# Best startup directories in 2026, by DR4

> The top 25 free directories to submit a startup or SaaS to, ranked by Ahrefs DR4 with DR3 beside it, plus link types and a realistic first 30 to start with.

Canonical: https://productsfarm.com/blog/best-startup-directories-2026
Last updated: 2026-11-07

By [Rohan](https://productsfarm.com/blog/author/rohangotwal), published 2026-11-07, in [Directories](https://productsfarm.com/blog/category/directories), 12 min read.

The strongest free directories to submit a startup to in 2026 are SourceForge and G2 (DR4 92), then Capterra, Crunchbase and Product Hunt (DR4 91). Of the 137 directories and launch sites we track, 125 are free to list on, and 22 of those have a DR4 of 70 or more. Under Ahrefs' new DR4 model the median directory on our list falls from DR 66 to 42, so a list ranked by today's numbers can point you at the wrong places.

## At a glance

| | Count |
|---|---|
| Directories and launch sites we track | 137 |
| Free to list on | 125 (91%) |
| Dofollow link for every listing | 51 (37%) |
| Free and dofollow | 44 |
| DR 70 or more under today's model (DR3) | 57 |
| DR 70 or more under the new model (DR4 preview) | 26 |
| Median Domain Rating, DR3 to DR4 | 66 to 42 |
| Time to submit by hand | about 30 minutes each |
| DR4 replaces DR3 | December 1, 2026 |

The short version: pick free directories with a high DR4 that fit your product, do the dofollow ones first, skip AI directories unless you sell an AI product, and track everything in a sheet. All 137 are on our [product directory list, ranked by DR4](https://productsfarm.com/directories).

## How to pick directories

Four questions sort almost every directory. How strong is it under DR4? Is its link dofollow? Is it free? Is it made for your kind of product?

### Rank by DR4, keep DR3 beside it

Domain Rating is Ahrefs' score from 0 to 100 for how strong a site's backlinks are. Ahrefs announced a new model, DR4, in November 2026, and it replaces today's Domain Rating (DR3 here) on December 1, 2026. Ahrefs names two main changes: subdomains get their own rating, and the pool of domains whose links count is about half the size, around 132 million. It says DR4 tracks Google rankings more than 2.5 times better than the current model.

For directories the change is large. 117 of the 137 on our list score lower under DR4, 75 of them by 20 points or more, and 14 score higher. The moves range from Zivaro Launch, 70 to 0, to AI With Me, 58 to 70. In what we've seen, sites whose links come mostly from small or new sites drop the most. Links from groups of small sites that mostly link to each other count for little.

We rank by DR4 because it goes live in December, and show DR3 because it's the number you'll see everywhere until then. DR4 is still a preview, so treat a drop as a reason to look closer, not a verdict. To check a directory or your own site, paste up to 50 domains into our [free DR4 checker](https://productsfarm.com/tools/dr4-checker).

### Dofollow or nofollow

A dofollow link passes ranking value to your site. A nofollow link still brings visitors and helps search engines find your pages, but doesn't count toward your rankings. Both are worth having. G2, Capterra, Crunchbase and Product Hunt all have a DR4 of 91 or 92 and nofollow links: list there for the visitors and the page, not the link.

Of the 137, 51 (37%) give every listing a dofollow link, and 23 (17%) do only when you qualify: their badge on your site, a top 3 finish or enough votes. 7 use nofollow, and 56 aren't confirmed yet, since we only mark a link once a listing of ours is live there. Our [list of 51 dofollow directories](https://productsfarm.com/directories/dofollow) has every one, and our [dofollow checker](https://productsfarm.com/tools/dofollow-checker) tests a live listing's link.

### Free or paid

125 of the 137 let you list for free, and 89 of those also sell paid upgrades, such as a featured spot or a faster review. 12 charge to list at all. The paid ones with the highest DR4 are There's An AI For That and Futurepedia (both 73), then [BetaList](https://productsfarm.com/directories/betalist) and AI With Me (both 70). Check a site's Domain Rating before you pay: it changes over time, and it's about to change for every site at once. The [125 free directories](https://productsfarm.com/directories/free) are where to start.

### Pick the kind that fits your product

| Kind | On our list | Free to list | Dofollow for every listing | Median DR3 | Median DR4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch platforms | 52 | 96% | 52% | 66 | 31 |
| SaaS directories | 36 | 97% | 33% | 62 | 35 |
| Startup directories | 28 | 93% | 14% | 68 | 44 |
| AI directories | 21 | 67% | 38% | 67 | 61 |

Launch platforms give the most dofollow links, but their median falls the furthest under DR4, from 66 to 31. Startup directories keep more of their rating than launch platforms or SaaS directories, but rarely confirm a dofollow link. AI directories hold up best, and a third of them charge to list.

### AI directories only for AI products

AI tool directories are made for AI products. If yours isn't one, skip them and spend the time on directories that fit. If it is, they're some of the strongest free options left under DR4: Dang.ai (74), ToolPilot (71), AI Tool Trek (71), Future Tools (65), Submit AI Tools (62) and AiTools.inc (61). Our [AI tools directory list](https://productsfarm.com/directories/ai) has all 21.

## The top 25 free directories by DR4

These are the 25 directories on our list with the highest DR4 that let you list for free. "Freemium" means the basic listing is free and the site sells upgrades. "Not confirmed" means we haven't seen a live listing's link there yet. Domain Rating by Ahrefs.

| # | Directory | DR3 | DR4 | Price | Link | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [SourceForge](https://productsfarm.com/directories/sourceforge) | 93 | 92 | freemium | dofollow | SaaS directory |
| 2 | [G2](https://productsfarm.com/directories/g2) | 91 | 92 | freemium | nofollow | SaaS directory |
| 3 | [Capterra](https://productsfarm.com/directories/capterra) | 91 | 91 | freemium | nofollow | SaaS directory |
| 4 | [Crunchbase](https://productsfarm.com/directories/crunchbase) | 91 | 91 | freemium | nofollow | Startup directory |
| 5 | [Product Hunt](https://productsfarm.com/directories/product-hunt) | 91 | 91 | free | nofollow | Launch platform |
| 6 | [Wellfound](https://productsfarm.com/directories/wellfound) | 87 | 89 | free | not confirmed | Startup directory |
| 7 | [Slashdot](https://productsfarm.com/directories/slashdot) | 87 | 88 | freemium | not confirmed | SaaS directory |
| 8 | [F6S](https://productsfarm.com/directories/f6s) | 83 | 85 | free | not confirmed | Startup directory |
| 9 | [brownbook.net](https://productsfarm.com/directories/brownbook-net) | 80 | 83 | free | not confirmed | Startup directory |
| 10 | [Indie Hackers](https://productsfarm.com/directories/indie-hackers) | 82 | 81 | free | not confirmed | Startup directory |
| 11 | [AlternativeTo](https://productsfarm.com/directories/alternativeto) | 81 | 81 | free | not confirmed | SaaS directory |
| 12 | [StackShare](https://productsfarm.com/directories/stackshare) | 78 | 81 | free | dofollow | SaaS directory |
| 13 | [Twelve Tools](https://productsfarm.com/directories/twelve-tools) | 83 | 76 | freemium | dofollow | Launch platform |
| 14 | [SaaSHub](https://productsfarm.com/directories/saashub) | 80 | 76 | free | dofollow | SaaS directory |
| 15 | [SaaSworthy](https://productsfarm.com/directories/saasworthy) | 75 | 75 | freemium | not confirmed | SaaS directory |
| 16 | [Dang.ai](https://productsfarm.com/directories/dang-ai) | 83 | 74 | freemium | not confirmed | AI directory |
| 17 | [Alternative.me](https://productsfarm.com/directories/alternative-me) | 76 | 74 | free | not confirmed | SaaS directory |
| 18 | [Startup Fame](https://productsfarm.com/directories/startup-fame) | 85 | 73 | freemium | dofollow | Startup directory |
| 19 | [Peerlist Launchpad](https://productsfarm.com/directories/peerlist-launchpad) | 78 | 72 | free | not confirmed | Launch platform |
| 20 | [ToolPilot](https://productsfarm.com/directories/toolpilot) | 79 | 71 | freemium | dofollow | AI directory |
| 21 | [DevHunt](https://productsfarm.com/directories/devhunt) | 68 | 71 | freemium | dofollow | Launch platform |
| 22 | [AI Tool Trek](https://productsfarm.com/directories/ai-tool-trek) | 63 | 71 | freemium | dofollow | AI directory |
| 23 | [Fazier](https://productsfarm.com/directories/fazier) | 84 | 69 | freemium | dofollow | Launch platform |
| 24 | [SideProjectors](https://productsfarm.com/directories/sideprojectors) | 72 | 69 | free | not confirmed | Startup directory |
| 25 | [Pitchwall](https://productsfarm.com/directories/pitchwall) | 72 | 67 | freemium | dofollow | Launch platform |

What the table shows:

- 10 of the 25 give every listing a dofollow link, 4 are nofollow, and 11 aren't confirmed yet.
- SourceForge is the only one with a DR4 above 90 and a confirmed dofollow link.
- 3 are AI directories: Dang.ai, ToolPilot and AI Tool Trek. Without them, the next free ones are Startup Ranking (67), ShowMySites (64) and [Startup Stash](https://productsfarm.com/directories/startup-stash) (64).

The 57 sites with a DR3 of 70 or more are on our [high DR directory list](https://productsfarm.com/directories/high-dr), with their DR4 beside it.

## Best launch platforms

Launch platforms are sites like Product Hunt, where a launch gets upvotes and a page of its own. 50 of the 52 on our list are free, but DR4 hits them hardest: half have a DR4 of 30 or less, and only 10 have 60 or more. The strongest free ones, plus Show HN, which isn't on our list:

| Launch platform | DR4 | Link | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Hunt | 91 | nofollow | Each launch competes for one day, so have your audience ready |
| Show HN on Hacker News | 91 | not on our list | Free; posts must be something readers can try right away |
| Twelve Tools | 76 | dofollow | Free listing, paid upgrades |
| Peerlist Launchpad | 72 | not confirmed | A new week opens every Monday; launching needs a verified profile |
| DevHunt | 71 | dofollow | Weekly launches for developer tools, voted on by developers |
| Fazier | 69 | dofollow | Daily board; the free tier asks for a link back to Fazier |
| Pitchwall | 67 | dofollow | Free launches wait at least 30 days |
| Launchtory | 63 | not confirmed | Free listing, paid upgrades |
| [Uneed](https://productsfarm.com/directories/uneed) | 62 | dofollow once you qualify | Free launches join a waiting line |
| PeerPush | 60 | dofollow | Free listing, paid upgrades |

Several have waiting lines or fixed launch weeks, so book those on day one. BetaList (DR4 70, dofollow) is the strongest paid one: every submission is paid, and refunded if it isn't selected. All 52 are on our [launch platform list](https://productsfarm.com/directories/launch-platforms), and our [Product Hunt alternatives](https://productsfarm.com/alternatives/product-hunt) compare the bigger ones by price and fit.

We run a launch platform too. ProductsFarm is a free weekly launch board: voting stays open from Monday to Sunday (UTC), and a free listing gets a dofollow link during its launch week once its maker has upvoted 3 other products. Paying never changes rank. We're new, though: productsfarm.com is DR 28 today and 0 in the DR4 preview, as new sites can be, likely because the preview's data predates their links. Launch with us for a week-long launch and a permanent product page, not for our Domain Rating yet. Our [ranking rules](https://productsfarm.com/rules) explain the details, and you can [launch your product for free](https://productsfarm.com/submit).

## Best SaaS directories

35 of the 36 SaaS directories on our list are free, but only 12 confirm a dofollow link for every listing. SourceForge (92) is the strongest dofollow link on the whole list, followed among SaaS directories by StackShare (81), SaaSHub (76), [ShowMySites](https://productsfarm.com/directories/showmysites) (64) and TechDirectory (56). SaaSHub lets makers list and verify a product for free, next to the tools it competes with. G2 and Capterra are nofollow, and still two of the strongest sites on the list. Turbo0 fell from DR3 81 to DR4 53, and is still free and dofollow. All 36 are on our [SaaS directory list](https://productsfarm.com/directories/saas).

## Best startup directories

26 of the 28 startup directories on our list are free. They keep more of their rating under DR4 than launch platforms (a median of 44, against 31), but only 4 confirm a dofollow link for every listing. Crunchbase (91) is nofollow. Wellfound (89), F6S (85), brownbook.net (83) and Indie Hackers (81) aren't confirmed yet. Startup Fame (73) is the strongest dofollow one, down from a DR3 of 85, and Startup Ranking (67) is one of the few that gained, from 62. Launching Next (40, dofollow) is smaller, but free to submit.

## A realistic first 30

You don't need 137 listings in your first month. A good first round is 30: the strongest free directories that fit your product, mixed so you get both visitors and dofollow links. This is the 30 we'd pick for a product that isn't AI, all free to list on:

| Group | Directories | DR4 | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| The biggest sites (10) | SourceForge, G2, Capterra, Crunchbase, Wellfound, Slashdot, F6S, brownbook.net, Indie Hackers, AlternativeTo | 81 to 92 | The highest DR4 on the list. Mostly nofollow or not confirmed, so these are for visitors and a page on a strong site |
| Confirmed dofollow (10) | StackShare, Twelve Tools, SaaSHub, Startup Fame, DevHunt, Fazier, Pitchwall, ShowMySites, PeerPush, TechDirectory | 56 to 81 | Every listing gets a dofollow link |
| Other strong free lists (10) | Product Hunt, SaaSworthy, Alternative.me, Peerlist Launchpad, SideProjectors, Startup Ranking, Startup Stash, Launchtory, Uneed, TrustMRR | 57 to 91 | Early visitors and more pages about your product |

If every listing goes live, at least 11 carry a confirmed dofollow link (the middle row plus SourceForge), and Uneed adds one once you qualify. Adjust it to your product:

- **AI product:** swap in Dang.ai, ToolPilot, AI Tool Trek, Future Tools and Submit AI Tools for the five general ones that fit you least.
- **Not a developer tool:** swap DevHunt for Turbo0 (53, dofollow).
- **Not ready for a Product Hunt launch day:** plan it on its own and take the next free directory on the list instead.

Our Starter plan does this same kind of round for you: the 30 strongest free directories, submitted by hand.

### Your week, day by day

1. **Day 1:** write your listing once: the same name everywhere, a tagline under 60 characters, a 160-character description and a longer one, a square logo of at least 256 by 256 pixels, two or three screenshots, and an email at your own domain. Start a sheet with one row per directory, and book the launch platforms with waiting lines.
2. **Day 2:** the 10 biggest sites, about 5 hours.
3. **Day 3:** the 10 confirmed dofollow ones, about 5 hours.
4. **Day 4:** the other strong free lists, about 5 hours.
5. **Day 5:** confirm every email the directories sent, or a listing may never reach review.
6. **In one to two weeks:** check what went live, and test each link with the dofollow checker.

Our [directory submission guide](https://productsfarm.com/directory-submission) walks through each step and the mistakes to avoid.

## How long it takes by hand

Once your listing is written, each directory takes about 30 minutes: an account, a confirmation email, the form and its images. Each one then reviews on its own schedule, from a day to a few weeks, so a sheet with the date, status and listing link for each is the only way to know what went live.

Our [directory submission service](https://productsfarm.com/submit-to-directories) does this work for you: we submit your product by hand to directories that are free to list on, highest Domain Rating first. No launch on ProductsFarm is needed: add your website, pick a plan and pay once.

| Plan | Directories | Price, one time | Time you'd spend by hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 30 | $49 | about 15 hours |
| Growth | 60 | $99 | about 30 hours |
| Complete | 100 | $199 | about 50 hours |
| Max | 350+ | $500 | about 175 hours |

Starter, Growth and Complete are below their regular prices ($99, $149 and $250) right now. Every plan is picked from our full catalog, so Max goes well past the 137 on our public list. We submit every directory in Starter to Complete within 3 to 7 days, and in Max within 7 to 10. You get your listing drafted from your website and yours to edit first, each directory's status and listing link in your dashboard with a CSV sheet, and your Domain Rating read when we start and when we finish. AI products also go to AI directories.

What we can't promise is a DR number. Each directory decides whether to list you and whether its link is dofollow, and listings go live on its own schedule, over days or weeks. Some ask for a confirmation email or their badge on your site, and your dashboard tells you when. Paid directories, like BetaList, aren't in any plan.

## How we put this together

- **The directories:** the 137 product directories and launch sites on our public list, the same ones our team submits products to by hand. We rank them all the same way, including launch platforms that compete with ours.
- **Price and link type:** from our own submissions. A link stays "not confirmed" until a listing of ours is live there.
- **Domain Rating:** DR3 was checked October 30, 2026. DR4 is Ahrefs' preview as we read it on November 7, 2026, and it can change until December 1, 2026. Show HN isn't on our list; its DR4 comes from the same day's reading.
- **Counts and medians:** computed from that list. The shares by kind and the DR3 medians by kind come from our [product directory study](https://productsfarm.com/research/product-directories); the DR4 medians by kind are new here.

If you'd rather put the 15 hours that 30 directories take into your product, our [done-for-you directory submission](https://productsfarm.com/submit-to-directories) covers the 30 strongest free directories for $49, one time, by hand, with every listing tracked in your dashboard. If you'd rather do it yourself, everything above is free to use: start at the top of the table and work down.

## Questions

### What are the best directories to submit a startup to?

By Ahrefs' DR4, the strongest free ones are SourceForge and G2 (92), then Capterra, Crunchbase and Product Hunt (91). For a dofollow link, SourceForge, StackShare, Twelve Tools and SaaSHub lead the free ones.

### How many directories should I submit my startup to?

About 30 is a good first round: free, strong under DR4 and a fit for your product. After that, pick by fit, not by count: under DR4, links from groups of small sites that mostly link to each other count for little.

### Are startup directories free to submit to?

Most are. 125 of the 137 directories and launch sites we track let you list for free, and 89 of those sell optional upgrades such as a featured spot. 12 charge to list at all.

### What is Ahrefs DR4?

It's Ahrefs' new Domain Rating model, which replaces the current one on December 1, 2026. It rates subdomains separately and counts links from a pool of about 132 million domains, roughly half the old size. Until then its numbers are a preview.

### Do directory backlinks still help SEO in 2026?

They can, as one part of a launch. Dofollow links from directories with a strong DR4 pass ranking value, and nofollow ones still send visitors and give search engines and AI assistants another page about your product.

### How long do directory listings take to go live?

Submitting takes about 30 minutes per directory by hand. Each directory then reviews on its own schedule, from a day to a few weeks, and some publish at once.

## Related

- [Is directory submission worth it in 2026? What 137 directories show](https://productsfarm.com/blog/is-directory-submission-worth-it)
- [Ahrefs DR4: what changes on December 1 and how to check your new DR](https://productsfarm.com/blog/ahrefs-dr4-explained)
- [The best startup launch platforms after Ahrefs' DR4 update](https://productsfarm.com/blog/best-launch-platforms-after-dr4)
- [All posts](https://productsfarm.com/blog)