Where we list / Listing guides
How to add your app to AlternativeTo
Sign up, verify your email, then choose Suggest new application from the user menu and fill in platforms, license, descriptions and tags. Submitting is free, but the normal review queue holds thousands of apps with no promised date; a paid priority review is usually done in 1 to 2 business days. Many app types are declined, so check the rules before you spend time on the form.
Checked on AlternativeTo's own pages on 2026-11-12.
| Cost | Free to submit. Optional one-time priority review fee, shown before you pay and refundable until the review is done. |
|---|---|
| Who can submit | Any registered user with a verified email address, including the app's developer. |
| Review | Admins review manually. The free queue has no date and many apps are never reached; priority reviews usually take 1 to 2 business days, up to a week at busy times. |
| Link to your site | Usually nofollow. Links to app websites are nofollow unless editors decide otherwise, and followed links cannot be bought. |
| Fits | Real software people switch between: desktop, mobile and web apps, browser extensions, self-hosted and open source tools, in English, available globally or across all of Europe or the USA. |
| Time needed | 30 to 45 minutes to fill the form well. |
Before you start
- An AlternativeTo account with a verified email address.
- A square icon, ideally PNG or SVG, 280x280 pixels or larger with a transparent background.
- The license type: Free, Freemium (free with limited functionality), Free for personal use or Commercial, plus a source code link if open source.
- Every platform you run on, such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Online or Self-Hosted.
- Names of three to five well-known apps yours replaces, which you will add as alternatives.
- A plain description with no links, emails or phone numbers in the text.
How to list on AlternativeTo, step by step
Check that you qualify
Read the FAQ section on declined apps. AlternativeTo turns down simple one-page online tools, thin wrappers around AI models, services, clones, regional apps, unreleased apps and many games.
Create and verify your account
Sign up and verify your email. Voting and editing work right away, but new app submissions need a verified address.
Open Suggest new application
Click the user icon at the top right and choose Suggest new application. Fill in platforms, license, descriptions and tags, then submit.
Decide on priority review
After submitting you can pay a one-time fee to jump the queue. Paying only buys a faster look; approval criteria are the same and the fee is not refundable once the review is done.
Add your app as an alternative
Once live, go to the pages of the apps you replace, choose Contribute to this page, then Suggest Alternatives. This is where most visitors will find you.
Request developer access
Developers can get access to their own app page so edits go live without waiting for review. Name and website changes still need admin approval.
Track the submission
Check My submissions in the user menu. Until approved, the page is visible only to you.
What the AlternativeTo form asks for
| Field | Limit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | – | Tick every platform you truly support; Self-Hosted is for web apps people install on their own server. |
| License | – | Choose Freemium only if the free version does the main job; time-limited trials count as Commercial. |
| Descriptions | – | Describe what the app does in plain English with no URLs or contact details, which are not allowed in the text. |
| Tags | – | Use tags that say what the app is; features are converted automatically. |
| Official website | – | Use a clean URL without UTM tags, which are generally not allowed; track AlternativeTo traffic by HTTP referrer instead. |
Why submissions get rejected
- Content rather than software, such as blogs, review sites, coupon sites and wallpaper collections.
- Simple online tools like converters, calculators, PDF tools, QR generators, resume builders, or bundles of them.
- Thin wrappers around someone else's AI model, such as humanizers, headshot generators and generic image generators.
- Services, agency work, and apps usable in only one city, country or part of the US or Europe.
- Clones, clone scripts or the same app under several names.
- Unreleased, closed beta, invite-only or Early Access apps; non-English apps; hardware; porn sites.
- Low-effort apps, low-quality games and submissions in over-saturated categories.
Tips that make a difference
- Do not list free and pro editions separately. AlternativeTo wants one entry per product, which also keeps your likes in one place.
- If your name clashes with an existing app, add a clarifying word, such as Mercury Reader instead of Mercury.
- Using your user profile or Lists to promote an app that is not yet approved is treated as spam.
- Share your page and ask fans to like it, but never offer rewards for likes; incentives and fake accounts can drop your rank.
- Paying for priority review does not change rank, likes or link status after approval.
Example: what JustLaunched prepared
These are the texts Pushify prepared for JustLaunched, a real brand, before listing it on sites like AlternativeTo. See the full sample report ›
| Name | JustLaunched |
|---|---|
| Tagline | Launch board for founders and early adopters |
| Short description | JustLaunched is a free launch board where founders introduce new products and early adopters try them first, ask questions and share feedback. |
| Tags | product launch, launch platform, startup discovery, indie makers, early adopters, beta testers, launch deals, product hunt alternative, saas, startups |
Questions people ask
Is AlternativeTo free?
Yes, adding an app is free. You can optionally pay a one-time fee for a priority review, shown before you pay.
How long does AlternativeTo take to approve an app?
There is no date for the free queue, which holds several thousand apps, and AlternativeTo says many will not be reviewed for a very long time. Priority reviews are usually done in 1 to 2 business days.
Are AlternativeTo links dofollow?
Usually not. AlternativeTo says links to app websites are nofollow unless its editors decide otherwise, and you cannot pay for a followed link.
Why was my app declined on AlternativeTo?
Most declines fall into set groups: simple online tools, AI wrappers, services, regional apps, clones, unreleased apps and low-quality games. Approval is at the admins' discretion, even for priority submissions.
Can I list a beta app on AlternativeTo?
Open or public betas will probably be accepted. Coming soon, closed beta, invite-only and Early Access apps are not.
Sources
The AlternativeTo pages this guide was checked against.