How Much Does Link Building Cost? (And What You Should Pay)

We created this post to answer common questions about buying backlinks, like: How much does a backlink cost, is buying backlinks good or bad, where can I get backlinks, and how much is a backlink worth? You understand the benefits of backlinks, and now you wonder, “How much does link building cost?” 

We’re going to base this entire post on a hypothetical, but typical link building example and by the end of the post you’ll understand exactly how much link building costs, and why. 

In our example, XYZ Company wants to build 30 backlinks from websites that have a Moz Domain Authority of 40 or higher, per month. We’ll break down the costs for this example using two very different link building scenarios. 

We’re also going to assume that the backlinks being built are high quality and likely to improve the rankings of XYZ Company. Check out our post on what makes a high quality backlink for more info on this. 

Spoiler alert! - The cost of XYZ Company’s 30 backlinks will cost between $3,900 and $35,000 per month. The exact cost depends on things like link quality, business niche, and the link-building methods used.

This might seem like a huge range (because it is) but in this post we’ll uncover all of the factors and inputs that drive link building costs up and down. We’ll also provide insider knowledge for what to consider when investing in link building. 

We’ve done all the legwork to provide you with this super detailed breakdown of link building pricing in 2025 so you can make the best decision for your business.

Key Takeaways

• - Link-building pricing models vary, with the most common being pay-per-link, where agencies charge based on the quality and authority of the link.

• - Link building costs can range from $3,900 to $35,000 per month, depending on factors like link quality, niche competitiveness, and link-building strategy.

• - Outsourcing link building is typically more cost-effective, with options like Vazoola offering prices as low as $3,900 per month for 30 high-quality backlinks.

• - Can you buy backlinks? Yes, and this post will help you understand how it works and what to look for in a link-building agency. 

Table of Contents

• In-house Link Building

• Outsourced Link Building

• Link Building Prices Compared

Options for Buying Links

XYZ Company has two main options for acquiring links: They can build them in-house or they can outsource the link building to an agency. Follow along as we break down the costs of link building for each option.

Freelancers (like those on Fiverr or in email spam) may seem like an option, but we don’t recommend them because they more often than not offer low quality, spammy backlinks.

In-House Link Building 

In-house link building occurs when members of your own team manage the link building process internally, and do all the work required to secure the links. This includes strategy formation, finding prospects, outreach, negotiating, creating content and more. 

But in-house ink building has its pros and cons. For example, link building is notoriously difficult and time-consuming, requiring knowledge and expertise to execute effectively. On the other hand, link building in house affords you full control over your strategy and backlinks.

A very important aspect of in-house link building is the cost. While you might think you can build links in-house for a lower price than outsourcing the task, when we lay out all the costs associated with in-house link building, it can quickly become cost prohibitive for many businesses. 

Exactly how much might in-house link building cost? In keeping with our example, 30 backlinks built in house can cost between $18,500 and $34,620, per month. 

Consider the following elements of a typical in-house team to see how we got these numbers:

SEO Expert 

SEO experts develop and oversee a link building strategy. We recommend a sound SEO strategy and a robust content plan before link building. The SEO expert will help plan and coordinate a high-quality content strategy – crucial for SEO and link building. An in-house SEO expert is typically hired for $5,000 and $8,333 each month – $60,000 to $100,000 per year.

Link-Building Specialist 

A link-building specialist manages outreach and relationship building for backlinks and sets link building goals. The role can cost between $3,333 and $6,667 per month – that’s $40,000 to $80,000 annually. 

Content Creators (Writers)

Content creators produce the written content like blog posts and articles. High-quality content is crucial for building links on high-quality websites. Without linkable assets, you’ll miss out on many link-building opportunities. In-house content creation can cost between $3,333 and $5,833 each month – that’s $40,000 to $70,000 a year.

Content Creators (Designers)

Written content isn’t the only type of linkable asset used in link building. You also must employ designers to create visual content. You might pay an in-house graphic designer between $4,167 and $7,500 per month, or from $50,000 to $90,000 each year. 

Junior Link Builder

Some aspects of link building are very tedious and time consuming. This work is often fit for an intern, lower cost labor from overseas, or an entry-level employee. If you have a larger team with larger goals, more than one assistant may be necessary. But for this example, we'll budget for one employee. The cost of one junior link builder might be as much as $2,500 per month (although it could be as low as $0). Potentially, that could be as much as $30,000 annually.

SEO Tools

Company XYZ has hired a full staff for its link building efforts, but team still needs link building tools. This software might include tools for keyword research, backlink analysis, outreach, and link monitoring. 

Each tool comes with its own cost, usually on a subscription basis. These costs include:

All-in-one SEO Tools

All-in-one SEO tools are used for backlink analysis, keyword research, and SEO audits. Options include Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz. As a link building company, we use all three. However, just one will suffice for companies doing link building in house. The tools are great for evaluating potential link building opportunities, planning your link building strategy, researching competitors, and tracking rankings. These tools cost between $130 and $500 each month.

Outreach Software

Dedicated outreach software is used for finding email addresses. Such tools help manage outreach and track link opportunities. Buzzstream can be sufficient for smaller teams. Larger teams doing more outreach might find Pitchbox to be useful. The tools cost between $25 and $165 each month.

Dedicated Link-Monitoring Software

Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush offer helpful link-monitoring features. We recommend a dedicated link-monitoring software that’s specifically designed for tracking and managing backlinks. We recommend Monitor Backlinks for advanced features like link tracking, anchor text change alerts, link health checks and other link quality metrics. Another option is Link Research Tools, which offers many robust features – but it’s also expensive. These tools costbetween $20 and $480 each month.

HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

HARO, now known as Collectively, is a platform for gaining PR links by responding to journalist queries. It’s a great way to earn links. You can get a free account, so it’s a no-brainer to include this in your strategy. The price of HARO ranges from $0 to $149 monthly. (Vazoola offers HARO link-building as a service.)

Paid Link Building

Outsourcing is the other, better option for most businesses. It’s more cost-effective, easier to scale, and generally more reliable. This is why it's so popular!

There are two primary pricing models when outsourcing link building. The less-common pricing model involves paying for time. In these cases, agencies charge based on the time spent on link-building efforts. That might include outreach, content creation and strategy.

Most companies offer a pay per link model in which agencies charge for each individual link that’s placed. The cost for that link often is based on the link hosting site’s DA or traffic. Since this is more common, and how we operate, we’ll focus on the pay per link model moving forward. 

So, how exactly do agencies determine the cost per link? Several factors influence the price of links when outsourcing. These are the five main cost drivers:

• Link Quality - Links from high-authority domains with strong SEO metrics (like Domain Authority or organic traffic) cost more. Links from low-quality or spammy sites are cheaper but won’t improve your SEO. They might hurt your rankings. 

• Content Quality - The quality of content surrounding the link affects its value. High-quality, relevant content that provides value to the audience is more expensive to produce and more likely to result in high-quality links.

• Niche Competitiveness - Some industries are more competitive than others. In niches with heavy competition, it’s harder (and more expensive) to get quality links because of the limited availability of high-authority sites. 

• Link Building Approach - The strategy used for acquiring links influences costs. Outreach-based link building, where you pitch relevant websites, is generally more expensive than buying links from established networks or lower-quality sources. Negotiating for high-authority placements also adds to the price.

• Agency vs. In-House - Agencies typically have established relationships with publishers and are more efficient in acquiring links. In-house teams often take longer and incur higher overhead costs, making the price per link higher in most cases.

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Link Building Costs Compared

Here’s a comparison of link-building methods’ pricing side by side. Below we’ve compared Vazoola’s cost to other agencies.

Hypothetical In-House Cost 

Building 30 links per month internally could cost XYZ Company $190,000 per year, or about $15,833  per month on the low end – just for employee salaries. Those costs can potentially be as high as $30,833 a month. 

Tack some vital tools onto that figure and you’re looking at another expense between $20 and $500 each month. Sometimes even links carry an additional cost for each placement. Those could cost an additional $2,500 per month.

All in all, in-house link building can be a costly endeavor. Each month, between employees, tools and links, you could end up paying almost $40,000 per month.

Vazoola’s Pricing

Vazoola offers flexible pricing options that can be customized for your campaign. For 30 links with a DA of 40 or higher, XYZ Company would pay about $3,900 per month. That includes link placements, content creation and quality controls. For more premium content and placements, the monthly cost is about $4,350.

Other Agencies

What do other link-building companies charge per month? Some charge as much as almost $400 for each link. On a monthly basis with 30 links, XYZ Company could pay between $4,620 and $8,400. Some agencies also tack on additional fees while offering fewer guarantees than Vazoola, and they might provide lower-quality link placements.

Presitge Links Price:

Pricing Comparison: 

Sometimes companies will use other metrics to tier their backlink pricing. Ahrefs Domain rating is a commonly used metric, so we’ve included pricing for this as well: 

Authority Builders Price (DR):

How Much Should You Pay for Backlinks?

Need help figuring out how many backlinks you need and how much you should be paying for links on a monthly basis? There is no one size fits all answer, but we can confidently say that you should not pay more than you need to for backlinks. 

Vazoola can help you uncover how many backlinks you need based on your goals, your competition, and budget. Contact Vazoola today to get a personalized link building strategy.