Submit Your Startup to Hacker News
news.ycombinator.com · Launchpads & Startups ✓ DR verified via Ahrefs
91Domain Rating
#1/145Category rank
FreePricing
NofollowLink type
★ TopEditor's pick
Key facts
- Hacker News (news.ycombinator.com) is a startup launch platform with a Domain Rating of 91/100 (Ahrefs, verified June 12, 2026).
- It ranks #1 of 145 in Launchpads & Startups tracked by Clakr, 46 points above the category average of DR 44.8.
- Listing is Free; links are Nofollow.
- What it's known for: High-intent tech traffic.
- 62% of Launchpads & Startups are free and 65% offer dofollow links.
Last verified: June 12, 2026 · Source: Clakr directory dataset (1,057 directories) + Ahrefs Domain Rating
Hacker News vs. the average directory
| Metric | Hacker News | Avg. Launchpads & Startups (145) | Avg. all (1,057) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Rating | 91 | 44.8 | 51.7 |
| Pricing | Free | 62% free | |
| Link type | Nofollow | 65% dofollow |
Domain Rating is Ahrefs' 0 to 100 measure of a site's backlink authority. Learn how DR works.
How to submit your startup to Hacker News
- Open news.ycombinator.com and locate the submit / add product page (create an account if required).
- Prepare your assets: logo, short tagline, description and screenshots. Reuse the same kit across directories to move fast.
- Submit your startup, then watch for a confirmation or review email.
- Track it in Clakr: mark Hacker News as Submitted, then Published, and save the link to your live post.
Top 10 Launchpads & Startups by Domain Rating
| # | Directory | DR | Link | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hacker News | 91 | Nofollow | Free |
| #2 | Product Hunt | 91 | Nofollow | Free |
| #3 | Crunchbase | 91 | Dofollow | Free |
| #4 | Mashable | 91 | Nofollow | Free |
| #5 | Spotlight By Y Combinator | 91 | Nofollow | Free |
| #6 | Wellfound (Angellist) | 87 | Dofollow | Free |
| #7 | Built In | 86 | Nofollow | Free |
| #8 | Startup Fame | 83 | Dofollow | Paid |
| #9 | Fazier | 82 | Dofollow | Freemium |
| #10 | Twelve Tools | 81 | Dofollow | Free |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hacker News free to submit to?
Yes, listing your startup on Hacker News is free.
Does Hacker News give dofollow backlinks?
No, links from Hacker News are nofollow. The value is referral traffic, brand mentions and visibility rather than direct link equity.
What is Hacker News's Domain Rating?
Hacker News has a Domain Rating of 91/100 (Ahrefs, verified June 12, 2026) and ranks #1 of 145 in the Launchpads & Startups category tracked by Clakr.
How does Hacker News compare to similar directories?
With DR 91, Hacker News is 46 points above the Launchpads & Startups average of DR 44.8. 62% of directories in this category are free and 65% offer dofollow links.
Can I track my Hacker News submission in Clakr?
Yes. Clakr tracks your status (pending, submitted, published) and stores the link to your live post on Hacker News, alongside 1,056 other curated directories.
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