Brownbook for business

A free listing in a global database of 44.6M businesses.

General directory · brownbook.net

Claim or add your listing Visit brownbook.net

Cost to list: Free
Approval: Instant
Link type: Dofollow link; Per BrightLocal, not our test
Shows up in searches for: No business types; Across our 399 searches
Popularity: Tranco #24,400; #422 of 1,712 directory sites
Countries: Worldwide

Checked Oct 20, 2026 · 2 sources

Is Brownbook worth it?

Our reading of the measured data, not a score.

Low priority

Low priority: no measured reach in Google.

Brownbook didn't make Google's top 10 in any of the 276 buyer searches we ran for the 69 business types it accepts. Listing is stated as free. Profile links are reported dofollow (BrightLocal, not our test).

What works

Free to list
Dofollow profile link (per BrightLocal, not our test)
Self-serve: you can set it up yourself

Watch out for

Not in Google's top 10 for accountants, addiction treatment centers, alternative medicine practitioners, and 66 other types (0 of 276 searches)

Measured fit, by business group

How often Brownbook made Google's top 10 in our US buyer searches for the types it accepts.

Home services & trades 0/72

Not seen · 18 types
Health & wellness 0/48

Not seen · 12 types
Food, drink & hospitality 0/32

Not seen · 8 types
Weddings & events 0/28

Not seen · 7 types
Legal, finance & insurance 0/20

Not seen · 5 types
Real estate 0/20

Not seen · 5 types
Automotive 0/12

Not seen · 3 types
Education & childcare 0/12

Not seen · 3 types
Community & nonprofit 0/12

Not seen · 3 types
Beauty & fitness 0/12

Not seen · 3 types
Pets 0/8

Not seen · 2 types

See every search result →

Where Brownbook shows up when people search

We ran 399 real buyer searches (Google US, desktop) for 100 business types on Oct 20, 2026 and recorded which directories made the organic top 10. Local packs and ads are not counted.

Not in the top 10 of any search we ran.

Common for niche, community and launch sites. What they offer is the audience that browses them directly, not a page that ranks for generic searches.

Local types where it didn't rank: Accountants, Addiction treatment centers, Alternative medicine practitioners, Architects, Auto body shops, Auto repair shops, Bars and breweries, Cafes, Campgrounds, Car dealers, and 59 more.

"Among directories" is its position among the directories we track that appeared for that business type, by searches appeared in, then best spot. How we measure

What Brownbook costs and who can list

As stated on Brownbook's own pages or reported by a named source. Checked Oct 20, 2026.

Who can list: Any local business

Census audience: any business, local businesses, businesses · Worldwide
Pricing: Free

Free listing, free claim, free Profile+
Free listing, free claim/verify, free Profile+ enhanced details.
Homepage title says "Free business listings"
Approval: Instant. Listed as instant-publish by BrightLocal (top-citation-sites/instant/).
Link attribute: Dofollow link. Per BrightLocal's list, not our test.
Sources: brownbook.net
brownbook.net/add-business

Prices and rules change; the linked pages are the authority.

How to add your business to Brownbook

1
Prepare your details
- Business name, address and phone written exactly as on your Google Business Profile and website
- Primary category, plus the services you actually offer
- Opening hours, service area and website URL
- Real photos: storefront or vehicle, team, finished work
- Access to the business phone or email, in case it verifies ownership
- A way to ask real customers for reviews (never buy them)
Our standard checklist for this kind of site (local listing), not a list published by Brownbook.
2

Open the claim page
brownbook.net/add-business
3

Approval: instant

Listed as instant-publish by BrightLocal (top-citation-sites/instant/).
4

Check the watch-outs

1 thing to know before you claim.

Brownbook alternatives

Ranked by the same evidence: Google top-10 appearances for the business types Brownbook serves, then audience fit, then Tranco popularity.

Questions about Brownbook

Is Brownbook worth it for a business?

Low priority: no measured reach in Google. Brownbook didn't make Google's top 10 in any of the 276 buyer searches we ran for the 69 business types it accepts. Listing is stated as free. Profile links are reported dofollow (BrightLocal, not our test). This is our reading of the measured data.

How much does a Brownbook listing cost?

Free. What we found: Free listing, free claim, free Profile+ / Free listing, free claim/verify, free Profile+ enhanced details. / Homepage title says "Free business listings". Checked Oct 20, 2026.

Is a link from Brownbook dofollow?

Dofollow link, according to BrightLocal's dofollow/nofollow list; we haven't tested it ourselves.

How do I add my business to Brownbook?

Start at brownbook.net/add-business. Approval: instant (Listed as instant-publish by BrightLocal (top-citation-sites/instant/).). Have your details ready first (see "How to list" above).

What are the best Brownbook alternatives?

Ranked by the same evidence: Manta, MerchantCircle, and Cybo. The full list of 8 is above, with the searches each one appeared in.

Run Brownbook?

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