Best SaaS Directories for Backlinks (2026)

If you run a SaaS product, directories are one of the cheapest ways to pick up early backlinks, referral traffic, and trust signals at once. A good listing puts your product in front of buyers who are already comparing tools, gets your brand into the datasets that feed AI answers, and in many cases hands you a link back to your site.

Not every directory passes link equity. The big review platforms (G2, Capterra, Product Hunt) usually mark outbound links as nofollow, but they still send qualified traffic and build the kind of brand searches Google rewards. Smaller niche and maker directories are more likely to give a followed link. The smart play is to submit to a mix: a few high-authority review sites for trust and traffic, plus a spread of niche directories for links. Most of the sites below are free or have a free tier. Where a listing is paid or works differently than a normal "submit your product" form, the entry says so.

Do SaaS directory listings actually help your SEO?

Yes, but indirectly more often than directly. Some listings give a dofollow link that counts toward your backlink profile. Many give a nofollow link that still drives referral visits and branded searches, both of which feed your rankings. Review-heavy directories add third-party trust that helps you convert that traffic. And being listed across the directories that AI search engines crawl raises the odds your product shows up in those generated answers. Treat directories as a foundation layer, not a substitute for editorial links.

One rule before you spend a weekend on this: confirm a site is still live and check the rel attribute on its outbound links before you invest real time. Directories shut down, get acquired, or flip links to nofollow, so verify current behavior rather than trusting any list (including this one).

TL;DR: The list

The directories in detail

1. Buildlist.io
A Product-Hunt-style launchpad and directory built specifically for SaaS makers, and the natural first step when you start listing a new product. You submit your tool, the community upvotes, and you appear in AI-generated "best of" category reviews that get indexed. The free listing gets you on the platform with an embeddable rank badge; the paid tiers add featured placement and a dofollow backlink to your site. If you only do one launch listing before you spread out across the rest of this list, do this one.

2. Product Hunt
The default launch platform for new products. A strong launch day can send thousands of visitors and put you in front of early adopters, press, and investors. The profile link is nofollow, so treat Product Hunt as a traffic and brand play rather than a pure link, but the branded searches and follow-on coverage a good launch generates are worth far more than one link. Free.

3. SaaSHub
An independent software marketplace organized around alternatives and comparisons, which makes it useful for capturing buyers searching "alternatives to X." It is one of the directories commonly cited for passing a followed link on listings, so it earns a spot for SEO as well as traffic. Free listing with paid upgrades.

4. G2
The largest B2B software review platform and one of the highest-authority domains in the category. A claimed profile with real reviews builds buyer trust and shows up for high-intent comparison searches. Outbound links are nofollow and the paid programs get expensive, but a free, well-reviewed profile is still a must-have for any serious SaaS.

5. BetaList
A showcase for early-stage startups, ideal for collecting your first wave of signups and feedback before a full launch. You can submit free and wait in the queue or pay to skip ahead. Best used pre-launch or right at launch while you still qualify as early-stage.

6. Indie Hackers
Less a classic directory and more a community of bootstrapped founders, with a products section where you can list your tool. The real value is distribution: sharing your build, revenue numbers, and lessons earns attention and links from people in the same boat. Links are nofollow. Free.

7. Capterra
A Gartner-owned review and comparison platform with deep category pages and serious buyer traffic. Listings are free and you only pay for clicks if you opt into the paid lead program. Links are nofollow, so the win here is qualified leads and trust, not link equity.

8. AppSumo
A lifetime-deal marketplace rather than a backlink directory. Getting accepted is competitive and the model is built around steep discounts, but a featured deal can put your product in front of a large, deal-hungry audience and generate a burst of users and reviews. Best for products with capacity to absorb a deal spike.

9. Crunchbase
The reference database for companies, funding, and people. A complete profile is a strong brand and entity signal, and it surfaces you to investors, partners, and journalists. The website link on the free tier is nofollow; Crunchbase Pro is paid. Worth claiming regardless of link value for the credibility it lends.

10. There's an AI
A large AI tools directory with category browsing and search. If your SaaS has an AI angle, a listing puts you in front of people actively hunting for AI products. Offers free and paid submission options.

11. PeerPush
A build-in-public product discovery platform where makers share and cross-promote each other's launches. Good for early traction and community-driven exposure. Free.

12. GetApp
Part of the same Gartner network as Capterra and Software Advice, with shared reviews and a pay-per-lead model. A free listing extends your reach across all three properties. Links are nofollow; value is in lead generation and category visibility.

13. StartupBase
A clean maker-focused directory for showcasing startups and side projects. Quick to submit and a decent source of early visibility for indie products. Free.

14. Future Tools
A curated AI tools directory run by Matt Wolfe with a large, engaged audience. Curation means not every submission gets in, but inclusion sends real traffic from AI-curious users. Submission is free.

15. Trustpilot
A consumer-facing review platform that adds visible trust to your site, especially via the widget and rating stars in search results. Free profile with paid plans for review-collection automation. Links are nofollow, so think trust and conversion rather than backlinks.

16. PitchGround
A lifetime-deal and SaaS marketing platform in the same vein as AppSumo, often with a more founder-friendly partnership model. A deal here drives users and reviews. Partner application required.

17. AngelList / Wellfound
The startup network now branded Wellfound, connecting companies with talent and investors. A company profile is free and useful for hiring and investor visibility. The link is nofollow; the value is exposure to the startup ecosystem.

18. TapRefer
A directory of affiliate and referral programs. Only relevant if your SaaS runs an affiliate program, but if it does, this is a targeted way to recruit affiliates and pick up a niche listing. Free and paid options.

19. Launching Next
A long-running directory of new startups aimed at early adopters. Submit your product for a free listing or pay to be featured. Simple, fast, and a reliable spot for a basic backlink and a little traffic.

20. GoodFirms
A B2B research and review platform that ranks software and service providers by category. Free listings plus paid options, with reviews driving placement. Useful for B2B buyer visibility; verify current link behavior before counting on the profile link.

21. Zapier App Directory
Not a submit-your-product form. To appear here you build a Zapier integration, after which your app is listed among thousands of integrations and discoverable by Zapier's huge user base. Links are nofollow, but the integration itself is a strong distribution and stickiness play. Worth it if automation matters to your users.

22. IndieProducts.io
A directory for indie products, solopreneurs, and build-in-public makers. A friendly, low-friction listing for bootstrapped SaaS. Free.

23. StackSocial
A software deals and bundles marketplace focused on sales rather than links. Like the other deal sites, it suits products that can run a discounted offer to reach a broad consumer audience. Partner-based.

24. SoftwareSuggest
A software listing and review platform with strong reach in India and other emerging markets. Free and paid listings, with a lead-generation model. Good fit if those regions are in your target market.

25. Altern
A broad AI directory built to surface almost anything AI-related, with launch features for new tools. A solid catch-all listing for any product with an AI component. Submission-based.

26. Land-book
A curated gallery of well-designed landing pages rather than a product directory. If your site has strong visual design, getting featured exposes it to designers and founders and earns a referral link. Curation is selective, so polish your page first.

27. F6S
A network for founders covering startup profiles, accelerator programs, deals, and grants. A free profile is worth setting up for accelerator and funding discovery as much as for the listing itself.

28. NoCode List
A directory of no-code tools and resources. The right home for your product if it is built for or in the no-code space; less relevant otherwise.

29. B2B Stack
A Brazilian B2B software directory and review site, in Portuguese. Strong choice if Brazil or Latin America is on your roadmap; skip it if not, since the audience is regional.

30. Toolkitly
A tech tool discovery platform for finding and discussing new software. A quick additional listing to widen your footprint across tool directories.

31. SideProjectors
A marketplace for listing and selling side projects more than a promotion directory. Useful if you are showcasing a project or considering selling it; less so for pure backlink building.

32. Clutch.co
A high-authority B2B ratings and reviews platform, strongest for agencies and service providers but also used by software companies. Verified client reviews drive its rankings. Free profile with paid options; the profile link is typically nofollow, so the value is trust and B2B buyer discovery.

33. Dealify
A SaaS deals platform aimed at early adopters and growth marketers. Another deal-style channel for a discounted offer and a listing. Partner-based.

34. AI For Developers
A curated directory of AI SDKs, APIs, and copilots aimed at developers. The right niche listing if your product is developer-facing or ships an API.

35. StartupBlink
A global startup ecosystem map and ranking platform. A profile gets you onto its maps and reports, which is useful for ecosystem and location-based visibility. Free and paid tiers.

36. Simple.ink
Primarily a tool for turning Notion pages into websites, with a maker and no-code community around it. Treat the listing angle as secondary to the tool itself; only relevant if you are in the Notion or no-code ecosystem.

37. Crozdesk
A software discovery and review platform that ranks tools by category. Free and paid listings with a lead-generation focus. A reasonable addition to your B2B review coverage.

38. BetaPage
A startup discovery platform for launching and finding new products. Free submission with a paid feature option. A straightforward extra launch listing.

39. Remote Tools
A directory of SaaS tools built for remote work. Niche but targeted: ideal if your product serves distributed teams, otherwise skip it.

40. SaaS Genius
A SaaS discovery and comparison directory. A general-purpose listing to broaden your presence across software directories.

41. Startup Stash
A widely-shared curated collection of tools and resources for startups, with significant traffic. Getting into the relevant category sends real referral visits. Submission is typically paid for a featured spot; confirm current terms.

42. API List
A directory of public APIs. Only relevant if your SaaS exposes an API, but a clean fit for developer products that do.

43. Founderpath
A funding platform offering capital to SaaS founders against recurring revenue, not a listing directory. Included as a founder resource; the listing-for-backlinks angle does not really apply here.

44. Demos.co
A platform for showcasing SaaS product demos. A useful spot to publish an interactive demo and pick up a listing alongside it.

45. Open SaaS Directory
A directory of open-source and self-hosted SaaS alternatives. The natural home for your product if it is open source; otherwise not a fit.

46. App Radar
An app store optimization and app-marketing platform rather than a web directory. Relevant if you have a mobile app to market; less so for pure web SaaS backlinks.

47. Makerpad
A no-code education and community brand that was acquired by Zapier, so its standalone status has changed over time. Check what the current site offers before planning a submission, since the community and directory pieces have shifted.

48. Techjury
A software reviews, statistics, and insights site. Coverage or a listing here can earn a link from a content-heavy domain. Approach it as outreach to a review publication rather than a self-serve directory.

49. SaaSPromo
A platform for promoting SaaS through targeted campaigns. Smaller and more promotional than the review sites; confirm it is active and check the listing terms before investing time.

50. Cool Startups
A showcase for unique startup ideas and products. A lightweight additional listing for extra exposure; verify it is still maintained.

51. AllTopStartups
A blog and resource hub for entrepreneurs that also features startups. Better treated as a guest-post and feature outreach target than a quick directory submission.

52. Software Select
A SaaS discovery directory. A general-purpose listing to add coverage; confirm current status and link behavior before relying on it.

53. Startup Lift
A platform offering exposure and feedback for startups. Submission-based, useful for early validation alongside the listing.

54. PlatformsDirectory
A directory for listing and reviewing cross-platform apps, tools, and software aimed at bringing businesses online. A niche fit if your product spans multiple platforms.

55. ConfettiSaaS
A SaaS discovery directory with a maker-friendly angle. A quick additional listing to round out your directory footprint.

56. BuiltWith
Worth understanding what this is before you add it to a submission plan: BuiltWith is a technology-profiling and lead-research tool that detects which software a website runs, not a place you submit your product for a link. It belongs in your competitor-research and lead-gen toolkit, not your backlink list.

FAQ

Are SaaS directory backlinks dofollow or nofollow?
It varies by site. Most large review platforms (G2, Capterra, GetApp, Product Hunt, Crunchbase, Trustpilot) use nofollow on outbound links. Many smaller niche and maker directories give a followed link. Check the rel attribute on a live listing before assuming, and never pick a directory on link type alone, since referral traffic and trust often matter more than the link.

Are these SaaS directories free?
Most have a free listing or free tier. Some add paid options for featured placement, faster review queues, or lead programs. The deal platforms (AppSumo, PitchGround, Dealify, StackSocial) work on partnership and revenue-share models rather than a flat listing fee.

How many SaaS directories should I submit to?
Quality beats volume. Prioritize a handful of high-authority review sites plus the niche directories that actually match your category and audience. Spreading across every directory on a list gives diminishing returns and a lot of low-value listings. Twenty well-chosen, relevant listings beat sixty random ones.

How do I find more SaaS review sites and directories?
Search for "[your category] software" and note which directories rank, run a backlink check on a competitor to see where they are listed, and search "submit your SaaS" or "submit your startup" alongside your niche. Backlink tools like Ahrefs or Semrush surface the directories already linking to similar products.

Do directory listings still help SaaS SEO in 2026?
Yes, as a foundation layer. Directories supply early links, referral traffic, branded search volume, and presence in the datasets that AI search engines pull from. They will not outrank a competitor on their own, but skipping them leaves easy trust and discovery on the table.

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Do SaaS directory listings actually help your SEO?

TL;DR: The list

The directories in detail

FAQ