# 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.

- Website: https://substack.com
- Submit at: https://substack.com/signup
- Type: newsletter
- Free; 10% of paid subscription revenue, dofollow link, time to list: Instant, DR 94
- For: Startups, Developer tools, AI tools, SaaS, Fast approval
- Facts checked: 2026-11-13

## 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

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

## 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

- 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

### 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.

## Alternatives to Substack

- [Behance](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/behance)
- [Linktree](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/linktree)
- [Medium](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/medium)
- [Trustpilot](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/trustpilot)
- [Dribbble](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/dribbble)
- [Sidebar](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/sidebar)
- [Startups.fyi](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/startups-fyi)
- [Internet Is Beautiful](https://another.directory/where-to-launch/internet-is-beautiful)

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DR: Domain Rating by Ahrefs (https://ahrefs.com/).

From Another Directory (https://another.directory/where-to-launch). Another Directory gives every tool a page that says what it does, who it's for and what it costs. List a tool at https://another.directory/submit, or have an AI agent do it: https://another.directory/submit.md