234 SaaS Directories in 2026: How Rarely ChatGPT and Gemini Cite Them

ChatGPT and Gemini rarely cite SaaS directories. In the AI Software Index, 9,978 buyer questions asked on ChatGPT and Gemini in August 2026 across 126 software categories, only 10 of the 234 directories on this page ever ranked among a category's eight most-cited sources, and only five of those are review directories: GetApp, G2, Capterra, TrustRadius and Software Advice, each in no more than three categories. A spot check on the real ChatGPT on 26 September 2026 agreed: across 30 buyer questions and 118 cited links, not one pointed to a directory listing.

To do this in GetIntel, see Get listed where AI looks.

Directories are still useful even though ChatGPT and Gemini rarely cite them. They are where reviews, brand mentions and consistent product facts accumulate, which is what gets a brand named in an answer even when the directory is not the link. They are also still some of the easiest backlinks a new product can earn. All 234 are listed below, ranked by domain rating (DR), with the free ones broken out.

Disclosure: GetIntel sells AI visibility tracking and runs the free directory finder. The list comes from GetIntel's own directory database, with DR recorded on 30 March 2026.

Which SaaS directories do ChatGPT and Gemini actually cite?

Very few, and mostly not as directories. Of the 10 directory domains that ever made a category's top eight cited sources in the AI Software Index, the five biggest are cited for something other than their listings: Reddit (46 of 126 categories) for its threads, Zapier (15) for its blog roundups, Gartner (12) for research, and Slack and Notion for their own products. The review directories barely register: GetApp in three categories, G2 in two, and Capterra, TrustRadius and Software Advice in one each. Our 30-question ChatGPT spot check found the same pattern in miniature: the only hits were a Zapier roundup and two Slack pricing pages.

So separate being cited from being useful. ChatGPT and Gemini mostly cite vendor sites, comparison articles and Reddit threads, but those pages are written from what is visible across the web, and directories are a large part of that. A complete G2 profile with reviews, the same one-line description on every listing, and a presence where buyers compare tools are what make a brand easy to name. List for mentions, reviews and trust; do not list expecting the directory to be the link. The listings playbook covers how to find the sources AI does cite in your category.

AI Software Index, August 2026: 9,978 answers from ChatGPT and Gemini. A domain counts when it is among a category's eight most-cited sources. Perplexity, Claude and Google AI Overviews were not measured.

All 234 SaaS directories, ranked by DR

Every directory in GetIntel's database, sorted by domain rating. "Not checked" means we have not confirmed that field for that directory. The last column shows how many of the index's 126 categories list the domain among ChatGPT and Gemini's top eight cited sources; blank means none. Want it as a spreadsheet? Download the list.

DR recorded 30 March 2026; submission and link types from GetIntel's directory database; citation column from the AI Software Index, August 2026.

Which SaaS directories are free? (83 free options)

The 83 directories in the list with a confirmed free way to submit, by DR. "Free (backlink required)" means the directory asks you to link back to it first.

Tier 1: Submit these first

Tier 1 directories are the non-negotiables. If you haven't listed on all of them, stop reading and go do it now. The DA lift and traffic from this tier alone justifies the effort. See how directory submissions helped us go from DR 0 to 45 in 30 days: the week 2 section covers exactly which Tier 1 directories moved the needle most.

1. Product Hunt (DR 91)

The launch platform for consumer and developer tools, but SaaS products thrive here too. A strong launch day can drive a real burst of signups, though results vary widely. The backlink from producthunt.com is one of the strongest a new product can earn for free.

Best for: B2C, developer tools, productivity SaaS, early-stage products Free: Yes Time to list: 30 minutes (plus launch preparation) Pro tip: Don't just "list" on Product Hunt, plan a proper launch.

2. G2 (DR 90)

The enterprise software review platform. G2's category pages rank for high-intent commercial keywords ("best [category] software", "[software type] reviews"). Getting listed and accumulating reviews is a long-term SEO play.

Best for: B2B SaaS with any customer base Free: Yes (paid tiers for boosted visibility) Time to list: 1-2 hours Pro tip: Ask your first 10 customers to leave reviews immediately after listing.

3. Capterra (DR 93)

Owned by Gartner, Capterra dominates "software" search terms. Free listings exist but pay-per-click placement drives most visibility. Still worth listing free for the backlink and review collection.

Best for: Business software, HR, finance, project management SaaS Free: Yes (basic listing) Time to list: 1-2 hours

4. GetApp (DR 85)

Part of the Capterra/Gartner family. Slightly more SMB-focused than Capterra. Backlink quality is excellent. Submit here if you're already on Capterra: the listing process is nearly identical.

Best for: SMB-focused SaaS Free: Yes

5. Software Advice (DR 83)

The third Gartner-owned platform. Same network, slightly different audience. Getting on all three Gartner properties (Capterra, GetApp, Software Advice) is a single concentrated effort worth doing.

Best for: Business software across categories Free: Yes

6. Crunchbase (DR 91)

Crunchbase is not a traditional software directory, but your profile is cited in press coverage, due diligence reports, and investor materials. The backlink is excellent, and the credibility signal is real.

Best for: Every SaaS company, period Free: Yes (basic profile) Time to list: 45 minutes

7. Wellfound, formerly AngelList (DR 88)

Originally a job and investment platform, now used by founders for product visibility. Strong community of startup founders and early adopters. Good for B2B products targeting the startup ecosystem.

Best for: Developer tools, SaaS targeting startups Free: Yes

8. AlternativeTo (DR 80)

High-traffic site where users search for alternatives to tools they're already using. List your product as an alternative to established players in your category. Buyer intent is extremely high here.

Best for: Any SaaS competing with established tools Free: Yes Pro tip: List yourself as an alternative to 5-10 competitors. Traffic from "alternatives to [competitor]" searches converts well.

9. Slant (DR 72)

Community-driven recommendation site. Users ask "what's the best tool for X" and vote on responses. Getting your product into relevant Slant threads drives targeted traffic over time.

Best for: Developer tools, productivity, niche B2B Free: Yes

10. SaaSHub (DR 70)

Dedicated SaaS discovery platform with good organic rankings for "[category] software" terms. Actively maintained with real user reviews.

Best for: Any SaaS product Free: Yes

11. Stackshare (DR 79)

Tech stack discovery platform. Developers and engineering teams use it to see what tools companies are using. If your product integrates with popular tools, Stackshare is a must.

Best for: Developer tools, API products, technical SaaS Free: Yes

12. BetaList (DR 73)

Curated directory of products in beta. Even if you're post-launch, submitting during early stages gets you in front of early adopters who actively try new software.

Best for: Pre-launch and early-stage products Free: Yes (paid for faster listing)

13. Indie Hackers (DR 80)

Community forum for bootstrapped founders. Creating a product page and being active in the community drives more value than a passive listing. The audience is founders, useful if you sell to startups.

Best for: Products targeting developers and founders Free: Yes

14. Hacker News Show HN (DR 91)

Hacker News is not a directory, but submitting a "Show HN" post on launch or major update is free publicity to one of the most influential technical communities. A top Show HN post can drive a large, short burst of traffic.

Best for: Developer tools, technical products Free: Yes Note: This is earned, not listed. Your product needs to be genuinely interesting.

15. F6S (DR 82)

Startup platform used by accelerators and investors. Good backlink and visibility with the startup ecosystem.

Best for: Early-stage SaaS Free: Yes

Tier 2: High value, worth the effort

These directories won't single-handedly move your DR, but collectively they contribute real link equity and some direct traffic. Prioritize the ones most relevant to your category.

General SaaS directories

Niche Vertical Directories (Pick by Category)

Marketing & Sales SaaS:

• MarTech Alliance (DR 52): Marketing technology directory
• ChiefMartec (DR 61): Scott Brinker's MarTech landscape (submit to get included)
• Sales Hacker (DR 58): Now Pavilion; tools section gets traffic

Productivity & Collaboration:

• Slackapps.io (DR 43): Slack integrations directory
• Notion Integrations (DR 91): If you integrate with Notion
• Zapier App Directory (DR 91): The best of Tier 2; requires Zapier integration

Developer Tools:

• DevHunt (DR 51): Developer tool launches
• Tooling.io (DR 45): Curated developer tools
• LibHunt (DR 60): Language-specific libraries and tools

Tier 3: Quick wins, done in bulk

At this tier, the link equity contribution per directory is minimal. However, the cumulative effect of 30-50 Tier 3 listings adds a layer of topical relevance and brand mentions that Google does notice.

The key insight: do Tier 3 directories in bulk or not at all. Spending 20 minutes per directory at this level is not worth your time. This is where automation helps.

The GetIntel directory finder shortlists the directories that fit your category, so you only fill in the forms worth filling in.

Examples of quality Tier 3 directories:

• StartupBuffer (DR 42): Startup showcase with small but engaged audience
• Startup Stash (DR 65): Curated tools and resources for founders
• Betapage (DR 50): Startup early access community
• Startupbase.io (DR 31): Simple startup directory
• Launched.io (DR 29): New product launches community
• Startup Collections (DR 24): Curated startup lists

What to Skip (And Why)

Plenty of directories are not worth your time. Avoid:

Link farms masquerading as directories: If a site has DR 15, no organic traffic, and charges $50/month for a "featured listing," it's a link farm. These can actually hurt your profile if Google penalizes the domain.

Directories without editorial standards: If you can submit anything and it auto-publishes in 5 minutes with no review, the backlink is worth nothing. Quality directories have some barrier to entry.

Irrelevant niche directories: Submitting your B2B analytics SaaS to a WordPress plugins directory because it's free is noise. Topical relevance matters.

Paid-only directories with no traffic: Some directories charge $200-500 for a "permanent listing" with no organic traffic. You're paying for a backlink that provides no referral traffic and minimal SEO value.

How to Write a Listing That Actually Converts

Most founders write directory listings like this:

"[Product] is an AI-powered platform that helps teams collaborate and drive synergies through intelligent automation."

That converts nobody. Here's what actually works:

The Formula That Works

Name + One-Line Problem + Who It's For + Key Differentiator

Example: "GetIntel is an AI visibility tool for solo SaaS founders who need to know what ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity say about them. It scores your buyer questions by topic across every engine and turns every citation gap it finds into a ranked task list, built specifically for founders without a marketing team."

Category Selection

Every directory lets you pick a category. Most founders pick the obvious one. Instead, look at which subcategories have less competition and still describe your product. "AI Marketing Tools" beats "Marketing Software" in directories because it's more specific and less competitive.

Tags and Keywords

Fill out every tag field. Use the exact phrases your buyers search for, not the jargon you use internally. "Lead enrichment" is better than "contact data augmentation."

Screenshots

Listings with screenshots give buyers something to judge; upload 3-4 screenshots showing your actual product in use, not marketing slides.

The 30-Day Directory Submission Plan

Week 1: Tier 1 (15 directories) Write your master listing copy (name, one-liner, description 100 words, description 500 words, categories, tags, screenshots). Submit to all 15 Tier 1 directories using that copy.

Week 2: Tier 2 (25 directories) Focus on the 10-15 Tier 2 directories most relevant to your vertical. Customize descriptions slightly for each category niche.

Week 3: Tier 3 (50+ directories) Use the directory finder to pick them, then a VA to batch-submit to 50+ Tier 3 directories. The copy stays the same; it's pure execution.

Week 4: Review and track Check which Tier 1 listings are live. Follow up on any pending moderation. Set up Google Alerts for your product name to track new mentions, and start AI brand monitoring alongside it. Watch whether answers start naming you, not whether they link a directory: in our data they almost never do.

How we built this list

The 234 directories come from the database behind GetIntel's directory finder: each has a domain rating recorded on 30 March 2026, a submission type and a link type where we have confirmed them. We excluded sites that showed signs of spam or sold a backlink with no user value. Citation data comes from two sources: the AI Software Index (9,978 ChatGPT and Gemini answers, August 2026), which is the main evidence, and a spot check of 30 buyer questions on the real ChatGPT interface on 26 September 2026, run through ScrapingBee's ChatGPT endpoint. The spot check is one engine on one day, so read it as a confirmation, not a study. Perplexity was not measured and may cite review sites more often.

For the tactics that do move AI answers, see how to get recommended in AI search, and for monitoring whether it works, AI brand monitoring.