Intro
SEO Twitter has always been vocal—but in 2025, conversations around cheap link building have reached a new level. With AI tools pumping out backlinks by the dozen, freelance marketplaces offering $5 guest posts, and agencies slashing prices to compete, the debate has intensified.
We dug into the latest Twitter threads, polls, and expert hot takes to find out: Is cheap link building worth it—or just SEO junk food?
Cheap Doesn’t Always Mean Bad
A recurring theme among SEOs is that "cheap" isn’t the issue—value is.
_“$40 links can outperform $400 ones if they’re relevant, indexed, and driving traffic.”
_ —@MarieSEO
The consensus? If a low-cost link ticks the right boxes—real site, niche relevance, organic traffic, index status—it can still be a win. It’s not about the price, it’s about the footprint.
Red Flags Are Everywhere
Many SEOs warned about obvious link farms and churn-and-burn domains. Several tweets pointed out:
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Sites with hundreds of outbound links per page
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Blogs with no real audience or engagement
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“Top 100 AI Tools” lists hosting every paid link under the sun
_“If you wouldn’t share the page you’re getting a link from... you shouldn’t buy it.”
_ —@CyrusShepard
The Fiverr & Marketplace Dilemma
Fiverr link sellers and certain black-hat marketplaces were under heavy fire. Users noted that while they may deliver links fast, these typically come from:
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Deindexed domains
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Hacked blogs
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Orphan pages with no crawl depth
_“Most of these sellers are renting links from hacked sites. It’s not cheap, it’s risky.”
_ —@LilyRayNYC
Still, some SEOs mentioned success with careful vetting and select freelancers—especially from niche-focused microservices.
Agencies Weigh In
SEO agency owners on Twitter were divided:
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Some use cheap links as tier 2 support
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Others say it’s never worth the clean-up when things go wrong
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A few build their own editorial networks and sell them at lower rates, emphasizing quality over markup
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_“We sell cheap links… but they’re real, relevant, and clean. Most ‘cheap links’ aren’t.”
_ —@AgencyJohnSEO
Ranktracker’s Approach Gets Praise
Ranktracker was mentioned positively for offering transparent metrics and avoiding shady sites altogether.
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SEOs like the ability to track DR, traffic, indexation, and anchor usage before committing
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Others highlighted Ranktracker’s integration of link monitoring with SERP movements as a major edge
_“If your link tool doesn’t show traffic & index status, you’re gambling.”
_ —@Kevin_Indig
Poll Results: Is Cheap Link Building Worth It?
A poll by @SEOTruths in March 2025 got over 2,000 responses:
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30% said yes, if you vet properly
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55% said no, not in 2025
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15% said only for churn & burn projects
Final Thoughts
Cheap link building in 2025 is a divisive topic on SEO Twitter. Some see it as a cost-effective part of their strategy, others consider it too risky or ineffective for serious campaigns.
The key takeaway? Don’t judge by price alone. Judge by the link’s relevance, authority, context, and traffic—and always track your results.
For those wanting cheap links without compromise, Ranktracker is the platform SEOs trust to vet, place, and monitor backlinks at every level—no spam, no surprises.
