Launching on Product Hunt is free, and anyone with an account can post a product. The launch day runs from midnight Pacific Time, so most makers launch at 12:01 AM PT to get the full day. Weekdays bring more visitors and more competition; weekends are quieter and easier to rank on. Without an audience ready to show up, launch smaller platforms first.
Is launching on Product Hunt free?
Yes. Posting a product costs nothing. You need an account, and new accounts may have to wait or be active for a while before they can post, so create yours well before launch day. Paid options on Product Hunt are ads and promotions, not the launch itself.
Best day and time to launch on Product Hunt
- Time: the day resets at midnight Pacific Time. Launching at 12:01 AM PT gives you all 24 hours of voting.
- Tuesday to Thursday: the most visitors and the most competition. Best when you have a large audience ready.
- Friday to Sunday: fewer visitors, but far fewer strong launches. Often the better bet for a first launch or a small audience.
- Avoid days when a big, well-known company is launching in your category.
How to prepare
- A tagline that says what it does in plain words, a clear logo, and a gallery that shows the product working.
- A first comment from the maker: why you built it, who it's for, and what feedback you want.
- A list of people who've said they'll check it out on the day. Ask for honest feedback and comments, not upvotes; Product Hunt discourages vote requests.
- Your calendar cleared for the day, so you can answer every comment quickly.
No audience yet? Launch somewhere smaller first
A cold Product Hunt launch usually drops off the front page within hours. Launch first where you'll be seen: smaller launch platforms and directories bring your first users, feedback and testimonials, which make the Product Hunt launch stronger later. See our list of Product Hunt alternatives for where to start.
Warm up on IndieLaunch
Launch free on IndieLaunch first: get feedback, your first upvotes and a permanent product page, then take what you learn to Product Hunt.
Frequently asked questions
- Can anyone launch on Product Hunt?
- Anyone with a Product Hunt account can post a product, though new accounts may need to wait before posting. You can also launch a product you didn't make, as a hunter.
- How often can you launch on Product Hunt?
- You can launch a product again after a significant update, but not repeatedly for small changes. Check Product Hunt's current relaunch guidelines before you do.
- Is Product Hunt worth it for a small startup?
- It can be, once you have some users and people who'll turn up on the day. Before that, smaller launch platforms usually give you more for the same effort.