Launch catalog / Playbook
WhatTheAI
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.
Requirements
- AI tools only - huge taxonomy (34k+ tools, 278 categories per third-party listing)
- Account required to submit and manage listings (per third-party sources; submit page itself is JS-rendered)
- Manual review process; freemium model - free standard listing, paid featured placement via /advertise
Prepare before opening the form
- Tool name, URL, description, category from their taxonomy, and logo/screenshots
- Create an account before/at submission
- Have the marketing copy reflect real AI functionality
Workflow
- Open https://whattheai.tech/submit
- Create/sign in to an account
- Complete the tool submission form (name, link, description, category)
- Wait for manual approval; paid featured options live under /advertise
Watch for
- The /submit page did not render its form to a plain fetch (JS app) - use a browser
- Dofollow status of free links is not disclosed; third-party catalogs disagree
- Featured/paid placement is a separate product - do not confuse advertising checkout with the free submission
- Approval time is unspecified; allow for manual review delays
What counts as live
The tool has a public /tools/<slug> page on whattheai.tech reachable from its category listing.
Not verified
- Exact form fields and whether submission is gated differently post-login
- Review turnaround
- Whether free listings are dofollow
- Pricing details of the featured options (advertise page exists but prices unverified)