Where should a startup submit first?

Do two passes. First, the launch-week platforms (Product Hunt, Hacker News, BetaList, Peerlist) on a chosen date for the traffic spike. Second, the evergreen dofollow directories (G2, Capterra, SaaSHub, SourceForge) any time, for the backlinks. Do the free dofollow ones before you pay for anything.

How many directories should a startup submit to?

Aim for the 20 to 40 highest-authority, most relevant ones rather than all 123. For a startup with no backlinks yet, dofollow DR 50+ links give nearly all the value; below that, returns fall off a cliff.

Do directory submissions still work in 2026?

For early-stage startups, yes, for two specific reasons. A brand-new domain has no backlink profile, so even a few dofollow links from DR 60+ directories measurably help. And launch platforms send your first real users. The trick is choosing real, indexed directories with measurable DR, never the “submit to 500 sites” link farms.

Are nofollow launch platforms worth it?

Yes. Product Hunt and Hacker News are nofollow, but they drive huge referral traffic, sign-ups and press on launch day, which earns you natural dofollow links elsewhere. Use them for reach and timing, and use the dofollow directories for link equity.

Free or paid listings?

Exhaust the free ones first, since 102 of these accept free submissions. Pay only when a directory has real authority, a permanent dofollow link, and an audience that matches your product. A fee for a nofollow link on a low-DR page is money set on fire.

Startup playbook

Directory submission for startups

A new startup has no backlinks and no audience. The right directory submissions fix both, but only if you pick real ones and submit them well. Below is the shortlist that moves Domain Rating, the assets to prepare once, and the order that gets results in week one.

12
Picks worth doing: 99
Dofollow links: 37
DR 70+: 102
Free to submit

Updated 2026-07-31 · DR data: Domain Rating by Ahrefs

If you only do five things this week

01Pick a launch date and post to Product Hunt, fully prepped, with the gallery and first comment ready.
02In the same week, post Show HN and submit to BetaList, Peerlist and Uneed for the traffic spike.
03Claim G2 and Capterra. They are the highest-authority dofollow links most SaaS can earn.
04Knock out the free dofollow set: SourceForge, SaaSHub, Indie Hackers and SaaSCity.
05Track what you submitted so you do not double-submit or drop half of them.

What directory submission actually does for a startup

Worth being honest about, so you spend the effort where it pays.

Genuinely worth it for

+Your first dofollow backlinks to a zero-authority domain, which is what moves DR
+Launch-day users and real feedback (Product Hunt, Hacker News)
+Getting crawled, indexed and discovered early
+Citations that AI assistants pull from, like G2, Capterra and SaaSHub

Not a fix for

-Ranking for competitive keywords on its own
-Replacing content and real link-building long term
-Anything from low-DR nofollow “submit to 500 sites” packages
-Overnight results. The payoff builds over weeks, not on day one

Prepare once, paste everywhere

Your submission kit

Every directory asks for the same handful of things in slightly different lengths. Write them once, then copy them in. Start from these templates.

Tagline60 chars max

[Outcome] for [audience], without [the usual pain].

Short descriptionabout 160 chars

[Product] is [category] that helps [audience] [achieve outcome]. [One differentiator]. Free to start at [url].

Full description400 to 600 chars

[Product] helps [audience] [primary outcome]. Most [audience] struggle with [problem], and [Product] fixes it by [how, in one line]. Highlights: [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3]. [Traction or proof point]. Start free at [url].

Founder bioabout 200 chars

[Name] is the founder of [Product]. Previously [credential]. Building [Product] to [mission]. Find them at [@handle].

Assets to have ready

+Logo: 512x512 PNG, transparent background
+OG / social image: 1200x630 PNG
+Screenshots: 1280x800, three to five of them
+Categories: pick the two or three most accurate and reuse them everywhere
+Links: site, X, LinkedIn, kept consistent everywhere

Phase 1 · Launch week

Submit these for the traffic spike

These are time-sensitive and mostly nofollow, but they put a brand-new startup in front of thousands of early adopters on day one. Hit them in the same 48-hour window.

01
Product Huntproducthunt.com
DR91
nofollowFree
The biggest single launch-day traffic source for startups. It is nofollow, but the spike earns natural dofollow links elsewhere. You get one shot, so do not launch half-ready.
Needs
Tagline, 3 to 5 gallery images, a first comment, a warmed-up maker account
Approval
Instant, but schedule a launch date
02
Hacker Newsnews.ycombinator.com
DR91
nofollowFree
Technical founders and early adopters. The feedback is brutal, but you get real traffic and credibility if it catches.
Needs
A working demo link and an honest “Show HN:” title with zero marketing fluff
Approval
Instant post
03
BetaListbetalist.com
DR76
dofollowFree
Built specifically for pre-launch startups collecting early signups. The dofollow link is a bonus on top of the audience.
Needs
Early or pre-launch product, logo, one-line pitch
Approval
Queue (days to weeks), or pay to skip
04
Peerlistpeerlist.io
DR77
nofollowFree
A fast-growing maker community, and a strong fit for solo and indie founders launching their first thing.
Needs
A maker profile plus a project page
Approval
Fast
05
Uneeduneed.best
DR75
dofollowPaid
A focused launch audience with a dofollow link. Think of it as a lighter, cheaper Product Hunt alternative to stack in the same week.
Needs
Logo, description, category
Approval
Scheduled daily slot
06
Fazierfazier.com
DR82
dofollowFree + Paid
High DR and dofollow, so it works as both a launch-week post and a permanent authority link.
Needs
Standard listing assets (logo, copy, screenshots)
Approval
Queue

Phase 2 · Evergreen authority

Submit these for the backlinks

No deadline here. These are dofollow listings on high-DR domains that pass link equity to a site that has none yet. This is the part that actually moves your Domain Rating.

01
Sourceforgesourceforge.net
DR92
dofollowFree + Paid
One of the highest-authority dofollow links a new product can realistically get for free.
Needs
A software or project listing with a description
Approval
Manual review
02
G2g2.com
DR91
dofollowFree + Paid
The single highest-authority listing most SaaS can earn. It is dofollow, and both buyers and AI assistants cite G2 constantly.
Needs
Company profile, verified work email, category, then seed a few reviews
Approval
Manual review (a few days)
03
Capterracapterra.com
DR91
dofollowFree + Paid
A DR-90s dofollow link with strong buyer-intent traffic, which is especially worth it for B2B.
Needs
Vendor profile and product details
Approval
Review
04
SaaSHubsaashub.com
DR80
dofollowFree
Free dofollow from a real software directory that gets scraped often as an “alternatives” source.
Needs
A basic listing
Approval
Fast
05
Indie Hackersindiehackers.com
DR81
dofollowFree
Dofollow, and a community that actually engages. Pair the listing with a build or launch story for reach.
Needs
A product page plus one genuine post
Approval
Instant
06
SaaSCitysaascity.io
DR47
dofollowFree + Paid
Full disclosure: this is us. A free permanent dofollow link plus a spot on the live 3D city map. An easy evergreen win to knock out first.
Needs
Name, logo, one-line pitch (about two minutes)
Approval
Instant

Start with a free DR 51 dofollow listing

SaaSCity is one of the Phase 2 picks above. It is a free, permanent dofollow link that also puts your startup on a live 3D city map. It takes about two minutes to claim while you line up the rest.

Submit your startup free See upgrade options

What to expect

A realistic timeline

Week 1
Your launch-week platforms go live in one tight window. You get the first traffic spike, the first sign-ups, and a handful of dofollow links start getting indexed.
Weeks 2 to 4
Work the evergreen authority list top-down by DR. Your Domain Rating starts to register as those links get crawled.
Month 2 to 3
Listings settle and index. Referral traffic stabilizes to a trickle, and AI assistants begin surfacing you from G2, Capterra and SaaSHub. It is a foundation, not a ranking silver bullet.

Avoid these

Mistakes that waste an early launch

-Burning launch day on a half-finished product
Product Hunt and Hacker News are one-shot for momentum. Submit when the product, screenshots and onboarding are genuinely ready, not before.
-Paying for low-DR nofollow bundles
“Submit to 100 sites for $49” is mostly link farms. For a startup on a tight budget, that is money set on fire. Pay only when a directory has real authority, a dofollow link, and an audience that matches yours.
-Pasting the identical blurb everywhere
Use your kit as the base, but tailor the angle to each directory’s audience. Keep the name, URL and category identical for consistency.
-Submitting everything in one day
Space the launch-week reach apart from the evergreen backlink grind. Track status so you do not double-submit or forget the half you started.

Startup directory submission FAQ

Where should a startup submit first?: Do two passes. First, the launch-week platforms (Product Hunt, Hacker News, BetaList, Peerlist) on a chosen date for the traffic spike. Second, the evergreen dofollow directories (G2, Capterra, SaaSHub, SourceForge) any time, for the backlinks. Do the free dofollow ones before you pay for anything.
How many directories should a startup submit to?: Aim for the 20 to 40 highest-authority, most relevant ones rather than all 123. For a startup with no backlinks yet, dofollow DR 50+ links give nearly all the value; below that, returns fall off a cliff.
Do directory submissions still work in 2026?: For early-stage startups, yes, for two specific reasons. A brand-new domain has no backlink profile, so even a few dofollow links from DR 60+ directories measurably help. And launch platforms send your first real users. The trick is choosing real, indexed directories with measurable DR, never the “submit to 500 sites” link farms.
Are nofollow launch platforms worth it?: Yes. Product Hunt and Hacker News are nofollow, but they drive huge referral traffic, sign-ups and press on launch day, which earns you natural dofollow links elsewhere. Use them for reach and timing, and use the dofollow directories for link equity.
Free or paid listings?: Exhaust the free ones first, since 102 of these accept free submissions. Pay only when a directory has real authority, a permanent dofollow link, and an audience that matches your product. A fee for a nofollow link on a low-DR page is money set on fire.

Full reference: all 123 directoriesopen

Directory	DR	Link	Price	Submit
Reddit reddit.com	95	Nofollow	Free	Visit
Sourceforge sourceforge.net	92	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
TechCrunch techcrunch.com	92	Nofollow	Paid	Visit
Capterra capterra.com	91	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
G2 g2.com	91	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Hacker News news.ycombinator.com	91	Nofollow	Free	Visit
Product Hunt producthunt.com	91	Nofollow	Free	Visit
StartupFA.me startupfa.me	83	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
Fazier fazier.com	82	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Dang AI dang.ai	81	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Indie Hackers indiehackers.com	81	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Twelve Tools twelve.tools	81	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
findly.tools findly.tools	80	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
SaaSHub saashub.com	80	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Turbo0 turbo0.com	80	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
AlternativeTo alternativeto.net	79	Nofollow	Free	Visit
Toolpilot toolpilot.ai	78	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
Peerlist peerlist.io	77	Nofollow	Free	Visit
There's An AI For That theresanaiforthat.com	77	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
BetaList betalist.com	76	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Alternative.me alternative.me	75	Dofollow	Free	Visit
LaunchIgniter launchigniter.com	75	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
SubmitAiTools submitaitools.org	75	Nofollow	Paid	Visit
Uneed uneed.best	75	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
PeerPush peerpush.net	73	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
SoftwareWorld softwareworld.co	73	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Aura++ auraplusplus.com	72	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
FoundrList foundrlist.com	72	Dofollow	Free	Visit
neeed.directory neeed.directory	72	Dofollow	Free	Visit
TinyLaunch tinylaunch.com	72	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Open Launch open-launch.com	71	Dofollow	Free	Visit
SideProjectors sideprojectors.com	71	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
startupfa.st startupfa.st	71	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
magicbox.tools magicbox.tools	70	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Smol Launch smollaunch.com	70	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Tiny Startups tinystartups.com	70	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Versily versily.com	70	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Future Tools futuretools.io	69	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Pitchwall pitchwall.co	69	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
TrustMRR trustmrr.com	69	Dofollow	Free	Visit
AiTools aitools.inc	68	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
NextGen Tools nxgntools.com	68	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Openhunts openhunts.com	67	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
StartupBase startupbase.io	67	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
acidtools.com acidtools.com	66	Dofollow	Free	Visit
toolsfine toolsfine.com	65	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Launch Llama Tools tools.launchllama.co	64	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Startup Stash startupstash.com	64	Nofollow	Free	Visit
DevHunt devhunt.org	62	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
MicroLaunch microlaunch.net	61	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Super Launch superlaun.ch	61	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Indie Deals indie.deals	60	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
Toolfio toolfio.com	60	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
aiwith.me aiwith.me	59	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
FridayHunt fridayhunt.com	59	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Huzzler huzzler.so	59	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Indiehunt indiehunt.io	59	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
EarlyHunt earlyhunt.com	58	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Unite List unitelist.com	56	Dofollow	Free	Visit
SaasHunt saashunt.best	55	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Startups Lab startupslab.site	55	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Firsto firsto.co	54	Nofollow	Free	Visit
Launch trylaunch.ai	54	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
hot100 hot100.ai	52	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Launching Next launchingnext.com	52	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Shipybara shipybara.com	52	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
AI Tech Viral aitechviral.com	51	Nofollow	Free	Visit
Open Alternative openalternative.co	51	Dofollow	Free	Visit
AppaList appalist.com	50	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Daily Pings dailypings.com	50	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
IdeaKiln ideakiln.com	50	Dofollow	Free	Visit
rankinpublic.xyz rankinpublic.xyz	50	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Promote Project promoteproject.com	49	Dofollow	Free	Visit
StartupTrusted startuptrusted.com	49	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
We Like Tools weliketools.com	49	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
SaaSBison saasbison.com	48	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
SaaSCityThat's us saascity.io	47	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Submit free
Micro SaaS Examples microsaasexamples.com	46	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
SaaSGrow saasgrow.app	46	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
SoloPush solopush.com	45	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
Startups.fm startups.fm	45	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
Awesome Tools awesome.tools	44	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
DodoDirectory dododirectory.com	43	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Proofstories proofstories.io	43	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
TinyLaunchpad tinylaunchpad.com	43	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
AiTools aitools.fyi	42	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
IndieHub indiehub.best	42	Nofollow	Paid	Visit
ProductBurst productburst.com	41	Dofollow	Free	Visit
startuplist.ing startuplist.ing	41	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
BuildVoyage buildvoyage.com	40	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
FindYourSaaS findyoursaas.com	40	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Saaspa.ge saaspa.ge	40	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Sumodir sumodir.com	40	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Web Review web-review.com	40	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
toolfolio toolfolio.io	39	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
1000.tools 1000.tools	38	Nofollow	Paid	Visit
SubmitHunt submithunt.com	37	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
TechTrendin techtrendin.com	37	Dofollow	Free	Visit
ConfettiSaaS confettisaas.com	36	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
RankYourAI rankyourai.com	35	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Best of Web bestofweb.site	34	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Made with Lovable madewithlovable.com	33	Dofollow	Free	Visit
LLM Relevance llmrelevance.com	32	Dofollow	Free	Visit
ShipYard HQ shipyardhq.dev	32	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Builtbyindies builtbyindies.com	31	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Resource.fyi resource.fyi	31	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Startups.fyi startups.fyi	31	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
HUNT0 hunt0.com	30	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
IndieHackerStacks indiehackerstacks.com	30	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Stellar Launch stellarlaunch.org	30	Nofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
AwesomeIndie awesomeindie.com	28	Nofollow	Free	Visit
startuups startuups.com	26	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
EuroAlternative euroalternative.co	25	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Toollist toollist.ai	25	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
ToolHub toolhub.me	24	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
ProductLaunchpad productlaunchpad.app	23	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Saassy Board saassy-board.com	21	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
Justgotfound justgotfound.com	20	Dofollow	Free	Visit
madewithbolt madewithbolt.com	20	Nofollow	Free	Visit
Launch Vibe launchvibe.app	13	Dofollow	Free	Visit
Postioo postioo.com	8	Dofollow	Paid	Visit
Launchy.tools launchy.tools	7	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit
Toolcurio toolcurio.com	4.5	Dofollow	Free + Paid	Visit

Showing 123 of 123. DR = Domain Rating by Ahrefs.

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