Launch catalog / Playbook
ToolFame
Conditional free route 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 requires a permanent 'Featured on ToolFame' badge on your website; automated checks unpublish the listing immediately if the badge is removed
- Free queue is long: site stated 874 tools waiting and review 'within 180 days'
- An account is required — /submit renders a login/signup form (email, Google, or GitHub) before any submission fields are shown
Requirements
- AI, SaaS, or online tool fitting one of ~40 categories
- Must be willing to keep the ToolFame badge live on your site permanently for the free tier
- Free listings 'may be rejected for listing' per pricing page
Prepare before opening the form
- Account on toolfame.com (email, Google, or GitHub login)
- Product name, URL, description, logo/screenshot assets
- Ability to embed the ToolFame badge HTML on your homepage for the free route
- Decide free vs paid: Basic $14.9 one-time (3 dofollow links, no badge, listed immediately), Pro $49.9 (5 dofollow links, featured spots)
Workflow
- Create an account at toolfame.com (Sign up link on the login page)
- Open https://toolfame.com/submit and complete the listing form
- For the free plan: copy the badge code, place it on your site, and pass badge verification
- Wait for review — free queue is advertised as up to 180 days
- Verify the listing appears on a public toolfame.com detail page
Watch for
- Badge removal triggers automated checks and instant delisting — no warning is sent; restoring requires upgrading to a paid plan
- Checkout upsells: Guest Post $79.9, Sponsor $79.9/30 days, 'Directory Submissions' $149 which pays ToolFame to submit to 100+ directories
- Free tier gives only 1 dofollow link vs 3 (Basic) or 5 (Pro)
- Pricing FAQ explicitly frames the free plan as for 'bootstrapped founders' and pushes paid plans
What counts as live
A public listing detail page on toolfame.com with a 'Visit Website'/dofollow link, reachable without login
Not verified
- Exact form fields after login (submit page was gated behind auth)
- How badge verification works (crawl of homepage vs specified URL)
- Whether the 874-tool free queue translates to an actual ~180-day wait in practice