How to submit your SaaS to directories: a step-by-step guide
Updated 12 November 2026
Submit to a short list of directories that match your category first. Prepare one set of listing copy, keep a status sheet with every account and status, and check each live link before you move on. You can do this yourself, or have a done-for-you service submit for you.
TL;DR
- Start with directories that match your category, not the longest list you can find.
- Write one set of listing copy and reuse it, with the same facts everywhere.
- Track every account and status in one sheet.
- Check each live link before you call a listing done.
Before you start
- A live product page with a working URL.
- A one-line description and a longer one, written in plain language.
- A logo and a few screenshots in the sizes the directories ask for.
- A category and pricing wording that match your product page.
Step-by-step
- 1
Pick directories by category
Choose launch platforms (for example Product Hunt, Peerlist or BetaList), SaaS directories that match your category, and AI tool marketplaces if your product is AI-related. Check each site's current pricing and whether its links are dofollow or nofollow.
- 2
Prepare one set of listing copy
Write a short description, a long description, a category, tags and a pricing line. Use the same facts everywhere. Do not add features or numbers you cannot back up.
- 3
Create accounts and log them in a sheet
For each directory, record the URL, the account email, the date you submitted and the status. Keep passwords in a password manager, not in the sheet.
- 4
Submit and record the status
Use four statuses. Submitted: you sent the form. In review: the directory is still checking. Live: the listing is public. Rejected: the directory declined it, and you note why.
- 5
Check each live link
Open each live listing, confirm it is public, and confirm the link type where the directory shows it. Record the working URL.
- 6
Work in batches
Submit to 10 to 20 directories, check them, then move to the next batch. This keeps errors small and makes the sheet easier to follow.
Sheet columns
Keep these columns in one sheet so you can see what is live and what needs follow-up.
| Column | What to record |
|---|---|
| Directory | Name and submission URL |
| Account | The email used, with the password kept elsewhere |
| Submitted on | The date you sent the form |
| Status | Submitted, In review, Live or Rejected |
| Live link | The public URL, once live |
| Notes | Reasons for rejection, follow-ups, link type |
Do it yourself, or have it done
| Task | Yourself | Done for you (1ai.tools) |
|---|---|---|
| Filling in forms | You, one at a time | Our team, by hand |
| Accounts | You create and track them | We create them and send you the logins |
| Status tracking | Your own sheet | A portal with every directory and live link |
| Final report | Yours to write | One report by email when we finish |
| Price | Your time | $49 for 20 directories, $69 for 30, $89 for 36, one payment |
For done-for-you, your listing on 1ai.tools must have a verified dofollow link to 1ai.tools before you can order. Approval is not required. See the service.
Time and cost
Budget time for each form, account and check. Vantaige estimates 30 to 48 minutes per submission and 30 to 80 hours for 60 to 100 submissions. That is the vendor's own estimate, from its directory service page. Your time will depend on the forms.
Questions
Do I need a dofollow link to list on directories?
+
Not for most directories, but check each one. For 1ai.tools done-for-you orders, yes: your listing must have a verified dofollow link to 1ai.tools before you can order. Approval is not required.
How long does submission take?
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Doing it yourself depends on how many directories you choose and how many forms and accounts you create. With 1ai.tools done-for-you packages, most submissions are done within 3 to 5 business days. Some directories review new listings before they go live, and the portal shows those as In review.
What if a directory rejects my listing?
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Record it as Rejected with the reason it gave. Rejection does not mean the whole list failed. With 1ai.tools, there is no extra charge for directories that reject a listing.
Can I submit for free?
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Many directories are free to submit to. Some charge a listing fee. A DIY plan should note which ones are free before you start, and skip the paid ones unless you have decided to pay.
How many directories should I start with?
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Start with a few that match your category, then widen the list. A short list of well-matched directories does more than hundreds of thin ones.
Want us to do the submissions?
Packages from $49, one payment, a report with every live link. Your listing must be linked first.
