43 launch directories we checked state a free way to list a product in 2026. 24 of them ask for no badge or link back on the free tier, among them Product Hunt, Hacker News (Show HN), Peerlist, Uneed, DevHunt, AlternativeTo and SaaSHub. 7 are free only if you add their badge or a link to your site, and 12 do not say. Free usually costs something else: a queue that can run from days to months, a community vote, or a badge. Each wait and requirement below is the directory's own wording, read from its own page.
Free, but you wait 14 days.
Skip the line. Get seen today.
The Featured row on the homepage. 3 days, taking turns.
Next to your name everywhere on VibeKing, for good.The full launch. We do the work.
The first row of Featured on the homepage. 7 days.
First on your category page. 30 days.
First when people search words that match you. 30 days.You see your finished launch page before you pay.
Not sure which plan fits? Ask us first and we'll help you choose.
Every perk, side by side: see all plans
| Directory | Free option (as stated) | Free-tier wait (as stated) | Badge or link required (free) | Cheapest paid option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlternativeToCrowd-sourced alternatives directory | Free; backlog of "at least a few months" | At least a few months | No | $5 priority review |
| Awesome IndieDaily launchpad | Free; next slot in the queue; dofollow at 20 upvotes | Next free day in the queue | No (20 upvotes for dofollow) | $9.99 Skip the Line |
| BuiltByIndiesWeekly launchpad and community | Free community queue; may need karma; nofollow | Next launch week with space | No (may need karma) | $15 Premium |
| CrunchbaseCompany database profile | Free: any registered, socially authenticated user can add a profile | Not stated | No | No paid listing tier stated |
| DevHuntWeekly launchpad for developer tools | Free; launch week assigned from the queue; nofollow | Not stated (queue) | No | $49 paid launch |
| FirstoDaily launch board | Free; 5 slots/day, queue ~180 days | "Queue: ~180 days" | Optional: badge required only for the Top-3 dofollow backlink | $19.90 Premium Launch |
| G2Software review marketplace | Free plan: claim profile, basic profile, basic review collection | Not stated | No | $299/month Starter |
| Hacker News (Show HN)Community post | Free; must be something people can try | None: post any time | No | Free (nothing to buy) |
| Indie HackersFounder community + products database | Free: add your product to the Products DB with a free account | Not stated | No | No paid option (advertising retired in 2026) |
| Launch LlamaStartup directory and newsletter | Free; published after about 4 weeks of review | About 4 weeks | No | $39 Instant Launch |
| LaunchitStartup launch directory | Free; reviewed and published within 7 days | "Reviewed & published within 7 days" | Optional: badge needed only for the 1 dofollow link | $9 Showcase |
| LaunchtoryNiche project directory | Free after review, via community votes or website link verification | Not stated | Optional: link verification is one of the free paths | $19 Featured (one-time) |
| OpenHuntsWeekly launchpad | Free: 20 slots/week, ~60-week queue, or add their badge | About 60 weeks, or add the badge to skip | Optional: the badge skips the queue | $9.90 Premium ($19 list) |
| Peerlist LaunchpadWeekly launchpad on a professional network | No fee stated in Peerlist's help docs | Launch any Monday | No (needs a verified Peerlist profile) | Not verified |
| Product HuntDaily launch leaderboard | Free to launch | None: you pick the day | No | Free (no paid launch) |
| SaaSHubSoftware alternatives marketplace | Listing has no published fee; needs approval and re-verification | Not stated | No | $99/month featured |
| ShipybaraWeekly launch board | Free; 18 slots/week, featured on homepage | Not stated (scheduling up to 180 days ahead) | Optional: dofollow if Top 3 or with badge | $50 Premium |
| SoftwareSuggestSoftware review marketplace | Free listing; business email required (no gmail/outlook); free leads with 3-day delay | Not stated | No | $4,000 Basic (6 months) |
| SourceForgeSoftware review marketplace | Free to claim, edit and manage a basic listing | Not stated | No | Not stated (prices not shown) |
| StartupBaseDaily launch board | Free; queued launch date, 1 active free launch at a time, no homepage guarantee | Badge-verified free: about 4-5 weeks; no badge: 10+ weeks (per their llms.txt) | Optional: badge gets the faster queue (their /launch page lists it as required) | $39 Launch |
| Tiny StartupsCurated startup launch platform | Free; goes live once you post about it on X | Not stated (free listings wait in a queue) | No; an X post is required instead | $69 Instant listing |
| TinyLaunchLaunch competition | Free standard queue; backlink for top 3 only | Not stated ("standard queue") | No | $39 Premium |
| TrustRadiusSoftware review marketplace | Free profile: claim and build your product profile | Not stated | No | Not stated (sales contact) |
| UneedDaily launchpad | Free; date assigned up to 5 months out, needs upvotes | Up to 5 months (date assigned) | No (upvotes instead) | $14.99 Fast-track |
| Directory | Free option (as stated) | Free-tier wait (as stated) | Badge or link required (free) | Cheapest paid option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DailyPingsDaily new-tools feed | Free with badge; listed once badge is verified, 24h in Newly launched | Not stated (listed once the badge is verified) | Yes: their badge | $19 Premium (one-time) |
| FazierDaily launchpad | Free with a backlink to Fazier; listed within 30 days | Within 30 days | Yes: a link to Fazier | $29 Lite ($39 list) |
| LaunchBoardWeekly launch board | Free; up to 10 slots/week, LaunchBoard badge required on your site | Not stated (approved products launch together every Monday) | Yes: their badge | $19 Single Launch |
| LaunchIgniterWeekly launchpad | Free with their badge; manual review; date not guaranteed | Not stated; date not guaranteed | Yes: their badge | $12 Basic |
| Smol LaunchWeekly launch board | Free with their badge; 50 verified slots a week | Not stated; 50 verified slots a week | Yes: their badge | $19 Premium |
| Turbo0Content-creation products directory | Free; reviewed, backlink to Turbo0 required | Reviewed and listed within 2 weeks | Yes: a link back | $29.90 Basic |
| Twelve ToolsDaily curated tools board | Free; reviewed, backlink to Twelve Tools required on homepage or footer | Reviewed within 72 hours | Yes: a link back (homepage or footer) | $36 Pro |
| VibeKingthis site | Yes | 14 days. Paid plans: same day. | Yes: the VibeKing badge | Builder $19 or King $59, one-time |
| Directory | Free option (as stated) | Free-tier wait (as stated) | Badge or link required (free) | Cheapest paid option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Tools DirectoryCurated AI tools directory | Free; manually reviewed, publication not guaranteed | Not stated (queue; Fast Track skips it) | Not stated | $99 Fast Track (one-time) |
| CapterraSoftware review marketplace | Free basic profile; Capterra lists all providers, not just paying ones | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated (sales contact) |
| Ctrl AltDaily launch board | Free scheduled launch; review queue | Not stated ("the current review queue can significantly delay this") | Not stated | $19 Skip queue |
| Dofollow.ToolsAI and SaaS tools directory | Free; basic listing after review | Free submissions are reviewed within 7 days | Not stated | $19 One-Time Pro |
| Future ToolsCurated AI tools directory | Free; hand-curated, over 75% of submissions are not approved | Not stated; resubmit if not listed within a week | Not stated | No paid listing tier stated |
| Insidr.aiAI tools directory | Free submission form; added only if approved | Not stated | Not stated | No paid tier stated |
| Launching NextStartup showcase directory | Free; reviewed daily, emailed only if published | Not stated (paid upgrade: considered within 1 business day) | Not stated | $99 fast-track review |
| PeerPushProduct discovery and launch platform | Free; waits in line behind paid users | Not stated ("Wait in line behind paid users") | Not stated | $39 Standard Launch |
| PitchWall (formerly BetaPage)Daily product launch board | Free; manually reviewed, 1-day homepage visibility | Minimum 30-day waiting period | Not stated | $49 Pro Launch |
| SaaS AI ToolsAI tools directory | Free; joins the normal review queue | Not stated (normal review queue) | Not stated | $67/month Featured |
| Startup InspireStartup showcase directory | Free: 1 startup; reviewed, not every submission is published | Not stated | Not stated | EUR 19 Standard (lifetime) |
| Startup RankingStartup ranking directory | Free profile; manual approval, ~80-day queue | "Wait for our team to approve it in 80 days" | Not stated | $49 Faster Approval (Basic) |
Free, but you wait 14 days.
Skip the line. Get seen today.
The Featured row on the homepage. 3 days, taking turns.Next to your name everywhere on VibeKing, for good.The full launch. We do the work.
The first row of Featured on the homepage. 7 days.First on your category page. 30 days.First when people search words that match you. 30 days.You see your finished launch page before you pay.
Not sure which plan fits? Ask us first and we'll help you choose.
Every perk, side by side: see all plans
How to read this: every free tier, wait and requirement is the directory's own wording, not our estimate. Names with a guide link to the steps and sources; the rest link to the directory. Another 51 directories show a free option but had only a lighter check; they are in the full launch directory comparison.
Disclosure: VibeKing publishes this page and is not counted above. A free VibeKing listing waits in a 14-day free queue, then it can go live once the VibeKing badge is on your site. List a product.
43 of the directories we checked state a free option. The 24 that ask for nothing in return on the free tier include Product Hunt, Hacker News (Show HN), Peerlist, Uneed, DevHunt, AlternativeTo and SaaSHub; the full list is in the tables above.
Some do. 7 of the 43 free options here need their badge or a link on your site before the free listing goes live; 24 do not, and 12 do not say either way.
It ranges from the same day (Product Hunt and Show HN, where you pick the moment) to several months in a free queue (Uneed states up to five months; AlternativeTo states a backlog of at least a few months). The wait column gives each directory's own figure.
Only if timing matters. Most paid tiers buy a chosen date or a faster review rather than more visitors. The cheapest paid option for each directory is in the last column, so you can compare before you pay.