Per link: $179 to $461 on average. That is the range from a link insertion to a guest post bought through a vendor, in BuzzStream’s 2026 data.
Per month: $2,500 to $10,000. That is the typical price of an agency link building retainer. Small local campaigns can start lower.
Authority and traffic set the price. A guest post bought directly from a DR 80+ site averages $1,735, against $132 on a DR 0–9 site, so check what you get, not just what you pay.
In 2026, a backlink costs $179 to $461 on average, depending on how you buy it. BuzzStream’s marketplace data puts the average link insertion at $179, a guest post bought directly from the site at $295, and the same guest post through a vendor at $461. If you hire an agency to build links for you, expect a retainer of about $2,500 to $10,000 a month.
We sell links too. In our link building service, most sites have a listed price, starting at $20, and more than 99% of those cost under $2,000. Many of our clients choose sites in the $200–300 range. This guide starts with outside data, then explains what moves the price, so you can judge any quote, including ours.
How much does link building cost?
The price depends on the type of link, the site and who does the work. These are the typical prices in BuzzStream’s link building pricing data, last updated in October 2026:
| Typical price | What you get | |
|---|---|---|
| Link insertion | $179 on average | Your link added to an article that is already live |
| Guest post, bought from the site | $295 on average | A new article with your link, published on the site |
| Guest post, through a vendor | $461 on average | The vendor handles the article and the placement |
| Agency editorial link | $600 to $1,500 per link | A link the agency secures on a high-authority site |
| Digital PR campaign | $5,000 to $10,000 per campaign | Coverage and links from news and industry sites |
| Monthly retainer | $2,500 to $10,000 a month | An agreed number of links built for you each month |
Other sources land in the same range. SEOs surveyed for Editorial.link’s 2026 link building report put the average acceptable price for one high-quality backlink at $508.95. Minuttia puts mid-range links at $200 to $600, and TheWebsiteFlip’s review of six marketplaces found a median of $216.96 per link.
Backlink prices by DR and traffic
Authority has a big effect on guest post prices. In BuzzStream’s analysis of 257,267 sites, a guest post bought directly from a DR 0–9 site costs $132 on average, while one on a DR 80+ site costs $1,735. Prices climb steadily up to DR 50–59, then jump: DR 60–69 sites average $832, compared with $470 for DR 50–59.
Traffic matters too. Guest posts on sites with 100,000 or more monthly organic visits average $1,859 bought directly, against $153 on sites with 100 or fewer. Link insertions are cheaper and less tied to DR, ranging from $113 at DR 0–9 to $461 at DR 80+. For insertions, BuzzStream found that prices rise at every traffic level, which makes traffic the more reliable guide to their price. So before you pay extra for a high DR, check that real traffic and real links sit behind it.
What affects the price of a backlink?
- Authority and traffic. Higher DR and more organic traffic cost more, as the numbers above show. We explain what DR measures in what is Domain Rating.
- Niche. Some industries charge more than others. In BuzzStream’s data, sports sites are the most expensive for guest posts at $349 on average bought directly, while business and finance sites average $269.
- Link type. On average, link insertions cost less than guest posts. At our publishers the gap is smaller. A link insertion usually costs a little less than a guest post on the same site, and some publishers charge the same for both. For a side-by-side look, see guest posts vs link insertions.
- Who you buy from. BuzzStream found that a guest post bought through a vendor costs about 56% more on average than one bought directly from the publisher. We see this in our own buying too: one well-known tech news site costs us $25 from its owner, while resellers usually list it at around $50.
- The article. Many sellers charge for writing on top of the link. We charge $20 per 800 words, or you can send your own article at no extra cost.
- Sponsored labels. In our experience, a sponsored post usually costs about 50% more than a normal post on the same site. We explain the difference in what a sponsored post is.
- Removal cover. Ask what happens if a link is removed. Ours covers 8 months: we replace the link for free or refund you.
Per link or per month: how pricing works
Sellers usually price links in one of three ways:
- Per link. You choose the sites and pay for each placement. This is how marketplaces and site catalogs work, including ours, and it gives you the most control over where your links go.
- Monthly retainer. An agency builds an agreed number of links each month. In the published agency prices BuzzStream collected, low-competition or local campaigns cost about $500 to $1,500 a month for 2 to 5 links. Entry plans cost $2,500 to $3,500 for roughly 4 to 10 links.
- Per campaign. Digital PR agencies price a whole campaign upfront, usually $5,000 to $10,000.
You can also do the outreach yourself. You save the agency fee but pay with your time, and many site owners will still quote you a price. Our guest posting outreach guide shows how to contact sites and ask for one.
Compare listed prices side by side with DR and Ahrefs traffic before you ask anyone for a quote.
How much should you budget?
Start from the gap between your page and the pages that already rank. For example, say the top results for your keyword have links from about 20 more relevant sites than your page. If you buy links in the $200–300 range, closing that gap costs roughly $4,000 to $6,000. Spread it over a few months so your links grow at a natural pace.
Then set a monthly amount you can keep up. A steady budget is easier to plan than one big spend, and it lets you see what each month’s links do before you buy more.
Why some links cost $20 and others $2,000
A low price doesn’t always mean a bad link, and a high price doesn’t guarantee a good one. A $20 link on a small, relevant site with real traffic can help more than an expensive link on a site that sells to anyone. What matters is the site: its topic, its traffic trend, where your link sits and who else it links to.
Before you pay any price, run the checks in our guide to good backlinks, and see our 8 checks before you buy a link for what to ask the seller.
Frequently asked questions
How much does link building cost per month?
Agencies typically charge $2,500 to $10,000 a month for a link building retainer, according to published agency prices collected by BuzzStream. Small local campaigns can start at about $500 to $1,500 a month for a few links.
How much does one backlink cost?
On average, $179 for a link insertion and $295 for a guest post bought directly from the site, or $461 through a vendor, in BuzzStream’s 2026 data. SEOs surveyed by Editorial.link consider $508.95, on average, an acceptable price for one high-quality link.
Is a link insertion cheaper than a guest post?
On average, yes: $179 against $295 in BuzzStream’s data, partly because there is no new article to publish. At our publishers the gap is smaller: an insertion usually costs a little less than a guest post on the same site, and some charge the same for both.
Why are some backlinks so cheap?
Usually because the site has little authority or traffic, or sells links to anyone. A cheap link can still be fine on a small, relevant site with real traffic, so check the site before you judge the price.
Why does the same site have different prices?
Many listings come from resellers rather than site owners, and each reseller adds its own markup. That is why one site can show up at different prices on different platforms, so compare a few sellers before you buy.
Is link building worth the money?
It can be, when the links come from relevant sites with real traffic and your page deserves to rank. Results depend on the site, its content and the competition, so be careful with anyone who promises rankings.
Want real prices for your niche?
Tell us your niche and budget, and we’ll send current prices for relevant sites.
Muhammad Suleman is the founder of Markzone. He has done guest posting and link building since 2018 and has worked with hundreds of clients. Today his team handles 300–400 orders a month for brands and SEO agencies, with publisher sites in every major niche. He leads outreach, site checks and reporting, and writes about link building from his daily work with publishers and clients.