Free startup directories to submit to in 2026 (and which give dofollow backlinks)

Every new domain has the same problem: Google has never heard of it. Startup directories are the quickest honest fix. You describe your product once, get a page that links to your site, and start showing up in search for your own product name within days.

This guide covers which directories are worth your time, how to check whether a link is dofollow, and a simple weekly plan for submitting.

Why directories still work for a new startup

A good directory listing does four things at once:

1. Gets you indexed. Crawlers visit established directories constantly, so a listing helps Google find your site faster.
2. Builds your first backlinks. For a site with zero links, a handful of relevant ones makes a visible difference.
3. Ranks for your name. Directory pages often rank on page one for "[your product]" and "[your product] review" before your own site does.
4. Sends real visitors. People browse directories looking for tools. Some of them will be your first users.

If you are new to the topic, start with what a dofollow backlink is and why it matters.

How to check if a directory gives a dofollow link

Directories change their link policies, so never trust a list, including this one, blindly. Check for yourself:

1. Open any live listing on the directory.
2. Right-click the link to the product's website and choose Inspect.
3. Look at the <a> tag. No rel attribute, or a rel without nofollow, sponsored or ugc, means dofollow.

Also check that listing pages are indexed: search site:directory.com "product name" on Google. A link on a page Google never indexed does very little.

Free startup directories worth submitting to

The list below sticks to directories that real founders and buyers use, with a free way to get listed. Link types change over time, so check each one with the method above.

Launch boards

Launch boards give you a spike of attention plus a product page that stays up afterwards. On UppLaunch, every launch goes live on the next Monday and stays on the board all week, so you get a full week of visibility instead of a single day. A free launch keeps a dofollow link while the UppLaunch badge is on your site, and Premium launches are always dofollow.

Alternatives and comparison sites

Sites like SaaSHub and AlternativeTo match people who are already looking to switch tools. List your product as an alternative to the best-known tool in your category. This is one of the few directory types that sends buyers, not just founders.

Review sites

G2 and Capterra matter most for B2B software. A basic listing is free. Even a few honest reviews from early users make the page rank for "[your product] reviews".

Niche directories

Every category has its own directories: AI tools, developer tools, design resources, no-code, marketing. A link from a directory in your niche is more relevant than one from a general list, and its visitors are closer to your customers. Search Google for "[your category] directory" and "[your category] tools list" to find them.

How to write a listing that ranks and gets clicks

Most founders paste their tagline and leave. A complete listing does much better:

• Name and tagline. Say what the product does in plain words, not a slogan.
• Description. Two or three short paragraphs: who it is for, the problem, how it solves it. Write a slightly different version for each directory so the pages are not duplicates.
• Logo and screenshots. Real screenshots of the product, not stock images.
• Categories. Pick the most specific ones that fit. They decide which category pages you appear on.
• Links. Use your main domain, and add your social profiles where the form allows.

For more on this, see how to write a launch listing that gets clicks.

A weekly submission plan

Submitting to fifty directories in one afternoon is tiring and the results are hard to follow. A steady rhythm works better:

1. Week 1. Launch on a launch board, and create your Crunchbase and Indie Hackers profiles.
2. Week 2. Submit to three or four launch directories and one alternatives site.
3. Week 3. Find three niche directories in your category and submit to them.
4. Every week after. Add two or three new listings, and reply to any comments or reviews on the old ones.

Keep a simple spreadsheet with the directory, the date, the listing URL and the link type. In Google Search Console, the Links report shows which ones Google has found.

What to avoid

• Mass submission services. "Submit to 500 directories for $30" means 500 spam sites.
• Directories nobody visits. If a directory has no real products or traffic, its link is worth little.
• Copy-pasting the same description everywhere. Write a fresh version for each important listing.
• Reciprocal link demands. Some directories require a link back before they list you. A badge on a real launch board is fine; link swaps at scale are not.

Start with your first listing today

The best time to start is before you feel ready. Launch your product on UppLaunch for free and it goes live on the next Monday with its own product page, then work through the list above a few directories at a time.