Show HN is the section of Hacker News for things people have made. Posts are titled "Show HN:" and compete for the front page with everything else on the site.
Best for: developer tools, open-source projects and technical products that people can try right away.
Visit Show HN (Hacker News)What Show HN (Hacker News) does for a launch
A launch platform gives a new product a day or a week on a front page where people browse, vote and comment. The attention is short, so the work is in the preparation and in showing up on the day.
How to get listed on Show HN (Hacker News)
- Read Show HN (Hacker News)'s submit page and rules first: some platforms have a free queue, a paid way to skip it, or a fixed launch day.
- Create a maker account a few days early. A brand-new account that posts once looks like spam on most platforms.
- Pick a launch day you can spend online. Most of the result comes from replying to comments in the first hours.
- Fill in the listing: a tagline that says what it does, a short description, a square logo, three or four screenshots and your pricing.
- On the day, share the launch link with people who already know you, and reply to every comment.
- If Show HN (Hacker News) gives you a badge or a launch page, link it from your site. It tells visitors you're real and helps search engines find the page.
Tips for Show HN (Hacker News)
- Show HN is for something people can try now. Sign-up walls and waitlists get a cold reception.
- Write the title and first comment plainly. Marketing language is the fastest way to lose the room.
- Answer every technical question in detail; the discussion is the launch.
- Read our Show HN guide before you post.
What to prepare before you submit
You'll paste the same things into every launch platform and directory, so write them once:
- A tagline under 60 characters that says what it does (see how to write a product tagline).
- A description under 160 characters, plus a longer one of two or three short paragraphs.
- A square logo (at least 256×256) and three or four screenshots at the same size.
- Your pricing in one line, including whether there's a free plan.
- A spreadsheet of where you submitted, the listing URL and whether the link is followed.
Launch on IndieLaunch too — it's free
Live the day it's approved, with a permanent product page that search engines and AI assistants read.
Frequently asked questions
- Is launching on Show HN (Hacker News) free?
- Most launch platforms have a free way in, often with a queue, and a paid option for a set date or a better spot. Prices change, so check Show HN (Hacker News)'s submit page for what it offers today.
- Is a Show HN (Hacker News) launch worth it?
- It's worth it when you can be there on the day to answer comments, and when the people who browse Show HN (Hacker News) are close to your customers. A launch you can't show up for usually gets little back.
- Can I launch on Show HN (Hacker News) and other platforms too?
- Yes. Space them out by a few days so each launch gets your full attention, and reuse the same tagline, description and screenshots so every listing says the same thing.
IndieLaunch isn't affiliated with Show HN (Hacker News). What's here comes from its own site, checked October 17, 2026; prices and policies change, so check before you submit. Our full list is in the startup directories guide.