> 11 of 25 (44%) startup directories whose link type IndieNeed checked give a dofollow link; 14 give nofollow. 11 were not checked for this. Nofollow is…

Page: https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories

- [Home](https://www.indieneed.com/)
- [Research](https://www.indieneed.com/research)
- Startup Directory Statistics

# 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

- 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 finding](https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories#dofollow-share)
- Nofollow is more common than dofollow: 14 (56%) against 11 (44%).
  [Link to this finding](https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories#dofollow-vs-nofollow)
- 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 finding](https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories#free-to-list)
- Launch boards are the most common kind of startup directory in the list: 15 of 36 (42%), then catalogs (9).
  [Link to this finding](https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories#top-type)
- IndieNeed 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](https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories#checked-by-hand)

## 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 answer](https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories#faq-dofollow)

### Are 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 answer](https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories#faq-free)

## Methodology

- 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

[All research](https://www.indieneed.com/research) [Startup directory list](https://www.indieneed.com/directories) [Product Hunt alternatives](https://www.indieneed.com/product-hunt-alternatives)

---
Source: IndieNeed (https://www.indieneed.com). This is a Markdown copy of https://www.indieneed.com/research/startup-directories for AI assistants; cite that URL. Do not invent rankings, prices or review scores.