How to pick where to launch
- 1Start with one or two platforms whose audience matches your product, not all of them at once.
- 2Prefer directories that keep a permanent page for your product. A launch-day spike fades, a listing keeps sending visitors.
- 3Check whether the link to your site is dofollow if search traffic matters to you.
- 4Space your launches a day or two apart so you can fix what the first visitors find.
- 5Reply to every comment and thank people who upvote. Early users remember it.
The best Product Hunt alternatives
Product Hunt still brings the biggest launch-day spike, but hundreds of products launch there every day and a small one can disappear in a few hours. That is why makers search for Product Hunt alternatives: smaller launch platforms where a solo founder can actually be seen.
Peerlist Launchpad, Uneed, TinyLaunch, Fazier and Microlaunch all run regular launches with leaderboards, and BetaList is built for products that are still looking for beta users. IndieDebut reviews every product by hand and keeps a permanent page for each launch, so it keeps working after launch day.
Why startup directories still matter
A listing on a directory gives a new product an indexable page that links to its site. For a young domain those first links help search engines find it, and the directory page itself can rank when people search for the product by name.
Directories also reach people who are actively looking for new tools, which is a better audience than most social feeds. Pick the ones that fit your product, write a clear tagline, and submit them over a couple of weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Product Hunt?
It depends on your product. Peerlist Launchpad and Uneed have the most traffic among smaller launch platforms, BetaList suits pre-launch startups, Hacker News suits developer tools, and IndieDebut gives every approved product a permanent page with a dofollow link for free.
Are startup directories worth it?
Yes, if you choose a few that match your audience. They bring early visitors and the first links to a new domain. Submitting to hundreds of low-quality directories is not worth the time.
Which startup directories are free?
IndieDebut and Fazier take free submissions, and you can post on Hacker News and r/SideProject for free. Several others offer a free option next to paid features, but their terms change often, so check each submit page.
How many directories should I submit to?
Start with five to ten that fit your product, spread over two weeks. Quality and fit matter more than the number.