The main RankChase alternatives are Ranking Raccoon (a vetted reciprocal community, $25 a month after a 7-day trial), LinkExchange.ai (a WordPress credit marketplace), RankYak (an exchange inside a $99-a-month AI content plan), Backlinkster (1-for-1 swaps with a free plan) and manual swaps in niche communities. They differ most in matching and in whether placed links are checked.
You joined RankChase, the match emails started arriving, and then you hit the wall of the free plan: you can see that a match exists but not who it is. Or you upgraded, paid $19 for one site, and now you run three sites. Either way you want to know what else does the same job before you pay again.
We make Backlinkster, one of the options below. Every competitor fact on this page was checked on that company's own website on 16 October 2026. Prices change, so confirm on their pricing pages before you buy.
What RankChase does, so you know what you are replacing
RankChase matches sites in the same niche and of similar Domain Rating, then emails you the matches. According to its pricing page, the free plan puts you on the list and lets you receive exchange messages, but you "can't see details of matched websites." Premium costs $19 a month per website, comes with a 7-day free trial, and adds full match details, ABC (three-way) exchanges, DR and traffic filters, and niche and keyword matching. An agency plan with bulk domain import is priced on request.
Its homepage says listed sites get a low, medium or high spam score and that high-DR, low-traffic sites are flagged. It does not describe checking whether an exchanged link is actually placed or stays live. That gap, plus per-site pricing, is the usual reason people look elsewhere.
RankChase alternatives at a glance
| Option | Model | Price (checked 16 Oct 2026) | Link checking |
|---|---|---|---|
| RankChase | Niche and DR matching, you arrange the swap | Free list; Premium $19/month per website | Spam scores on sites; live-link checks not described |
| Ranking Raccoon | Reciprocal community, chat with site admins | 7-day trial, then $25/month Pro or free Lite | Checks the link is live and do-follow |
| LinkExchange.ai | Credit marketplace via WordPress plugin | Free plugin with 500 starter credits; Pro $174/year (first-year offer) | Credits held until a placement is verified |
| RankYak | Automatic exchange network inside an AI content plan | $99/month per site, includes 30 articles | Scheduled checks, removed links recorded |
| Backlinkster | 1-for-1 in-content swaps | Free 5 swaps/month; Pro $19; Backlinkster $49 | Each swap is verified by API |
| Niche communities | Manual swaps in Slack, Discord or forums | Free | Only what you check yourself |
The alternatives in detail
Each option below solves a different problem with RankChase, so start with the one that matches yours.
Ranking Raccoon: if you want vetted partners
Ranking Raccoon is closest to RankChase in spirit: a community of site owners who give links in return for links. Its homepage says every registered site is reviewed by hand (metrics checked in Ahrefs, content quality, niche, spam keywords), which takes up to one business day, and that only English-language sites are accepted. You sign up through LinkedIn and message admins in a built-in chat, and the platform checks that the placed link is live and do-follow. After a 7-day trial with no card, Pro is $25 a month, or you drop to a free Lite plan whose limits the site doesn't spell out.
LinkExchange.ai: if you run WordPress and don't want reciprocity
LinkExchange.ai is not a swap tool. Its pricing page describes a free WordPress plugin: you earn credits by approving placements on your own posts and spend credits to get links elsewhere. The free plan includes 500 one-time starter credits and one campaign with up to 5 target URLs. Pro was listed at $174 for the first year (50% off $348), and managed guest posts start at $59 an article. Because links flow through credits, the site linking to you is not the site you link to, which removes the obvious A-to-B, B-to-A footprint. The trade-off is that it only works on WordPress, and the site doesn't say how many credits one link costs.
RankYak: if you also want content written for you
RankYak's backlink exchange is one feature of a content product. You switch it on, the network places links automatically inside relevant articles, the same site links to you at most once a month, and each placed link is re-checked on a schedule. Its pricing is $99 a month per site ($82.50 a month billed yearly), which includes 30 AI-written articles. The exchange only opens after the 3-day trial ends. It makes sense if you were going to pay for content anyway, and not if you only want links.
Backlinkster: if you want checked 1-for-1 swaps on a free plan
Backlinkster pairs you with members in related niches for one in-content link each way. Whoever starts a swap publishes the partner's article first, the link you submit must be an article URL on your own domain rather than your homepage, and each swap is verified by API. The free plan gives 5 swaps a month for one domain; Pro is $19 a month for 50 swaps across up to 3 domains, and the $49 plan covers 250 swaps across 10 domains. See the plans.
Niche communities: if you would rather do it by hand
Slack groups, Discord servers and forums where site owners post swap requests cost nothing. The cost is time and vetting: you check every partner's traffic, spam signals and outbound links yourself, and nobody confirms the link stays up. Our guide to backlink exchange directories covers where to look and what to check.
How to choose between them
Pick by the constraint that pushed you off RankChase, then check the risk side before you trade a single link.
If price per site is the problem
RankChase Premium is $19 for each website. If you run several sites, compare plans that cover multiple domains under one price, and look at agency tiers.
If you want to know links stay live
Ranking Raccoon, RankYak and Backlinkster all describe checking placed links. Whatever tool you use, re-check important links yourself every few months.
If footprint worries you
Google's spam policies list "excessive link exchanges" as link spam. Keep swaps relevant, in-content and moderate in number, whatever the tool. Our page on how many link exchanges are safe goes deeper.
When Backlinkster is not the right fit
Backlinkster only does 1-for-1 swaps. If you need three-way exchanges, RankChase Premium lists ABC exchanges. If you don't want to link out at all, a credit model like LinkExchange.ai's or paid guest posts suit you better. If you want AI articles and links in one subscription, RankYak bundles both. And if your site has no articles yet, you have nothing to submit, because swaps require an article URL on your own domain.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to RankChase?
Yes. Backlinkster has a free plan with 5 swaps a month, LinkExchange.ai's plugin is free with 500 starter credits, and Ranking Raccoon has a free Lite plan after its 7-day trial. Niche Slack and Discord groups are free but fully manual.
What does RankChase cost?
On 16 October 2026 its pricing page listed a free plan and Premium at $19 a month per website with a 7-day free trial. Agency pricing was available on request.
Does RankChase check that exchanged links stay live?
Its homepage describes spam scores and periodic validation of listed domains, but not checks on whether exchanged links are placed or kept. Ask the company directly, and track your own links either way.
Are link exchange tools safe to use?
They are as safe as the swaps you make. Google's spam policies target excessive exchanges and cross-linking pages, so a few relevant, in-content links between related sites carry far less risk than trading with anyone the tool suggests.
Which RankChase alternative is best for agencies?
RankChase and RankYak both mention agency arrangements, and Backlinkster's $49 plan covers 10 domains. Check each tool's rules on client consent and on linking between your own clients' sites before you scale.
Related: Best Free Link Exchange Platforms · Backlinkster vs RankChase · Are Backlink Exchanges Safe? · LinkExchange.ai Alternatives