There are numerous web directories present online through which webmasters try to improve their web rankings. Some are paid and some are free directories and both of them have their own pluses and minuses.
Due to the large numbers of web directories where everyone has different criteria, conditions and niches to accept the submission of articles, websites owners are constantly striving on finding the best sites to use. Although there are many websites that have defined the top sites in all categories and the top listed ones are almost the same.
In case of paid directories every site charges a fee that is different for all and the top sites are mostly very costly and require an annual fee to be submitted.
Those who are unable to afford these high rated paid directories opt for the next high ranked ones which are more affordable and still yield better results. Normally the procedures that sites use to rank these article directories are judging them on certain criteria that include the age of the directory along with its history, the SEO statistics of the directory, the common public opinion, the popularity and authority of the directory, the moderation quality and the connection of registered sites with the selected categories and entire evaluation of the directory site along with its domain name.
The most popular and beneficial top 10 paid web directories include firstly the Yahoo directory, which charges a cost of $299 which is charged annually and have been operating from the last 17 years and stands with a PR rating of 8/10.
The next paid directory in line is the Business.com which levy a fee of $199 annually and has been functioning for the last 14 years with a present PR of 7/10. Another site that ranks a 7/10 PR ranking is the Clora Business directory that charges $49.95 onetime fee and has been operating for the past 15 years but the indexed Google pages are much lower as compared to the latter site.
Other paid directories that enjoy a PR of 6/10 includes JoeAnt which charges $39.95 onetime fee and was established 12 years back, BOTW (Best Of The Web) charges $69.95 annually and has been working for the past 16 years. Directory Journal is another paid directory that delivers results and charges $59.95 annually and has been operating for the last five years. HOTvsNOT web directory is the next top paid directory that rates 6/10 and has been functional for the last eight years.
Pulso Internet directory is also a PR 6/10 paid directory that charges a onetime fee of $35 and is functional for the last 13 years. Finally the last in the top ten paid web directories is the GoGuides.org that charges $69.95 onetime charge since the last 11 years and is rated as PR 5/10.
Out of all these sites Yahoo is the top ranking directory with the largest number of Google indexed pages along with the highest inbound Google links as well. There are many other paid directories available as well with their individual rankings and standings but these 10 are considered more reliable and result yielding than others.


Source: The Best 10 Web Directories You Pay To Improve Web Rankings