Backlinks are still important, but only if you’re getting them from the right places, through the right agency.
The problem? Most link building agencies look identical on paper. The real differences only show up when you dig into pricing, strategy, and what you actually get for your money.
SayNine and LinkBuilder.io are both respected names in the industry. But they’re built for very different businesses.
In this SayNine vs LinkBuilder.io review, we compared them side by side: pricing, services, link quality, and who each one is really built for. By the end of this, you’ll know exactly which one fits your business. Here’s an honest breakdown.
| SayNine | LinkBuilder.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 | 2016 |
| Primary focus | Link building | White-hat link building |
| Industries served | SaaS and digital service providers | SaaS, tech, e-commerce, law, finance, and other niches |
| Min. DR of placed links | DR50+ minimum | DR 50+ |
| Min. site traffic | 1,000+ organic / month | Not publicly specified |
| Link types | Link insertion, listicle + comparison articles, brand mention (Growth and Premium). All dofollow and permanent | 13 strategies, including editorial outreach, guest posts, broken link building, link insertions, unlinked brand mentions, and digital PR |
| SEO beyond links | SEO audits in every package, hands-on SEO support on Premium | Add-ons: technical SEO, SEO copywriting, blog writing, link audits |
| White-hat | Yes | Yes |
| AI / LLM visibility | Yes | Yes |
| Link building pricing starts | From $5,500 / month (Starter, 20 links). DR50+ link insertion is $250 | $2,999 / month |
| Contract | Monthly plans need no contract. Yearly plans can be cancelled with 2 months’ notice and no fee | 6-month contract, 90-day opt-out window |
| Notable clients | SuperAnnotate, EasyDMARC, GroWrk | Crush Empire, Cellucor, Grow & Convert (testimonials) |
| Clutch rating | 4.8 from 22 reviews | 4.6 from 14 reviews |
SayNine
SayNine is a link building agency that provides backlinks to help SaaS companies and digital service providers grow their visibility in Google and AI search. A dedicated link building team handles delivery, and each placement is checked for contextual relevance, not just DR and traffic.
They’ve helped 400+ companies, built 60K+ backlinks, and work with 4K+ publishing partners. Every link is unique, permanent, and dofollow. Results depend on the site, its content, a steady flow of links, and the competition.
Core Services
- Link insertion: A permanent backlink is placed inside an existing article, in a contextually relevant spot, on niche-relevant sites with DR50+ and 1K+ organic traffic. Share your target pages and anchor texts, or get suggestions.
- Brand mention: Your brand gets named in an existing article, with a link to your homepage or product page using your brand name as the anchor text. It helps with both Google rankings and AI visibility. This is available on Growth and Premium plans.
- Listicle + comparison articles: A brand new “Best,” “Top,” or “vs” article features your brand and is built for AI visibility. It is published on niche-relevant sites, and you approve titles and drafts before anything goes live.
What Every Package Includes
- Strategy: Target page planning and anchor text strategy
- Audits: An SEO audit (one-off on Starter, quarterly on Growth, monthly on Premium)
- Reporting: A client platform that tracks every backlink, plus a monthly SEO report
- Support: A dedicated client success manager, simple invoicing, and communication on your preferred channel (Email, Slack, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or Telegram)
Pros
- Partner network: 4K+ publishing partners, plus manual and automated outreach
- Target page planning: Target pages and anchor text strategy are planned for you
- Link quality: Natural anchor text, permanent, dofollow, editorial links, with one link per domain
- Safe approach: No PBNs, no link farms, no spam
- Pricing: Productized, pay-per-link pricing. Monthly plans need no contract.
- Link replacement: Removals are rare, but a removed link is replaced free within 12 months
- Reporting: A client platform and monthly SEO reports. Geo-specific reporting is available on Premium.
Cons
- No domain approvals: No approvals or lists of domains. This can be uncomfortable for clients who want full control before payment.
Who Should Choose SayNine?
SayNine is best suited for:
- Mid-size and larger SaaS and digital service companies with a basic SEO foundation, content, and landing pages
- Companies that want to grow their Google rankings and AI visibility through link insertions, listicles, and brand mentions
- Companies that want productized, pay-per-link pricing and a client platform instead of spreadsheets
- Brands wanting to appear in AI tools like ChatGPT, as well as traditional search engines
SayNine isn’t ideal for companies that want a fully custom solution or have no basic SEO foundation.
Link Insertion Pricing
SayNine sells link building as productized packages. Monthly plans need no contract. Yearly plans can be cancelled with 2 months’ notice and no cancellation fee.
Starter: $5,500/mo for 20 links (15 DR50+ link insertions and 5 DR50+ listicles)
Growth (most chosen): $11,100/mo for 29 links (10 DR50+ and 3 DR70+ link insertions, 10 DR50+ and 3 DR70+ listicles, 3 DR50+ brand mentions)
Premium: $17,000/mo for 45 links (20 DR50+ and 5 DR70+ link insertions, 10 DR50+ and 5 DR70+ listicles, 5 DR50+ brand mentions)
Custom: Need something outside these packages? Book a call to talk through a custom plan.
Per-link prices: Link insertion is $250 (DR50+) or $600 (DR70+). Listicle is $350 (DR50+) or $800 (DR70+). Brand mention is $300 (DR50+).
Each package includes a 1,000+ monthly traffic floor on referring domains, one link per domain, permanent and dofollow placement with free 12-month link replacement, target page planning, client platform access, and a monthly SEO report. Growth and Premium also include a consultation with the CEO. Check out our link building pricing for more information.
What Clients Are Saying About SayNine
Several verified reviews from clients consistently emphasize SayNine’s unique strengths, which include:
- Strong backlinks that improved rankings and traffic
- Professional communication
- Timely delivery of backlinks
Here’s what a few clients have shared on SayNine’s Clutch profile.
Saynine has increased the client’s domain rating by five points, reflecting a stronger backlink profile and improved visibility. The team demonstrates strong project management with clear communication, timely delivery of all agreed items, and quick responsiveness to the client’s needs.
Here’s another review from Olivia Ruiz, Marketing Director at airfocus
Saynine’s work has achieved steady traffic growth to the client’s most important pages, which will potentially turn into high-quality deals. The team works quickly and effectively, addresses errors and feedback immediately, and maintains good and transparent communication, proving easy to work with.
Case Studies/Notable Results
EasyDMARC: How We Increased Organic Traffic by 484%
SuperAnnotate: From Lower Rankings to #1 on Google
LinkBuilder.io
LinkBuilder.io is a digital marketing agency specializing in white-hat link building. They partner with online brands and agencies that already have solid on-page SEO but need help increasing their search traffic through backlinks.
Key Services
- Editorial outreach
- Content marketing
- SkyScraper approach
- Guest posts
- Broken link building
- Unlinked brand mentions
- HARO journalist pitching
- Resource page outreach
- Competitor link building
- Awards link building
- Directory link building
- Link insertions
- PR link building
Pros
- Excellent communication and responsiveness
- Niche-oriented backlinks
- Customized strategy
Cons
- High cost, making it best suited for established brands and enterprise-level companies rather than small businesses or those on a tight budget.
Who Should Choose LinkBuilder.io?
LinkBuilder.io is ideal for serious, growth-focused businesses, established companies, and agencies that have both the budget and the patience for a strategic, long-term approach to SEO.
Link Building Pricing
- Startup: 8 links/per month/$2,999
- Pro: 16+ links/per month/$5,999
- Growth: 26+ links/per month/$9,999
- Enterprise: 53+ links/per month/$19,999
What Clients Are Saying About LinkBuilder.io
Clients consistently praise the effectiveness of the link-building strategies on Clutch, highlighting noticeable improvements in traffic and rankings, though one area for improvement could be having a single point of contact to streamline communication and enhance the overall experience.
Case Studies/Notable Results
Employee Transparency Platform Case Study
Law Firm Link Building Case Study
SayNine vs LinkBuilder.io: Final Verdict
Both SayNine and LinkBuilder.io are legitimate link building agencies, but they differ in pricing, contract terms, and what’s included.
LinkBuilder.io is an agency with a strong track record and a Clutch rating of 4.6 from 14 reviews. It starts at $2,999/month for 8 links (about $375 per link) on a 6-month contract with a 90-day opt-out window. It works with founders, marketing directors, and SEO agencies on bespoke outreach campaigns, and it also sells add-ons such as technical SEO and content writing.
SayNine starts at $5,500/month for 20 links, and monthly plans need no contract. A single DR50+ link insertion costs $250. Every package includes permanent, dofollow editorial links from DR50+ sites with 1K+ organic traffic, free 12-month link replacement, a client platform, monthly SEO reports, and a dedicated client success manager. SayNine has a Clutch rating of 4.8 from 22 reviews.
LinkBuilder.io has the lower monthly entry price, and SayNine gives you more links per month with no contract on monthly plans. SayNine is a strong fit for mid-size and larger SaaS and digital service companies with a basic SEO foundation that want a steady flow of link insertions, listicles, and brand mentions. LinkBuilder.io suits brands and agencies that want a bespoke campaign at a smaller monthly volume.
Ready to grow your Google rankings and AI visibility? Get in touch with SayNine today.
