Tier 1: Premium Platforms (High Impact)

1. Product Hunt

• Domain Authority: 91
• Monthly Traffic: 5M+
• Best For: Consumer products, apps, and tools
• Submission Strategy: Launch on Tuesday-Thursday for maximum visibility
• Cost: Free (Pro features available)

Product Hunt is the gold standard for startup launches. Success here can lead to massive traffic spikes and media coverage.

2. Hacker News (Show HN)

• Domain Authority: 93
• Monthly Traffic: 10M+
• Best For: Developer tools, tech products
• Submission Strategy: Post during US business hours with clear, honest titles
• Cost: Free

The tech community’s favorite forum. A successful post can drive thousands of visitors and high-quality feedback.

3. AngelList (Wellfound)

• Domain Authority: 87
• Monthly Traffic: 2M+
• Best For: Startups seeking funding or talent
• Submission Strategy: Complete profile with traction metrics and clear value proposition
• Cost: Free

Essential for any startup looking for investors or early employees.

4. Crunchbase

• Domain Authority: 92
• Monthly Traffic: 20M+
• Best For: All types of startups
• Submission Strategy: Maintain updated profile with funding rounds and milestones
• Cost: Free (Pro features available)

The startup database of record. Essential for credibility and investor discovery.

Tier 2: High-Value Platforms

5. BetaList

• Domain Authority: 55
• Monthly Traffic: 500K+
• Best For: Products in beta or early launch
• Submission Strategy: Apply early, provide exclusive access
• Cost: Free

Great for pre-launch buzz and early user acquisition.

6. Indie Hackers

• Domain Authority: 64
• Monthly Traffic: 1M+
• Best For: Bootstrapped startups and side projects
• Submission Strategy: Share your journey and metrics transparently
• Cost: Free

Perfect for solo founders and bootstrap entrepreneurs.

7. Startup Stash

• Domain Authority: 47
• Monthly Traffic: 200K+
• Best For: Tools and resources for entrepreneurs
• Submission Strategy: Focus on how your product helps other entrepreneurs
• Cost: Free

Curated collection of startup tools and resources.

8. AlternativeTo

• Domain Authority: 87
• Monthly Traffic: 5M+
• Best For: Apps and software tools
• Submission Strategy: Position as alternative to popular tools
• Cost: Free

Excellent for software products that compete with established players.

9. SaaSHub

• Domain Authority: 71
• Monthly Traffic: 800K+
• Best For: SaaS products and tools
• Submission Strategy: Include detailed feature comparisons
• Cost: Free

Comprehensive directory of SaaS products.

10. Launching Next

• Domain Authority: 42
• Monthly Traffic: 150K+
• Best For: Upcoming product launches
• Submission Strategy: Submit before launch for pre-launch buzz
• Cost: Free

Build anticipation before your official launch.

Tier 3: Niche and Specialized Platforms

11. Startup Ranking

• Domain Authority: 38
• Monthly Traffic: 100K+
• Best For: Global startup discovery
• Submission Strategy: Include international expansion plans
• Cost: Free

International focus with good global reach.

12. Futurism

• Domain Authority: 78
• Monthly Traffic: 3M+
• Best For: Future-tech and AI startups
• Submission Strategy: Emphasize innovative technology
• Cost: Free

Perfect for cutting-edge technology startups.

13. Startup Inspire

• Domain Authority: 35
• Monthly Traffic: 50K+
• Best For: Inspirational startup stories
• Submission Strategy: Share your founding story
• Cost: Free

Focus on the human side of entrepreneurship.

14. StartupLister

• Domain Authority: 28
• Monthly Traffic: 30K+
• Best For: New startup discovery
• Submission Strategy: Submit early for maximum exposure
• Cost: Free

Simple submission process for new startups.

15. Startup Buffer

• Domain Authority: 32
• Monthly Traffic: 40K+
• Best For: Startup news and directories
• Submission Strategy: Include press coverage and milestones
• Cost: Free

Good for ongoing startup news and updates.

Industry-Specific Directories

16. AngelList (by Industry)

• Fintech: FinTech startups
• HealthTech: Healthcare innovations
• EdTech: Education technology
• CleanTech: Clean technology solutions

17. Capterra

• Domain Authority: 94
• Monthly Traffic: 10M+
• Best For: B2B software solutions
• Submission Strategy: Focus on business value and ROI
• Cost: Free

Essential for B2B SaaS products.

18. G2

• Domain Authority: 91
• Monthly Traffic: 15M+
• Best For: Business software with user reviews
• Submission Strategy: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews
• Cost: Free

Review-based platform for business software.

19. TechCrunch Startup Battlefield

• Domain Authority: 95
• Monthly Traffic: 20M+
• Best For: High-growth potential startups
• Submission Strategy: Apply for pitch competitions
• Cost: Free (application-based)

Prestigious platform for high-potential startups.

20. Y Combinator Startup School

• Domain Authority: 89
• Monthly Traffic: 5M+
• Best For: Early-stage startups
• Submission Strategy: Participate in online courses and community
• Cost: Free

Educational platform with startup directory component.

Regional and Local Directories

21. European Startup Network

• Best For: European startups
• Focus: EU market expansion
• Submission Strategy: Highlight European presence

22. Asian Startup Directory

• Best For: Asian market startups
• Focus: Asian expansion and partnerships
• Submission Strategy: Include local market insights

23. Latin American Startup Hub

• Best For: LATAM startups
• Focus: Regional ecosystem building
• Submission Strategy: Emphasize local impact

24. African Startup Network

• Best For: African startups
• Focus: African innovation ecosystem
• Submission Strategy: Highlight social impact

25. Silicon Valley Startup Directory

• Best For: US-based tech startups
• Focus: Silicon Valley ecosystem
• Submission Strategy: Include US market strategy