inside companies, freelancers, and agency staff.

Given this, your supplier choice becomes a key decision. We evaluated active providers to pinpoint reliable sources for buying backlinks in 2026.

The table below compares five established options for buying backlinks.

It outlines their core model, typical client focus, and starting price points to help you quickly identify potential fits.

ServiceBest ForIndustry FocusIndicative Pricing
INSERT.LINKSelf-service link insertions & guest postsIT, SaaS, E-commerce, Business, Health, FinancePrepaid balance
Editorial.LinkManaged, performance-based link buildingTech, Legal, Finance, E-commerce, SaaS$1,750 for 5 links (performance-based)
Fat JoeFixed-price guest post packagesGeneralist, with broad category filtersPackages start around $199 per link.
The HOTHPre-packaged SEO & link building bundlesGeneralistBundles start at $99/month for limited credits.
PressWhizzContent creation with link placementB2B, Tech, Finance, Professional ServicesPrepaid balance

The five options in the table cover the primary models available today. The detailed breakdown of each service provides a closer look at their specific methods and suitability.

INSERT.LINK is a reputable marketplace for buying backlinks through link insertions and guest posts. You purchase access to existing content on vetted websites.

INSERT.LINK guest post marketplace
  • Model: Prepaid balance
  • Process: Topic-based search powered by Google NLP. Enter a topic, filter by metrics like traffic and DR, select a page, and order your link.
  • Key Benefit: You see live page data (DR, traffic) before buying. No content creation or outreach is required on your part.
  • For Agencies: Access to a database of over 45,000 sites.
  • Pricing: You fund an account balance, then spend it on individual listings. Prices vary based on the page, typically starting around $20-30 for insertions and $40-50 for guest posts.

The marektplace suits those who want a fast, transparent selection process. It removes the need for manual prospecting, acting as an instant outreach department.

Editorial.Link is a performance-based link-building service: you only pay for the links you receive.

Before outreach begins, you can approve the target websites so you always know exactly where your content is being pitched.

Editorial.Link
  • How they work: A managed agency. You pay only after a link is successfully placed.
  • Their method: First, their specialists find potential sites. You must review and approve each one before they send a single email.
  • The main draw: You have final say on every prospect. Your card isn’t charged until your link is live on the approved site.
  • Site authority: They report the average Domain Rating of sites they place links on is 67.
  • Cost structure: Tailored quotes. A bundle of five links has a starting point of $1,750.

This service is for businesses seeking a managed, low-risk approach. It prioritizes link relevance and publisher authority over volume.

3. Fat Joe

Fat Joe is a managed link building platform. They find sites and secure placements for you based on your topic.

fatjoe
  • Model: Traditional agency handling full placement.
  • Process: You submit a topic. Their team selects a site from their network and completes the post.
  • Key Benefit: Hands-off operation. You rely on their internal vetting for “real blogs.”
  • Pricing: Fixed-cost. Individual guest posts start around $199. Monthly packages are available.
  • Industry Focus: Broad. Categories include Business, Health, and Technology.

It’s a fixed-cost option for those who want a simple, done-for-you service without platform interaction.

4. The HOTH

The HOTH structures everything around predefined service bundles. You subscribe, receive credits, and spend them on tasks like link building within their HOTH X platform.

  • How they work: A monthly subscription that allocates credits for SEO work.
  • Their method: Choose a bundle like “Blogger Outreach.” Use your credits to place an order. Their team then executes the link placement.
  • The main draw: Simple, recurring monthly cost. You know your budget and approximate output from the start.
  • Cost structure: Entry-level plans begin at $99 per month. Higher tiers with more credits cost more.
  • Site authority: They emphasize manual outreach and vetting for Domain Authority/Rating, with pricing tiers based on these metrics (e.g., DA 20+ starts at $175 per link).
  • Who it’s for: A wide audience. They specifically target local businesses, e-commerce stores, and agencies seeking a predictable, hands-off subscription.

5. PressWhizz

PressWhizz runs a hybrid model: a detailed marketplace and managed custom campaigns. They focus on connecting your content with their publisher network.

PressWhizz
  • How they work: A marketplace for direct purchases and a service for custom campaigns.
  • Their method: Use their platform to filter and buy from a listed site, or work with their team on a tailored package involving content creation and outreach.
  • The main draw: Speed and a large network. They highlight an average 18-hour delivery time and a 99% publisher approval rate across 40,000+ sites.
  • Cost structure: Marketplace prices vary. Custom project quotes start with a minimum engagement, reflecting the bespoke content and outreach.
  • Who it’s for: Their managed service targets competitive sectors like iGaming, Crypto, and SaaS with minimum spends of around $5,000/month. The marketplace serves a broader SEO audience.

Is buying backlinks helps to rank in AI-search?

Backlinks remain a core ranking signal for traditional search engines. In AI search, links contribute to how these systems perceive authority and credibility. 

In other words, links still feed the systems that power AI answers. When these models pull information to construct a response, they assess source credibility.

A history of links from respected industry sites can position your brand as a reference point. The topic of the linking page and its own authority are critical factors.

Is it safe to buy backlinks for SEO in 2026?

“Safe” is relative to your supplier’s process. Sending money for links on obvious link farms or hidden private networks is risky. It violates guidelines. 

Many providers, however, operate by facilitating guest posts or niche edits on legitimate websites. They handle the outreach. The clearest sign of a lower-risk service is transparency; they show you the exact site and page metrics before you agree to anything.

How much do backlinks cost?

Costs vary extremely widely. Editorial.Link’s 2025 report states the average price for a single, manually built backlink ranges from $350 to $500. Industry data from Buzzstream shows a massive range. A standard guest post might cost less than $100. 

A link from a major, authoritative industry publication can easily exceed $1,000. On self-service marketplaces, you’ll frequently see entry-level listings priced between $50 and $200.

How do I know if a backlink is high quality?

Look at the website hosting your link. Does it have consistent, original content? Does it attract organic traffic for its topic? Check its backlink profile. Check if other trustworthy websites link to it. A site that attracts its own natural backlinks has more equity to share. 

The most valuable link often comes from a site with a focused audience in your field, not a general site with minimal visitors.

What types of backlinks can be purchased?

You mainly see three kinds for sale. Guest posts involve writing a new article for another site. Link insertions place your link into content that’s already published. Sponsored listings are paid spots on resource pages. 

Some agencies offer digital PR, which aims for earned media coverage and mentions, not just a direct link purchase.

How many backlinks should I buy per month?

Don’t chase a specific number. Your site’s current standing, how fierce your competition is, and what you can spend are what matter. A consistent rhythm that emphasizes the caliber of each link works better for most.

Securing two or three excellent, relevant links monthly often beats getting twenty from inconsequential sites.

Final Thoughts

Your choice of the best place to buy backlinks comes down to how you like to work.

Does a self-serve platform where you pick each page sound right? Or does handing a brief to an agency and waiting for results fit your workflow better? Maybe a set monthly subscription with clear limits aligns with your budgeting.

That preference steers your decision. Identify what you need most: direct oversight, a managed service, or cost certainty. Once you pick a candidate and understand how to buy backlinks on their site, run a trial:

  • Place one order. 
  • Look at where the link lands. Is the surrounding content legitimate? Does the site attract a relevant audience? 
  • Note if any referral visits come through.

This test shifts the exchange. It stops being just a line item and starts being a tactical SEO action. The suitable service will feel like a tool you use, not a vendor you manage.

For direct control and immediate selection, a marketplace like INSERT.LINK gives you a dashboard and metrics to make your own choices.

For a managed, low-risk path where you only pay for results, a ROI-focused link-building service like Editorial.Link handles the work but requires your approval on every target.

If you want predictable monthly costs, bundle services like The HOTH package links into a subscription. For project-based needs where content and links are combined, a service like PressWhizz builds a custom campaign.