26 paid startup directories, with the price and the link each gives

What the list shows

• 26 paid startup directories are listed.
• DR runs from 54 to 78, with a median of 71.5. Each figure is Ahrefs DR as the audits behind that row report it.
• Among the rows with a single dollar price, prices run from $6.90 (Aitop10) to $125 (Easy With AI).
• Evidence is 19 strong, 7 moderate.

Left out on purpose: CSS Design Awards, BetaList and OpenTools. They charge too, but publish no single price or list design showcases rather than products.

Google treats links bought for ranking as link spam unless they carry rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow", so a followed paid link can lift a DR figure and still be ignored.

Paid (26)

• There's An AI For That

  A $49 review fee for a permanent listing. The main "Use tool" link is followed in two audits; ad placements are nofollow.

  Paid, followedDR 78$49Strong evidence

• ToolFame

  Basic at $14.90: three dofollow links, no badge. Free needs a permanent badge and a review of up to 180 days.

  Paid, followedDR 76$14.90Moderate evidence

• Uneed

  Followed or not depends on launch-day upvotes: a score of 20 in the free line, 10 with Fast-track ($14.99), guaranteed with Skip the line ($29.99).

  Votes decideDR 76$14.99Strong evidence

• AI Agents Directory

  Starter at $49: "Do-follow SEO backlink". The free plan, which needs a badge, and the $19 Fast Track are explicitly nofollow.

  Paid, followedDR 75$49Strong evidence

• LaunchIgniter

  Basic at $12: "Lifetime dofollow backlink (DR 75)", with no badge and no wait. Free launches need the week's top 3 plus a badge.

  Paid, followedDR 75$12Strong evidence

• Startup Fast

  Premium at $19: guaranteed dofollow. Free launches need the day's top 3 plus a badge.

  Paid, followedDR 73$19Strong evidence

• StartupBase

  "Every paid launch includes a permanent dofollow backlink": Outrank from $15, Premium at $39. The free launch promises no backlink.

  Paid, followedDR 73From $15Strong evidence

• Toolify.ai

  $99: "no less than 6 quality dofollow links", live within 48 hours with no queue.

  Paid, followedDR 73$9948 hoursStrong evidence

• Aura++

  Premium at $29: guaranteed dofollow. Free launches need the day's top 3 plus a badge.

  Paid, followedDR 72$29Strong evidence

• mcp.so

  Premium at $39: "Dofollow project link". The only URL field is "Repository URL", so the link may point at a repository rather than your site.

  Paid, followedDR 72$39Moderate evidence

• Open-Launch

  Premium at $12: "Guaranteed dofollow backlink from a DR 71 domain", launching the next day. Free launches are followed only in the day's top 3 with their badge, and the free line is full until 2027.

  Paid, followedDR 72$12Next dayStrong evidence

• OpenHunts

  Premium at $9.90: "Guaranteed dofollow backlink", no badge. Free launches are followed only in the top 3, after a queue of about 60 weeks.

  Paid, followedDR 72$9.90About 60 weeks if freeStrong evidence

• Tiny Startups

  Each spot on the sponsored board carries a DR 71 dofollow link, from £69. The link type of a free submission is not confirmed.

  Paid, followedDR 72From £69Moderate evidence

• mcpservers.org

  Premium at $39: "Dofollow link (DR 71)", reviewed within 24 hours. The free listing, about 2 weeks, does not say what kind of link you get.

  Paid, followedDR 71$3924 hoursModerate evidence

• SaaSFame

  Basic at $14.90: "Get 3 dofollow links", no badge, listed immediately. Free needs a badge and a review of up to 180 days, and can be refused.

  Paid, followedDR 71$14.90Listed immediatelyStrong evidence

• Similarlabs

  A $9.99 paid listing: dofollow links in six languages, reviewed within 24 hours.

  Paid, followedDR 70$9.9924 hoursModerate evidence

• Uno Directory

  $10 once to "lock in a DR 70 dofollow". The free plan wants a link back and does not say what kind of link you get.

  Paid, followedDR 70$10Moderate evidence

• Huzzler

  Launch Boost at $29: dofollow on an indexed page, no badge. The free listing needs a badge, waits 72 days and ships noindex.

  Paid, followedDR 69$29Strong evidence

• Aitop10

  Pro at $6.90: "12 high-quality Dofollow backlinks", permanent, with no link back. The free plan wants a link back and promises no dofollow.

  Paid, followedDR 66$6.90Strong evidence

• DevHunt

  Free listings are nofollow, 90 of 92 checked. A paid launch gets a permanent dofollow link: $19 according to the FAQ, $49 according to the About page.

  Paid, followedDR 66$19 to $49Strong evidence

• See What New AI

  $10: "Get a dofollow link" with no link exchange, in about a week. Free: dofollow in exchange for a link back, in about three months.

  Paid, followedDR 63$10About a weekStrong evidence

• SaaSGrow

  Basic at $9 (the page also shows $5): "DoFollow Backlink", with instant approval.

  Paid, followedDR 62$9Instant approvalModerate evidence

• Easy With AI

  $125: "The link to your tool will be dofollow", live within 24 hours and refunded if rejected.

  Paid, followedDR 60$12524 hoursStrong evidence

• LaunchVault

  Premium at $9.99: "Guaranteed dofollow backlink", permanent. Free launches need the week's top 3 plus a badge.

  Paid, followedDR 59$9.99Strong evidence

• AI Agent Store

  Only the $99 guest article carries dofollow links. The directory listing itself is nofollow.

  Paid, followedDR 55$99Strong evidence

• StartupTrusted

  Pro at $11: "All your dofollow links are permanent", with no link back.

  Paid, followedDR 54$11Strong evidence

More lists

• 18 Free Startup Directories With a Followed Link
• 23 AI Tool Directories and the Link Each Gives
• Where to Launch a SaaS: 28 Platforms Checked

Before you submit

• Submit to 10 well-chosen directories

  One B2B SaaS submitted to about 160 directories: 171 of 3,300 sessions and 2 attributed signups. When directories fit, and how to track them.

• Pay to boost a directory that already sends visitors

  Uneed says its skip-the-line fee only moves your launch date, and one $99 BetaList feature brought 5 email signups. When paying a directory makes sense.