How-to
Free places to promote your startup in 2026: the ones we actually checked
Every list of free places to promote a startup has a big number in the title and no dates. We did it the slow way: we opened each site's own page on 26 October 2026 and wrote down what it says about cost, waiting and requirements. The list is shorter than the ones with a big number, and every line is something we saw ourselves.
How we checked, and what that does not prove
- We opened each site's own pages in a browser, including its submission page where we could reach it, and copied what they said.
- Where a page did not state a price, we write not stated. We do not guess, and we do not use other people's lists.
- Prices, waiting times and rules change. This is one afternoon, which is why the post has an updated date.
- A site that blocked our browser is listed as not checked.
Free usually means one of four things
Across the sites we could read, "free" came with a catch more often than not. None of the catches is unreasonable, but you should know which one you are accepting.
| The catch | Example we saw |
|---|---|
| A waiting period | PitchWall's free launch has a minimum 30-day waiting period; its $49 plan shortens that to two weeks. Fazier's free plan is reviewed and listed within 30 days. |
| A required backlink or badge | Fazier's free plan requires a link to Fazier on your homepage or footer (the page calls it free with an embed badge). |
| A paid fast lane | Launching Next is free to submit, with a $99 upgrade to be considered within one business day. PitchWall and Fazier sell paid plans from $29 to $99. |
| Competition and effort | Product Hunt is free to use, according to its own guide, but a launch there is a day of work and replies. Hacker News has strict rules (below). |
What we confirmed, site by site
| Place | What it is | What the page said about cost and process |
|---|---|---|
| Product Hunt | A daily launch platform for products | Its launch guide says: "Is Product Hunt free? Yes. It's 100% free to use." |
| Hacker News (Show HN) | A forum section for things you made | Free. Its guidelines say Show HN is for something people can try, and call blog posts, sign-up pages, newsletters and landing pages off topic. They also ask that you do not ask friends to upvote or comment. |
| Launching Next | A directory that publishes new startups and side projects | "Submitting to Launching Next is free", with a $99 upgrade for consideration within one business day. Reviews are daily and you get an email if it is published. |
| PitchWall (the old BetaPage address now leads here) | A directory of new products | Free Launch: free, one day on the homepage, minimum 30-day waiting period, a newsletter mention that is not guaranteed. Pro $49, Premium $99. |
| Fazier | A daily product directory | Basic: free, reviewed and listed within 30 days, with a required backlink to Fazier. Lite $29, Premium $49, Super $99 (the page shows struck-through higher prices). |
| Peerlist Launchpad | A weekly launch board for builders | "Launch opens every Monday from 12:00am to 11:59pm UTC"; the top three projects get a badge and a newsletter feature. A profile is needed. Cost: not stated on the page we saw. |
| DevHunt | A daily board for developer tools | Its product rows carry a Free, Subscription or Freemium label (that is the product's price, not a listing fee). It sells sponsor slots at $149 a week. The listing fee: not stated on the page we saw. |
| AlternativeTo | A crowd-sourced directory of software alternatives | The site calls itself "crowd-sourced and free" for readers. The terms for adding an app: not stated on the page we saw. |
| BetaList | A directory for early-stage startups | The submission page asks you to paste your website and "pick a plan"; nothing is published until you do. Whether there is a free plan: not stated. |
| Indie Hackers | A community of independent makers | Adding a product requires signing in. Cost: not stated. |
Looked at, but the cost was not stated
These sites showed a submit or list button and no price on the pages we could reach. That does not mean they are free or paid. It means you should read the next screen before you type anything.
- Microlaunch shows a Launch button and a Premium menu item. We could not find a pricing page (the address we tried returned 404).
- SaaSHub shows a submit area and sponsored placements. No price on the page we saw.
- Startup Stash has a "List A Product" button and marks some tools as verified. No price on the page we saw.
Could not check: Crunchbase asked our browser to verify its session before showing anything, so we say nothing about it.
How we would use them
- Make something people can tryA free tool or a demo gets through doors a landing page does not. Hacker News says so in its own rules.
- Start the slow queues firstThe 30-day waiting lists (PitchWall and Fazier free plans) take a month. Submit those on day one.
- Tag every linkAdd a campaign tag per site so you can see which one sent anyone. Without it you are guessing.
- Launch on the weekly and daily boardsPeerlist, DevHunt and Product Hunt reward a prepared day. Reply to every comment.
- Read the numbers after two weeksKeep the two places that sent real visits. Skip the rest.
For the full week-long plan, see how to announce a side project with no budget. If you are weighing a paid spot as well, see where a first $50 should go.
Questions people ask
Is a directory listing worth it?
It can bring a trickle of visits and a link, but we cannot promise either. Tag your links and measure for two weeks before you decide to pay for a faster lane.
Why do some free plans want a backlink from me?
The site gets a link from you in exchange for listing you. Fazier's free plan, for example, asks for a link to Fazier on your homepage or footer.
Can I post my waitlist page on Hacker News?
Its own guidelines call sign-up pages and landing pages off topic for Show HN. Share something people can actually try.
How often is this list updated?
We re-check when we can and change the updated date. If a site changed or is missing, tell us at support@claimpixels.com.