Glossary
What is a dofollow link?
A dofollow link is a normal link with no nofollow, ugc or sponsored value in its rel attribute, so search engines may follow it and count it when ranking the page it points to. "Dofollow" isn't an actual HTML attribute; it just means the link has none of the restricting values.
What it looks like
A followed link:
<a href="https://example.com">Example</a>
A link with restrictions:
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example</a>
The first is what people call dofollow. Adding rel="dofollow" does nothing; browsers and search engines ignore unknown values.
Dofollow vs the other link types
| Type | rel value | What it tells Google |
|---|---|---|
| Dofollow | none | Count this link normally |
| Nofollow | nofollow |
Don't associate my site with this link |
| UGC | ugc |
User-generated content, like comments |
| Sponsored | sponsored |
Paid or advertising link |
Since 2020, Google treats nofollow, ugc and sponsored as hints, so it may still use some of those links. A dofollow link is the only one guaranteed to be eligible for ranking credit.
How to check a link
Right-click the link, choose Inspect, and read the rel attribute. Browser extensions highlight nofollow links on a page. For your own backlinks, Ahrefs and similar tools label each link's type.
Dofollow links from directories
In our checks, 214 of 352 directories (61%) gave a dofollow product link, 79 gave nofollow, and 19 depended on a plan or a badge. 178 directories are both free and dofollow; see our dofollow list.
The rule on paid links
Google's spam policies say links you pay for, in money or in kind, should carry sponsored or nofollow. A paid listing whose only benefit is a dofollow link is a paid link. Free editorial listings and listings where you pay for placement or speed are a different matter, but the line is worth knowing.
Example
A founder inspects her new listings. A launch platform's link reads rel="noopener" only, so it's followed (noopener is a security value, not a ranking one). A review site's link reads rel="nofollow noopener", so it's not.
FAQ
Is rel="dofollow" a real attribute?
No. Dofollow means the absence of nofollow, ugc and sponsored. rel="dofollow" is ignored.
Do dofollow links always help SEO?
Only from relevant sites with some authority. A followed link from a spam site does nothing or can hurt as part of a pattern.
Does noopener or noreferrer make a link nofollow?
No. noopener and noreferrer are security and privacy values; they don't change how search engines treat the link.
What share of directories give dofollow links?
61% of the 352 we checked.
Sources
- Google Search Central: Qualify your outbound links
- Google Search Central blog: Evolving nofollow
- MDN: Link types (rel)
Data
- Launch directory statistics 2026: 352 directories checked by hand
- AI tool directory statistics 2026: 122 directories checked
- Backlink and link building statistics 2026