TinyLaunchpad vs BetaList: Which Launch Platform Is Better?
BetaList is one of the oldest startup directories, known for connecting pre-launch products with beta testers. TinyLaunchpad takes a different approach with weekly launches for ready-to-go products. Here is a detailed comparison to help you pick the right platform.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | TinyLaunchpad | BetaList |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Format | Weekly (Mondays) | Rolling (curated queue) |
| Pricing | Free tier, premium from $29 | Free (long wait) or $129+ fast-track |
| Backlinks | Dofollow for winners | Nofollow only |
| Audience | Indie hackers, solo founders | Early adopters, beta testers |
| Best For | Launched products wanting weekly visibility | Pre-launch products seeking beta testers |
| Wait Time | Next Monday launch | Weeks/months (free) or days (paid) |
What Is TinyLaunchpad?
TinyLaunchpad is a weekly launch platform built specifically for indie hackers, solo founders, and small startups. Every Monday at 8 AM UTC, a new batch of products goes live, giving each launch a full week of visibility. Unlike daily launch platforms where products get buried in hours, TinyLaunchpad's weekly cadence means less noise and more genuine engagement with each product.
Key Features
- Weekly launch cadence (every Monday at 8 AM UTC)
- Dofollow backlinks for winners (great for SEO)
- Winner badges and credibility signals
- Affordable pricing tiers for solo founders
- Free tier available to get started
- Dedicated project pages with full descriptions
- Category-based browsing for discovery
Pros
- Weekly cadence means less competition per launch
- Dofollow backlinks for winners boost your SEO
- Affordable pricing designed for indie makers
- Winner badges add social proof to your product
- Growing community of engaged indie hackers
- Full week of visibility instead of a single day
Cons
- Smaller audience than Product Hunt (but growing fast)
- Weekly schedule means you need to wait for the next Monday
- Newer platform, so less brand recognition for now
Pricing: Free tier available. Premium from $29.
What Is BetaList?
BetaList is one of the oldest startup directories on the internet, focused primarily on early-stage startups looking for beta testers. Founded in 2010, it has built a solid reputation as a place where early adopters go to discover new products before they launch. The platform focuses on pre-launch and beta-stage products rather than fully launched ones.
Key Features
- Curated startup listings focused on beta products
- Email newsletter to early adopter subscribers
- Fast-track paid submissions for quicker listing
- Startup profiles with descriptions and links
- Category-based browsing
- Long history and established audience
Pros
- Strong community of early adopters and beta testers
- Great for collecting pre-launch signups
- Established brand with years of credibility
- Email newsletter drives consistent traffic to listings
- Good for validating ideas before full launch
Cons
- Paid submissions ($129+) can be expensive for solo founders
- Free submissions have very long queue times (weeks or months)
- Less relevant if your product is already launched
- Nofollow backlinks only
- Traffic has declined from its peak years
Pricing: Free (long wait) or $129+ for fast-track.
Key Differences
Launched vs. pre-launch focus
BetaList is designed for pre-launch and beta-stage products that are looking for early testers. TinyLaunchpad is built for products that are ready to launch and want visibility. If your product is still in beta, BetaList might be the better fit. If you are ready to go live, TinyLaunchpad gives you a proper launch event.
Pricing and accessibility
BetaList's free tier has extremely long wait times, often weeks or months. Their fast-track option starts at $129, which is steep for a solo founder. TinyLaunchpad offers a free tier with reasonable timelines and premium options starting at $29, making it much more accessible.
SEO value
TinyLaunchpad provides dofollow backlinks for winners, directly boosting your search rankings. BetaList only offers nofollow links, which do not pass SEO authority. For founders focused on building organic traffic, this makes TinyLaunchpad the stronger choice.
The Verdict
Pick TinyLaunchpad if: Pick TinyLaunchpad if your product is ready to launch, you want affordable pricing, dofollow backlinks for SEO, and a structured weekly launch event.
Pick BetaList if: Pick BetaList if your product is still in beta and you specifically need early testers and pre-launch signups. It is one of the best platforms for that specific use case.
Related Guides
Ready to launch your product? Launch on TinyLaunchpad . It's free to get started.