Buy Backlinks
Buying backlinks — also called paid links or link buying — means paying another site to link to yours. It's legal, but it breaks Google's spam policy when the link passes PageRank without a rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" tag.
If you're considering buying backlinks, it's crucial to understand the risks and choose platforms that prioritize transparency and editorial quality. For more on link-building strategies, see our advanced tactics guide.
At a glance
- Legal Status
- Legal, but violates Google's policy if not tagged
- Common Formats
- Bulk packages, PBN links, niche edits, guest posts, sponsored content
- Risk Level
- High for bulk packages and PBN links, low for tagged sponsored content
Platform Comparison Scorecard
How top providers stack up on key criteria:
| Provider | Transparency | Editorial quality | Policy risk | Reporting | Pricing clarity | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moody MediaStrong editorial quality and transparency. | High | High | Med | High | Med | 4.2/5 |
| PressWhizzGood pricing clarity but lower transparency. | Med | High | Med | Med | High | 3.8/5 |
| BazoomHigh transparency but higher policy risk. | High | Med | High | High | Med | 3.5/5 |
| MeUpAverage across all criteria. | Med | Med | Med | Med | Med | 3.0/5 |
| WhitePressExcellent transparency and editorial quality. | High | High | Low | High | High | 4.5/5 |
| OpenBacklinksNon-profit with high transparency and low risk. | High | High | Low | High | High | 4.7/5 |
What you're actually buying
A paid placement on someone else's site. The common formats, cheapest and riskiest first:
- Bulk packages — cheap, spammy, high risk.
- PBN links — private networks built to pass authority. High risk.
- Niche edits — a link added to an existing article.
- Guest posts — a paid article with your link.
- Sponsored content — disclosed and tagged, lower risk.
Legal vs. Google policy
Buying links is legal, but that's irrelevant to Google. Its spam policy bans buying or selling links that pass PageRank. The one thing that keeps a paid link compliant is tagging it rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" — which most sellers skip, because buyers want the ranking boost.
Risks & how to buy more safely
Paid links can bump rankings briefly, but Google devalues manipulative links and updates often erase the gains — leaving penalty risk and cleanup costs. If you buy, lower the risk:
- Use sites with real organic traffic, not just a high DR/DA.
- Keep anchor text natural — avoid exact-match.
- Prefer platforms with an identifiable, editorial publisher network.
- Avoid PBNs and bulk packages.
Platform comparison
Not all platforms are created equal. Here's how top providers stack up:
Paid link types at a glance
How the common seller models compare on risk and value:
| Type | Typical risk | SEO value |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk packagesCheap, spammy, high risk | High | Usually worthless, common scam |
| PBN linksPrivate networks built to pass authority | Very high | Short-term, fragile |
| Niche editsLink added to an existing article | High if sold as ranking links | Good metrics, weak transparency |
| Guest postsPaid article with your link | Medium to high if undisclosed | Useful if relevant and editorial |
| Sponsored contentDisclosed and tagged | Low if tagged | Brand & referral value |
| Earned editorialMost sustainable option | Lower | Most sustainable |
What the experts say
Buying links that pass PageRank is against Google's guidelines and can lead to penalties.
Want a marketplace? Use OpenBacklinks
If you'd rather buy, sell or swap links yourself, this is our default pick — a community-run, non-profit marketplace where you deal directly with site owners.
- Buy direct — 0% reseller markup
- Sell and keep 100% of your price
- Free link swaps between members
- Escrow until the link is live
- 1,975+ vetted sites, 24 countries
- Only a flat 5% top-up fee
Best places to buy backlinks in 2026
Editorially ranked on publisher network, transparency, outreach quality and feedback in SEO communities (BlackHatWorld, Reddit, Warrior Forum, Clutch). Some links are affiliate or referral.
- #1
Moody Media
Scandinavian-founded agency, now one of the largest backlink agencies in the world, with a broad Nordic-to-global publisher network and a transparent, Google-compatible method.
- Strong Nordic coverage (SE, NO, DK, FI)
- Scales without losing editorial quality
- Clear reporting, per-niche strategy
Best for: Brands that want one partner from local to global.
“Consistently delivers a strong, credible link profile aligned with our SEO goals.”Public client testimonial, moodymedia.io
Visit Moody Media → - #2
PressWhizz
A modern PR and link platform with real publications, host preview and anchor-text control before you buy. Filters for language, GEO and niche.
- Editorial placements with traffic data
- Host preview before publishing
- Good for multi-client workflows
Best for: Per-placement, no subscription — agencies and technical SEO.
Create an account on PressWhizz → - #3
Bazoom
Established content-distribution platform with a strong Nordic network, used by thousands of brands for editorial placements that mix SEO and brand exposure.
- Large catalog with real reader traffic
- Native & editorial, not bulk spam
- Filter by niche, market and DR
Best for: Brand-led link building with editorial quality.
Get started with Bazoom → - #4
MeUp
Large self-serve marketplace with 150,000+ pre-vetted placements, competitor analysis and automatic link monitoring — with a managed option when you scale.
- Filter by niche, GEO, DR, traffic, language
- Competitor-gap tools + AI search
- Smooth payments and team features
Best for: Pay-as-you-go — volume buyers, competitive niches.
Open the MeUp marketplace → - #5
WhitePress
One of Europe's largest content-marketing platforms, with 100,000+ verified publishers in 30+ countries — a fit for brands needing several language versions.
- Large multilingual publisher catalog
- Order, scheduling and tracking in one flow
- Suits cross-border and digital PR
Best for: International SEO teams, transparent quotes.
Visit WhitePress →
Also worth reviewing
FATJOE, Editorial.Link, GrowthMate, Page One Power, Authority Builders, Stellar SEO — well regarded, but they suit different niches and budgets. Always check host lists and past placements before buying.
Some links above are affiliate or referral links. This does not affect the ranking or the criteria.
What it costs (and why prices are unreliable)
Expect roughly $80–$120 for a small blog placement up to $600+ for a high-DR editorial link. Pay for real traffic and relevance, not a DR number.
Frequently asked questions
Is buying backlinks illegal?
No, it's legal under US law. But buying links that pass PageRank without a sponsored/nofollow tag violates Google's spam policy.
How do you buy backlinks?
Through an agency (managed) or a marketplace (self-serve), where you pick a site, agree an anchor and pay per placement. Favour sites with real organic traffic over raw DR/DA.
Where's the best place to buy backlinks?
For a self-serve marketplace, the non-profit OpenBacklinks. For managed or platform buying in 2026: Moody Media, PressWhizz, Bazoom, MeUp and WhitePress.
Should you buy backlinks — is paying for them worth it?
For most sites, no. Paid links carry penalty risk and are often overpriced or fake. Earned editorial links are more durable; if you do pay, treat it as brand/referral value, not a ranking guarantee.
Are cheap backlinks worth it?
Rarely. Cheap or bulk backlinks usually come from PBNs or spammy sites — high risk, low value, and a common trigger for penalties.
Can you buy high-quality, dofollow backlinks safely?
The safest paid link is a disclosed placement tagged rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" on a relevant, real-traffic site. A high-DR dofollow link that ignores disclosure still breaks Google's policy, however 'high authority' it looks.
Sources
Every factual claim on this page is drawn from the following independent sources. Links open in a new tab.
- Google Search CentralLink spam policy: buying/selling links for ranking is a violation; paid links must be qualified with rel=sponsored or nofollow.
- Search Engine JournalBuying/selling links that pass PageRank violates Google guidelines; avoid link-selling services and bulk packages.
- SISTRIXBuying backlinks is legal but against Google policy unless clearly marked sponsored or nofollow.
- MozRelevance and editorial context outweigh raw domain authority.