Is Twelve Tools worth it?
Worth a submission if you want a cheap dofollow backlink and a permanent category page. Listing pages checked in November 2026 link to the product with rel="noopener" only, so the link is followed for both free and Pro listings. It is not a launch event: there is no voting or daily ranking, so do not expect a traffic spike. Use the free plan if you can keep a footer link to twelve.tools; pay for Pro only if you will not place a badge or want faster review.
Who should submit to Twelve Tools?
Suits indie makers, SaaS founders and small startups who want an extra followed backlink and a listing in a topic category. Artificial Intelligence, Productivity, Video, Design and Developer Tools are the largest categories by listing count. Less useful for products that need feedback, upvotes or a launch day crowd, and not an option for adult, gambling, drug or weapons related sites, which the terms exclude.
What you need before you submit
- A live website URL
- A legitimate, non-spammy product (adult, gambling, drug and weapons sites are not accepted)
- Free plan: a link to twelve.tools or the Twelve Tools badge on your homepage or footer
- Pro plan: a one-time payment of $36 through Stripe (tax included)
How to submit to Twelve Tools
- Open the submit page and enter your website URL
- Work through the Screenshot and Review steps and edit the suggested description
- Free plan: add the badge or a plain link to twelve.tools on your homepage or footer
- Wait for the backlink to be detected and the listing to be reviewed (up to 72 hours)
- Or choose Pro, pay $36, and the listing goes live within 24 hours
Twelve Tools: pros and cons
Pros
- Outbound product link is followed, on free and Pro listings
- Free option exists
- Short review times: 72 hours free, 24 hours Pro
- Pro is a one-time payment, no subscription
- Each tool gets its own page with a screenshot, description and two categories
- Pro can be refunded if the listing hasn't gone live yet
Cons
- The free plan needs a link or badge on your homepage or footer
- The terms say free listings may be removed if the backlink is removed
- No voting, ranking or launch day, so little direct traffic is likely
- Outbound links carry UTM tags (utm_source=twelve.tools)
- No traffic or audience numbers published
Tips for Twelve Tools
- A small text link in your footer works instead of the badge if a badge doesn't fit your design
- Keep the backlink in place after approval, since removing it can get the listing removed
- Edit the suggested description before publishing; the terms make you responsible for it
- Pick the two categories carefully, as the listing page shows both and links related tools
Questions about Twelve Tools
How much does it cost to list a tool on Twelve Tools?
Does Twelve Tools give a dofollow link?
Does Twelve Tools ask for a backlink or a badge?
How long does Twelve Tools take to list a tool?
Is the Twelve Tools link dofollow?
How much does it cost to get listed?
How long does approval take?
Is Twelve Tools a launch platform with voting?
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.