NAP Backlinks: Free Citation Site List (2026)
A practical, real list of free citation platforms you can use to build NAP backlinks, plus which ones to claim first.
Here is a list of real, free platforms where you can build NAP backlinks for local SEO. Every platform below lets you list a business at no cost. Some pass a dofollow link, most do not, but all of them help confirm your business name, address, and phone number to search engines.
Free NAP citation sites for 2026
| Platform | Type | Free? | Follow status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Core / search + maps | Yes | Dofollow (website field) | Claim first. Directly feeds Google Maps and the local pack. |
| Bing Places | Core / search + maps | Yes | Dofollow | Feeds Bing and Microsoft Copilot local results. |
| Apple Business Connect | Core / maps | Yes | N/A, app-based | Feeds Apple Maps and Siri. Free per Apple's announcement. |
| Yelp | General directory | Yes | Nofollow | Strong for restaurants, retail, and local services. |
| Facebook Page | Social / directory | Yes | Nofollow | Also useful for reviews and customer messaging. |
| Better Business Bureau | Trust directory | Yes (basic) | Nofollow | Accreditation costs money, but a basic profile is free. |
| Yellow Pages (YP.com) | General directory | Yes | Nofollow | Legacy directory, still crawled and indexed. |
| Foursquare | General directory | Yes | Nofollow | Data often syndicates to other apps and directories. |
| Nextdoor Business Page | Local / community | Yes | Nofollow | Strong for neighborhood-level services. |
| TripAdvisor | Industry / hospitality | Yes | Nofollow | Essential for hotels, restaurants, and tour operators. |
| Houzz | Industry / home services | Yes | Nofollow | Good fit for contractors, designers, and remodelers. |
| Angi (Angie's List) | Industry / home services | Yes (basic) | Nofollow | Paid tiers exist, but a basic profile is free. |
| Manta | General directory | Yes | Nofollow | Small business focused, easy signup. |
| Chamber of Commerce (local) | Trust directory | Varies by chapter | Varies | Many local chapters offer a free basic listing. |
| Apple Maps Connect legacy / Business Connect app | Core / maps | Yes | N/A | Same platform as Apple Business Connect above. |
| Waze (via Apple Business Connect) | Navigation | Yes | N/A | Now managed through Apple Business Connect since Waze integration. |
| LinkedIn Company Page | Social / directory | Yes | Nofollow | Useful for B2B and professional services. |
| Yellowbook | General directory | Yes | Nofollow | Smaller reach, still worth a free claim. |
| Brownbook | General directory | Yes | Dofollow | Simple free listing, moderate authority. |
| Superpages | General directory | Yes | Nofollow | Legacy directory with local search visibility. |
| EZlocal | General directory | Yes | Nofollow | Fast to claim, decent for smaller markets. |
Which citations to build first
Start with the platforms that feed real search engines and map products: Google Business Profile, Bing Places, and Apple Business Connect. These act as your primary source of truth. Every other directory should copy the exact NAP format you use on these three.
- 01.Claim Google Business Profile, Bing Places, and Apple Business Connect.
- 02.Add general directories with high traffic: Yelp, Facebook, and BBB.
- 03.Add any industry-specific directory that matches your business type.
- 04.Fill in remaining general directories over the following weeks.
- 05.Recheck every listing every few months for accuracy.
Keep your NAP consistent across every listing
Copy your business name, address, and phone number exactly the same way onto every platform. Small formatting differences can dilute the value of these listings. For the full method behind building and formatting citations correctly, see our guide to NAP backlinks.
If you also want backlinks outside the local directory space, check cheap ways to acquire links — handmade options start from $3 per link.
FAQ
No. Most directories use nofollow links. Google Business Profile, Bing Places, and Brownbook are among the few that commonly pass a dofollow link.
