Free startup directories let you build your backlink profile and drive qualified traffic at zero cost. Of the 154+ directories in the backlinks.fyi database, every one on this page is completely free to submit to: no submission fee, just your product, a description, and a link. A focused free submission campaign can yield dozens of backlinks within weeks of launch.
154
Free Directories
144
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.
Step 1: Submit to instant-approval free directories first (19 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 (144 free dofollow directories available). Dofollow links pass PageRank and contribute directly to your domain authority.
Link Strength
93.5% dofollow
Median DR 51
Approval Speed
12.3% instant
19 quick-publish options
Submission Friction
48.7% account-required
0% include CAPTCHA
This free segment is good for volume, but sorting by DR and dofollow first still gets the best results. Use instant approvals for same-week crawl discovery, then work through manual-review listings in descending authority order.
SourceForge
⏱ 3-7 days
Crunchbase
⏱ 1-3 days
Product Hunt
⏱ Instant after launch
Capterra
⏱ 3-7 days
AngelList / Wellfound
⏱ 1-3 days
GeekWire
⏱ 7-14 days
Tech in Asia
⏱ 5-10 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
StackShare
⏱ Instant
AlternativeTo
⏱ 1-3 days
SiteJabber
⏱ Instant
Built In
⏱ 5-10 days
Webwiki
⏱ Instant
EU-Startups
⏱ 7-14 days
SoftwareSuggest
⏱ 3-7 days
Inc42
⏱ 7-14 days
Dang
⏱ 1-3 days
Gust
⏱ 3-7 days
CrozDesk
⏱ 3-7 days
SaaSHub
⏱ 1-3 days
SoftwareWorld
⏱ 3-7 days
Tool Pilot
⏱ 1-3 days
SaaSworthy
⏱ 1-3 days
Trustpilot
⏱ Instant
DEV Community (dev.to)
⏱ Instant
e27
⏱ 5-10 days
Alternative.me
⏱ 3-7 days
Slant
⏱ Instant
Toolify
⏱ 1-3 days
Side Projectors
⏱ 1-3 days
CrowdReviews
⏱ 3-7 days
Hacker News (Show HN)
⏱ Instant
Tekpon
⏱ 3-7 days
Uneed
⏱ 1-3 days
PeerSpot
⏱ 3-7 days
Softonic
⏱ 7-14 days
Land-book
⏱ 7-14 days
Peerlist
⏱ Instant
Startup Stash
⏱ 3-7 days
Supertools (The Rundown AI)
⏱ 3-7 days
Future Tools
⏱ 7-14 days
Open Source Alternative
⏱ 3-7 days
Netted
⏱ 14-30 days
Arctic Startup
⏱ 7-14 days
Tiny Startups
⏱ 3-7 days
FlowGPT
⏱ Instant
Next Big What
⏱ 5-10 days
Indie Hackers
⏱ Instant
VentureRadar
⏱ 3-7 days
All My Faves
⏱ 5-7 days
Devhunt
⏱ Instant
DevHunt
⏱ Instant
TechDirectory
⏱ 3-7 days
StackSocial
⏱ 7-14 days
Startup Ranking
⏱ 1-3 days
Magnitt
⏱ 5-10 days
SaaS AI Tools
⏱ 3-7 days
StartupBase
⏱ 1-3 days
Serchen
⏱ 5-7 days
TopAI.tools
⏱ 3-7 days
That AI Collection
⏱ 3-7 days
AppAgg
⏱ 3-7 days
FoundrList
⏱ 3-7 days
BetaBound
⏱ 3-5 days
InnMind
⏱ 3-7 days
PeerPush
⏱ 1-3 days
backlinks.fyi
⏱ 1-2 days
Snapmunk
⏱ 5-10 days
BetaPage
⏱ 3-7 days
Startup Inspire
⏱ 3-7 days
Insidr AI
⏱ 3-7 days
FiveTaco
⏱ 3-7 days
SimilarSiteSearch
⏱ 5-10 days
Workspaces
⏱ 5-10 days
SaaSPirate
⏱ 3-7 days
Postmake
⏱ 3-7 days
LibHunt
⏱ 3-7 days
Altern
⏱ 3-7 days
Bens Bites News
⏱ 7-14 days
Owwly
⏱ 3-7 days
Cuspera
⏱ 5-10 days
Tapscape
⏱ 5-7 days
Startup Tracker
⏱ 1-3 days
TechPluto
⏱ 5-10 days
Discover Cloud
⏱ 5-7 days
Startup Buffer
⏱ 1-3 days
AppVita
⏱ 3-7 days
The Startup Pitch
⏱ 3-7 days
Startup Beat
⏱ 5-7 days
AI Tools Directory
⏱ 3-7 days
Tech Map
⏱ 3-7 days
AI Search
⏱ 3-7 days
Productivity Directory
⏱ 3-7 days
Indie Deals
⏱ 1-3 days
NoCodeList
⏱ 3-7 days
Awesome Tools
⏱ 3-7 days
LaunchDirectories
⏱ Instant
Fazier
⏱ Instant
All Startups
⏱ 3-7 days
Victrays
⏱ 3-7 days
TopApps
⏱ 3-7 days
Apps Mamma
⏱ 3-5 days
Launched
⏱ 1-3 days
DoMore.ai
⏱ 3-5 days
Feedough
⏱ 7-14 days
Website Hunt
⏱ 3-5 days
Startup Benchmarks
⏱ 5-7 days
RocketHub
⏱ 3-7 days
OpenFuture
⏱ 3-7 days
Project Hatch
⏱ 5-10 days
AIHunt
⏱ 3-5 days
The Startup INC
⏱ 3-7 days
10words
⏱ 1-3 days
Apps Listo
⏱ 3-5 days
ProfitHunt
⏱ 3-5 days
SaaSRow
⏱ 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
9Sites
⏱ 1-3 days
Startup88
⏱ 3-7 days
AwesomeIndie
⏱ 3-7 days
Trendy Startups
⏱ 3-7 days
EarlyHunt
⏱ 1-3 days
ToolScout
⏱ 3-7 days
Startups FIY
⏱ 1-3 days
Product Canyon
⏱ 1-3 days
AppRater
⏱ 7-14 days
PayOnceApps
⏱ 3-7 days
Startup Heroes
⏱ 1-3 days
Invent List
⏱ 1-3 days
Wired Business (ToolListed)
⏱ instant after badge/crawl verification
Findly.tools
⏱ a few days to 1-2 weeks
BuildHop
⏱ Instant
TheMacApps
⏱ 1-3 days
SaaSFame
⏱ not explicitly stated
ToolFame
⏱ not explicitly stated
Dujoor
⏱ not explicitly stated; features one project per day (scheduled)
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 full sweep of the top free directories takes 8-12 hours spread across a few days. The 19 instant-approval directories can be completed in one sitting. Manual-review directories require preparation time but little active effort; submit and move on.
Start with free directories first; there are enough high-DR free options that paid listings can wait until 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.