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SayNine vs The HOTH Comparison
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SayNine vs The HOTH: Which Agency To Choose in 2026?

Diana Aghumyan
By Diana Aghumyan
29 Jul 2026 8 min read

If you’re comparing SayNine vs The HOTH for link building, you’re probably wondering which one gives you better links and strong results.

Both agencies build backlinks, they have been around a while, and help you show up in Google and AI tools like ChatGPT. The difference is in how they get you there. 

In this comparison article, we compared their pricing, link types, quality standards, and real client results, then gave you a clear verdict at the end.

But first, here’s a quick overview of how SayNine and The HOTH compare.

SayNineThe HOTH
Founded20212010
Primary focusLink building, AI SEO, SEO servicesLink Building, AI Visibility, Local SEO, Content, Managed Services
Industries servedSaaS, tech, agencies, healthcare, real estate, law, and moreAgencies, e-commerce, SaaS, law, home services, and more
Min. DR of placed linksDR 30+ DR 20+ 
Min. site traffic1,000+ / monthNot specified
Link typesLink insertions, niche guest posts, listicles, brand mentionsManual outreach, link insertions, premium editorial placements, news distribution, and AI-trusted media sources.
Full SEO (on-page, technical)✅Yes✅Yes
White-hat✅Yes✅Yes
AI / LLM visibility✅Yes ✅Yes
SEO audits✅Yes✅Yes
Link building pricing startsCustom. Pricing depends on DR tier & backlink quantity.$200/ per insertion
Trial/test run✅Yes❌No
Notable clientsSuperAnnotate, EasyDMARC, GroWrk, and more.Not publicly disclosed
Rating4.8 / 5 on Clutch ⭐ 4.4 / 5 on Trustpilot⭐ 

SayNine

SayNine homepage

SayNine is a leading link building agency that helps growing digital brands across different niches to improve their Google rankings and AI visibility. The agency focuses on building contextually relevant backlinks solely through white-hat strategies, so brands can grow steady, real authority. 

Founded in 2021, SayNine has already helped over 200 companies, built 40,000+ backlinks, and works with a huge network of 3,000+ partners worldwide. 

Key Link Building Services 

  • Link Insertions: Relevant backlinks from trusted websites that boost search rankings, bring in more organic traffic, and improve your domain rating.
  • Brand Mentions: Online references to your brand on reputable sources using branded anchor text, helping you show up more in AI search results.
  • Listicles: Listicle-style articles, such as “Top 5” or “Best 10,” on relevant sites that feature your brand #1, improving both SEO and visibility in AI tools. 
  • Niche Guest Posts: Content published on industry-relevant blogs, helping you connect with the right audience and build backlinks to your website.

Other Services

  • Full SEO: Complete SEO packages that cover technical audits, keyword research, content writing, and link building to make your website optimized from all angles.
  • SEO Audits: Detailed SEO audits that evaluate your site’s search engine performance and detect technical, on-page, and off-page issues.
  • SEO Content Writing: SEO-optimized content written by experienced writers to help your pages rank higher and add value to readers. 

Pros

  • Permanent, dofollow backlinks from trusted sources 
  • A huge network of partner websites
  • Target page planning before starting the link building campaign
  • Flexibility with fully managed link building, pay-per-link orders, and a self-serve marketplace
  • White-hat link building tactics only
  • Supporting both SEO and AI visibility through brand mentions and listicle placements
  • Timely delivery of backlinks
  • 1-year backlink guarantee 
  • Transparent reporting on all backlinks, with location-based reports available
  • Weekly updates from the team

Cons 

  • No pre-approval of backlinks

Who Should Choose SayNine?

SayNine works for businesses across niches like SaaS, tech, real estate, law, and healthcare to build online visibility. It’s also a strong choice for agencies that want to improve organic rankings and gain more exposure in AI-powered tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity.

Link Insertion Packages & Pricing

SayNine prices link insertions depending on the selected DR tier and backlink quantity. There are six tiers (DR 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+, and 80+), with monthly orders from 3 to 40 links.

The cost for link insertions ranges from $150 to $700 per backlink across DR tiers and quantities.

If you’re unsure or not ready to commit to a large package, there’s a test run too, so you can try the service and understand the quality of backlinks at a reduced price.

SayNine's link insertion packages & pricing, monthly billing

Teams that want to try several link building services in a single order can consider the following packages. 

  • Basic: $2,350/ month (10 link insertions, 1 Guest post, 3 brand mentions, 30DR+)
  • Standard: $6,000/ month (10 link insertions 40DR+, 5 link insertions 50DR+, 5 guest posts 40DR+, 5 brand mentions 40DR+)
  • Pro: $10,000/ month (20 link insertions 50DR+, 10 guest posts 50DR+, 5 brand mentions 50DR+)
  • Premium: $12,750/per month (20 link insertions 60DR+, 10 guest posts 50DR+, 5 brand mentions 60DR+)
  • Elite: $21,200/ month (3 link insertions 80DR+, 30 link insertions 50DR+, 3 guest posts 80DR+,  10 guest posts 50DR+, 3 brand mentions 80DR+, 10 brand mentions 50DR+)

There’s a custom package builder too, allowing you to pick the service you want in the desired volume and DR tier, and immediately get a custom quote.

SayNine's custom package builder

Each plan comes with

  • Referring domains with 1,000+ traffic floor
  • Unique backlinks: one link per domain
  • Dofollow, permanent links
  • One-year backlink guarantee
  • Detailed SEO audits
  • Target page planning before the batch starts
  • Access to the client platform
  • Custom SEO reporting
  • Free consulting with our CEO

Want more control over the backlinks? SayNine’s link building marketplace gives you access to 5,000+ manually reviewed websites in different niches. Use smart filters to find the right placements, approve every article or link insertion before it goes live, and get your links delivered within days.

SayNine's link building marketplace

SayNine’s Clutch rating is 4.8/5, with verified customers often highlighting its:

  • Strong link building results
  • Professional support throughout the whole campaign
  • Transparent backlink reporting
  • Flexible pricing
  • Timely delivery of backlinks

See what our clients have shared about their experience with SayNine.

Saynine provided the link building strategy the client needed, meeting their expectations. Saynine’s team was professional and responsible. Saynine met the project’s metrics and delivered work on time, providing good-quality backlinks.

Here’s another review from Kasia Slonawska, Marketing executive at a social media management SaaS company.

Saynine’s work has improved the domain rating of the client’s websites. The team delivers on time and in a professional manner. The client communicates with them via email and messaging apps. Overall, the client is impressed with Saynine’s speed and quality of work.
One of SayNine's reviews left on Clutch

Case Studies/Notable Results

SayNine has helped many companies improve their rankings, grow organic traffic, increase brand visibility, and get better SEO results. Here are a few examples:

The HOTH 

The HOTH's homepage

The HOTH is a US-based search engine marketing agency founded in 2010. They help businesses gain visibility in Google and AI search.

Key Link Building Services

  • Link Outreach
  • Link Insertions
  • Platinum Links
  • Press Releases
  • Content Syndication

Other Services

  • Managed Services
  • AI Visibility
  • Content
  • Local SEO
  • Technical SEO
  • White Label SEO Services

Pros

  • Content creation included with Link Outreach
  • Detailed backlink reporting
  • Managed SEO available through HOTH X

Cons

  • Some Content Syndication links may be nofollow, meaning that they won’t pass SEO value 
  • No age limit on the article where the link is placed, and users may receive a placement in content that is 5+ years old, which can be a drawback because Google often favors fresh, updated content for topics where accuracy and relevance matter
  • Some niches and anchor types are restricted, including geo-based, foreign, casino/gambling, pharma, adult, and political keywords.

Who Should Choose The HOTH?

The HOTH is a better fit for brands that want access to many link building options, such as link outreach, link insertions, press releases, and digital PR, in one place, and already have a clear idea of what they need.

However, if a team wants a more guided link building strategy from the beginning, they may need a managed option like HOTH X or work closely with the team before ordering.

Link Building Pricing 

The HOTH offers several à la carte link building products, so pricing depends on the type of placement you choose.

Its lower-cost options include 

  • Content Syndication, which starts at $99 per campaign
  • Press Releases, which start at $150 per release
  • Link Outreach starts at $175 per link for DR 20+ websites
  • Link Insertions start at $200 per insertion

For stronger backlink placements, the agency offers

  • Platinum Links starting at $405 per link for DR 50+ editorial placements
  • Exclusive Media Links starting at $450 per link

Monthly options include 

  • Digital PR from $1,500/month
  • Earned Media from $3,500/month.
The HOTH's pricing compared

What Clients Are Saying About The HOTH?

The HOTH has a 4.4/5 rating on Trustpilot. There are positive reviews around customer support and communication, but the negative reviews raise concerns about inconsistent SEO results, backlink quality, content quality, and ROI. 

Case Studies/Notable Clients

  • Law School Prep Site – 8k Traffic Increase
  • Real Estate Company – Number  of Ranking Keywords Grew From 100 to 200

SayNine vs The HOTH: Final Verdict

Both agencies provide backlink services, but they’re built for different needs.

The HOTH works if you want à la carte link building products and already know exactly what to order. In this case, you’re on your own for strategy, some links come nofollow, and there’s no test run before you commit.

SayNine is the stronger pick for most brands. You get permanent dofollow links, target page planning before the campaign starts, and a test run so you can check the quality before spending big.

Ready to see what SayNine can do for your website? Book a free consultation and get a custom link building strategy built around your target pages.

Author's image
Author bio

Diana Aghumyan SEO content writer

Diana is an SEO content writer at SayNine with over 3 years of experience writing clear, helpful content about SEO, digital marketing, link building, and content strategy. She focuses on making complex topics easy to understand and useful for real people, not just search engines. Off the clock? She’s into workouts, travel, and making sure her cat lives the dream life.

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