The short answer
They're close. Both are paid, reviewed by a person and built for indie iOS apps. Discover Indie Apps says it usually reviews within a day, and its App Store link is a plain link. Launch Indie Apps costs less to feature and comes with launch posts, the Launch Map and click reports. Pick by which extra you need.
Side by side
8 things that matter for an iOS launch, each with the one that fits better.
What you get
Launch Indie Apps
A permanent listing. No votes and no launch day to win or lose.
Discover Indie Apps
A permanent listing in a directory, with search and categories. No set end date, and no votes or launch day.
Depends on youThe same shape: a directory page that stays.
Cost to list
Launch Indie Apps
$5 at the launch price, then $9, paid once. No free listing.
Discover Indie Apps
$9 once. No free way to submit; Featured picks are chosen by the editors.
Depends on youThe same at our usual price; less with us while the launch price lasts.
Top of the homepage
Launch Indie Apps
Weekly Spotlight: $25 at the launch price, then $49 for 7 days at the top of the homepage, labelled Sponsored.
Discover Indie Apps
Spotlight, $99 for 7 days at the top of the homepage and the Apps page, one app at a time.
Better fit: Launch Indie AppsHalf their price or less for the same week at the top.
Review
Launch Indie Apps
A person reviews every app before it goes live. A decision within 48 hours of payment, or a refund.
Discover Indie Apps
Reviewed by hand after payment, usually within 24 hours. Not approved means a full refund.
Better fit: Discover Indie AppsThey say a day; we promise two.
Link to your app
Launch Indie Apps
Links to your App Store page carry rel="sponsored", because the listing is paid. No link to your website.
Discover Indie Apps
The listing's App Store link has no nofollow or sponsored on it. No link to your website either.
Better fit: Discover Indie AppsIf you care about link value to the App Store page, theirs is a plain link.
Launch help
Launch Indie Apps
Launch posts written for X, Reddit, LinkedIn, Indie Hackers and email, the Launch Map of other places, and Launch Reports at day 7 and day 30.
Discover Indie Apps
A weekly newsletter of hand-picked apps. We found no launch posts, reports or maker dashboard.
Better fit: Launch Indie AppsA listing here comes with the work for the other places you launch.
Extras
Launch Indie Apps
A Daily Spotlight for 24 hours, and new listings in the next weekly newsletter.
Discover Indie Apps
Deals at $19 for listed apps, and an apps-for-sale page.
Depends on youDifferent extras for different needs.
Numbers shown
Launch Indie Apps
New and small. Its own numbers are public on the stats page.
Discover Indie Apps
86 apps listed and 889 App Store clicks on the homepage when we checked, with repeat clicks filtered (their figures).
Depends on youBoth are young sites, and both show their App Store clicks in public.
Discover Indie Apps is the better choice if
- You want a decision within a day.
- You want the plain App Store link.
- You plan to run a deal on your app's price.
Launch Indie Apps is the better choice if
- You want a week at the top of the homepage for less.
- You want launch posts written for X, Reddit, LinkedIn and the rest, and the Launch Map for where to post them.
- You want reports at day 7 and day 30 on where your App Store clicks came from.
Using both
At $9 or less each, plenty of makers will list on both, and nothing stops you. The Launch Map includes Discover Indie Apps with its rules.
How we compared
We compared the two for one case: an indie maker with an iOS app already on the App Store, no audience yet and a small budget. If that isn't you, some rows will tip the other way.
Every fact about Discover Indie Apps comes from its own pages, read on October 16, 2026 and linked below. Where its pages disagree with each other, we say so. Each row says which one fits that case better and why, or that it depends. We don't give scores out of ten; that would claim a precision we don't have.
This page is ours, and it's written by the person who runs Launch Indie Apps, so read it knowing that. Launch Indie Apps isn't affiliated with Discover Indie Apps, and nobody paid for this page. If something here is wrong or out of date, email hello@launchindieapps.com and we'll fix it.
Common questions
How much does Discover Indie Apps cost?
A listing is $9, paid once, and a 7-day Spotlight is $99. There is no free submission; Featured apps are picked by the editors.
Can I list my app on both?
Yes. Neither asks for an exclusive listing.
Is Launch Indie Apps affiliated with Discover Indie Apps?
No. The two sites are independent of each other. Nobody paid for this comparison.
Sources
- Homepage and pricing, Discover Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- Terms of Service, Discover Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- Payment success page, Discover Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- Refund policy, Discover Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- Deals, Discover Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- Modraly listing (link markup checked), Discover Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- Pricing, Launch Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- About, Launch Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)
- Live stats, Launch Indie Apps (checked October 16, 2026)