TL;DR
The right link building agency depends on your budget, your niche, and how fast you want to scale.
- SayNine is the best fit for growing brands that want relevant, guaranteed backlinks across many industries.
- Editorial.Link is the strongest pick for hard, competitive niches that need editorial placements.
- uSERP suits companies with real budget that want high-authority, PR-style links.
- Outreach Monks works best for reliable, multi-industry link building at a steady pace.
- LinkBuilder.io is built for teams ready to scale link volume without losing quality.
I run a link building agency, so when I look at this field, I don’t look at it as an average reviewer. I am basically someone who used to do link building every day, who’s familiar with the peculiarities of the field and who knows what it costs to earn a real placement.
And the more brand owners know about what I do, the more I get asked if backlinks still matter today. The reason I get asked this question so often is that AI is reshaping the search culture at a tremendous speed and wanting to appear first on ChatGPT answers is totally natural. But that doesn’t mean backlinks from authoritative websites have lost their influence.
Real links from authoritative sites still move rankings, and it’s just now they help you show up in AI-generated answers, too. That makes choosing the right partner to build backlinks even more consequential. So, which partner?
How the agencies were ranked
SayNine, my own agency, is on this list as well, and it’s at the top. I’m not going to put it in last place to look modest. Instead, I’ll show you the numbers and the client results behind my ranking, then let you judge.
I’ll give every other agency a fair, honest review, because a list that only exists to sell you one option, I think, isn’t worth your time.
To ensure maximum honesty, I judged every agency following the same standards I require from my own company. That includes:
- publisher quality and the relevance of the sites they place on
- agencies’ link standards, including DR, organic traffic, link type (dofollow only), and whether placements stay long-term
- service breadth, commitment to white-hat methods, backlink guarantees
All the mentioned criteria were assessed based on Clutch reviews, as well as focusing on real-world results (including case studies),
Quick Glance
| Agency | Year founded | Primary Services | Pricing starts | Clutch reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SayNine | 2021 | Link insertions, niche guest posts, AI SEO (brand mentions + listicles), full SEO, content writing | Custom. Based on DR tier and backlink volume. | ⭐ 4.8 |
| Editorial.Link | 2016 | Link building, editorial backlinks, broken link building, brand mentions | Startup: 5 backlinks/month/$1,750 | ⭐ 5.0 |
| uSERP | 2019 | Link building, SaaS SEO, AI and LLM SEO, content writing and strategy | Spark: $2,999/month (3 links DR 60+; 4 links DR 20-59) | ⭐ 4.9 |
| Outreach Monks | 2017 | Link building, brand mentions, managed link building, guest posts | Lite: 4 links/month/$1,699 | ⭐ 4.9 |
| Link Builder.io | 2016 | Link building, guest posts, link insertions, PR link building, broken link building | Startup: 8 links/month/$2,999 | ⭐ 5.0 |
Best link building agencies
So, here they are; 5 agencies that I reviewed one by one and I’d recommend, starting with SayNine.
- We started in 2021, and since then we have helped over 200+ global companies earn 40,000 links. Every backlink we provide at SayNine follows strict rules: dofollow, permanent, placed on domains with at least 1,000 monthly visitors, and white-hat strategies.
With a network of 3,000+ publishing partners, we ensure our clients get a one-year backlink guarantee, so if a link drops, we replace it.
Now, let’s have a look at our key services:
What we offer
- Link insertions: we place contextually relevant backlinks inside the most fitting spots in existing articles handled by our own content team.
- Niche guest posts: we provide human-written content that is placed on industry-relevant domains, so your brand reaches the right audience and builds authority.
- Brand mentions: our agency helps your company get more brand mentions. This boosts visibility on Google and AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. More mentions lead to better and stronger online visibility.
- Listicle placements: getting your brand into “Best 5…” style articles on relevant sites, which is exactly where AI tools pull their recommendations from.
- Full SEO: the wider strategy work that supports everything above, including link building, content writing, technical SEO, keyword research.
Our pricing model
Plenty of link building agencies make you book a call before revealing any numbers. I never liked that strategy as a buyer, so we don’t do it. Instead, we provide pricing upfront, while also giving you the freedom to pick custom pricing based on the DR tier and how many links you need.
Six tiers are available for link insertion: DR 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+, and 80+. Order volume scales from 3 to 40 backlinks monthly.
Our link insertion packages start at a minimum of 3 backlinks at DR 80+. On an annual commitment, the package costs $1,710/mo ($570/per link) for 3 links. Once you become a client, you can choose to pay either monthly, quarterly, every 6 months, or pay the full amount at once.
Every plan we offer includes unique backlinks, dofollow and permanent placements with a one-year guarantee, free CEO consulting, SEO audits, target page planning, client platform access, and custom SEO reporting.
Testimonials
Even though SayNine holds a 4.8-star rating on Clutch, I do not think that numbers are the only way that hint one agency is more reliable than the other.
So, my general advice before committing to a link building partner, is making sure what clients actually say, instead of just following numbers. Here’s clients’ feedback summary on SayNine’s Clutch profile:
“Saynine’s support has boosted the client’s organic traffic by 3–4x and improved their site rankings, effectively resulting in an increase in their revenue and the number of their customers. The reliable team is consistent in meeting deadlines. They impress with their high-quality work.”
Gerasim Hovhannisyan, CEO & Co-Founder, EasyDMARC
Here’s another review from Michal Juras, CSM at Taikun.cloud:
“Saynine’s efforts have increased the client’s organic traffic. The team has consistently delivered everything on time and without delays. Their reachability and communication via emails and messages were impressive”.
My honest take: I put us first because we hit every standard I personally use to judge this list, not because it’s my name on it: relevant placements, clean methods, clear reporting, timely communication with clients, and a backlink guarantee. If another agency on this list matched all of that and beat us on results, I’d tell you.
- Editorial.Link has been in the industry since 2016 and they’ve built a reputation for one thing in particular: they build editorial links from domains that don’t really sell links. That’s harder than it sounds and that’s why the agency is my pick for tough niches.
Their approach is mostly focused on real relationships with publishers and a pre-approval step, so you see and approve on target sites before anything goes live. No surprises, no links you didn’t want.
The key link building services are editorial backlinks, broken link building, listicle mentions, guest posts, digital PR, as well as AI optimization services.
Pricing Model
The agency offers 2 fixed packages and a custom option:
- Startup plan for 5 backlinks, $1,750/mo
- Growth plan for 20 backlinks, $6,000/mo
The custom plan is provided through contacting their sales team.
Something worth knowing beyond the numbers is that the agency offers a trial backlink before you commit, and they ensure clients get a 6-month replacement guarantee.
Testimonials
Based on Clutch reviews, clients appreciate the quality of backlinks, noting the timely project delivery and long-term meaningful collaboration.
My honest take: for a smaller team on a tight budget, Editorial.Link can run expensive. But if your niche is tough and you want editorial placements you’ve approved in advance, that’s exactly what you’re paying for.
- uSERP focuses on PR-style links from strong domains; that’s the kind of agency that lifts your brand’s credibility, not only your rankings.
The agency comes with white-hat link building strategies (no PBNs or spammy links), transparent reporting, as well as replacement of a lost link at equal or better metrics within 6 months.
Their managed services include link building, SaaS SEO, AI and LLM SEO, and content writing.
Pricing Model
uSERP also offers fixed pricing packages, the smallest of which is Spark plan:
It starts at $2,999/mo, which includes 3 links from DR 60+ sites and 4 links from DR 20+ to 59 sites.
Testimonials
Clients highlight that the agency delivers projects on time, offers to have video calls when needed and maintains quality regardless of the length of the working period.
My honest take: uSERP is for those companies that want their name on authoritative sites and are willing to pay for it. Their AI and LLM SEO work is also worth noting if you’re thinking about visibility in AI-generated answers, not just on Google.
- The next link building agency I reviewed is Outreach Monks. Founded in 2017, they work across many industries, including eCommerce, iGaming, and law, helping clients increase domain visibility and get targeted traffic.
Through its link building, brand mentions and guest posting services, clients get steady growth.
Pricing Model
The agency offers 5 SaaS link building packages, the starting price of which is $1,699/month for 4 links.
Testimonials
Outreach Monks is mostly praised for its effective communication, strong project management and relevant backlink delivery.
My take: if you’re not in a narrow niche and you want a reliable partner who can handle multi-niche work, Outreach Monks is a safe, solid choice.
- Last but not least, let’s explore LinkBuilder.io. The links they build actually support the pages that matter to your business. They specialize in white-hat link building services for SaaS companies, online brands and agencies.
Managed services include link building, link insertions, guest posts, PR link building, audits for existing links, content, and competitor research.
Pricing Strategy
LinkBuilder.io offers 4 pricing packages that start at $2,999/mo for 8 links.
Testimonials
On Clutch, LinkBuilder.io clients note significant traffic increases, smooth communication as well as improved domain authority per project.
My take: the agency provides contextual, niche-oriented backlinks, keeping quality steady, even when the volume gets high.
How to choose the right link building agency
If a friend or an acquaintance asked me how to invest wisely in a link building agency, the first thing I’d do is that I’d definitely not hand them a checklist. Below I’ll describe how I’d explain it over coffee:
- When exploring agencies, ask for case studies and samples of existing links they’ve already built. In simpler words, you probably wouldn’t let someone remodel your house without seeing any previous finished and successful projects.
- See if the agency runs a trial period. You’ll get a feel for how they operate and what their backlinks look like, all without tying yourself to a full contract.
- Ensure beforehand that you get clear reporting and continuous communication during and before/after the process. A trustworthy link building agency reports the links it builds and takes full responsibility in case a link drops. Clear reporting is a sign they have nothing to hide.
- And the last tip I’d recommend following is picking a flexible agency. Make sure the agency keeps up with trends. The way people search is changing fast, and the right agency knows how to help you show up/rank not only on Google but also on AI search engines.
Again, in short, I’d tell my friend to commit to an agency that understands link building is a long process, requires patience and steady work to have long-term results. One that cares where your links come from, sends them to the pages that matter, reports honestly, and keeps an eye on where search is headed.
Conclusion
Here we are, wrapping up what’s been said. Even though I put my agency first, I did not intend to sell you on SayNine. It was mainly to show you how to tell a real agency from a link seller, so you choose wisely regardless of whose name is on top.
What I am sure of is that every agency is good at something or at different things at once. Maybe picking the one that performs well from more than one perspective could be a wise choice? And I’ll be glad if that choice ends at SayNine.