DR 95
Community forum for posting about your startup, earning backlinks through valuab...
Hacker News
Technical community forum for sharing launches and getting developer feedback.
Strong SEO value Free to submit No direct SEO benefit Listed in days
Hacker News is a free directory with no-follow links and a Domain Rating of 91. Expect approval within a few days. Hacker News represents one of the most brutal yet rewarding channels for technical product launches. The audience consists of experienced developers, engineers, and technical founders who demand substance over marketing polish. Show HN format submissions can make or break a launch—if your product resonates, frontpage traffic spikes generate quality traffic from highly qualified users. However, the community is merciless about gimmicks, misleading claims, and poor execution. Being dismissed by HN carries reputational cost, but genuine technical achievement resonates powerfully. Success requires authentic innovation and willingness to engage with critical technical feedback.
Worth It / Watch Out
Worth It
- High authority (DR 91) means strong SEO value and link equity
- Reputable platform that builds brand authority despite no-follow status
- Zero submission cost makes it easy to add to any SEO strategy
Watch Out
- No-follow links don't directly improve search rankings or domain authority
- Narrow niche focus may limit visibility to broader audience
Before You Submit
Login required: yes. Multi-step form: no. Hacker News (Y Combinator) is a tech community, not a traditional directory. Product launches use 'Show HN' format (prefix title with 'Show HN:'). Login/account required to submit. Submissions are subject to community voting and moderation. Karma system affects posting privileges. New accounts may have posting rate limits. Posts can be flagged or killed by moderators. Best times to post: weekday mornings US time. HN has strict rules against self-promotion spam. One of the highest-authority tech communities (DR 91). Submissions appear on /newest and may reach front page via upvotes.
- Format your submission as 'Show HN: [Project Name] – [One-line description]' to follow community conventions
- Build something genuinely useful or innovative before submitting; HN quickly identifies mediocre products and spam
- Be prepared to defend your work publicly and engage substantively with technical criticism
- Submit during business hours PT when moderators are active—timing improves visibility and reduces flag risk
Submission Details
What you'll need to fill out (3 fields)
title * text
url url
text textarea
Visit the submission page, fill out the manual form submission, and wait for review. Expect approval within a few days.
Real Questions
Is submitting to Hacker News worth the effort?
With a Domain Rating of 91, Hacker News is one of the higher-authority directories you can submit to. Even though links are no-follow, the referral traffic and brand visibility from a DR 91 site make it worthwhile. Since it's free, the effort-to-value ratio is excellent.
What happens after I submit?
Hacker News typically reviews submissions within a few days. You'll receive a notification when approved. After going live, verify your listing details and backlink are correct.
Free listing on a DR 91 directory — submit to Hacker News →
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