The short answer
Product Hunt is free and has a far bigger audience, but your launch competes for a single day. Launch Indie Apps is a paid listing for one iOS app that stays up, with launch posts and click numbers. If you can be around to reply all day, launch on Product Hunt. Most makers can do both.
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.
Product Hunt
One launch day on the daily leaderboard, then a permanent product page.
Depends on youA day of attention against a page that stays. They do different jobs.
Cost
Launch Indie Apps
$5 at the launch price, then $9, paid once. No free listing.
Product Hunt
Free to launch. Ads aren't allowed during a launch.
Better fit: Product HuntFree beats any price.
Audience
Launch Indie Apps
New and small. Its own numbers are public on the stats page.
Product Hunt
A community of early adopters, makers and investors, and a Daily Digest with more than 350,000 readers (Product Hunt's own figure).
Better fit: Product HuntProduct Hunt reaches far more people.
Fit for an iOS app
Launch Indie Apps
iOS apps on the App Store, made by indie makers and solo founders. Nothing else.
Product Hunt
iOS apps are welcome and the link can be the App Store, but it covers every kind of tech product.
Better fit: Launch Indie AppsHere an iOS app isn't competing with AI tools and SaaS for the same attention.
Getting seen
Launch Indie Apps
A person reviews every app before it goes live. A decision within 48 hours of payment, or a refund.
Product Hunt
Every launch is reviewed, but the homepage is curated and featuring isn't guaranteed. Unfeatured launches stay in the All feed.
Better fit: Launch Indie AppsAn approved app here is listed; on Product Hunt being featured is up to the team on the day.
Preparation
Launch Indie Apps
An App Store link. The name, icon and screenshots come in by themselves.
Product Hunt
Product Hunt recommends joining three months or more ahead, and a new account waits a week before it can post.
Better fit: Launch Indie AppsLess to prepare, which matters if you're launching next week.
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.
Product Hunt
The Visit button on a recent iOS launch links straight to the App Store with rel="ugc".
Depends on youNeither is a plain followed link, so neither is a backlink play.
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.
Product Hunt
Detailed guides on preparing and launch day.
Better fit: Launch Indie AppsWe write the posts and count the clicks; Product Hunt tells you how.
Product Hunt is the better choice if
- You want the biggest audience you can get for free.
- Your app appeals to tech early adopters, not only to the general public.
- You can spend launch day replying to comments, from 12:01 AM Pacific on.
- You've been part of the community for a while, as Product Hunt recommends.
Launch Indie Apps is the better choice if
- You want a page about your iOS app that's still there in month four.
- You have no audience to rally on the day, and you'd rather not compete on a leaderboard.
- You want launch posts for the other places written for you, and to see which ones sent App Store clicks.
Using both
Most makers can do both, and we'd suggest it. Launch on Product Hunt for the day, and list with us for the page that stays. The Launch Map covers Product Hunt's rules with the date we checked them.
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 Product Hunt 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 Product Hunt, 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
Is Product Hunt free for iOS apps?
Yes. Product Hunt says launching is free, and an iOS app can use its App Store link as the product URL.
Can I launch on Product Hunt and list on Launch Indie Apps?
Yes. They don't exclude each other, and the listing stays up after your Product Hunt day ends.
Is Launch Indie Apps affiliated with Product Hunt?
No. Launch Indie Apps is independent and has no relationship with Product Hunt. Nobody paid for this comparison.
Sources
- Launch day duties, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- Preparing for launch, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- Before launch, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- Launch Guide, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- How do things end up on the homepage?, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- Why is my post not on the homepage?, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- How can I get access to post?, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- Ad campaigns, Product Hunt (checked October 16, 2026)
- Nostaliga, an iOS app launched on October 15, 2026 (link markup checked), Product Hunt (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)