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Submit your tool to Sidebar

Sidebar publishes five design links every weekday on its site and in a daily newsletter, picked by an editor and run by UX Collective. Logged-in users can submit a link for consideration.

Go to the submit page Dofollow link Free to submit; sponsored link $950

Is Sidebar worth it?

Useful only if you have something that designers will read or use for free: a strong case study, a free tool, a UI resource. Paid products are generally avoided unless they have a useful free version, and only five links run each day. A pick can bring real traffic. The link has no nofollow but goes through a sidebar.io/out redirect. For guaranteed reach, the sponsored slot is $950.

Who should submit to Sidebar?

Suits designers and design tool makers with fresh, high-effort content: case studies, tutorials, free design tools and UI resources. It does not suit general SaaS, AI tools without a design angle, app store links, PDFs or old content. The site says its daily newsletter has about 40k subscribers.

What you need before you submit

  • A Sidebar account
  • A single link, not a product profile
  • New content, not older than a few months
  • Design-related and high effort
  • No paid-only products unless there is a useful free version

How to submit to Sidebar

  1. Read the submission guidelines on sidebar.io/about
  2. Sign up or log in
  3. Open sidebar.io/submit and add the link
  4. Wait for the editor to pick it for one of the five daily slots
  5. Or buy a sponsored link from sidebar.io/sponsor

Sidebar: pros and cons

Pros

  • Free to submit
  • Editorial pick reaches a daily design newsletter
  • Link has no nofollow attribute
  • Running since 2012

Cons

  • Only five links a day, most submissions are not picked
  • Design topics only
  • Paid products generally avoided
  • Link goes through a 301 redirect, not straight to your site
  • Sponsored link costs $950

Tips for Sidebar

  • Submit a case study or tutorial about building your product rather than the homepage
  • Submit while the content is new
  • Avoid app store or PDF links
  • Ask about the discount for bootstrapped and independent companies before sponsoring

Questions about Sidebar

How much does it cost to list a tool on Sidebar?
Listing a tool on Sidebar is free to submit; sponsored link $950.
Does Sidebar give a dofollow link?
Yes. A listing on Sidebar links to your site with a dofollow link.
Does Sidebar ask for a backlink or a badge?
No. It lists a tool without asking for a badge or a link back.
How long does Sidebar take to list a tool?
Editorial pick, no timeline stated.
Is the Sidebar link dofollow?
The post links had no rel attribute when checked in November 2026, but they point to sidebar.io/out, which 301 redirects to your URL. There is no nofollow, but it is a redirect rather than a direct link.
How much does it cost?
Submitting a link is free. A sponsored link costs $950, and the site says discounts are available for bootstrapped and independent companies.
What gets picked?
New, high-effort, design-related content such as case studies and tutorials. Paid products are generally avoided unless they offer a useful free version.
How many links are published?
Five links every weekday.

Facts checked . DR: Domain Rating by Ahrefs, checked . DR 4 is Ahrefs' new model, shown on ahrefs.com from 1 December 2026. Search traffic is an estimate of monthly visits from search. Both change; check a place before you pay for it.

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