Most "submit your AI tool" lists are copied from each other and never checked. We opened the submit page and a live listing for every directory in our list on 11 November 2026, and wrote down what actually happens: the price, the link type on a real listing, and the catch.
The short version: only two directories we checked are free with no strings and a verified dofollow link. Most "free" listings are a badge swap, a long queue, or a nofollow link. Seven directories no longer exist.
Free, dofollow, no catch
| Directory | Approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FutureTools | Reviewed by hand | Free form. Selective, so write a clear one-line pitch. |
| Best of AI | About 3 days | Free, reviewed by hand. States a direct-follow link. |
These two are worth doing first, for every launch.
Free if you show their badge
These give a dofollow link, but only if you link back to them from your site. That makes it a link exchange, not a free link. It's still a fair trade for a new product, but know what you're agreeing to.
| Directory | Paid option | What the badge gets you |
|---|---|---|
| Uno Directory | $29 skips the badge | Approved instantly, dofollow |
| Launch Vault | $9.99 | Dofollow only if paid, top 3, or badge shown |
| OpenHunts | $9.90 | Without the badge or payment, the free queue is about 60 weeks |
| AskAIForIt | $9.99 | Free review takes up to 21 days; paid is 48 hours with permanent dofollow |
"Free" that isn't worth it
- YAATD: free means a 90-day queue and a nofollow link. The $49 tier is live immediately with a dofollow link.
- GitHub "awesome" lists (awesome-ai-tools, awesome-ai-coding-tools): free by pull request, but GitHub links are nofollow and few PRs get merged. Good for developer discovery, not for SEO.
Paid only
| Directory | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Toolify | $99 | Dofollow, live within 48 hours |
| AIToolsHunt | $5 (by email) | Not verified |
| OpenTools | Subscription, price after sign-in | Dofollow |
Need an account first
We couldn't see prices without signing up, so we only record what was public:
- EveryDev: free, account needed.
- Altern and AI for Developers: dofollow on live listings; price not shown publicly. AI for Developers only takes developer tools.
- Productivity Directory, Havnai, FindYourAgent (agents only).
Directories that are gone
Seven directories still appear on other "where to submit" lists but no longer work:
| Site | What happens now |
|---|---|
| aidir.wiki | Domain no longer resolves |
| aixyz.co | Domain no longer resolves |
| claudepro.directory | Domain no longer resolves |
| theresanai.com | Domain no longer resolves |
| toolfinder.wiki | Domain no longer resolves |
| aidirectory.wiki | Redirects to an unrelated link shortener |
| choosetheai.com | Does not respond |
If a list you're working from still includes these, it hasn't been checked recently. Futurepedia is still online but no longer has a public submit form.
A word on paying for dofollow links
Google's spam policies treat links bought to pass ranking credit as link spam, and paid links are meant to carry rel="sponsored". Directories that sell "guaranteed dofollow" are selling something Google says it may ignore. Treat a paid listing as paying for visibility and referral traffic from a site your buyers browse. Any SEO lift is a bonus, not the product.
What does help: being listed on a handful of relevant, live, moderated directories, with a consistent name, URL and description everywhere.
A sensible order
- FutureTools and Best of AI (free, dofollow).
- If you're happy to show badges in your footer: Uno, Launch Vault, OpenHunts, AskAIForIt.
- If you'd rather pay than swap links: OpenHunts ($9.90), Launch Vault ($9.99) and AskAIForIt ($9.99) together cost about $30.
- Niche lists that match your product (developer tools, agents).
- Skip anything not on this page until you've checked it's still alive.
The full table, with filters for dofollow and free, is at Where to submit your AI tool. If you'd rather not fill in 20 forms yourself, we can submit for you.
For a full price breakdown, including free queues and badge swaps, see What it really costs to list your AI tool.
Method: for each directory we opened the submit or pricing page and inspected a live listing's link rel attribute on 11 November 2026. Where a page was behind sign-in or a bot check, we left the field unverified rather than guess. Prices change; check before you pay.