Best Startup Directories (2026) - Free, Dofollow & DR-Ranked
Best startup directories for 2026, in one startup directories list: 1,018+ SaaS directories and startup listing websites, every row hand-checked with pricing, dofollow status, and live Ahrefs DR. Start with the Free + Dofollow, DR 50+ shortlist on this page - or skip the forms and we submit for you.
Browse indexable lists for free, dofollow, category, and DR cuts.
Startup directories
Dofollow listed
Free to submit
Ahrefs DR
Real results
consentz.com went from DR 2 to DR 36
A clinic management software company bought the Premium List. We hand-submitted it to 100+ directories from this catalog - as the listings went live and indexed, Ahrefs re-scored the domain from DR 2 to DR 36 and its Ahrefs Rank climbed from 42.6M to 2.3M.
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Domain Rating
Ahrefs Rank 42.6M
Domain Rating
Ahrefs Rank 2.3M
Start here: Free + Dofollow, DR 50+
The first screen of this startup directories list: free submission, dofollow links, and live Ahrefs DR 50 or higher. Open the full archive below for every row.
| Directory | DR | Category | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | 100 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| Unsplash | 94 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| Better Business BureaU | 93 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| FMHY | 93 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| TripAdvisor | 93 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| Gartner | 92 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| SourceForge | 92 | Open Source | Dofollow · Free |
| Capterra - For Vendors | 91 | Software Reviews | Dofollow · Free |
| DEV Community | 91 | Community | Dofollow · Free |
| Nextdoor | 91 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| Proven Expert | 91 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
| Angie's List | 90 | General Directory | Dofollow · Free |
Full list of startup directories
Search, filter Free + Dofollow, and sort 1,018 directories by live Ahrefs DR.
Google's official Chrome extension marketplace. Massive distribution channel.
Google Business Profile is for local brick-and-mortar businesses on Google Maps - not for listing SaaS or digital-only products.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything founders ask about startup directories - last reviewed 2026-10-02.
What are the best startup directories in 2026?
This startup directories list defaults to highest DR first - the best authority-per-hour-spent order for founders. Top entries include GitHub Showcase, Chrome Web Store, Google Business Profile, and Wikipedia. ScrollLaunch is included for SaaS and AI product launches with a dofollow backlink on your product page. Last reviewed 2026-10-02.
What is a startup directory?
A startup directory is a curated site where founders list a live product for discovery, traffic, and often a backlink. This page is the full startup directories list - every row shows pricing, dofollow status, and live Ahrefs DR so you can pick the next submission target without guessing.
Where can I find a startup directories list?
You're on it - 1,018+ startup directories ranked by Ahrefs Domain Rating. Filter Pricing = Free and Dofollow = Yes for a shortlist you can finish in an afternoon, or use the search box to jump to a category. For the Top 100 by Domain Rating only, see the DR leaderboard. For a shorter decision framework, read our best SaaS directories guide, then come back here for the live table.
What are the best SaaS directories in 2026?
This page is a live SaaS directories list ranked by Ahrefs Domain Rating - the same archive founders use when they search for best SaaS directories or a list of SaaS directories. Filter Pricing = Free and Dofollow = Yes for a shortlist of free SaaS directories that can pass backlinks. For a curated shortlist with launch-stage tips, see our best SaaS directories guide, then come back here for the full DR-sorted table.
What's the difference between a startup directory and a SaaS directory?
Overlap is high. "Startup directories" is the broader search term; "SaaS directories" usually means the same submission targets filtered for software products (SaaS, AI tools, B2B apps) rather than hardware or consumer marketplaces. Use this archive for both - filter by category when you only want software-friendly listings.
Where should I launch my startup besides these directories?
Directories are the compounding layer, not the whole launch. Pair this list with a spike surface and a weekly board - the where to launch a startup map covers Product Hunt, ScrollLaunch, and when to use beta vs review sites. Come back here for the DR-sorted submission pass.
Will these directory backlinks show up in Ahrefs?
Only if the listing is a real dofollow href on an indexed page pointing at your canonical host. Filter Dofollow = Yes here, then verify rel on the live profile. The dofollow backlinks that show in Ahrefs guide is the checklist - blast SEO submission software will not.
Should I use free SEO submission software instead of this list?
No. Those tools ping dead engines and nofollow farms. Use Google Search Console, Bing, IndexNow, then this archive. Read free SEO submission in 2026 for the one-week plan, or have us submit if you do not want to run the forms.
What are the best startup listing sites and submission sites?
Startup listing sites, startup listing websites, and startup submission sites are the same targets as this archive - places you submit a product URL for discovery and backlinks. Sort by DR, then filter Free + Dofollow for the highest-ROI pass. If you want one best website for listing a new startup instead of a list, pick by job (lasting page vs spike vs waitlist) there, then come back here for coverage. Launch directories (weekly or daily boards) sit in the same list; pick them when you want traffic spikes, and evergreen directories when you want lasting SEO equity.
Where can I find free startup directories for founders?
Filter Pricing = Free on this page - 834 of 1,018 entries accept free submission. Pair that with Dofollow = Yes for free startup directories for founders that can still pass backlinks. Freemium rows often keep a free listing path with a paid upgrade for placement.
Which startup directories have free submission?
834 of the 1,018 listed directories offer free submission. Filter by Pricing = Free to see them all - that view is the practical list of free startup directories and free SaaS directories for backlinks when you also set Dofollow = Yes. "Freemium" means you can list for free but a paid tier unlocks better placement or dofollow. "Paid" means submission requires a one-off or recurring fee. We've avoided pure pay-to-play directory farms - every entry has real organic traffic and an established editorial process.
Which startup directories give dofollow backlinks?
595 directories on this list pass dofollow link equity (filter Dofollow = Yes). Every entry is hand-checked: "Dofollow" means the listing link passes ranking authority, "Nofollow" means it doesn't, and "Conditional" means it depends on tier (e.g. paid listings dofollow, free listings nofollow). For SEO impact, prioritise Dofollow + Conditional entries with DR 50+.
What is Domain Rating (DR) and why does it matter?
Domain Rating is Ahrefs' 0-100 metric estimating how strong a website's backlink profile is. Submitting your startup to a directory with DR 70+ is roughly equivalent to earning a referral link from a respected industry publication - Google treats those backlinks as much stronger ranking signals than a link from a brand-new site with DR 5. Check any domain live with our free Ahrefs DR Check or run a full website comparison with SEO Compare.
Which directories should I submit to first?
Default sort is highest DR first - that's the order with the best authority-per-hour-spent. If your budget is hours not dollars, filter by Pricing = Free + Dofollow = Yes. If you sell to enterprise B2B, prioritise software-review directories like G2 and Capterra (DR 87+). If you ship indie consumer apps, the community directories (Indie Hackers, Hacker News Show HN) usually drive better launch-day traffic than pure SEO directories.
How often is this list updated?
We re-check every directory at least quarterly: confirming the submission URL still works, the dofollow status hasn't changed, and the directory still has live editorial activity. Last reviewed 2026-10-02. If you spot an entry that's gone stale, email kalash@scrolllaunch.com and we'll fix it within 24 hours.
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