Top Link Building SEO Companies in 2026: 12 Compared and Ranked

Author: Justin Davis, Link Builders. Facts last checked October 27, 2026.

This list ranks 12 link building companies on how they work, how they charge, what you can check for yourself and who each one fits. Link Builders is #1. I run it, so I have a stake in this list, and I say that up front below. For each company I give the price model, the starting price if one is public, how long it has been in business and what it says about AI search. Everything about the other companies comes from their own websites, with the pages linked.

Why I ranked Link Builders first: Link Builders is small enough that I, Justin Davis, personally work on every project. You are not handed to an intern or a junior employee. I have specialized in off-page SEO for 11 years, my name and reputation are on every project, and no one on my side can cut corners without it landing on me. That is the reason it is #1. It is also the limit, because one person can only take on so much.

Quick Comparison of the 12 Companies

Prices and facts are what each company published on October 27, 2026. A blank or “not stated” means I did not find it on the pages I checked, not that the company lacks it.

How I Ranked These Companies

I looked at six things for each company:

1. Method. Is it outreach to real sites, and can you see and approve where links go?
2. Pricing clarity. Is there a public price or at least a clear price model, and what is passed through?
3. Proof you can check. Years in business, third-party reviews, and claims the company can back up.
4. Reporting. Does it show contacts, replies, placements and cost, or only a link count?
5. Fit. Who it serves best, and what the entry point costs.
6. AI search. Does it say anything about helping you get named in ChatGPT, Gemini, Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, and Perplexity?

Why Link Builders is #1. This is my judgment, and it favors what I sell: a direct hire of the person doing the work, hourly pricing with publisher fees at cost, approval of every site and every piece of content, and reports that show real costs. If you care most about a fixed monthly link count, a low price per link or a large team, you may rank us lower, and the “best for” lines below will point you to better matches.

Why #2 to #12 are in this order. I did not invent scores. Positions 2 to 12 follow how many of 19 published “best link building” lists each company appears on. I reviewed those lists in October 2026. They came from agencies, directories and review sites, and many are written by companies that rank themselves first, so this order shows how often a company gets named, not how good it is. Ties are listed in alphabetical order.

How I checked facts. Every fact about another company comes from its own website, on October 27, 2026. Where I could not confirm something, I left it out. Prices change, so check each company’s site before you buy.

The 12 Link Building Companies, Ranked

#1. Link Builders

Best for: businesses that want to hire the person who does the work, Justin Davis, for link building aimed at Google and at AI answers.

Why Link Builders is the best choice: when you hire Link Builders, you hire me. It is small on purpose, so I personally work on every project. Your work does not go to interns or junior staff.

• 11 years of off-page SEO. I have focused on backlinks and off-page SEO since 2015, for more than 150 clients. I own the business and do the work, so I benefit directly when the process is efficient and productive.
• My name is on every project. There is no employee who can cut corners without it landing on me. If a link or a report is weak, my reputation takes the hit.
• Reviews you can check. My Upwork profile showed a 4.9 rating on October 27, 2026. Honesty comes up in clients’ own words. My Upwork history goes back to 2015. Clients have left feedback on 134 of my 251 completed jobs there, and nine of the written reviews call me honest, trustworthy or transparent, or say I bring integrity. A few examples:
  • “Quality and integrity are important to our business – Justin brings both.” (Upwork client, 2024)
  • “His honesty stood out as they advised me that it might not be the right time to engage his backlink services due to other pressing issues that required my attention first.” (Upwork client, 2023)
  • “He was EXTREMELY prompt, professional, and most importantly – transparent.” (Upwork client, 2024)

  You can read more on my reviews page or on my Upwork profile.

• AI tools I build and manage. I run AI agents for prospecting, Boolean search and contact finding, and I approve every send. Every target list now includes AI sources, the pages AI answers cite for common prompts in your industry, tracked for mention rate and share of voice.

That mix of transparency, integrity, work ethic and tools is why I rank Link Builders first for a business that wants to show up in Google and in AI answers to buyer questions. You should weigh that, since I wrote this list.

How I charge: $160 an hour. Most clients start by renting 30 hours for $4,800, paid up front, with publisher fees passed through at cost. You approve every site before outreach and every piece of content before it publishes, and reports show what was contacted, what placed and what it cost. You can also buy a custom AI link building agent for $9,600. Agencies can get the same work under their own brand through white label link building. See the GEO agency page for the AI side and pricing for the full offer.

Who we’re not for

Because I work on every project myself, my capacity is limited. Link Builders is a poor fit if you want hundreds of links a month, cheap bulk placements, per-link pricing, or a promise of rankings, traffic or an AI mention, which no one honestly can make. The usual starting point is $4,800, so it is not the cheapest way to try link building. If that is you, several companies below fit better. Otherwise, talk to Justin.

#2. uSERP

Best for: funded B2B and SaaS teams that want a managed program run by senior strategists.

• How they charge: Monthly program. No price list found. Its cost FAQ says high-quality white-hat link building typically runs $5,000 to $25,000+ per month.
• In business: Founding year not confirmed on its site, so I leave it out.
• What stands out: Link building and digital PR from one team. Its about page says you approve the target sites before outreach starts and that placements must meet traffic and editorial minimums. The site says its strategists have 10+ years of experience.
• Watch for: Its cost FAQ says that paying much less than $900 per placement likely buys a worthless link. That is its view, and other companies on this list sell links for far less, so judge the sites yourself. Expect a quote, not a price page.
• AI search: Its site says it finds the sources AI answers already cite and works to get your brand into them.

Found on 15 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: uSERP home page and cost FAQ; uSERP about page.

#3. Page One Power

Best for: established brands that want custom, hands-on link campaigns from a long-running specialist.

• How they charge: Custom campaigns. Quote based. No prices found on the pages I checked.
• In business: Founded in 2010 in Boise, Idaho, by brothers Jon and Zach Ball. It says it has been exclusively a link building service since then.
• What stands out: Its site describes custom link building and six types of links it builds, and says it has audited thousands of link profiles. Of the companies here, it has one of the longest records of doing only link building.
• Watch for: With no published prices, you need a call before you can compare cost.
• AI search: Not stated on the pages I checked.

Found on 13 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: Page One Power about page; Page One Power link building service page.

#4. Editorial.Link

Best for: teams that want a set number of editorial links on strong sites, bought as a package.

• How they charge: Per link, sold in packages. $375 for 1 link, $1,750 for 5 links ($350 each), $6,000 for 20 links ($300 each). Premium placements on top-tier sites start at $550 per link.
• In business: Its site says it has provided link building since 2020 and works with 500+ brands (its own count).
• What stands out: Prices are public, which makes budgeting easy. It also offers custom pricing and white label link building for SEO agencies.
• Watch for: Cost grows with every link, so a large campaign gets expensive fast. Check what the package counts as a link.
• AI search: Its home page says it builds backlinks and citations in AI answers, and its packages list “Visible in AI search”.

Found on 11 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: Editorial.Link home page and pricing section; Editorial.Link pricing page.

#5. FATJOE

Best for: agencies that want to order white label link building from a dashboard.

• How they charge: Per order, from a service menu. Link building services start from $72, with 14 days listed for delivery on the entry services.
• In business: Founded in 2012. Its about page lists 40,000+ agency accounts (its own count).
• What stands out: A self-serve platform with white label reports and 20+ services. Orders are placed and tracked in one account.
• Watch for: A menu of set services is fast to buy, but it is not a custom campaign. Check the link type, site quality and reporting for each service you order.
• AI search: Not stated on the pages I checked.

Found on 10 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: FATJOE about page; FATJOE link building services page.

#6. LinkBuilder.io

Best for: companies that want a fixed monthly link count with a managed strategy.

• How they charge: Monthly retainer. $5,999 per month for 16+ links and $9,999 per month for 26+ links, both listed at an average DR of 50 to 90.
• In business: Founded in 2016, according to its about page, which lists a team of 43.
• What stands out: Packages include strategy, target page planning, anchor text work, competitor gap analysis and a reporting dashboard.
• Watch for: The lowest published commitment is $5,999 a month, so it fits budgets built for a retainer.
• AI search: Its pricing section says the plans boost visibility in Google search and in AI-generated answers.

Found on 10 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: LinkBuilder.io home page and pricing section; LinkBuilder.io about page.

#7. Siege Media

Best for: brands that want link building tied to content and digital PR.

• How they charge: Custom engagements. Quote based. No prices found on the pages I checked.
• In business: Its digital PR page cites 13 years of brand-building expertise and a network of 7,500+ media partners (its own claims).
• What stands out: It lists link building and digital PR as separate services, next to content and research reports.
• Watch for: Its home page now leads with “Full-Service GEO Agency”, so ask how much of the work is link building for your account.
• AI search: Its home page describes GEO work, including consulting, content, affiliate and digital PR, aimed at visibility in AI answers.

Found on 10 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: Siege Media home page; Siege Media link building page; Siege Media digital PR page.

#8. Loganix

Best for: buyers who want to pick links from a menu and pay only for what they select.

• How they charge: Per link, marketplace and managed options. Marketplace links start from $99. Niche edits start at $100.
• In business: Its about page says 10+ years in business.
• What stands out: You can filter by DR or DA, traffic, niche and price. Some products carry a replacement guarantee for live links.
• Watch for: Guarantee terms depend on the product (the page lists 6 and 7 months on different ones), so read the exact terms before you buy.
• AI search: Not stated on the pages I checked.

Found on 9 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: Loganix link building page; Loganix about page.

#9. Outreach Monks

Best for: teams that want lower per-link prices and steady volume.

• How they charge: Per link. Links start at $99.
• In business: Founded in 2017.
• What stands out: Its home page lists a 4.9 out of 5 client rating on 320+ verified reviews (its own figures).
• Watch for: The review numbers are the company’s own. Check the review sites it names before you rely on them.
• AI search: Not stated on the pages I checked.

Found on 8 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: Outreach Monks home page.

#10. Rhino Rank

Best for: agencies and in-house teams that buy curated placements by the unit.

• How they charge: Per placement, from a product menu. Curated links from $60, guest posts from $75, listicle placements from $135, press releases from $99.
• In business: Founded in 2017. Its about page cites 7,000+ clients and a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Reviews.io (its own figures).
• What stands out: A wide menu with clear starting prices, including white label link building for agencies.
• Watch for: Because it is priced per placement, your total depends on how many you buy. Ask what site quality you get at each price.
• AI search: Its site says its listicle placements are cited by AI engines.

Found on 7 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: Rhino Rank home page; Rhino Rank about page.

#11. Stellar SEO

Best for: companies in competitive niches that want custom outreach from an experienced team.

• How they charge: Custom campaigns. Quote based. No prices found on the pages I checked.
• In business: Founded in 2012 by Travis Bliffen, according to its about page. Its home page says 13+ years of experience.
• What stands out: It says it specializes in custom link outreach and has built over 25,000 links (its own count).
• Watch for: With no published prices, you need a conversation before you can compare cost.
• AI search: Its site has an “Improve AI Visibility” page in its navigation.

Found on 7 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: Stellar SEO home page; Stellar SEO about page.

#12. The HOTH

Best for: agencies and site owners who want a la carte link products and a reseller program.

• How they charge: Per link or per product, plus managed services. Its link building page lists outreach from $175 per link (DR 20+). Its link insertions page lists $200 per insertion (DR 20+). Exclusive media links are $450 per link.
• In business: It says it started in 2010.
• What stands out: Eight a la carte link products, plus a white label reseller program with wholesale pricing.
• Watch for: Prices differ between its own pages. For example, its link outreach page shows different numbers than its main link building page, so confirm the price at checkout.
• AI search: It has an “AI Visibility” product group, and it describes exclusive media links as a route onto AI Overviews and ChatGPT citations.

Found on 7 of the 19 published lists I reviewed. Sources, checked October 27, 2026: The HOTH link building page; The HOTH about page; The HOTH reseller page; The HOTH link insertions page; The HOTH link outreach page.

Which Type of Company Fits You?

• You want to approve every site and pay for time, not links: Link Builders (#1).
• You want a managed monthly program with a strategist: uSERP (#2) or LinkBuilder.io (#6).
• You want custom, hands-on campaigns from a long-running specialist: Page One Power (#3) or Stellar SEO (#11).
• You want to buy links per placement from a menu: Editorial.Link (#4), Loganix (#8), Outreach Monks (#9), Rhino Rank (#10) or The HOTH (#12).
• You run an agency and want white label or reseller: FATJOE (#5), Rhino Rank (#10), The HOTH (#12), Editorial.Link (#4) or Link Builders (#1).
• You want content and digital PR to drive links: Siege Media (#7) or uSERP (#2).

For a side-by-side look at four providers for white label work, see our white label link building comparison.

How to Choose a Link Building Company

Whichever company you pick, ask these six questions first:

1. How do you charge, and what does that price include?
2. Who picks the sites, and do I approve them before outreach?
3. Do I approve content before it publishes?
4. What does the report show: contacts, replies, placements and costs, or only a link count?
5. What are publisher fees, and who decides whether to pay them?
6. What do you not promise?

Walk away from anyone who guarantees rankings, traffic or a set number of links, hides the sites until after payment, or cannot give you live URLs to check. My guides on choosing a link building service and hiring a link builder go deeper, with a scorecard and red flags.

Per link, retainer or hourly?

For more on cost, see my pricing page. When should you wait to hire anyone? If your site has little worth linking to, or you have no budget for publisher fees, fix those first. Links to a thin site do not do much.

Link Building for Google and for AI Answers

People now ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, and Perplexity for recommendations, and these tools build answers from web pages. So links and mentions matter in two places: Google’s results, and the pages AI reads.

I tested whether links track AI citations. I analyzed 1,329 Google AI Overview citations across 208 search queries about SEO and AI search. Page-one results with more than 1,000 referring domains were cited 47% of the time. Page-one results with none were cited 8% of the time. That is one study on one topic, and it shows a pattern, not a guarantee. The full method is in my AI Overviews study. For how ChatGPT picks its sources, see where ChatGPT gets its information.

One more data point, and it is a snapshot. On October 15, 2026, I asked ChatGPT, logged out with web search on, “Who are the best link building agencies to hire in 2026?” It named seven agencies: uSERP, Page One Power, Siege Media, Editorial.Link, LinkBuilder.io, FATJOE and Outreach Monks. The sources it showed included DesignRush, Clutch, SEO.com, Reddit, LinkyJuice and Cutting Edge PR. Link Builders was not named. AI answers change from run to run, so this is one run on one day. It does show that these answers lean on lists like this one.

When you vet a company, ask whether it finds the pages AI cites for your category and whether it reports how often you are mentioned. At Link Builders, every target list includes AI sources for common prompts in your industry, and clients get mention-rate and share-of-voice tracking.

That data comes from AnswerBuilders, the AI visibility platform I built. AI recommends businesses based on the web pages it reads. We show you which pages those are, and then we get you onto them. For businesses that want every one of those pages contacted, the AnswerBuilders team runs AI citation outreach: a 6-month program with a 6-month minimum, every site contacted within 60 days, and placement fees never included. No one can guarantee a mention in an AI answer, and I won’t. Get your free AI visibility report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does link building cost?

It depends on the pricing model. Per-link sellers on this list publish prices from $60 to $375 per link. Retainers publish at $5,999 to $9,999 per month, and one agency says typical programs run $5,000 to $25,000+ per month. Link Builders charges $160 an hour, with publisher fees passed through at cost. Prices were checked on October 27, 2026 and can change, so confirm them before you buy.

Should I hire a link building company or a general SEO agency?

A specialist is usually the better fit when links are the bottleneck. A general agency spreads time across content, technical work and reporting. Ask any provider who does the outreach, how sites are chosen, and what the report shows. My post on hiring a link builder covers the questions in more detail.

Is it okay to pay for links?

Google’s spam policies treat buying links that pass ranking credit as link spam, and they ask that paid links be marked with rel=”sponsored” or rel=”nofollow”. Many sites charge a publisher fee to run a placement, which is different from buying a link scheme. Look for editorial sites, relevant pages and no networks built to sell links. Read Google’s link spam policy and my data on what backlinks cost.

Do backlinks help me show up in ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews?

In my study of 1,329 Google AI Overview citations, page-one results with more than 1,000 referring domains were cited 47% of the time, and page-one results with none were cited 8% of the time. The study covered queries about SEO and AI search, so treat it as one data set. Nobody can guarantee a mention in an AI answer. See the full study.

How long does link building take?

It varies with the niche, reply rates and how quickly you approve sites and content. With Link Builders, the engagement is a block of hours, not a fixed number of weeks, and a typical run spans a few weeks while prospecting and replies move in parallel. Ask every company on this list for its own timeline in writing.

What is the difference between hourly and per-link pricing?

Per-link pricing sets a price for each placement, so the vendor earns the most on easy, cheap links. Hourly pricing pays for the work, so the effort can go to the best available opportunities, including sites that do not sell placements. The trade-off is that hourly work has no fixed link count. My pricing page explains the reasoning.

Can an SEO agency resell link building?

Yes. Several companies on this list, including FATJOE, Rhino Rank, The HOTH and Link Builders, offer white label or reseller programs. Link Builders sells hours, not links, so the agency sets its own price. See white label link building and the reseller program.

How Often This List Is Updated

I will recheck prices and facts on this list regularly and show the date at the top. If you work at a company listed here and a fact is wrong, tell me through the contact page and I will check it against your site.

Want help choosing, or want me to run it with you? Talk to Justin.