Best Place to Buy Backlinks in 2025 (The Truth)

Buying backlinks in 2025 is one of SEO’s murkiest topics.

You’re not supposed to buy them. Yet all high-ranking sites often do.

Backlinks are the currency of authority, and authority is what drives rankings. Everyone knows they’re essential, but very few know how to “buy” them the right way.

That’s why this guide exists.

At Growth Partners Media, we’ve seen the full spectrum. Clients who came to us after spending thousands on shady marketplaces, and others who simply didn’t know there was a smarter way to approach link building.

In this post, we’ll share the hard truths we’ve learned and give you a clear answer to the real question:

What’s the best way to invest in quality backlinks, without risking your search engine rankings, money, or your sanity?

Let’s dive in.

Why the Backlink Market Is So Confusing in 2025

Backlinks are one of the few things everyone in SEO agrees on.

If you want to rank, you need link building. But when it comes to how you’re supposed to get high-quality backlinks?

That’s where everything falls apart.

You’re not supposed to buy high-quality backlinks. Google says it clearly.

Yet the top-ranking sites in your niche?

They either buy backlinks directly or pay someone who knows how to get them without leaving a footprint.

So what do you do when the rulebook punishes honesty and rewards experience (and gray areas)?

Everywhere you turn, you get a different answer:

• SEO forums argue in circles or try to promote their link-building services
• Fiverr and backlink marketplaces promise “high-quality backlinks” for $100.
• Agencies with no real track record throw around words like “white-hat” to mask the fact they’re still just buying cheap backlinks off the same vendor lists.

I’ve spoken with many businesses and website owners over the years who simply don’t know where to turn. From Fiverr spam links to low-quality link networks, it’s difficult to cut through the noise in SEO.

Even with perfectly legitimate providers, the level of corner-cutting I’ve observed is pretty alarming.

There’s so much nuance here that leaders simply don’t have time to dig into the nitty-gritty. So, most companies end up becoming vulnerable to manipulative practices when it comes to getting SEO backlinks.

Here’s what’s really happening when it comes to link building:

Most freelancers, agencies, and vendor platforms (backlink marketplaces) are simply middlemen.

They buy backlinks at a low price and sell them to you for a markup.

Many of these sites exist solely to sell backlinks. And they often don’t survive incoming Google updates.

I don’t know about you, but to me, this is not a value exchange. Yes, some paid links are fine, in the right context…

But you should be buying the expertise of people who know how to earn quality backlinks.

People who’ve been in the link building trenches for years, testing different angles for earning mentions and building partnerships that allow them to land links that make your competition jealous.

This is the best way to buy high quality backlinks. Whether it’s niche edits, guest posts or forum links.

You’re not paying for links directly. You’re paying for the expertise of human beings who’ve spent years figuring this stuff out so you don’t have to.

4 Realistic Ways to Get Backlinks (Pros & Pitfalls)

Let’s be honest. There aren’t dozens of legitimate ways to build quality backlinks.

At the core, there are just four. And depending on how you approach them, they can either boost your search engine rankings or waste your time entirely.

Here’s how each one plays out in the real world:

1. Do nothing and hope for quality backlinks

The ideal scenario?

You publish great content, it goes viral, the backlinks come pouring in, and you rank in search engine results pages.

No sweat, you’re doing what Google tells you to do!

The reality?

Unless you’re already operating at unicorn-level visibility or getting media coverage on autopilot, that kind of traction is rare and unpredictable.

Basically, it doesn’t work for 99% of businesses.

2. Buy backlinks from vendor platforms (backlink marketplaces)

Platforms like Fiverr, Bazoom, and Whitepress make building links feel easy. Too easy.

Browse for backlinks on Fiverr and you’ll see something like this:

The problem?

These link building services are just middlemen. They resell access to the same handful of recycled domains. Sites that exist solely to sell low-quality backlinks.

Or worse, they use automated link-building strategies.

Google knows these sites aren’t legitimate businesses.

And when the next Google update rolls out? These sites often get crushed, making your backlink profile look like a decaying corpse in a tailored suit.

By the way, I’m not hating on these platforms; I have nothing against them. I’m simply sharing the truth about what works.         

In fact, I wanted to test these backlink marketplaces.

So around a year ago, I got my team to scrape the sites from several backlink marketplaces and put them through our qualification criteria.

On average, 95% of these low-quality sites failed to pass our qualification checks using our 14-point criteria.

95% of websites on these platforms are rubbish. Junk. Trash.

3. Manual link outreach and guest posting

This works, when it’s done right.

But manual outreach takes time, precision, and a system that goes beyond templated emails and generic pitches to website owners. Most marketers give up before they see results because their outreach never rises above the noise.

And I get it. We’ve been writing cold emails for almost 5 years now at Growth Partners Media.

I’m not afraid to say our first email sequences sucked.  

When it’s dialed in, though?

Manual link building can land you on respected, high-authority sites that move search engine rankings.

Here are a couple of examples from email sequences we send out these days:

4. Build your own partnership network

We don’t buy links. We don’t build PBNs. And we don’t chase placements on throwaway blogs.

At Growth Partners Media, we’ve built something better: a direct partnership system forged through years of collaboration with real publishers. People who actually run reputable sites, care about quality, and understand search engine optimization.

This is relationship-driven SEO.

We partner with site owners and SEO professionals who work at legitimate companies, and we’ve earned their trust by consistently bringing value to the table.

The result?

Access to high-authority placements and relevant websites that aren’t available to just anyone. No spammy outreach. No gimmicks. Just real connections that lead to real results.

And because these aren’t one-off transactions, the high-quality links stick, and so do your rankings.

Why Buying Backlinks the Wrong Way Costs More Than It Saves

On the surface, buying backlinks can look like a shortcut.

Quick rankings. Easy wins. Low costs.

But beneath that promise is a bigger problem most people don’t see until it’s too late.

A lot of backlink vendors lean on metrics like Domain Authority (DA) to sell the illusion of quality. The sites they use might look polished—high DA, decent content, maybe even a sleek UI.

But take a closer look and the cracks start to show.

Many of these are expired domains rebranded as link farms.

They exist for one purpose: to sell backlinks.

• No real business.
• No real authority.
• No true editorial oversight.

Just a pipeline of links sold to anyone with a PayPal account.

The true cost of using these link building services is:

• Wasted budget on link placement that never moved the needle.
• Rankings that plateau or decline.
• A backlink profile that starts looking suspicious to the very system you’re trying to win over.

To be clear: not all paid links are a problem.

But most of what’s being sold today isn’t built to last.

If you’re serious about building long-term visibility and high-quality backlinks, the goal isn’t to avoid investing. The goal is to invest in the right provider that can earn you high-quality backlinks.

This is the way to buy backlinks that actually move the needle for your business.

The Best Place to Buy Backlinks in 2025

Let’s be clear from the start:

Buying links in the traditional sense, transactional, unvetted, bulk placements, isn’t an SEO strategy.

It’s a liability.

Backlink marketplaces might tell you they stringently vet websites for quality and promise good quality backlinks (with organic traffic bump), but the reality is they’re bullshitting you.

That doesn’t mean money isn’t part of the equation, though.

In practice, what you’re paying for isn’t the link itself. You’re paying for the process behind it.

• The research.
• The outreach.
• The relationships.
• The content development.
• The negotiation.
• The editorial approval.

What about admin fees and placement costs?

These aren’t loopholes.

They’re how professional link building operates when it’s done right. And they’ve been standard practice across digital publishing and link building space for more than a decade.

The problem is, most places where you can buy backlinks skip the entire aforementioned process.

They buy backlinks from pre-packaged lists with inflated metrics and resell them to you with a markup. It’s fast, easy, and completely disconnected from anything resembling editorial value.

And when everyone has access to the same paid backlinks?

You’re putting your site at risk with toxic backlinks.

The real alternative is slower and harder. It’s all about quality over quantity.

Manual outreach backed by a rigorous qualification process.

Content that earns its place on a page, not one that’s paid to sit there. And partnerships that are built on mutual value, not transactions.

Backlinks and brand mentions are all about trust. And these days, trust is the real ranking factor.

Comparing ways you can buy backlinks

There’s no shortage of link building methods.

But when you strip away the noise, most approaches fall short in one of two ways:

They’re either unsustainable or they don’t scale.

Doing both at once requires a rare balance. Systems that can operate at scale, paired with standards that don’t slip under pressure.

That’s the safe backlinking space we operate in.

Use the table below to see how different approaches measure up when it comes to what actually matters when building links:

	Cheap Vendors	Freelancers	Traditional Agencies	Growth Partners Media
Link Quality	Low – recycled domains & PBNs	Inconsistent	Mixed – some solid, some filler	High – editorial, vetted, traffic-backed
Relevance	Generic, off-topic	Hit or miss	Often niche-aligned	Always aligned by topic & intent
Risk	High – Google penalties likely	Medium – depends on vetting	Medium–High – varies by vendor	Low – no spam, no shortcuts
ROI Over Time	Poor – links decay fast	Unpredictable	Variable	Strong – links compound value
Best For	Quick fixes	DIY campaigns	Testing SEO as a channel	Brands playing to win

Most link building providers focus on one thing:

Speed, cost, or convenience.

But if you’re serious about long-term visibility, the real value lies in quality, relevance, and trust delivered at scale.

That’s what separates a handful of quality backlinks from a link building strategy that actually compounds.

Should you “buy” backlinks at all?

It’s a fair question. And one that deserves a more honest answer than most in this space are willing to give.

Technically, no—you’re not supposed to buy quality backlinks. But in practice, nearly every serious SEO effort involves some level of investment in outreach, in content, in access, in backlink strategy.

The real issue isn’t whether money is involved… It’s how it’s used.

Are you paying to cut corners?

Or are you paying to access systems, relationships, and expertise that actually influence search engines?

If you’re in a competitive space, especially in markets like the U.S., UK, or Canada… you already know the truth:

You don’t rank without authority. And you don’t build authority without links.

At Growth Partners Media, we don’t buy links.

We build the infrastructure that earns them.

That’s the difference.

Paying Smart Is Not Buying Dumb

Let’s clear something up:

Paying for backlinks isn’t the problem. Paying without a strategy is.

There’s a big difference between buying a list of random placements on a web page and investing in link building services designed to earn authority. One built on relationships, editorial alignment, and a clear understanding of what moves rankings.

One fills your link profile.

The other builds your brand.

At Growth Partners Media, we don’t trade in quick wins or rented links.

We operate through custom backlink outreach, publisher relationships, and placements that are earned, not manufactured.

If you’re building something that deserves visibility, and you’re playing in markets like the U.S., UK, or Canada, then you already know:

• Authority isn’t optional.
• And shortcuts don’t last.

So let’s build something that does.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  Isn’t paying for backlinks against Google’s guidelines?

Yes, and no. Google discourages paying for links purely for SEO performance. But in reality, most reputable digital publishers charge admin or editorial fees to cover content creation, review time, and placement overhead. The difference is intent and execution. When links are earned through quality content, editorial vetting, and natural relevance, they’re playing within the bounds of what actually works long-term.

2.  What’s wrong with buying links from Fiverr or cheap vendor platforms?

These platforms sell links, access to link farms, recycled domains, and private blog networks. Sites built to sell, not to serve real audiences. You might see a temporary lift in rankings, but it rarely lasts. Worse, it puts your site at risk of algorithmic penalties or manual reviews.

3.  How do you qualify a “good” backlink?

We use a 14-point framework that evaluates everything from traffic quality and topical relevance to outbound link velocity and site intent. If a site isn’t serving a real audience or maintaining a clean link profile, it’s not worth your time, or ours.

4.  Can’t I just do outreach myself?

You can. But to do it well, at scale, requires infrastructure most teams don’t have. Systems for research, prospecting, content development, relationship management, and follow-up. You’ll either burn out or settle for link building that doesn’t meet your standards. We’ve spent years building that infrastructure so our clients don’t have to.

5.  How long does it take to see results from link building?

It depends on your current domain authority, content quality, and market competitiveness. But in most cases, our clients start seeing meaningful movement within 3-6 months. The real growth happens between 6-18 months, though. Real gains come from consistency, because quality backlinks don’t just boost rankings; they compound over time.