Free startup directories let you build your backlink profile and drive qualified traffic at zero cost. Of the 137+ directories in the backlinks.fyi database, every one on this page is completely free to submit to. That means no submission fee, no barrier — just your product, a description, and a link. A systematic free submission campaign can yield dozens of high-DR backlinks within weeks of launch.
137
Free Directories
128
Dofollow Links
DR 93
Top Score
The standard playbook: start with free directories and maximize them before spending on paid placements. Free submissions give you a baseline backlink profile and early referral traffic at no cost — the perfect foundation for your launch campaign.
Step 1: Submit to instant-approval free directories first (17 available). These go live within hours, which means your backlinks start building immediately.
Step 2: Work through manual-review directories in order of DR. Prepare your listing assets once (name, URL, description, logo) and reuse them across submissions.
Step 3: Prioritize dofollow links (128free dofollow directories available). Dofollow links pass PageRank — they contribute directly to your domain authority in Google's eyes.
Link Strength
93.4% dofollow
Median DR 55
Approval Speed
12.4% instant
17 quick-publish options
Submission Friction
47.4% account-required
0% include CAPTCHA
This free segment is ideal for volume, but the highest ROI still comes from ranking by DR and dofollow first. Use instant approvals for same-week crawl discovery, then clear manual-review listings in descending authority order.
SourceForge
⏱ 3-7 days
Product Hunt
⏱ Instant after launch
Crunchbase
⏱ 1-3 days
Capterra
⏱ 3-7 days
AngelList / Wellfound
⏱ 1-3 days
Tech in Asia
⏱ 5-10 days
GeekWire
⏱ 7-14 days
MakeUseOf
⏱ 14-30 days
G2
⏱ 3-7 days
Software Advice
⏱ 5-10 days
GetApp
⏱ 3-7 days
Get App
⏱ 5-10 days
F6S
⏱ Instant
Devpost
⏱ Instant
Clutch
⏱ 3-7 days
FinancesOnline
⏱ 5-10 days
Changelog
⏱ 3-7 days
TrustRadius
⏱ 3-5 days
AlternativeTo
⏱ 1-3 days
StackShare
⏱ Instant
SiteJabber
⏱ Instant
Built In
⏱ 5-10 days
EU-Startups
⏱ 7-14 days
Webwiki
⏱ Instant
SoftwareSuggest
⏱ 3-7 days
Inc42
⏱ 7-14 days
SaaSHub
⏱ 1-3 days
CrozDesk
⏱ 3-7 days
Dang
⏱ 1-3 days
Gust
⏱ 3-7 days
SaaSworthy
⏱ 1-3 days
Tool Pilot
⏱ 1-3 days
SoftwareWorld
⏱ 3-7 days
Trustpilot
⏱ Instant
DEV Community (dev.to)
⏱ Instant
Alternative.me
⏱ 3-7 days
e27
⏱ 5-10 days
Toolify
⏱ 1-3 days
Slant
⏱ Instant
Hacker News (Show HN)
⏱ Instant
Side Projectors
⏱ 1-3 days
CrowdReviews
⏱ 3-7 days
Tekpon
⏱ 3-7 days
Uneed
⏱ 1-3 days
Softonic
⏱ 7-14 days
PeerSpot
⏱ 3-7 days
Land-book
⏱ 7-14 days
Startup Stash
⏱ 3-7 days
Peerlist
⏱ Instant
Future Tools
⏱ 7-14 days
Supertools (The Rundown AI)
⏱ 3-7 days
Arctic Startup
⏱ 7-14 days
Netted
⏱ 14-30 days
Open Source Alternative
⏱ 3-7 days
Indie Hackers
⏱ Instant
Tiny Startups
⏱ 3-7 days
Next Big What
⏱ 5-10 days
FlowGPT
⏱ Instant
VentureRadar
⏱ 3-7 days
DevHunt
⏱ Instant
TechDirectory
⏱ 3-7 days
All My Faves
⏱ 5-7 days
Devhunt
⏱ Instant
StackSocial
⏱ 7-14 days
Startup Ranking
⏱ 1-3 days
Magnitt
⏱ 5-10 days
StartupBase
⏱ 1-3 days
SaaS AI Tools
⏱ 3-7 days
AppAgg
⏱ 3-7 days
That AI Collection
⏱ 3-7 days
TopAI.tools
⏱ 3-7 days
Serchen
⏱ 5-7 days
PeerPush
⏱ 1-3 days
BetaBound
⏱ 3-5 days
InnMind
⏱ 3-7 days
Snapmunk
⏱ 5-10 days
Startup Inspire
⏱ 3-7 days
BetaPage
⏱ 3-7 days
Insidr AI
⏱ 3-7 days
FiveTaco
⏱ 3-7 days
SimilarSiteSearch
⏱ 5-10 days
LibHunt
⏱ 3-7 days
Bens Bites News
⏱ 7-14 days
Postmake
⏱ 3-7 days
Workspaces
⏱ 5-10 days
Altern
⏱ 3-7 days
SaaSPirate
⏱ 3-7 days
Startup Tracker
⏱ 1-3 days
Tapscape
⏱ 5-7 days
Cuspera
⏱ 5-10 days
Owwly
⏱ 3-7 days
TechPluto
⏱ 5-10 days
Startup Buffer
⏱ 1-3 days
Discover Cloud
⏱ 5-7 days
The Startup Pitch
⏱ 3-7 days
Startup Beat
⏱ 5-7 days
AppVita
⏱ 3-7 days
AI Tools Directory
⏱ 3-7 days
Productivity Directory
⏱ 3-7 days
Tech Map
⏱ 3-7 days
AI Search
⏱ 3-7 days
Indie Deals
⏱ 1-3 days
Awesome Tools
⏱ 3-7 days
NoCodeList
⏱ 3-7 days
LaunchDirectories
⏱ Instant
All Startups
⏱ 3-7 days
Fazier
⏱ Instant
Victrays
⏱ 3-7 days
TopApps
⏱ 3-7 days
Launched
⏱ 1-3 days
Apps Mamma
⏱ 3-5 days
DoMore.ai
⏱ 3-5 days
Feedough
⏱ 7-14 days
Website Hunt
⏱ 3-5 days
Startup Benchmarks
⏱ 5-7 days
The Startup INC
⏱ 3-7 days
OpenFuture
⏱ 3-7 days
Project Hatch
⏱ 5-10 days
AIHunt
⏱ 3-5 days
10words
⏱ 1-3 days
ProfitHunt
⏱ 3-5 days
SaaSRow
⏱ 3-5 days
Apps Listo
⏱ 3-5 days
Get Worm
⏱ 3-7 days
Robin Good Tools
⏱ 7-14 days
Startups Watch
⏱ 3-7 days
Tiny Launch
⏱ 3-5 days
AI Valley
⏱ 3-7 days
Startups Gallery
⏱ 3-5 days
Simple Lister
⏱ Instant
Startups.fyi
⏱ 3-7 days
LaunchIgniter
⏱ 3-7 days
Startup88
⏱ 3-7 days
AwesomeIndie
⏱ 3-7 days
ToolScout
⏱ 3-7 days
AppRater
⏱ 7-14 days
PayOnceApps
⏱ 3-7 days
Yes — every directory on this page has a cost of "free" in the backlinks.fyi database, meaning there is no submission fee required to get listed. Some directories have optional paid tiers for featured placement or faster review, but the base listing is free.
Sort by Domain Rating (DR) first to prioritize the directories with the highest SEO value. Within the same DR range, prefer dofollow over nofollow links, and instant approval over manual review. This lets you capture the highest-value backlinks fastest during your launch window.
A systematic sweep of the top free directories takes 8–12 hours spread across a few days. The 17 instant-approval directories can be completed in a single session. Manual-review directories require preparation time but minimal active effort — submit and move on.
Start with free directories first — there are enough high-DR free options that paid listings should only be considered once you have traction and budget for acquisition. When evaluating paid directories, look at the traffic they drive to other listings in your category and whether the audience matches your ideal customer.