Best-of list · by use case
Almost every launch platform says "free". The terms behind it vary a lot: a 180-day queue, a badge you must keep on your site, a followed link only for the top 3, or no SEO link at all.
This page groups free launches by those terms, from each platform's own site or our research, at the time of writing (September 2026). LaunchRanked is ours, and it's labelled.
Disclosure: LaunchRanked is our product. Where we list it, we say so, and we place it under the use case it fits rather than at the top by default. Everything else here is from the vendors’ own sites or our research, and we say where they’re better.
Grouped by use case; order within a group is not a ranking. Prices at the time of writing (September 2026).
| Tool | Use case | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| LaunchRanked (ours) | Free, reviewed, followed link, no badge | A followed link for every listing that passes human review: no badge, no vote threshold, no payment. | Free; Boost $15, Featured $29 (one-time) |
| Tiny Startups | Free, reviewed, followed link, no badge | Indie makers. | Free |
| PitchWall | Free, but you wait | Founders who can wait a month. | Free after a 30+ day wait; $49 / $99 to shorten it |
| Launching Next | Free, but you wait | A no-cost listing on a site running since 2013. | Free; $99 for 1-business-day consideration |
| StartupBase | Free with a badge on your site | Founders fine with a badge. | Free (badge required, ~4–5 weeks); Premium from $39 |
| ScrollLaunch | Free with a badge on your site | A cheap guaranteed link ($19). | Free; Premium $19, Premium+ $39 |
| CodeHype | Free with a badge on your site | AI tools on a budget. | Free (14-day queue); Plus $15, Pro $25 |
| OpenHunts | Free with a badge on your site | A $9.90 guaranteed dofollow launch if you'd rather pay. | Free (~60-week queue, or add badge to skip); Premium $9.90 |
| Firsto | Free, but the link depends on ranking or votes | A permanent page if you can wait six months. | Free (~180-day queue); Premium $19.90 |
| Uneed | Free, but the link depends on ranking or votes | Makers who can rally upvotes. | Free queue; Fast-track $14.99 |
| TinyLaunch | Free, but the link depends on ranking or votes | Founders confident of a top-3 finish. | Free; Premium $39 |
| Product Hunt | Free, big audience, no SEO link | A big day of attention. | Free |
| Hacker News (Show HN) | Free, big audience, no SEO link | Technical products. | Free |
| Indie Hackers | Free, big audience, no SEO link | Building in public. | Free |
The simplest terms we found.
Free; Boost $15, Featured $29 (one-time)
Weekly launch board with a permanent, SEO-ready product page.
Free
Hand-approved listing; its submit page says you earn a do-follow backlink.
The free option exists; the queue is the price.
Free after a 30+ day wait; $49 / $99 to shorten it
1 day on the homepage and a do-follow backlink (per its submit page).
Free; $99 for 1-business-day consideration
Reviewed daily; you're emailed if it's published.
The followed link depends on linking back to them.
Free (badge required, ~4–5 weeks); Premium from $39
Daily launches with a permanent listing.
Free; Premium $19, Premium+ $39
Weekly Product Hunt alternative.
Free (14-day queue); Plus $15, Pro $25
Weekly boards for AI tools.
Free (~60-week queue, or add badge to skip); Premium $9.90
Weekly Monday launches with 7 days on the homepage.
Free (~180-day queue); Premium $19.90
Daily launches with a permanent project page.
Free queue; Fast-track $14.99
Daily board with a maker community.
Free; Premium $39
Daily micro-launches.
Worth it for people, not for links.
Free
The largest daily launch community.
Free
Show HN for things people can try now.
Free
Founder community with a products database and daily Build Board.
At the time of writing (September 2026), LaunchRanked (after human review) and Tiny Startups (hand-approved; per its submit page). Most others require a badge, a top-3 finish, upvotes or a long wait.
A followed link in exchange for a link back is a reciprocal link. Google's spam policies name excessive link exchanges as link spam. One or two are unlikely to matter; a dozen start to look like a pattern.
No. Product Hunt, Show HN and Indie Hackers can bring real users and feedback. They just don't pass ranking credit.
Checked on their own sites on 23 September 2026. Prices and terms change, so check before you buy. Domain ratings are approximate third-party estimates.