Launch catalog / Playbook
NewTool
Conditional free route ai-directory
Researched from public pages — no submission was run · sources read 2026-09-25. Rules change — recheck the platform's own pages before submitting.
What the free route requires
- Free plan ($0): 'Get 1 dofollow link' but 'Badge verification required - keep badge permanently, check regularly & unpublish if removed'
- Free submissions are 'reviewed within 30 days'
- Pro ($9.9 one-time): 'list right now', permanent link with NO backlink required, >=3 dofollow links, featured homepage/category placement; Sponsor ($19.9/mo): site-wide top-banner placement (max 3 sponsor slots)
Requirements
- Account is mandatory: /submit renders a login wall - email/password plus 'Login with Google' and 'Login with GitHub'; register at /auth/register
- For the free tier: embed the NewTool badge on the submitted site and keep it permanently
- Product details: name, URL, description, categories/tags (directory covers tools and startups, not only AI)
Prepare before opening the form
- An account (email signup or Google/GitHub OAuth)
- Product name, URL, description, category
- A permanent spot for their badge/backlink if using the free plan
- Or $9.9 for the Pro one-time plan to skip the badge and the 30-day queue
Workflow
- Register/sign in at newtool.site (email, Google, or GitHub)
- Open https://newtool.site/submit and complete the product form
- Pick free (badge verification + up to 30-day review) or Pro $9.9 (immediate listing, no badge)
- If free: place the NewTool badge on your site and keep it - they re-check and unpublish if removed
Watch for
- Permanent monitored badge requirement on the free tier - the dofollow link is contingent on keeping theirs
- 30-day free review window vs 'list right now' on the $9.9 plan
- Sponsor slots are capped at 3 and sold monthly - ignore unless site-wide placement is wanted
- The whole flow sits behind auth - no anonymous submission
What counts as live
The product has a public detail page on newtool.site and appears under Latest Products/its category
Not verified
- Exact badge code/placement rules
- Whether the '1 dofollow link' on free points to the submitted URL on the detail page
- Any rejection criteria beyond badge verification