Link building services typically cost between $100 and $500 per link, depending on quality, outreach method, and niche competitiveness. Monthly service costs range from $1,000 to over $20,000, especially for enterprise-level campaigns or white-hat outreach in competitive industries.
The differences in link-building cost are driven by the type of link (dofollow vs nofollow), whether the link is manually acquired or part of a guest post or editorial placement, and whether a freelance provider, an in-house team, or an agency provides services. For example, dofollow links cost more than nofollow links, and manual outreach is often priced higher due to labour and conversion effort.
This article explains the full range of hourly and monthly pricing, dives into white-hat link building costs, and compares US vs UK link building rates. We also provide cost comparisons between in-house vs agency services and explore the key factors that influence link-building cost, including link quality, niche difficulty, acquisition method, and campaign volume.
Table of Contents
How Much Does Link Building Services Cost Per Hour?
Link building services cost per hour typically ranges from $50 to $150, depending on expertise level, provider type, and geographic location.
Freelancers and offshore providers often charge around $50 to $75/hour, while experienced consultants or established agencies in the US and UK usually quote $100 to $150/hour. Premium SEO firms may exceed $200/hour, especially for manual outreach or digital PR-based link acquisition.
According to Ahrefs’ 2024 SEO Pricing Report, 72% of hourly link-building professionals charge between $75 and $125/hour, reflecting the hands-on nature of prospecting, outreach, and placement.
However, hourly pricing is less common in link building compared to fixed-per-link or monthly retainers. This is due to the variable time it takes to secure a successful backlink, which depends on outreach response rates, negotiation time, and content production.
While hourly billing offers flexibility, most agencies bundle these tasks into deliverable-based plans for better ROI tracking and performance measurement.
How Much Does Link Building Services Cost Per Month?
Monthly link building services typically cost between $1,000 and $20,000+, depending on the number of backlinks, industry competitiveness, and the type of acquisition method used.
Smaller campaigns focused on local SEO or low-competition niches may spend $1,000 to $3,000/month, while mid-sized businesses in competitive verticals often invest $4,000 to $7,500/month. For enterprise-level brands targeting national or global keywords, budgets can exceed $15,000/month.
A 2024 survey by Authority Hacker revealed that 65% of SEO agencies charge between $2,500 and $10,000/month for ongoing link-building retainers, depending on the volume and quality of links delivered.
Most monthly packages include a mix of manual outreach, digital PR, guest posts, contextual backlinks, and editorial placements, bundled with strategy, content creation, and reporting. Some agencies offer performance-based models, but fixed monthly pricing remains the most predictable and scalable option.
The cost also varies by agency model. Freelancers or boutique providers may offer lower monthly minimums, while full-service SEO agencies tend to charge more for integrated backlink strategies and authority site placements.
What’s the Average Cost of White-Hat Link Building Services?
The average cost of white-hat link building services ranges from $150 to $500 per link, depending on link type, placement quality, and outreach complexity.
White-hat strategies include manual outreach, digital PR, guest post contributions, editorial mentions, and niche edits, all performed with consent and relevance. These links comply with Google’s guidelines, making them safer and more sustainable for long-term SEO.
White-hat methods demand human effort, personalized pitches, and relevant content, which is why they cost more than automated or low-quality tactics. Most agencies include white-hat approaches in monthly packages, focusing on dofollow links, but also using nofollow links strategically for natural diversity.
Now, let’s break down the individual cost factors:
How Much Does Dofollow Link Building Service Cost?
Dofollow link building typically costs $200 to $500 per link, depending on the authority and topical relevance of the linking site.
Dofollow backlinks pass SEO value (PageRank) and directly influence keyword rankings. These links are most commonly acquired through guest posts, digital PR, and editorial placements. Links from sites with DA 50+ or DR 60+ often cost more than $600 due to their authority.
The higher the domain authority and traffic, the higher the cost, especially when the link is placed contextually within editorial content.
How Much Does Nofollow Link Building Service Cost?
Nofollow link building generally costs between $100 and $250 per link, making it more affordable but less impactful for rankings.
Nofollow links don’t pass PageRank, but they still provide referral traffic, brand exposure, and backlink profile diversity. They’re often used in sponsored content, press releases, forum posts, citations, or comments, especially in regulated or commercial contexts.
Although they’re less valuable for direct SEO, Google still crawls and indexes nofollow links, especially if they’re placed on high-authority websites with real traffic.
How Much Does Manual Link Outreach Service Cost?
Manual outreach typically costs between $300 and $700 per link, due to the labour-intensive process of personalised outreach and negotiation.
This method includes:\n- Identifying niche-relevant targets\n- Crafting custom pitches\n- Handling negotiations and follow-ups\n- Creating content when needed
Manual outreach is commonly used to acquire contextual guest posts, niche edits, and editorial links from bloggers, journalists, or content managers.
LinkBuilder.io reports that high-converting outreach campaigns have a response rate of 10–15%, which increases the effort and cost per successful link.
Although expensive, manual outreach yields high-quality, topic-relevant links with strong contextual alignment and minimal risk of penalties, making it ideal for white-hat campaigns.
What’s the Price Difference Between Guest Posts and Editorial Link Services?
Guest posts and editorial link services differ significantly in cost, control, and placement strategy. Guest posts are usually cheaper and more controlled, while editorial links are costlier due to higher domain authority and organic placement within existing content.
| Feature | Guest Posts | Editorial Links |
| Average Cost per Link | $150–$400 | $300–$800+ |
| Content Provided | Yes (by agency/client) | No (existing article) |
| Placement Control | High (select anchor, topic) | Low–Moderate |
| DA Range (Typical) | DA 30–60 | DA 50–80+ |
| Turnaround Time | 1–3 weeks | 2–6 weeks |
| Use Case | Niche blogs, SaaS, and eCommerce | News outlets, high-authority blogs |
| Link Type | Mostly dofollow | Mixed (dofollow/nofollow) |
Guest posts are preferred for scalable campaigns, while editorial links are ideal for authority-focused branding and SEO.
What Are the Differences Between In-House vs. Agency Backlink Cost?
Choosing between in-house and agency-led backlink strategies depends on your scale, budget, and internal resources. While in-house gives control and ownership, agencies offer specialized skills, tools, and link networks.
| Cost Element | In-House SEO Team | Link Building Agency |
| Monthly Cost (Average) | $4,000–$10,000+ (salary + tools) | $1,000–$20,000+ (retainers) |
| Hiring Requirements | Outreach specialist, writer | None (team included) |
| Tool Access | Must be purchased (Ahrefs, BuzzStream) | Included in the service |
| Expertise Level | Depends on hire | High (proven results) |
| Scalability | Slow (team dependent) | Fast (network access) |
| Contract Flexibility | Low (long-term hire) | High (monthly/quarterly terms) |
| ROI Tracking | Requires internal setup | Included in reporting |
Agencies can deliver results faster, especially for outreach-heavy industries, but long-term businesses may invest in in-house teams for sustained control and learning.
What’s the Difference in Backlink Building Cost in the US vs the UK?
Link building costs vary between the United States and the United Kingdom, primarily due to agency pricing models, market size, and competition levels. US services are generally higher priced, while UK agencies often provide more value at the local/regional scale.
| Cost Category | United States (USD) | United Kingdom (GBP) |
| Per-Link Costs | $150–$500+ | £100–£400+ |
| Monthly Budgets | $2,000–$20,000+ | £1,500–£15,000+ |
| Agency Costs (Avg) | $300–$800 per link | £200–£600 per link |
| Freelancer Rates/hr | $50–$150 | £40–£120 |
| High DA Editorials | $600–$1,200+ | £450–£1,000+ |
| Local SEO Packages | $1,000–$3,500/month | £750–£2,500/month |
| Enterprise Campaigns | $10,000–$25,000+ | £8,000–£20,000+ |
UK pricing is more conservative and often focuses on local/regional links, whereas US agencies drive high-volume, aggressive outreach strategies—especially in tech and finance niches.
Is Hiring a Link Building Agency Worth It for Backlink Services?
Yes — hiring a link-building agency is worth it for businesses that need scalable, high-quality, and niche-relevant backlinks with measurable SEO impact.
A professional link building agency brings structured outreach, access to vetted publishers, SEO expertise, and data-driven reporting. Agencies eliminate the need for in-house training, tool investment, and the trial-and-error phase that often delays results.
According to a 2024 study by Semrush, companies that outsourced to specialised link building agencies saw a 34% faster increase in referring domains and a 27% improvement in organic rankings within six months.
Agencies also offer diverse acquisition methods — including manual outreach, guest posting, editorial placements, and digital PR — allowing brands to build authority without violating Google’s link spam guidelines.
For competitive industries (e.g., SaaS, law, finance), agency-led campaigns are often the only viable way to scale high-quality backlinks efficiently.
Bottom line: Hiring an agency saves time, improves link quality, and accelerates SEO ROI, making it a smart investment for most growth-oriented brands.
Are Link-Building Services Expensive?
Yes — link-building services are generally expensive due to the manual effort, content creation, and relationship-building required to secure high-quality backlinks.
Unlike automated or black-hat tactics, white-hat link building involves personalised outreach, original content, and strict publisher guidelines — all of which drive up cost. On average, each quality backlink can cost between $150 and $500, and monthly campaign budgets often start at $1,500 and scale beyond $15,000 depending on scope and competitiveness.
In a 2023 survey by Authority Hacker, 78% of SEO professionals ranked link building as the most time-consuming and costly part of SEO, with over 60% spending more than $5,000/month for mid-level campaigns.
Link building costs are driven by multiple factors:
- Domain authority of linking sites
- Manual outreach labor
- Guest post or editorial publication fees
- Relevance and uniqueness of content
- Industry competitiveness
However, the ROI of well-executed link building justifies the cost. High-authority backlinks improve rankings, increase organic traffic, and contribute to brand credibility — all of which produce long-term SEO benefits.
Cheap link-building services may save money upfront, but carry risks of penalties, irrelevance, or unnatural linking patterns that harm rankings.
What Are the Factors That Influence the Cost of Link-Building Services?
The cost of link-building services is influenced by four key factors: link quality, industry competitiveness, acquisition method, and the volume of links required. These variables determine both the effort involved and the long-term value of the links being acquired.
1. Quality of Links
Link quality refers to the authority, trustworthiness, and contextual relevance of the referring domain.
High-quality links come from websites with strong Domain Rating (DR), organic traffic, topical relevance, low spam scores, and editorial placement. Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can assess these metrics.
The higher the link quality, the more expensive the placement. For example, links from DR 70+ websites often cost $500–$1,000, while niche-relevant sites in the DR 30–50 range may cost $150–$300.
2. Industry or Niche
Your industry or niche influences link availability, competition, and content sensitivity. Common sectors include finance, health, tech, e-commerce, and local services.
Competitive niches such as legal, fintech, or health require premium placements due to strict editorial standards and high demand. For example, backlinks for law firms may cost 2x more than links in lifestyle or travel niches.
According to RankRanger (2024), legal SEO links average $420 per placement, while lifestyle blogs charge as little as $150 per link.
3. Link Acquisition Methods
This refers to the tactic used to secure the backlink, such as manual outreach, guest posting, digital PR, HARO pitching, or niche edits.
Manual and editorial methods are the most expensive due to the labour and approval time involved. For instance, digital PR campaigns often start at $5,000/month, while automated directory listings may cost under $50.
High-response outreach campaigns usually include custom emails, relationship-building, and content creation, making them cost-intensive but effective.
4. Volume of Links
Volume indicates how many backlinks a business wants per month or campaign cycle — e.g., 10, 50, or 100 links.
Higher volume often qualifies for bulk discounts, but it also increases production, outreach, and coordination efforts. Agencies may charge $3,000 for 10 links or $12,000 for 50 links, depending on complexity.
A 2023 case study by Fat Joe showed that campaigns buying over 30 links/month reduced cost-per-link by 18% on average.
Tusar Ahmed is the Founder and Senior SEO Specialist at Inflowen. With over seven years of hands-on experience in SEO, local search optimisation, and keyword strategy, he simplifies complex digital concepts into engaging, actionable insights.
Tusar has worked on 250+ projects across the UK and beyond, helping businesses of all sizes improve their search visibility and achieve measurable growth. His writing blends technical expertise with a clear, approachable tone—making SEO feel both accessible and results-driven.
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