How to submit your startup to AppSumo

What is AppSumo?

AppSumo (appsumo.com) is a launch platform: deal marketplace for SaaS - high visibility if deal economics work.

Launch platforms concentrate attention on a launch day or week. Timing, a strong tagline, and rallying early upvotes matter far more than on passive directories.

How to submit to AppSumo

1. 1Create a maker account and complete your profile (photo, bio, links) before launch day.
2. 2Prepare a one-line tagline under 60 characters, a 2-3 sentence description, a square logo, and 2-4 screenshots.
3. 3Pick your launch date - avoid days with big competing launches if the platform shows a schedule.
4. 4Publish early in the platform's day, then share the link with your audience in the first few hours.
5. 5Reply to every comment on launch day - engagement usually affects ranking.

AppSumo backlink and SEO value

High authority · DR 79

A Domain Rating around 79 puts AppSumo well above most startup directories. Listings on domains in this range are crawled quickly and can rank for long-tail searches that include your product name or category.

AppSumo uses a mix of followed and nofollow links depending on the page, plan, or where the link sits (profile vs. description). Expect some authority to pass, and inspect your published listing to see which link type you actually got.

Want the live number? Run appsumo.com through the free Domain Rating checker.

How much does AppSumo cost?

AppSumo charges for listings or for the features that matter most. Pay only if your buyers actually research tools there - judge it by referral traffic and leads, not by DR alone.

Tips for a AppSumo listing that converts

• Use the same product name, tagline, and logo you use on Founder.best and other directories - consistency helps search engines connect your listings.
• Write a fresh description for AppSumo instead of copy-pasting. Duplicate text across dozens of sites adds little value.
• Point the link at your homepage or a strong landing page, not a signup form, so the authority lands where it helps rankings.
• Record the live listing URL and date in your tracker, then check back in 30 days for indexing and traffic.

AppSumo vs Founder.best

They work best together: an active weekly launch on Founder.best brings launch-day attention and a dofollow link, and AppSumo adds a long-lived listing afterwards.

AppSumo alternatives and similar directories

Peerlist

peerlist.io

Professional network for makers with profile-linked launches.

DR 77 · Mixed · Free

F6S

f6s.com

Startup programs, accelerators, and founder network visibility.

DR 82 · Mixed · Free

LaunchIgniter

launchigniter.com

Startup launch directory with free listing for early-stage products.

DR 76 · Dofollow · Free

TrapLaunch

traplaunch.com

Submit your startup to multiple launch platforms from one form.

DR 72 · Unknown · Free

Nick Launches

nicklaunches.com

Weekly product launch platform for builders - free listing, dofollow backlink, and builder community discovery.

DR 69 · Dofollow · Free

Product Hunt

producthunt.com

High-traffic launch day platform. Great reach; outbound links are mostly nofollow.

DR 90 · Nofollow · Free

FAQ

Is AppSumo free to submit to?

AppSumo charges for listings or for the features that matter most. Pay only if your buyers actually research tools there - judge it by referral traffic and leads, not by DR alone.

Does AppSumo give a dofollow backlink?

Sometimes. AppSumo uses a mix of followed and nofollow links depending on the page or plan.

What is the Domain Rating (DR) of AppSumo?

AppSumo (appsumo.com) has an Ahrefs Domain Rating of roughly 79 (high authority). DR changes over time - check the live score with the free Domain Rating checker on Founder.best.

Is AppSumo worth it for a new startup?

Our verdict: Nice to have (5/10). Submit to AppSumo after your higher-priority listings. It helps round out your footprint, but it will not move rankings on its own.

What should I submit to before AppSumo?

Start with an active launch on Founder.best for homepage visibility and a dofollow backlink, then work through launch platform options like AppSumo. One active launch plus 5-10 quality directories beats mass-submitting to hundreds of low-quality lists.