Free websites to submit your startup (checked October 2026)
Which launch sites and directories are still free to submit to, which ones now charge, and how to use the free ones well.
You can still submit a new startup for free to Product Hunt, Uneed, Indie Hackers, DevHunt, Microlaunch, SaaSHub, AlternativeTo and Hacker News (Show HN), and you can pitch Meet New Brands for a free article. Some well-known names have changed: BetaList now charges for every submission, and the big AI tool directories mostly charge too. We checked each site's own pages in early October 2026; terms change often, so look again before you submit.
Free launch platforms
These give you a launch day and a burst of attention from people who like trying new things.
- Product Hunt. Free. Launch from a personal account (company accounts are not allowed), launch again when you have a significant new version, and never ask people directly for upvotes. Launches start at 12:01 am Pacific Time. Source: Product Hunt launch guide.
- Uneed. Free launch through a waiting line; you get a launch day with a spot on the homepage. Paying lets you skip or shorten the wait, but the free launch gets the same core benefits. Source: Uneed help centre.
- Microlaunch. Free launches on a community leaderboard, with optional paid premium features. Source: microlaunch.net.
- DevHunt. For developer tools only. Free weekly launches voted on by developers; ads on the site are optional and paid. Source: devhunt.org.
Free directories and listings
Directories bring slower but steadier traffic, and they help search engines and AI assistants understand what you do.
- SaaSHub. A software alternatives site. Adding your product is free; featured placement is paid. Source: saashub.com.
- AlternativeTo. Free to add an app after signing up. It must work in English, review takes from a couple of days to a week, and editors can decline apps they think add little value. Source: AlternativeTo FAQ.
- Indie Hackers. Free product page with your tagline, website and (optionally) your revenue, next to a community of founders. Source: Indie Hackers products.
- Meet New Brands brands directory. Free listing for new products, reviewed before it goes live. Add your product.
- Google Business Profile. Free, and a must if you have a shop or serve a local area.
Communities
- Hacker News, Show HN. Free. It has to be something people can try right away, made by you, with a title that starts with "Show HN". Landing pages, sign-up pages, newsletters and blog posts do not qualify, and you should not ask friends for upvotes. Source: Show HN guidelines.
- Reddit. Communities like r/SideProject and niche subreddits for your field or city accept product posts. Read each community's rules first; most dislike pure promotion.
Free editorial coverage
An article tells your story in a way a listing cannot. Meet New Brands writes free articles about new startups and young brands. You pitch your story in about five minutes, the editors choose which pitches to cover and check the facts with you before anything goes live. There are no paid placements; the only thing we ask is that the founder reposts the article on their personal LinkedIn. Local and trade media are worth a pitch too; see our guide to free press coverage for a new brand.
No longer free, or mostly paid
- BetaList. Its own FAQ now says all submissions are paid, with an automatic refund if your startup is not selected. Source: BetaList support.
- There's An AI For That. Listings start with a paid review fee (49 dollars at the time of writing). The only free route is a monthly thread on X where one indie tool is picked for a free listing. Source: TAAFT submit page.
- Futurepedia. Submitting an AI tool costs 197 dollars, refunded if the tool does not meet its editorial standards. Source: Futurepedia submission page.
How to get the most out of free listings
Write one clear sentence about what you make, for whom and where you are based, and use exactly that sentence everywhere. Link every listing to the same page on your site. Space out your launches over a few weeks instead of one day, so you can answer every comment. Keep a simple list of where you are listed, so you can update them all when your product changes. When people, search engines and AI assistants find the same story in several trusted places, they are more likely to remember and recommend you. Our guide on where to promote your startup for free covers the other channels.
FAQ
What is the best free place to launch a startup? Product Hunt is still the best known and is free. Uneed and Microlaunch are free alternatives, and DevHunt is free for developer tools.
Is BetaList free? No longer. BetaList now charges for every submission, with a refund if you are not selected.
Where can I list an AI tool for free? The large AI tool directories mostly charge. Free options include Product Hunt, Uneed, SaaSHub, AlternativeTo, Indie Hackers and the Meet New Brands directory, and you can pitch Meet New Brands for a free article.
How do I get a free article about my startup? Pitch it at https://meetnewbrands.com/pitch. Articles are free; the only ask is a repost on the founder's personal LinkedIn once it is live.
