Field notes
Free AI directories that list your tool without a backlink
80 AI directories list your tool for free without asking for a badge on your site. The biggest ones, what "free" really means, and how to submit to them.
Lots of AI directories call themselves free. Read the form and many want something back: a badge in your footer, a link from your homepage, or a paid "fast track" if you don't want to wait weeks.
We track 152 AI tool, agent and MCP directories in the AgentLaunch catalog. 80 of them list your tool for free without asking for a badge or backlink. Here are the biggest, ranked by real monthly traffic.
Free AI directories with no backlink required
| Directory | DR | Monthly visits | Cost to list | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCP Market | 60 | 1.6M | Free; paid from $29 | Not checked |
| Future Tools | 69 | 363K | Free | Dofollow |
| Smithery | 78 | 341K | Free | Not checked |
| Artificin | 64 | 330K | Free; paid from $79 | Not checked |
| MCP.so | 73 | 327K | Free | Not checked |
| Glama | 75 | 214K | Free; paid from $49/mo | Not checked |
| AI Valley | 33 | 157K | Free | Not checked |
| MCP.Directory | 38 | 127K | Free | Not checked |
| AI Tools Directory | 51 | 126K | Free; paid upgrades | Dofollow |
| PoweredbyAI | 34 | 83K | Free; paid from $11.99 | Not checked |
| WhatTheAI | 37 | 80K | Free; paid from $49 | Dofollow |
| Aitoolnet | 56 | 75K | Free; paid from $9.9 | Nofollow |
| AI Tools | 67 | 74K | Free; paid from $129 | Nofollow |
| AI Agents List | 36 | 73K | Free; paid upgrades | Not checked |
| AI Agents Directory | 74 | 70K | Free | Dofollow |
| Lachief | 23 | 62K | Free; paid from $250 | Dofollow |
| ToolJunction | 52 | 55K | Free; paid from $99 | Not checked |
| OpenFuture | 56 | 47K | Free | Dofollow |
| AllGPTs | 37 | 44K | Free | Not checked |
| SaaS AI Tools | 53 | 42K | Free; paid from $67 | Dofollow |
"Free; paid upgrades" means the basic listing costs nothing, and the directory sells extras like a featured spot or a faster review. You don't need them to be listed.
Free, but with a badge
Another 26 AI directories list you for free only if you add their badge or a link on your site. That can be a fair trade for a big one. Here are the largest:
| Directory | DR | Monthly visits | Cost to list |
|---|---|---|---|
| What's the Big Data | 74 | 637K | Free with a backlink; paid upgrades |
| Dang AI | 82 | 346K | Free with a backlink; paid from $49 |
| ToolPilot AI | 78 | 89K | Free with a backlink; paid upgrades |
| Toolso.AI | 29 | 37K | Free with a backlink; paid from $29.9 |
| DokeyAI | 57 | 20K | Free with a backlink; paid from $9.9 |
| Toolfio | 62 | 10K | Free with a backlink; paid from $18.99 |
| AI Tools Saver | 33 | 7K | Free with a backlink; paid from $25 |
| T0Ai | 36 | 4K | Free with a backlink; paid from $9.99 |
A badge is usually a small image in your footer that links to the directory. Before you agree, check whether the directory removes your listing if the badge goes away. Some do.
What "free" usually costs you
- Time in the queue. Free listings often wait days or weeks for review. Paid "fast track" options exist mainly to skip that wait.
- Placement. Free listings sit below featured ones. Fine for links and discovery, less so for launch-day traffic.
- Copy work. Every directory wants a slightly different tagline length, category and description. That's where the hours go.
None of that is a reason to skip them. For a new AI tool, free directories are the cheapest way to get found by people and by AI assistants that read these sites.
How to submit to free AI directories efficiently
- Write one strong product brief: what the tool does, who it's for, the main use cases, pricing and a few screenshots.
- Adapt the copy to each directory's limits. Short taglines (40 to 60 characters) and descriptions that open with the task.
- Pick directories that match your category. Agent tools go on agent directories, MCP servers on MCP registries.
- Spread the submissions over a couple of weeks. It looks like a real launch rather than a copy-paste blast.
- Track each one: submitted, in review, live, and the listing URL.
Free AI directories on autopilot, almost
AgentLaunch recommends the free AI directories that fit your tool, writes copy for each, and a Chrome extension fills the forms in your own browser, a few a day. It asks before adding any badge, stops for CAPTCHAs and email codes, and records every listing URL. One product costs $39.
Frequently asked questions
Which AI directories are free?
Of the 152 we track, 106 have a free option. 80 of those don't ask for a badge or backlink in return.
Why do some free AI directories ask for a backlink?
It's how they pay for free listings: a link from your site helps their search rankings. It's a fair trade for a large directory. Check whether they delist you if the badge is removed.
Is There's An AI For That free?
No. TAAFT listings started at $49 one-time at our September 2026 check. See how to submit to TAAFT.
How long do free AI directory listings take?
It varies from a few minutes to several weeks. Paid fast-track options exist mostly to skip the wait.
Related guides
- Where to submit your AI tool: AI directories ranked by traffic
- How to submit to There's An AI For That (TAAFT)
- Dofollow directories for startups
- Automated directory submission: what can be automated
See all 152 AI directories with traffic, prices and badge rules in the AgentLaunch catalog, or launch your AI tool for $39.