Startup Directory Statistics 2026: 36 Checked by Hand
Link types, prices and kinds of the startup directories IndieNeed checks by hand. Data last updated 2 November 2026.
Key findings
Nofollow is more common than dofollow: 14 (56%) against 11 (44%).
Link to this finding27 of 31 (87%) directories with a known price let you list for free: 8 are free and 19 freemium. 4 are paid only.
Link to this findingLaunch boards are the most common kind of startup directory in the list: 15 of 36 (42%), then catalogs (9).
Link to this findingIndieNeed checked all 36 directories by hand between 20 September 2026 and 2 November 2026, reading each site's own submission and pricing pages.
Link to this finding
Breakdowns
Directories by link type (of 36 directories)
| Group | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nofollow | 14 | 39% |
| Dofollow | 11 | 31% |
| Not checked | 11 | 31% |
Directories by price to list (of 36 directories)
| Group | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | 19 | 53% |
| Free | 8 | 22% |
| Not checked | 5 | 14% |
| Paid only | 4 | 11% |
Directories by type (of 36 directories)
| Group | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Launch board | 15 | 42% |
| Catalog | 9 | 25% |
| AI directory | 5 | 14% |
| Review site | 3 | 8% |
| Community | 2 | 6% |
| Program | 2 | 6% |
Questions this data answers
What share of startup directories give dofollow links?
11 of 25 (44%) startup directories whose link type IndieNeed checked give a dofollow link; 14 give nofollow. 11 were not checked for this.
Link to this answerAre startup directories free to list on?
27 of 31 (87%) directories with a known price let you list for free: 8 are free and 19 freemium. 4 are paid only.
Link to this answerMethodology
- Source: the 36 startup directories, launch boards and catalogs in IndieNeed's directory list (/directories), each checked by hand. IndieNeed's own entry is not counted.
- Link type and price come from each directory's own pages on the date it was checked. A field that could not be confirmed is marked not checked and left out of that finding's denominator.
- A finding with fewer than 20 directories behind it is not stated, which is why badge and account requirements are not reported. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
- The last-updated date is the most recent check (2 November 2026). Directories change their terms; check a directory's own page before you submit.
How to cite this page
IndieNeed, "Startup Directory Statistics 2026: 36 Checked by Hand", November 2026, https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories