Startup Checklist
1. Brand & domain
7 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domain + DNSFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Buy the domain, put DNS on Cloudflare, set up www + app subdomains | $10–15/yr | Cloudflare sells at wholesale with no markup; keep registrar and DNS in one place | ||
| Social handle reservationFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Claim the same handle on X, LinkedIn page, GitHub org, YouTube, Reddit, Bluesky, Threads, TikTok | Free | Reserve even if unused; prevents squatting and keeps the brand consistent | ||
| GitHub organisationFoundation | Pre-launch | MEDIUM | Create the org, README profile, pin public repos or SDKs | Free | HIGH if dev-tool/API product | ||
| Product Hunt maker profileFoundation | Pre-launch | MEDIUM | Create founder profile weeks before launch, follow, comment, upvote | Free | Aged profiles with activity launch better than fresh ones | ||
| Logo & brand kitFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Logo, colours, type, OG image template, social templates | $0–15/mo | Good enough beats perfect for v1 | ||
| Press kit page (/press)Foundation | Launch | LOW | Logo files, boilerplate, screenshots, founder bio, contact |
| Free (time) | Journalists, hunters and newsletter writers ask for this | |
| Trademark clearanceFoundation | Pre-launch | MEDIUM | Search USPTO/EUIPO before locking the name; file in main class later | Free search; $250–350/class to file | Cheap insurance against a forced rebrand |
2. Legal & compliance
8 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terms of ServiceFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Generate, then tailor to your product, refunds and acceptable use | Free–$15/mo | Have a lawyer skim before first enterprise deal | ||
| Privacy PolicyFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Cover data collected, processors, retention, rights | Free–$15/mo | Must match the real sub-processor list | ||
| Cookie consent (EU/UK)Foundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Banner + preference centre if any EU/UK traffic | Free–$10/mo | Skip only with a cookieless analytics stack and no marketing pixels | ||
| DPA / GDPR postureFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Publish a DPA, define lawful basis, set a data-subject request process |
| $0–500 one-time | Blocks EU B2B procurement without it | |
| Sub-processor listFoundation | Launch | HIGH | Public page listing every vendor that touches customer data |
| Free | Required alongside DPA for B2B buyers | |
| Refund / cancellation policyFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Clear policy that matches the billing provider rules | Free | A Merchant of Record enforces some of this for you | ||
| Company + Merchant of Record decisionFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Decide own Stripe (you handle tax) vs MoR (Paddle, Lemon Squeezy) that handles VAT/sales tax |
| Atlas $500; MoR ~5%/txn | Lemon Squeezy is in Stripe "maintenance mode" and steered to Stripe Managed Payments (preview Feb 2026); check before betting on it | |
| VAT / sales tax handlingFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | MoR handles it; on own Stripe enable Stripe Tax and register past thresholds | Included in MoR fee or ~0.5%+ | Own-Stripe means you register for VAT/sales tax yourself |
3. Billing & pricing
7 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing pageFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | 2–3 tiers, anchor plan highlighted, annual toggle, FAQ under it | Free | One primary CTA per tier | ||
| Trial vs freemium decisionFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Pick one deliberately, tied to the activation metric | — | Trial suits sales-assisted; freemium suits PLG virality | ||
| Annual discountFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | 15–20% off annual, configured in checkout | Free | Improves cash flow and reduces churn | ||
| Failed-payment dunningFoundation | Launch | HIGH | Auto-retry + email sequence on card decline | Free–$99/mo | Recovers 20–40% of failed payments | ||
| Invoices & tax receiptsFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Auto-generated compliant invoices with VAT ID field | Included | MoR invoices are already tax compliant | ||
| Coupon & affiliate codesFoundation | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Discount codes + trackable referral codes wired before any launch discount | Free–$49+/mo | Needed before Product Hunt / AppSumo style promos | ||
| Revenue analytics (MRR, churn, LTV)Foundation | Launch | HIGH | Live MRR/churn dashboard from the billing feed | Free–$100/mo | Start with the free one |
4. Analytics & attribution
8 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web analyticsFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Privacy-friendly traffic tracking on site and app | $0–14/mo | Plausible has no free cloud tier; self-host Umami if bootstrapped | ||
| Product analytics + session replayFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Funnels, retention, replays, feature flags | Free–$250/mo | Most users stay on the free tier | ||
| Heatmaps (lightweight)Foundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Watch real sessions for UX friction | Free | No reason to skip | ||
| UTM disciplineFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Naming convention for source/medium/campaign from day 1; every link you post carries one |
| Free | Retrofitting UTMs loses attribution history | |
| "How did you hear about us?" fieldFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Open-text field in signup/onboarding, tracked as an event |
| Free | Cheap cross-check against UTM data | |
| Conversion eventsFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Instrument signup, activation, purchase, upgrade, churn | Free | Define before launch, not after | ||
| Google Search ConsoleFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Verify domain, submit sitemap, watch indexing | Free | Best signal for crawl errors | ||
| Bing Webmaster ToolsFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Verify + submit sitemap (import from GSC) | Free | Feeds Bing, Copilot and some AI answer engines |
5. Email
6 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transactional emailFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Password resets, receipts, alerts from a dedicated provider | Free–$20/mo | Never send transactional mail from the marketing ESP | ||
| SPF / DKIM / DMARCFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Auth records for every sending domain; DMARC at least p=none with reports |
| Free | Missing DMARC tanks deliverability under Google/Yahoo bulk-sender rules | |
| Dedicated sending subdomainFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Send from mail.yourdomain.com, not the root domain |
| Free | Protects root-domain reputation | |
| Marketing / newsletter listFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Product updates, launch announcements, drip campaigns | Free–$20+/mo | Pick deliverability over price | ||
| Onboarding drip sequenceFoundation | Launch | HIGH | 3–5 emails guiding to the "aha" moment, triggered by product events | Included above | Event-based beats day-N timers | ||
| Lifecycle emails (trial ending, win-back)Foundation | First 90 days | HIGH | Automated triggers on plan/usage state | $0–100+/mo | Biggest lever on trial-to-paid |
6. Support & feedback
6 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help desk / shared inbox / chatFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | One place for support conversations, chat widget on site and app | Free–$29+/mo | Intercom pricing is not for pre-revenue | ||
| Knowledge base / docsFoundation | Launch | HIGH | Searchable help articles and API docs | Free–$65+/mo | Mintlify Pro jumps to $450+/mo; stay on free/Docusaurus | ||
| Public roadmap & feature requestsFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Let users submit and vote on ideas | Free–$79+/mo | Check free-tier caps first | ||
| ChangelogFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Public log of shipped changes; reuse for social posts | Free | Doubles as retention touchpoint | ||
| Status pageFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Public uptime and incident history | Free–$20+/mo | Instatus jumps $20 to $300 between tiers; verify need | ||
| In-app feedback / NPSFoundation | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Lightweight survey after activation, not on first visit |
| Free–$49/mo | Trigger after the aha event |
7. Reliability & security
10 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uptime monitoring + alertingFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Ping checks for app, API, site; alerts to phone/Slack | Free | Wire alerts before you need them | ||
| Error trackingFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Capture and triage exceptions in app and frontend | Free–$26/mo | Free tier covers pre-PMF | ||
| Backups + restore drillFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Automated DB backups and one real restore test on the calendar |
| Included in DB plan | Untested backups are not backups | |
| 2FA for team, SSO roadmapFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | 2FA on all admin/infra accounts; SSO/SAML when enterprise asks | Free–usage | Enterprise will ask for SSO early | ||
| security.txt + security pageFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Publish /.well-known/security.txt and a /security page (RFC 9116) |
| Free | Signals seriousness, deters lazy scanners | |
| Vulnerability disclosure processFoundation | First 90 days | MEDIUM | A channel for researchers; free VDP before paid bounties |
| Free–$$ | Paid bounty is not needed early | |
| SOC 2 timingFoundation | First 90 days | LOW | Start only when a specific enterprise deal requires it | $10k–60k/yr | Demand-driven, not calendar-driven; Oneleet/Delve bundle pentest + audit | ||
| Team password managerFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Shared vaults for infra and vendor credentials | $3–8/user/mo | Non-negotiable before shared production access | ||
| Secrets managementFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Centralised env vars and API keys, no .env sprawl | Free–$$ | Prevents the secret-in-git incident | ||
| Dependency scanningFoundation | Pre-launch | MEDIUM | Auto-alerts on vulnerable packages | Free | Turn on the day the repo is created |
8. Website & SEO
12 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landing page structureFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Hero with one CTA, social proof, how it works, pricing, FAQ | $0–30/mo | One primary CTA above the fold | ||
| Sitemap.xml + robots.txtFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Ensure crawlability; submit sitemap to GSC and Bing |
| Free | Also allow AI crawlers you want citations from | |
| OpenGraph + Twitter cardsFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Correct preview image/title/description on every shareable page |
| Free | Test the actual unfurl on X, LinkedIn, Slack | |
| schema.org SoftwareApplicationFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | JSON-LD with offers, category, ratings once real |
| Free | Include pricing; add ratings only from real review data | |
| llms.txt + AI citability (GEO)Foundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Curated /llms.txt, clear product facts on pages, allow AI crawlers in robots |
| Free | Rising in 2026 but no citation guarantee; combine with reviews and comparison pages | |
| Core Web Vitals / fast hostingFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | LCP under 2.5 s, edge-hosted marketing site | Free–$20/mo | Slow site kills paid-traffic ROI | ||
| Demo video (60–90 s)Foundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Product walkthrough on homepage and PH listing | Free–$15/mo | Cheapest conversion lift on the list | ||
| Interactive product demoFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Click-through demo without signup | Free–$125+/mo | Reduces signup friction | ||
| Comparison pages ("X vs Y")Content / SEO | First 90 days | MEDIUM | One page per main competitor, honest table, own CTA |
| Free (time) | High-intent, low-competition queries | |
| Alternatives pages ("Best X alternatives")Content / SEO | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Capture switcher intent; list yourself and real alternatives |
| Free (time) | Pairs with AlternativeTo/SaaSHub listings | |
| Use-case pagesContent / SEO | First 90 days | MEDIUM | One page per persona / job to be done |
| Free (time) | Better long-tail conversion than the homepage | |
| BlogContent / SEO | Launch | MEDIUM | Own top-of-funnel content; only if you will publish regularly | $0–9/mo | Do not start unless weekly-ish cadence is realistic |
9. Onboarding & activation
7 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Define the activation ("aha") metricFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | One measurable event that predicts retention; everything points at it | Included | Drips, tours and checklist all serve this | ||
| WaitlistFoundation | Pre-launch | MEDIUM | Capture pre-launch demand; optional referral mechanics |
| Free–$$ | Only if there is a real gap before launch | |
| Sample / seed dataFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Pre-populate new accounts so the product is never empty | Free (time) | Empty-state churn is real | ||
| In-app onboarding checklistFoundation | Launch | HIGH | Guided first-run steps, each tied to a real activation event |
| Free–$$ | Avoid vanity steps | |
| Product toursFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Spotlight tooltips for the first session |
| Free–$300+/mo | DIY until scale justifies a vendor | |
| Welcome-call booking linkFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Let trial users book onboarding time | Free–$$ | Founder-led onboarding converts best early | ||
| Weekly active trackingFoundation | First 90 days | HIGH | Cohort retention dashboard; watch WAU/MAU, not signups | Included | The number investors and you actually need |
10. Growth infrastructure
5 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliate / referral programFoundation | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Recruit affiliates, track commissions; launch after first paying customers | $47–99+/mo | Payouts need revenue first | ||
| Testimonials collectionFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Ask for text/video right after activation or upgrade | Free–$29+/mo | Reuse on landing, PH, G2 | ||
| Review-request flowFoundation | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Triggered email asking happy users for G2/Capterra reviews |
| Free (time) | Reviews compound trust and SEO | |
| CRM for outreachFoundation | Pre-launch | MEDIUM | Track leads, partners, press contacts | Free–$$ | HubSpot free is genuinely usable | ||
| Social schedulingFoundation | Launch | MEDIUM | Batch-write and queue launch-week posts | Free–$$ | Pre-schedule the entire launch day |
11. Ops
6 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business bank accountFoundation | Pre-launch | MUST | Separate business banking from day one |
| Free | Required for MoR/payment onboarding | |
| Accounting / bookkeepingFoundation | Pre-launch | HIGH | Monthly books, P&L, runway | $0–200+/mo | Bench shut down Dec 2024; verify vendor | ||
| Metrics dashboard (5–7 numbers)Foundation | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Single source of truth: MRR, signups, activation, churn, uptime, cash | Free–$$ | Keep it small | ||
| Weekly metrics email to yourselfFoundation | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Automated digest of MRR, churn, signups, uptime | Free–$20/mo | Forces a weekly look even solo | ||
| Cap tableFoundation | First 90 days | LOW | Set up at first SAFE or priced round, not before | Free early tiers | Demand-driven | ||
| Investor data roomFoundation | First 90 days | LOW | Only once actually raising | Free–$$ | Demand-driven |
12. Review & comparison sites
25 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G2Reviews / Comparison | Launch | MUST | Claim free profile, complete it, run a review-generation campaign | Free claim; paid $2.3k–32k/yr | G2 acquired Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice (closed Feb 2026); one network now | ||
| CapterraReviews / Comparison | Launch | MUST | Claim/verify listing, collect reviews; syndicates to GetApp and Software Advice |
| Free + optional PPC | Same G2-owned network | |
| GetAppReviews / Comparison | Launch | HIGH | Same vendor portal as Capterra | Free + PPC | Syndicated listing and reviews | ||
| Software AdviceReviews / Comparison | Launch | MEDIUM | Same portal; phone-advisor lead model | Free + PPC/leads | Same network | ||
| TrustRadiusReviews / Comparison | First 90 days | HIGH | Claim and run guided review collection | Free basic; paid ~$30k/yr | Enterprise-IT buyer credibility; skip paid pre-PMF | ||
| AlternativeToAlternatives | Launch | HIGH | Submit and tag yourself as alternative to the leaders | Free | DR ~89; also feeds LLM/AI discovery | ||
| SaaSHubAlternatives / SaaS | Launch | HIGH | Submit, claim, list alternatives | Free + optional boost | High-authority free backlink | ||
| SourceForge (business software)Reviews / Business Software | Launch | MEDIUM | Use the vendor flow, not "create project"; syndicates to Slashdot | Free basic; paid placement | Legacy traffic still meaningful for dev tools | ||
| CrozdeskReviews / SaaS | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Submit product | Free; paid boosts | Small team, lower traffic, easy win | ||
| SaaSworthySaaS Directory | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Submit via offerings page, wait for vendor-portal email | Free | Slow approvals reported in 2026 | ||
| TrustpilotReviews | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Claim domain, invite customers (50 free invites/mo) | Free; Starter $99/mo | More consumer-trust than B2B-software specific | ||
| CrunchbaseCompany / Entity | Launch | HIGH | Create company profile with founders, funding, product | Free | Entity signal for press, investors and AI engines | ||
| GoodFirms / SoftwareSuggestReviews / Comparison | First 90 days | LOW | Free profile only; ignore upsell calls | Free; paid from ~$300/mo | India/APAC heavy; aggressive sales | ||
| PeerSpotReviews / Comparison | Ongoing | SKIP | Enterprise-gated (10+ enterprise customers) | Free but gated | Not viable for a new SaaS | ||
| StackShareReviews / Comparison | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Create a tool profile, publish your own stack, ask users to add you to theirs | Free | Site blocks bots (Vercel challenge), so the profile is created by hand; strong for dev tools | ||
| Alternative.meAlternatives | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Add the product and tag yourself as an alternative to the leaders | Free | Alternatives pages rank well and feed AI answers | ||
| SelectHubReviews / Business Software | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Apply as a vendor; their questionnaire wants a lot of feature detail | Free listing; paid lead packages | Walks buyers through software selection; leads are B2B and expensive | ||
| SiteefyReviews / SaaS | Ongoing | LOW | Submit through "Submit a tool" | Free; paid fast-track | Compares AI tools, SaaS and digital services | ||
| spotSaaSReviews / SaaS | Ongoing | LOW | Create a vendor profile and ask for the first reviews | Free | SaaS comparisons by category | ||
| TechImplyReviews / Business Software | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the software into the right category | Free; paid placement | Indian business-software catalogue; site sits behind a Cloudflare check | ||
| SaasGeniusReviews / SaaS | Ongoing | LOW | Add the product and request a review | Free | SaaS reviews and comparisons | ||
| AppAggAlternatives / SaaS | Ongoing | LOW | Add the app (aggregates App Store, Play and web) | Free | Aggregates apps from every store; has a check before submission | ||
| eBoolAlternatives | Ongoing | LOW | Add the product as an alternative to existing tools | Free | Small alternatives catalogue; quick to submit | ||
| B2SaasReviews / SaaS | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool into category comparisons | Free | Low traffic; worth it for the link only | ||
| Tool BattlesReviews / Comparison | Ongoing | SKIP | Wait - the site is under maintenance | Free | Check later; on 2026-09-16 it returns "Site is undergoing maintenance" |
13. Integration marketplaces
14 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZapierIntegration Marketplace | First 90 days | MUST | Build triggers/actions on your API, publish; 90-day Beta tag after approval | Free to list | Requires REST API + OAuth/API key; ~9,000 apps in directory | ||
| MakeIntegration Marketplace | First 90 days | HIGH | Build with the App SDK, submit | Free to list | Strong EU/agency user base | ||
| n8n community nodeIntegration Marketplace | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Publish an npm node; since May 2026 via GitHub Action with provenance, MIT licence | Free | Fast-growing self-hosted and AI-agent audience | ||
| MCP server + registriesAI Agent Distribution | First 90 days | HIGH | Ship an MCP server, publish server.json to the official registry, claim on mcp.so, Smithery, Glama |
| Free | The 2026 equivalent of app-store SEO for AI agents; list on all | |
| Slack App DirectoryIntegration Marketplace | First 90 days | HIGH | Minimal OAuth scopes, AI data-use disclosure, submit for review | Free | Enhanced review for broad scopes | ||
| Chrome Web StoreApp Store | First 90 days | HIGH | Ship an extension if the product has any browser use case | $5 one-time | Cheapest distribution channel; MV3 + privacy policy required | ||
| WordPress plugin directoryApp Store | First 90 days | MEDIUM | GPL plugin, human-readable code, manual first review | Free | HIGH if your users run WordPress sites | ||
| Shopify App StoreApp Store | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Compliance webhooks, Shopify Billing, 2–4 week review | 0% to $1M/yr, then 15% | HIGH only if e-commerce relevant | ||
| HubSpot App MarketplaceIntegration Marketplace | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Public app on current platform version; certification at 60+ installs | Free | HIGH for sales/marketing SaaS | ||
| Google Workspace MarketplaceIntegration Marketplace | Ongoing | MEDIUM | OAuth verification, working add-on, correct scopes | Free; CASA fee for sensitive scopes | Only if the product lives in Gmail/Sheets/Drive | ||
| GitHub MarketplaceIntegration Marketplace | Ongoing | MEDIUM | List a GitHub App or Action | 5% transaction fee | Dev-tool SaaS only; lighter review in 2026 | ||
| AWS / Azure MarketplaceCloud Marketplace | Ongoing | LOW | SaaS listing with metering/billing integration | No listing fee; ~3% fee | HIGH only once enterprise buyers ask to buy through cloud commit | ||
| Salesforce AppExchange / Atlassian MarketplaceIntegration Marketplace | Ongoing | LOW | Only when customers in those ecosystems ask | Varies | Slow/expensive (Salesforce) or niche (Atlassian) | ||
| AllThingsDev.coIntegration Marketplace | Ongoing | LOW | Publish the API on the marketplace if the product has a public API | Free; revenue share | API marketplace with subscriptions and monetisation |
14. Deals & perks
3 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppSumo lifetime dealDeal Channel | Ongoing | LOW | Only as a deliberate cash/testimonial play | ~60% to AppSumo | Heavy support load from lifetime users; margin damage if COGS scale | ||
| Dealify / SaaS MantraDeal Channel | Ongoing | LOW | Smaller LTD marketplaces | 30–40% rev share | PitchGround stopped new SaaS LTDs in 2025 | ||
| Startup perk programs (get listed)Partnership | Ongoing | MEDIUM | List your own discount in perk bundles if you sell to startups | Free | Only once you have a real free/discount tier |
15. Launch platforms & directories
54 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch assets packLaunch Prep | Pre-launch | MUST | Tagline under 60 chars, 3–5 screenshots or GIF, 30–60 s demo video, square logo, founder first comment, OG image | Free (time) | Every platform below asks for the same pack; make it once | ||
| Product HuntLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MUST | Launch 12:01 am PT Tue–Thu, engage all day, real comments not just upvotes; 4–6 week warm-up | Free | Editorial "Featured" gate decides real reach in 2026; never buy upvotes | ||
| Hacker News – Show HNCommunity / Launch | Launch | HIGH | Title "Show HN:", product must be try-able without signup wall, technical founder story in first comment | Free | Effectively one shot; nofollow but huge referral spike if it lands | ||
| SaaSHubAlternatives / SaaS | Launch | MUST | Create listing, list your alternatives, use the free "submit to 110 directories" tool | Free; Featured $99/mo | DR 70+; also covers the long tail of small directories in one go | ||
| Startupfa.meStartup Directory | Launch | HIGH | Free account, enter URL, AI auto-fills, badge + ~7 day review | Free; $19/mo or $149/mo tiers | Confirmed live Sept 2026; not startupfa.st | ||
| PitchWallLaunch / Discovery | Launch | HIGH | Submit, pick launch date, review queue | Free; paid featured | Absorbed BetaPage (now redirects here); excludes agencies | ||
| PeerPushLaunch / Discovery | Launch | HIGH | Submit; free tier needs reciprocal link and ~1 month wait, or $35–39 instant | Free or $35–39 | New 2025; structured data feeds AI assistants | ||
| StartupBaseLaunch / Discovery | Launch | HIGH | Submit; free = badge + 4–5 week queue, or pay to schedule | Free or $39+ | DR 73+; product must be under 1 year old, no signup wall | ||
| FazierLaunch / Discovery | Launch | HIGH | Submit; free = reciprocal link + ~30 day review, paid = scheduled | Free or $29/$49/$139 | Self-reported 750K visits/mo | ||
| BetaListLaunch / Discovery | Pre-launch | MEDIUM | Submit pre-launch or early product; editorial review | ~$39 (refund if rejected) | Best while still "beta"; ~200K visits/mo | ||
| UneedLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit; free tier needs score ≥20 for dofollow and ~5 month queue, or $15–30 skip | Free or $14.99/$29.99 | Free dofollow not guaranteed despite marketing | ||
| MicroLaunchLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit to free queue or Pro to skip | Free or $39 | DR 63; Pro capped at 40 slots/month | ||
| Peerlist LaunchpadLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Verified profile, weekly launch Mon–Sun | Free | Dev/design-skewed audience | ||
| Dev HuntLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | GitHub login, submit, queue | Free | HIGH for dev tools, LOW for B2C | ||
| Indie Hackers – ProductsCommunity / Launch | Launch | MEDIUM | Add product with founder story and revenue if public | Free | Nofollow; value is the community, not the link | ||
| LaunchIgniterLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit or auto-import from PH/Peerlist | Free (top-3 dofollow) or $12–15 | Cheap backlink add-on | ||
| Aura++Launch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit, pick tier | Free or ~$29 | Backlink play, not a traffic firehose | ||
| RankInPublicLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit to queue; 1v1 community-voted matches | Free | New 2026, grew on X; unproven at scale | ||
| Launching NextStartup Directory | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Single form, moderated | Free or $99 fast review | DR ~52, low traffic; pure SEO play | ||
| Startup RankingStartup Directory | First 90 days | LOW | Create or claim profile; 60-day queue | Free or $99 skip | Declining traffic | ||
| F6SStartup Ecosystem | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Company profile; use for accelerators/grants | Free | Not a launch-day traffic driver | ||
| Wellfound (AngelList)Company / Entity | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Company profile; hiring and investor visibility | Free | DR ~78; not a launch flow | ||
| StartupBlinkStartup Ecosystem | Ongoing | LOW | Add company to the global map | Free | Legitimacy signal only | ||
| Tiny StartupsStartup Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Basic listing; rank is paid | Free; rank from ~$69 | Ranking is bought, not earned | ||
| TinylaunchLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Weekly queue ranked by upvotes | Free or $39 | Dofollow only for top-3 or Premium | ||
| Startup StashStartup Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit, manual review | Free | Nofollow resource directory | ||
| ToolfolioSaaS Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Paid listing only | $150 one-time | Unverified traffic | ||
| LobstersCommunity / Launch | Ongoing | SKIP | Invite-only; self-promo under 25% of activity | Free | Only for deeply technical products with an invite | ||
| OpenAlternativeAlternatives | Ongoing | SKIP | Only genuinely open-source products | Free | Closed-source ineligible | ||
| Killer StartupsStartup Directory | Ongoing | SKIP | Flagged as spammy, refund complaints | Free + paid | Not worth the time | ||
| BetaPage / Betafy / LaunchToday / SaaS BeeStartup Directory | Ongoing | SKIP | Dead or renamed: BetaPage redirects to PitchWall, Betafy dead since ~2020, LaunchToday is a naming collision, SaaS Bee does not exist |
| — | Remove from any older checklist | |
| SideProjectorsStartup Directory | Launch | MEDIUM | List the project (showcase works, not only for sale) | Free; paid placement | Marketplace to buy and sell side projects; audience is indie makers | ||
| Nick LaunchesLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit the product; gives a dofollow backlink | Free | Launch platform for builders; quick review | ||
| Startup BufferStartup Directory | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Submit through "Submit" (account required) | Free; paid fast-track | Worldwide startup directory; site sits behind a Cloudflare check | ||
| OpenHuntsLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit the product and collect upvotes | Free | Product Hunt style board, open to everyone | ||
| Make.rsCommunity / Launch | Launch | MEDIUM | Create a profile and post what you are building | Free | Where makers show what they have built | ||
| StartupInspireStartup Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the startup to the gallery | Free; paid placement | Startup gallery used for design inspiration | ||
| CtrlAlt.CCLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit a tool that makes startup life easier | Free | Curated tools that fly under the radar | ||
| HrefgoLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the product for a listing and a backlink | Free; paid fast-track | AI product directory with launches | ||
| Startups.fyiStartup Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the business with revenue (they ask for numbers) | Free | Shows online businesses and what they earn | ||
| Website HuntLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the site to the daily pick | Free | Daily pick of interesting sites | ||
| Scout ForgeLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the app for a review | Free | Reviews of new apps for early adopters | ||
| 10wordsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Describe the product in ten words and submit | Free; paid fast-track | Apps described in ten words or less | ||
| 1000.toolsDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the indie makers list | Free | A list of 1,000 indie hacker tools | ||
| WebCurate.coDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the curated list | Free | Over 1,600 useful tools | ||
| Awesome IndieStartup Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit a micro startup built without a team | Free | Products by indie makers and small teams | ||
| AppRaterLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the app to the daily pick | Free | Daily app recommendations | ||
| Twelve ToolsDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the daily list of twelve | Free; paid fast-track | Twelve tools a day; quick review | ||
| LaunchBoard.devLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the product to the launch board | Free | Launch platform for products | ||
| GrowthBoostersDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit a tool for startups and founders | Free | Site blocks automated calls; submit by hand | ||
| MarketerTools.coDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit if the tool is for marketing | Free | Directory of marketing tools | ||
| ProdpapaDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Add the product to the startup catalogue | Free | Tools for startups, businesses and sole traders | ||
| Micro Saas ExamplesStartup Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the micro SaaS with the story and the numbers | Free | Examples of micro SaaS products | ||
| e-SideHustlesDirectory | Ongoing | SKIP | Only if you target the side-hustle audience | Free | Side hustle and work-from-home directory; not a SaaS audience |
16. Communities
21 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm up accounts before launchCommunity | Pre-launch | MUST | 2–4 weeks of genuine comments on Reddit, Indie Hackers and X before any launch post; cold accounts get flagged everywhere | Free | Karma/age gates are real on r/SaaS and similar | ||
| r/SideProjectCommunity | Launch | MUST | Post a demoable launch with screenshots and context; comment on others between posts | Free | Most promo-friendly startup subreddit | ||
| r/SaaSCommunity | Launch | HIGH | One substantive post (story, metrics, lesson), plugs only in pinned thread, 5:1 comment-to-post ratio | Free | Account age / karma gate reported; confirm rules in-app | ||
| r/indiehackersCommunity | Launch | HIGH | One "SHOW IH" flair post per product, framed as feedback request, proof for revenue claims | Free | Distinct from indiehackers.com | ||
| r/microsaasCommunity | Launch | HIGH | Build/lesson posts with backstory, stack and numbers | Free | Bare links get removed | ||
| r/startups + r/Entrepreneur (promo threads)Community | Launch | MEDIUM | Promo only in the monthly "Share Your Startup" (r/startups) and weekly promo thread (r/Entrepreneur); otherwise give advice | Free | Flair required on r/startups | ||
| r/EntrepreneurRideAlongCommunity | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Journey posts with real numbers | Free | No written rule found; keep promo under ~10% | ||
| Niche subreddits of your buyersCommunity | Ongoing | HIGH | Find 3–5 subs where your buyers ask questions; answer weekly, product only when asked |
| Free | r/smallbusiness bans SaaS promo outright; r/webdev only Showoff Saturday | |
| Indie Hackers forumCommunity | Launch | HIGH | 1–2 build-in-public posts per week, milestone posts, product page | Free | Founder-owned again since 2023; link-only posts get downvoted | ||
| WIP.coCommunity | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Daily/weekly ship log; product in profile only | Freemium | Accountability culture, not a promo board | ||
| MicroConf ConnectCommunity | First 90 days | HIGH | Apply once; engage in stage channels and AMAs; explicitly pitch-free | $49/mo or $499/yr | Best bootstrapped-SaaS founder network | ||
| RevGeniusCommunity | First 90 days | HIGH | Join free Slack; consider Demo Day sponsorship for sales/RevOps buyers | Free; paid sponsorship | ~60K members | ||
| SaaS Growth Hacks (Facebook)Community | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Value posts; self-promo only on "Special Offer Fridays" | Free | 31K+ members | ||
| Online Geniuses (Slack)Community | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Join; use hiring and resource channels; marketers/SEO audience | Free + paid Elite | 53K+ members | ||
| Trends.vc / Demand Curve / Superpath / Exit FiveCommunity | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Subscribe to newsletters; pay for the one community that matches your GTM (content → Superpath, B2B marketing → Exit Five) | Free–$50/mo | Pick one, not all | ||
| GrowthMentorCommunity | First 90 days | MEDIUM | 1:1 calls with growth mentors on distribution strategy | $255/quarter | Not a broadcast channel | ||
| Dev.to / Hashnode (dev tools only)Community | Ongoing | MEDIUM | One real tutorial every 1–2 weeks; cross-post | Free–$5/mo | LOW for non-developer products | ||
| QuoraQ&A Community | Ongoing | MEDIUM | 2–4 detailed niche answers per month, disclose affiliation | Free | Still cited by AI answer engines | ||
| Stack Overflow / Stack ExchangeQ&A Community | Ongoing | LOW | Only with real expertise; links under 10% of activity | Free | Traffic down ~76% since 2022 | ||
| Furlough / Indie Worldwide / PavilionCommunity | Ongoing | SKIP | Furlough pivoted to web3, Indie Worldwide redirects to Ramen Club (verify), Pavilion is for enterprise GTM execs only |
| — | Remove from older lists | |
| SlashdotCommunity | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit through "Submit Story" if the topic is genuinely technical | Free | Editors pick by hand; only a real technical story gets through, not an ad |
17. Social channels
8 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X – build in publicSocial / Comments | Pre-launch | MUST | 1–3 posts/day, weekly recap with numbers, links in replies not in posts, 10–15 useful replies/day | Free; Premium ~$8/mo | Link posts lose reach; "Build in Public" Communities shut down May 2026 | ||
| LinkedIn – personal profileSocial / Comments | Pre-launch | MUST | 2–5 posts/week from the founder profile, 5–10 quality comments/day, reply to every comment; company page as mirror | Free | Hashtag stuffing is dead; expertise-led posts work | ||
| YouTube – long-form demosSocial / Creator | Launch | HIGH | One how-to/demo per 1–2 weeks targeting job-to-be-done keywords; 3–5 comments/day on niche videos | Free | Second-largest search engine; videos rank in Google | ||
| YouTube ShortsSocial / Creator | First 90 days | MEDIUM | 2–3 per week cut from long-form | Free | Repurpose, do not create separately | ||
| ThreadsSocial / Comments | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Repost X content 3–5 per week; join topic Communities | Free | 500M MAU, link penalty removed Sept 2025 | ||
| TikTokSocial / Creator | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Optional for B2B; 3–5 native-feeling clips/week if buyers are SMB/creators | Free | LOW if enterprise; US algorithm differs from global since Jan 2026 | ||
| BlueskySocial / Comments | Ongoing | LOW | Cross-post 3–5 per week; not an acquisition channel | Free | MAU down ~52% from peak by mid-2026 | ||
| Instagram ReelsSocial / Creator | Ongoing | LOW | Reuse clips only if buyers are SMB/creators | Free | No B2B SaaS ROI evidence |
18. Press & newsletters
12 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Hunt newsletterNewsletter | Launch | HIGH | Launch well, then email editorial@producthunt.co with the story | Free | Picks from strong launches | ||
| Featured.com (owns HARO)PR / Expert Quotes | First 90 days | HIGH | Respond to journalist and podcast requests with founder expertise; earns mentions and backlinks | Free; paid $19–99/mo | Connectively (old HARO) died Dec 2024; brand relaunched here Apr 2025 | ||
| QwotedPR / Expert Quotes | First 90 days | HIGH | Free expert profile, respond to relevant queries weekly | Free; paid ~$149/mo | Confirmed active | ||
| SourceBottle / MentionMatchPR / Expert Quotes | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Create profiles, respond to call-outs | Free | PressPlugs does not exist; remove | ||
| Podcast guestingPR / Podcasts | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Guest profile; pitch 5 niche shows/month with a specific episode angle | Free–paid | MatchMaker.fm unverified | ||
| Console.dev (dev tools)Newsletter | Launch | HIGH | Email hello@console.dev with the selection criteria in mind; pre-1.0/beta tools | Free editorial | Only for developer tools | ||
| Changelog News (dev/OSS)Newsletter | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit framed as dev/OSS news, not commercial | Free; paid sponsorship | ~26K subscribers | ||
| The Rundown AI / Ben's Bites (AI products)Newsletter | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit to "Trending Tools" (support@therundown.ai); Ben's Bites only if AI-relevant |
| Free mention; paid sponsorship | Only for AI products | |
| Regional startup media (EU)Press | Launch | MEDIUM | Tech.eu "Pitch Your Startup" form, EU-Startups submit page, BetaKit (Canada only) | Free (EU-Startups fee unverified) | Sifted and TechCrunch only with a newsy hook (funding, notable customer) | ||
| Serbia / Balkans mediaPress | Launch | HIGH | Pitch Netokracija via contact form; engage Startit.rs through events and social; DSI (dsi.rs) for programs, not press |
| Free | ICT Hub is an accelerator, not media; "StartupCafe" does not exist for Serbia | |
| Paid newsletter sponsorshipsNewsletter | Ongoing | LOW | Only once unit economics are known; TLDR ~$3–18K per placement (indicative) | $3K–18K/placement | Skip pre-traction | ||
| Dead / not a channelPress | Ongoing | SKIP | The SaaS Weekly (dead 2020), SaaS Roundup (unverifiable), Connectively (dead), Startup Digest (Techstars, not launch), Lenny's Newsletter (no pitches), Wikipedia (do not attempt pre-traction) |
| — | Remove from older lists |
19. Content & outreach plays
18 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "X alternatives" listicle outreachSEO Outreach | First 90 days | HIGH | Search intitle:"alternatives to" [competitor]; use the listicle's "suggest a tool" form first, then email a factual correction + free account | Free | Best ROI outreach for new B2B SaaS | ||
| "Best [category] tools" articlesSEO Outreach | First 90 days | HIGH | Build a 100-result prospect list; pitch inclusion where the feature set fits |
| Free (time) | Lead with a specific differentiator | |
| Integration partner pagesContent / SEO | First 90 days | HIGH | /integrations/[partner] pages + listing in the partner's marketplace (Zapier, HubSpot, Slack) |
| Free (time) | Marketplace backlink + high-intent referral traffic | |
| Free tool / lead magnetProduct-led | First 90 days | HIGH | One narrow, server-rendered free tool; gate deep results behind email |
| Medium (dev time) | Must be crawlable by AI bots too | |
| AI answer engines (GEO)Content / SEO | Launch | HIGH | Server-rendered pages, allow GPTBot/PerplexityBot/Google-Extended in robots.txt, front-load direct answers, earn third-party mentions (Reddit, reviews) |
| Free | llms.txt mostly ignored by engines; mentions and reviews move the needle | |
| Cold email (compliant)Outbound | First 90 days | HIGH | Separate sending domains, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, one-click unsubscribe (RFC 8058), complaint rate under 0.3%, warm-up | $30–300/mo | Gmail rejects non-compliant bulk mail outright since Nov 2025 | ||
| LinkedIn outreachOutbound | First 90 days | HIGH | ~100 personalised connection requests per week; comment before you DM | Free–$100/mo | Cap varies by account trust | ||
| YouTube reviewer / creator outreachAffiliate / Creator | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Search "[category] tools 2026" reviews; offer free account + affiliate; disclose per FTC | Free + commission | Pair with affiliate program | ||
| Affiliate & partner networksAffiliate / Creator | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Rewardful/FirstPromoter early; PartnerStack/Impact only past ~$5M ARR | $47–99/mo + commission | Do not over-build before ~$500K ARR | ||
| Agency / reseller partnershipsAgency Partnership | First 90 days | MEDIUM | 5–10 hand-picked agencies, 15–30% recurring commission, internal-use accounts |
| Free + commission | Agencies managing many client accounts scale best | |
| Co-marketing with complementary SaaSPartnership | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Joint webinars, co-authored guides, newsletter swaps |
| Free | Pick partners with the same buyer, different job | |
| Guest postsSEO Outreach | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Only real-traffic editorial sites; avoid "guest post pricing" link farms |
| Free–paid | Still works but rarely the most effective | |
| Programmatic SEO (careful)Content / SEO | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Unique data per page, hand-written intro, one distinct task per page |
| Medium | Google March 2026 core update targets "scaled content abuse"; naive pSEO lost 60–90% | |
| Template galleries (Notion, Figma)Distribution | Ongoing | MEDIUM | Publish a useful template that leads to the product | Free | Fits productivity/design-adjacent products | ||
| Open-source freemiumProduct-led | Ongoing | LOW | Free self-hosted core + managed cloud; only if the product suits it | Dev-heavy | n8n, Cal.com, PostHog pattern | ||
| GitHub awesome-listsDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | PR to relevant awesome lists; awesome-selfhosted is FOSS-only | Free | Irrelevant for closed SaaS unless a niche list exists | ||
| Expert roundupsContent | Ongoing | LOW | Relationship-building only, not for ranking |
| Free | Devalued as thin content | |
| "Built with" directoriesDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Claim StackShare profile; BuiltWith Trends for competitor research only | Free | StackShare is a static archive since FOSSA acquisition (2024) |
20. AI tool directories
45 tasks| Item | Phase | Priority | What to do | Recommended tools | Cost | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| There's An AI For ThatLaunch / Discovery | Launch | HIGH | Submit through the header button; prepare a short description of the task it solves | Free; paid fast-track | Largest AI catalogue by traffic; submission needs a clear task the tool solves | ||
| FuturepediaLaunch / Discovery | Launch | HIGH | Submit through "Submit tool" | Free; paid fast-track | Large AI catalogue; the free queue takes weeks | ||
| ToolifyLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit through the Submit form (account required) | Free; paid fast-track | Large AI catalogue and GPT store | ||
| FutureToolsLaunch / Discovery | Launch | MEDIUM | Submit through "Submit a tool" | Free | Curated AI catalogue run by Matt Wolfe | ||
| TopAI.toolsLaunch / Discovery | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Submit through "Submit your AI tool" | Free; paid fast-track | AI catalogue with solid traffic | ||
| SupertoolsLaunch / Discovery | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Submit the tool; part of The Rundown AI newsletter | Free | Attached to a large AI newsletter | ||
| Dang.aiLaunch / Discovery | First 90 days | MEDIUM | Submit through the Submit form | Free; paid fast-track | AI catalogue with listing verification | ||
| SaaS AI ToolsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool; they also publish daily AI news | Free | Generative AI tools and news | ||
| Toolio.aiLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | AI and tech tools in one place | ||
| Tap4.aiLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool (230+ categories) | Free | Over 2,000 AI tools | ||
| aitools.fyiLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | AI tools for shipping projects faster | ||
| aitoolnetLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool (site sits behind a Cloudflare check) | Free | AI catalogue organised by task | ||
| LunarListLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Check the domain before submitting - it did not respond on 2026-09-16 | Free | Curated AI tools; domain not confirmed | ||
| OpenToolsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool; the catalogue holds over 2,500 tools | Free | AI tools, models and agents | ||
| aiTreeLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool for business use | Free | Search AI tools by business need | ||
| AixploriaLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool (site is also in French) | Free; paid fast-track | Large French AI catalogue | ||
| AI Tools DirectoryLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the library | Free | General AI catalogue | ||
| AI ParabellumLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool for a listing and a review | Free | AI catalogue with reviews | ||
| AICenter.aiLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool into the right collection | Free | Collections of AI tools by purpose | ||
| AIcyclopediaLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the encyclopedia | Free | Encyclopedia of AI tools and podcasts | ||
| All GPTsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit only if you have a GPT or a GPT Store listing | Free | The largest list of GPTs | ||
| AI ToolboardLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue (3,900+ tools) | Free | Simple AI catalogue | ||
| Foundr AILaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | AI catalogue built around simplicity | ||
| TrendingAIToolsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the list | Free | Catalogue of trending AI tools | ||
| NaNAI.toolsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the database | Free | AI tools database | ||
| AI Agents DirectoryAI Agent Distribution | Ongoing | LOW | Submit only if the product is an AI agent or works with agents | Free | AI agents directory; pairs with the MCP listing | ||
| WhatTheAI.techLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the free collection | Free | Collection of free AI tools | ||
| Productivity DirectoryDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit if the tool fits productivity | Free; paid fast-track | Productivity tools directory | ||
| EliteAI.toolsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool; curated, they check quality | Free; paid fast-track | Curated AI catalogue with solid traffic | ||
| Awesome AI Tools (GitHub)Directory | Ongoing | LOW | Open a pull request with your tool |
| Free | Awesome list on GitHub; the PR is reviewed by hand | |
| Nextool AiLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | Positions itself as "the Product Hunt for AI" | ||
| ToolsPedia.ioLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | AI tools, apps and software | ||
| Openpedia.ioLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | Fast-growing AI catalogue | ||
| AI to GrowLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool for startup growth | Free | Hand-picked AI tools for growth | ||
| CyberSecToolsDirectory | Ongoing | LOW | Submit only if the product is in cybersecurity | Free | Largest curated directory of security tools | ||
| SaaSBabaLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool or a deal | Free | Generative AI tools, micro SaaS and deals | ||
| NexusAi TechnologyLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | AI tools, software and workflows | ||
| FindAiToolsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool (B2B focus) | Free | Over 19,000 AI tools for B2B | ||
| aitoolslist.ioLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the ranked list | Free | AI tools ranked by use case | ||
| All The AI ToolsLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | General AI catalogue | ||
| ToolList.aiLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | Catalogue of AI solutions | ||
| AI TOP HUBLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | Catalogue of AI tools, SaaS and apps | ||
| Tool SummaryLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool to the catalogue | Free | Small AI catalogue | ||
| Neeed DirectoryLaunch / Discovery | Ongoing | LOW | Submit the tool; it has a public API and an MCP server | Free; paid premium profile | Astracia already pulls this catalogue (source "neeed"); the premium profile adds highlights, FAQ and a promo code | ||
| Unconfirmed AI catalogues (check first)Directory | Ongoing | SKIP | Check the sites are alive before submitting: Theres An AI, Distopai, GetByte |
| Free | On 2026-09-16 the domains did not answer or were not what the name suggests (GetByte is a Brazilian API service, not a catalogue) |