Two different communities, two different answers
Search "directory backlinks seo" on Reddit and you find two separate communities reaching different conclusions -- and both are correct in context.
r/SEO is skeptical. Threads there consistently warn against bulk directory submissions. Generic listings on low-authority catch-all sites rarely move rankings, and some commenters flag that outbound links to spammy directories can introduce trust-signal noise. The practical advice that surfaces repeatedly: treat directory links as one minor element among many, not a core strategy.
r/SaaS is more pragmatic. Founders share spreadsheets of 50 to 130+ directories to submit to. But the follow-up replies in those same threads add an important qualifier -- most entries on those megalists are low-traffic or no longer maintained. The actual recommendation is to pick 10 to 20 that demonstrably rank and stay active, rather than chasing every entry.
The distinction that explains both
The two communities are describing different kinds of directories.
Mass-submission to generic, catch-all sites is indeed low-value. r/SEO is right about that.
Relevant, niche directories -- especially those covering software or a specific vertical -- operate differently. They carry real domain authority, genuine human visitors, and in many cases do-follow links that pass equity. A well-maintained SaaS directory page is also a permanent, structured description of your product that can surface in searches and AI responses long after launch day.
That is the qualifier that changes the calculation: not whether to get directory backlinks, but which directories are worth submitting to.
What the better r/SaaS advice looks like
The recurring recommendation in threads aimed at early-stage founders: target directories that demonstrably rank for your product category. A listing in the right place compounds quietly -- a backlink, a citation source for AI answers, and a reference page that stays live and indexed without further effort.
Where directree fits
directree is a software directory built for exactly this: do-follow backlinks, no pay-to-rank, and free to submit. Every fact on a listing is labelled "Observed" (verified from the product) or "AI-inferred" -- no invented claims about your tool.
Submit your tool free and a structured listing goes live in about 30 seconds. Check directree's plans if you want GEO and SEO tracking alongside the listing. Or read how directree makes do-follow backlinks free for more on the linking model.