How to launch on BetaList
Pre-launch and newly launched startups looking for early adopters.
- Free option
- None: all submissions are paid
- Free-tier wait
- Depends on the paid plan; not stated publicly (as stated)
- Badge or link required
- No
- Cheapest paid option
- Paid only; price shown in the submit form
- Dofollow: they say
- Yes, if featured (per BetaList)
- Dofollow: we saw
- "Visit Site" button has no nofollow and 301-redirects to the maker's site; the screenshot links to it carry nofollow (example)
- Audience
- Newsletter 60k+ to 70,000+; 500,000+ pageviews/month (self-reported)
What it is
BetaList features pre-launch and recently launched startups for an audience of early adopters. It is editorially curated: a team reviews each submission and only selected startups are featured on its timeline.
Who it is best for
Startups with their own domain, a clear value proposition and a well-designed landing page, which are the things BetaList says it prioritises. It is not a fit for apps hosted on a free subdomain.
How to submit
- Check eligibility first. BetaList says your startup must have its own domain; it does not accept free hosting subdomains such as vercel.app, netlify.app or herokuapp.com, or direct app store links.
- Create an account and open the submission form. Current plans and prices are shown at the end of that form, not on a public pricing page.
- Choose a plan and pay at checkout. Plans differ mainly in how quickly you are featured and whether newsletter inclusion is guaranteed.
- Wait for the editorial decision by email. If your startup is not selected, BetaList refunds the payment in full automatically.
Free vs paid
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Submission | Paid (price in the submit form) | Editorial review; full refund if not selected |
| Boost | From $99/week, or $199/month | Homepage placement and a newsletter slot |
| Sponsorship | $4,999/month | One sponsor at a time, across the site and every newsletter |
Dofollow or nofollow?
BetaList's FAQ says the "Visit Site" button on a featured listing is a do-follow link: it does not use rel="nofollow" and routes through a 301 redirect that adds ref=betalist.
Our check, 2026-09-30: "Visit Site" button has no nofollow and 301-redirects to the maker's site; the screenshot links to it carry nofollow. Example we checked: betalist.com/startups/twinphone. We read the rel attribute on the link to the maker's own site; a link without nofollow or ugc passes ranking signals, while nofollow and ugc ask search engines not to.
Tips
- BetaList used to offer free submissions; its FAQ now says all submissions require payment. Older guides that call it free are out of date.
- Buy a real domain before submitting. A vercel.app or netlify.app URL is rejected outright.
- BetaList says it cannot give feedback on rejected submissions, but you may resubmit after improving the value proposition, design and uniqueness.
BetaList FAQ
Is BetaList free?
No. BetaList's FAQ says all submissions are paid and there is no free option. The price is shown at the end of the submission form, and you are refunded in full if your startup is not selected.
Does BetaList accept apps on vercel.app or netlify.app?
No. BetaList requires your own domain and does not accept free hosting subdomains or direct app store links.
Is the BetaList link dofollow?
BetaList says the Visit Site button on a featured listing is do-follow, routed through a 301 redirect.
Alternatives to BetaList
Sources, checked 2026-09-30
Launching this week?List it on VibeKing too: free with the badge, and every listing gets its own product page.
List on VibeKing