Launch catalog / Playbook
AI Surf
Conditional free route ai-directory
Researched from public pages — no submission was run · sources read 2026-09-26. Rules change — recheck the platform's own pages before submitting.
What the free route requires
- Free path appears badge-linked — homepage offers a 'Free Featured Badge' that developers add to their own site; whether badge display is required for a free listing is unconfirmed
Requirements
- AI tools only — the directory is organized into ~30 AI categories (Art, Audio, Business, Chatbots, Code, etc.)
- Submission requires a listing form reached via 'Submit Tool'/'Add Listing' nav links; guessed direct paths 404
- Site runs WordPress + WPForms; submission form is JS-rendered behind the nav links
Prepare before opening the form
- Tool name, URL, and category choice
- Short description for the listing
- Logo/screenshot likely requested by the WPForms listing form
Workflow
- Open https://theaisurf.com/ and click 'Submit Tool' (or 'Add Listing') in the header
- Complete the JS-rendered listing form (WordPress/WPForms)
- Optionally add the 'Free Featured Badge' to the product site to qualify for featured placement
Watch for
- Direct guessable submit URLs (/submit-tool/, /add-listing/) return 404 — entry is only via the nav links
- Cloudflare challenge scripts are embedded site-wide; automated submission may be blocked
- Free Featured Badge suggests a reciprocal-badge mechanic — verify whether it's required or optional before assuming a free dofollow listing
What counts as live
The tool appears in a category listing on theaisurf.com under 'Just Added' or its category page
Not verified
- Whether the free tier requires the badge
- Review turnaround and moderation process
- Whether the submit form is reachable for unauthenticated visitors end-to-end