Submitting your SaaS to directories is still one of the fastest ways to earn backlinks and get discovered, but most lists online just dump names without telling you what actually matters: does the link pass authority, how long until you're live, and is it free.
This list ranks 40+ SaaS directories by Domain Rating (DR), dofollow status, listing cost, and average approval time, based on direct submission testing.
Quick answer
If you only have time for five submissions this week: ToolIndex (DR 86, instant dofollow, free), Product Hunt, SaaSHub, AlternativeTo, and BetaList cover the widest reach for the least effort.
Comparison table
| Directory | DR | Dofollow | Cost | Approval time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ToolIndex | 86 | Yes | Free | Instant |
| Product Hunt | 91 | Yes | Free | Days, ~90% not featured |
| SaaSHub | 78 | Yes | Free | Instant |
| AlternativeTo | 82 | Yes | Free | 1–3 days |
| BetaList | 75 | Yes | Free tier | 2–4 months (free queue) |
| G2 | 93 | No | Free (basic) | 1–2 weeks |
| Capterra | 89 | No | Free (basic) | 1–2 weeks |
| F6S | 71 | Yes | Free | Instant |
| StartupPage | 58 | Yes | Free | Instant |
Table shows a representative subset. Full 40+ list is maintained on the live ToolIndex directory.
Which directories give instant approval
Most directories batch-review submissions, which means the "free" tier can sit in a queue for weeks. A small number, including ToolIndex, SaaSHub, and F6S, publish the listing immediately and review afterward. If your goal is a live backlink this week rather than this quarter, start there.
Why dofollow status matters more than the list length
A directory that nofollows every listing still sends referral traffic, but it does nothing for domain authority. Half of the "100+ directories" roundups floating around bundle nofollow aggregators in with real dofollow sources, which inflates the count without adding SEO value. Check dofollow status before you spend time on a submission form.
The honest time cost of doing this yourself
Manually submitting to 40 directories, filling out each form, verifying the listing, and tracking which ones are live, takes roughly 6–8 hours spread across a week, mostly because of approval queues rather than the submission itself. Batching submissions by approval speed, instant first, queued second, cuts that in about half.
ToolIndex lists SaaS and AI tools with a DR 86 dofollow backlink, free, live instantly. No waiting queue, no paid tier required to get indexed.
Submit your SaaS →