Directory database · Desktop software
Where to submit desktop software: 14 directories
Desktop software directories are mostly download sites and software catalogues: places where people search for a program by name or by task and download it. Many have been around for a long time and still get steady search traffic, but quality varies. Some test and review each program, others accept anything, and a few wrap installers in their own download managers. Before submitting, open an existing listing and check how the download works. The listings that do well give the exact operating systems and versions supported, a changelog, file size, licence (free, trial, paid) and a direct link to a signed installer. If you ship a portable version or a package for a Linux package manager, list it; people who search desktop directories often want exactly that.
8 with a verified dofollow link · 14 free or with a free option · 10 reviewed by a person · last checked Sep 23, 2026
By hand, from $79 one-time.
All 14, most popular first
SourceForge
sourceforge.net
A veteran open source hosting and download platform that also runs a business software directory. Projects can be created or imported from GitHub with free mirror-based downloads and stats; each…
Snap Store (Snapcraft)
snapcraft.io
Canonical's store for snap packages, used on Ubuntu and other Linux distributions to install desktop apps, CLI tools and services. Store pages show publisher, screenshots and contact links, and a…
Uptodown
en.uptodown.com
A large alternative app store and download site for Android, Windows and Mac. Its Developers Console lets any maker publish and distribute software, with app pages that also rank in web search.
Homebrew
brew.sh
The dominant package manager for macOS (and Linux), with a public index of formulae and casks at formulae.brew.sh. Getting into homebrew/core or homebrew/cask makes a tool installable with a single…
Flathub
flathub.org
The main app store for Flatpak packages, used by many Linux distributions to install desktop apps. Submissions are made as GitHub pull requests and checked by reviewers; accepted apps get a store…
MacUpdate
macupdate.com
A long-running Mac software download site with app pages, version history, reviews and deals. Developers can submit new apps or updates, which are checked by the site's content team before going live.
FOSSHub
fosshub.com
FOSSHub is a download host and catalog for open-source and some freeware desktop software, known for serving installers without bundled adware. Projects that are accepted get a program page with…
WebCatalog
webcatalog.io
A catalog of web apps and SaaS tools that people can install as desktop apps on Mac, Windows and Linux through the WebCatalog client, with category pages and alternatives lists. Desktop users browse…
FileHorse
filehorse.com
A software download catalogue for Windows and Mac with reviews, version histories and screenshots. Desktop app developers can ask to have their program listed and tested, gaining a download page and…
Filepuma
filepuma.com
Filepuma is a software download catalog covering Windows, Mac, Android and web apps, with reviews and version histories. Developers can submit a program by PAD file or form, and each accepted title…
LinuxLinks
linuxlinks.com
LinuxLinks is an editorial site that reviews and rounds up free and open-source Linux software, with 'best of' lists and individual program write-ups. Suggested programs can end up featured in an…
Arch User Repository (AUR)
aur.archlinux.org
The community-driven repository of build scripts (PKGBUILDs) for Arch Linux users. Anyone with an AUR account can publish a package, which gets a page with its upstream URL, votes, popularity and…
Chocolatey Community Repository
community.chocolatey.org
The public package feed for Chocolatey, the Windows package manager, with thousands of community-maintained packages. Each package page shows install commands, version history and links to the…
Microsoft Store (Windows)
apps.microsoft.com
The built-in app store on Windows PCs, also browsable on the web, for desktop apps and games. Developers publish through Partner Center, and apps pass Store certification before being listed to…
DR is Domain Rating by Ahrefs: a 0–100 score of a site’s backlinks, higher is stronger. It isn’t a Google metric. Tranco rank is a research top-sites ranking: lower means more popular. How we check each directory
How to prioritise
- Software catalogues that test programs and show version history.
- Directories for your operating system (Windows, Linux) and for your task category.
- Skip any site that repackages your installer or adds bundled offers.
Questions about this list
What information do download sites ask for?
Usually: program name, version, supported operating systems, licence type, file size, a direct download URL, a description, screenshots and a changelog. Some read a PAD-style XML file if you publish one.
How do I keep listings up to date after a release?
Keep a stable download URL that always points to the latest version, and update the version number on the directories that show it. Out-of-date listings lead to support requests about bugs you already fixed.
Are software download sites safe to list on?
The maintained ones are. Before you submit, download an existing program from the site and check you get the original, signed installer and no extra offers. If not, skip it.
Which of these directories give a dofollow link?
8 of the 14 had a followed (dofollow) listing link when we checked: Snap Store (Snapcraft), Uptodown, Flathub, MacUpdate, FOSSHub, FileHorse and 2 more. Directories change their link policy, so check your own listing once it is live.