Effortless Backlinks vs RankInPublic
RankInPublic takes a different approach to the directory submission market. They combine the submission service with a product tournament platform, free SEO tools, and a content-rich website. Effortless Backlinks is a focused, manual-only submission service.
Here's how they compare when you strip away the marketing and look at what you actually get.
At a glance
| Feature | Effortless Backlinks | RankInPublic |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €79 | Not publicly listed (est. $99-$199) |
| Max directories | 100 | 140+ |
| Delivery time | 30 days | Not specified |
| Submission method | 100% manual | Manual |
| Free SEO tools | No | Yes (4 tools) |
| Product tournaments | No | Yes (1v1 matchups) |
| Blog with SEO content | Coming soon | Yes |
| Transparent pricing | Yes | No (requires checkout) |
| Social proof on site | Coming soon | Yes (Twitter testimonials) |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | Effortless Backlinks | RankInPublic |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | €79 — 25 directories | Not listed (estimated ~$99) |
| Mid | €119 — 50 directories | Not listed (estimated ~$149) |
| Top | €179 — 100 directories | Not listed (estimated ~$199) |
RankInPublic does not publicly list their pricing. You have to start the Stripe checkout process to see actual prices. The estimates above are based on publicly available data and may not reflect current pricing. This is a deliberate design choice — but it means you can't comparison-shop without committing time to their checkout flow.
Prices last verified April 2026.
Want someone to handle this for you? See how Effortless Backlinks takes care of directory submissions and link building so you can focus on your product.
See how Effortless Backlinks handles this for you →Where RankInPublic wins
Free SEO tools
RankInPublic offers four free tools: Competitor Finder, Authority Checker, SEO Checker, and Idea Validator. These are genuinely useful for founders evaluating their SEO position, and they serve as effective lead magnets that drive organic traffic.
Product tournaments
Their 1v1 matchup system is a unique differentiator. Products compete head-to-head, which creates engagement, social sharing, and a gamification layer that no other directory service offers. If you want your product to be discovered through competition rather than just listing, this is compelling.
Content and SEO maturity
They already have comparison pages, blog posts, revenue rankings, product matchup pages, and alternative pages indexed by Google. Their content strategy is mature and well-executed — they understand that content drives organic traffic in this niche.
Strong social proof
Their Twitter feed features testimonials with specific DR gains and before/after metrics. Real numbers from real users build trust faster than marketing copy.
More directories
They claim 140+ directories compared to our 100. If coverage volume matters to you, they have the larger list.
Where Effortless Backlinks wins
Transparent pricing
Our prices are on our website — €79, €119, €179. No guessing, no checkout-page surprises, no anchoring. You know exactly what you're paying before you make any commitment. We believe founders should be able to compare services without starting a checkout flow.
Clear delivery timeline
30 days, stated clearly. RankInPublic doesn't specify a delivery timeline on their site, which makes it hard to plan around.
Focused service
We do one thing: manual directory submissions. No tournaments, no tools, no content platform, no revenue rankings. If you just want someone to submit your product to directories and send you a report, we're the straightforward choice. No features to navigate, no decisions about add-ons.
Simpler experience
Fill out a form, pay once, get your report. That's it. For founders who are tired of feature-heavy platforms and just want the job done, simplicity has value.
The honest answer
RankInPublic is a more feature-rich platform with a stronger content engine. If you want free SEO tools, enjoy the idea of product tournaments as a discovery channel, and value a content-rich experience around your directory submissions, they offer a compelling and well-executed package. Their SEO and content strategy is arguably the best in this niche.
However, their lack of transparent pricing is a real drawback. Founders comparison-shopping between services shouldn't have to start a checkout flow to find out what something costs. It creates friction in the buying process and makes honest comparison harder.
Effortless Backlinks is the better choice if you value transparent pricing, a clear delivery timeline, and a focused service that does one thing well. We're not trying to be a platform — we're a service, and we're upfront about what we cost and how long it takes.
Which should you choose?
RChoose RankInPublic if:
You want free SEO tools, find product tournaments appealing, value a content-rich platform, and don't mind non-transparent pricing.
EChoose Effortless Backlinks if:
You want clear pricing upfront (€79-€179), a focused directory submission service with no extra features to navigate, and a clear 30-day delivery timeline.