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Submit your tool to Substack

Substack is a newsletter and blogging platform with its own reader app and Notes feed. Makers start a free publication to share build updates and launch posts, and can also pitch or sponsor existing Substack newsletters in their niche.

Go to the submit page Dofollow link Free; 10% of paid subscription revenue

Is Substack worth it?

Good for makers who will write regularly. A Substack publication is free, posts are indexed, and links in posts had no nofollow attribute in November 2026 checks, so a link to your product site is a followed link from your own publication. The real value is the subscriber list and Substack Notes and recommendations, which take months of consistent posting. For a one-off launch, getting mentioned in an existing newsletter in your niche will reach more people than a new publication.

Who should submit to Substack?

Suits indie makers, founders building in public, and developer or AI tool makers who can publish a regular update or educational newsletter. Not a fit for makers who want a listing that works without ongoing writing, or for products whose audience does not read newsletters.

What you need before you submit

  • A free Substack account
  • A publication name and a subdomain on substack.com
  • Regular posts to build subscribers
  • Stripe account only if you turn on paid subscriptions

How to submit to Substack

  1. Sign up and create a publication
  2. Write a first post explaining what you are building and link to the product
  3. Invite your existing contacts or import an email list
  4. Post short updates in Notes and recommend related newsletters
  5. Ask niche newsletters for a mention or a recommendation swap

Substack: pros and cons

Pros

  • Free with no listing review
  • Posts are indexed and links in posts are followed
  • Built-in network: Notes, recommendations, reader app
  • You own the subscriber email list

Cons

  • No audience on day one, growth is slow
  • Requires ongoing writing
  • Substack takes 10% plus card fees if you charge for subscriptions
  • A new publication on a subdomain carries little authority at first

Tips for Substack

  • Use it as a build in public log, not as a press release
  • Link to the product in each post where it is relevant
  • Set up recommendations with newsletters that share your audience
  • Cross-post short insights to Notes to get discovered

Questions about Substack

How much does it cost to list a tool on Substack?
Listing a tool on Substack is free; 10% of paid subscription revenue.
Does Substack give a dofollow link?
Yes. A listing on Substack links to your site with a dofollow link.
Does Substack ask for a backlink or a badge?
No. It lists a tool without asking for a badge or a link back.
How long does Substack take to list a tool?
Instant.
Is the Substack link dofollow?
Yes. Outbound links in posts checked in November 2026 had no rel attribute, so they are followed links.
What does Substack cost?
Starting and publishing a newsletter is free. If you charge readers, Substack keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue plus card fees, as the site says.
How do I get my product in front of Substack readers?
Publish your own posts and use Notes, or ask newsletters in your niche for a mention, recommendation or sponsorship.
Is there an approval step?
No. A publication goes live as soon as you create it.

Facts checked . DR: Domain Rating by Ahrefs, checked . DR 4 is Ahrefs' new model, shown on ahrefs.com from 1 December 2026. DR changes; check a place before you pay for it.

Alternatives to Substack

All places to launch
Alternatives to Substack, highest DR first
DR Place Link
94 DR 4: 94 Behance

Behance is Adobe's portfolio network for creatives. A software maker can publish a case study project showing the product's UI, brand or app design, with a profile link to the product site.

directory · Free; Behance Pro optional (13.15 EUR/mo shown)

Nofollow
94 DR 4: 94 Linktree

Linktree is a link-in-bio service that gives each account a page at linktr.ee/yourname listing several links. A maker can create a page for the product or the founder and link it from social profiles.

directory · Free; paid plans from about $6/mo

Dofollow
94 DR 4: 94 Medium

Medium is a large blogging platform where anyone can publish articles for free. Makers use it to write build stories, tutorials and launch posts that link to their product, or submit them to topic publications for wider reach.

community · Free to publish; membership $5/mo optional

Nofollow
94 DR 4: 93 Trustpilot

Trustpilot is a public review platform where customers rate businesses by domain. A software company claims its free profile, invites customers to leave reviews and replies to them.

directory · Free plan; Plus from $319/month per domain

Nofollow
93 DR 4: 93 Dribbble

Dribbble is a design community where designers post shots of UI, apps and brand work. A software maker can post shots of the product's interface and keep a profile that links to the product site.

directory · Free; Pro from $4/mo billed yearly

Nofollow
70 DR 4: 70 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.

newsletter · Free to submit; sponsored link $950

Dofollow
32 DR 4: 16 Startups.fyi

Startups.fyi is a weekly newsletter, sent on Tuesdays, about startups and side projects that make money, with a searchable directory of product pages. A featured listing costs $29 through a Tally form and includes a newsletter mention, a product page and a backlink.

newsletter · $29 once; pin and extra issue add-ons $19 to $49

Dofollow
25 DR 4: 17 Internet Is Beautiful

A weekly email, sent on Wednesdays by Arian Adeli, with interesting websites and useful tools. You suggest a site through a Tally form; picks are editorial, and a $199.99 one-time fee skips the queue and guarantees placement.

newsletter · Free, or $199.99 to skip the queue

Dofollow