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Best startup directories in 2026, ranked by real traffic
The 25 startup, SaaS and AI directories with the most monthly visitors, what each costs, and how to pick the ones that fit your product.
Most "best startup directories" lists are ranked by domain rating, or not ranked at all. Domain rating tells you how strong a site's links are. It doesn't tell you whether anyone will see your listing.
This list is ranked by real monthly traffic, from the 397 directories in the AgentLaunch catalog. We reviewed 2,703 sites to build that catalog and kept the ones that are alive, have a working way to submit, and clear a quality bar.
The 25 startup directories with the most traffic
| Directory | Type | DR | Monthly visits | Cost to list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SourceForge | Software review | 93 | 22.5M | Free |
| There's An AI For That | AI tools directory | 77 | 5.1M | Paid from $49 |
| VS Code Marketplace | Integration marketplace | 92 | 4.1M | Free |
| Product Hunt | Launch platform | 91 | 3.7M | Free |
| Softpedia | Developer tools | 86 | 3.3M | Free |
| Crunchbase | Startup database | 91 | 3.2M | Free |
| G2 | Software review | 91 | 2.2M | Free |
| AlternativeTo | Software review | 80 | 2.1M | Free |
| MCP Market | MCP | 60 | 1.6M | Free; paid from $29 |
| F6S | Startup database | 83 | 1.3M | Free |
| Rapid (RapidAPI Hub) | Developer tools | 83 | 1.2M | Free |
| Toolify | AI tools directory | 73 | 1.1M | Paid from $99 |
| AIxploria | AI tools directory | 56 | 781K | Paid from $99 |
| Alternative.me | Software review | 75 | 713K | Free |
| MCP Servers | SaaS | 71 | 686K | Free |
| TopAI.tools | AI tools directory | 64 | 678K | Paid from $47 |
| What's the Big Data | AI tools directory | 74 | 637K | Free with a backlink; paid upgrades |
| Dealroom | Startup database | 78 | 496K | Free |
| Peerlist | Launch platform | 77 | 486K | Free |
| SaaSHub | Software review | 81 | 407K | Free |
| European Alternatives | Alternatives directory | 73 | 371K | Free |
| Future Tools | AI tools directory | 69 | 363K | Free |
| Software Suggest | Software review | 77 | 358K | Free; paid upgrades |
| Dang AI | AI tools directory | 82 | 346K | Free with a backlink; paid from $49 |
| Smithery | MCP | 78 | 341K | Free |
How to pick the right startup directories
Match the type of directory to your product.
- Launch platforms (Product Hunt, Peerlist, Uneed, Fazier) give you a launch day and a burst of early adopters.
- Software review sites (G2, Capterra, TrustRadius, SourceForge) matter once you have customers who can leave reviews.
- Alternatives directories (AlternativeTo, SaaSHub) send people who are switching from a tool you replace.
- Startup databases (Crunchbase, F6S, Startup Stash) help with credibility, investors and partners.
- AI directories (There's An AI For That, Toolify, Future Tools) are essential if your product is an AI tool.
- Developer and MCP directories (VS Code Marketplace, Smithery, MCP.so) only if you build for developers.
Then sort by traffic, not domain rating. A DR 85 site with 10,000 visits a month sends less than a DR 60 site with 500,000.
Finally, check the cost. 329 of the 397 directories in our catalog have a free option. 101 ask for a badge or backlink on your site in return, and 66 are paid only.
A realistic launch plan
- Week 1: your main launch platform (Product Hunt or an alternative), plus 10 free directories that fit your category.
- Weeks 2 to 4: 5 to 10 directories a day, with copy written for each one.
- After launch: review sites once you have customers, and alternatives directories next to the tools you replace.
Spreading submissions over a few weeks looks like a real launch and gives you time to answer the directories that need something from you.
Launching on all of them without a spreadsheet
AgentLaunch turns your website into a product brief, recommends the directories that fit, writes copy for each one, and fills the forms through a Chrome extension in your own browser at a steady pace. It stops for anything that needs you and tracks every listing until it's live. $39 per product.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best startup directory?
By traffic, Product Hunt is the biggest pure launch platform, with about 3.7 million visits a month. For AI tools, There's An AI For That is larger still.
Are startup directories free?
Most are. 329 of the 397 in our catalog have a free option.
How many startup directories should I submit to?
Start with 30 to 60 that fit your product, spread over a few weeks. Relevance beats volume.
Do startup directories help SEO?
Relevant ones can, through dofollow links and brand mentions. See dofollow directories for startups.
Related guides
- Startup listing sites: where to list your startup for free
- Sites like Product Hunt, ranked by real traffic
- SaaS listing websites: where to list a SaaS product
- Dofollow directories for startups
Browse all 397 directories in the AgentLaunch catalog, or launch your product for $39.