12 Medium alternatives
Directories with a similar audience to Medium, ranked by domain rating, link type and fit.
Medium distributes founder and technical essays — publish genuine thought leadership; product mentions work when embedded in useful content.
Ranked alternatives
12 dofollow · 8 free| # | Directory | Category | DR | Link | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | MarketingDBBest for launch & referral traffic · marketingdb.live | Marketing Tools | 57 | Dofollow | Free | TOP PICK |
| 🥈 | Marketer ToolsBest for launch & referral traffic · marketertools.co | Marketing Tools | 20 | Dofollow | Free | OPTIONAL |
| 🥉 | Funnel DirectoryBest for backlink & citation · funneldirectory.com | Marketing Tools | 15 | Dofollow | Free | OPTIONAL |
| 4 | There's An AI For ThatBest for launch & referral traffic · theresanaiforthat.com | AI Tools | 77 | Dofollow | Paid | TOP PICK |
| 5 | BetaListBest for launch & referral traffic · betalist.com | Tech / Startups | 76 | Dofollow | Paid | RECOMMENDED |
| 6 | Future ToolsBest for launch & referral traffic · futuretools.io | AI Tools | 69 | Dofollow | Free | RECOMMENDED |
| 7 | BehanceBest for launch & referral traffic · behance.net | Design Tools | 94 | Dofollow | Free | RECOMMENDED |
| 8 | Startup StashBest for launch & referral traffic · startupstash.com | Tech / Startups | 66 | Dofollow | Free | TOP PICK |
| 9 | List Your IdeaBest for launch & referral traffic · listyouridea.com | Launchpad | 27 | Dofollow | Free | RECOMMENDED |
| 10 | DevHuntBest for launch & referral traffic · devhunt.org | Developer Tools | 63 | Dofollow | Paid | WORTH IT |
| 11 | ScrollLaunchBest for launch & referral traffic · scrolllaunch.com | Tech / Startups | 69 | Dofollow | Freemium | WORTH IT |
| 12 | Twelve ToolsBest for launch & referral traffic · twelve.tools | Launchpad | 82 | Dofollow | Free | WORTH IT |
Why look beyond Medium
- Medium links are nofollow, so a listing does nothing for your backlink profile — 12 of the 12 alternatives in this list are dofollow.
- Not a directory — articles, not product listing forms
- Listings compound: the same product kit (name, tagline, descriptions, logo, screenshots) works across every directory here, so one afternoon covers all of them.
Each alternative, briefly
- 01
MarketingDB works as a marketing channel through useful content or visual assets — not a traditional product directory submit. (dofollow listing, free to submit)
dofollow where Medium is nofollow · same category (Marketing Tools) - 02
Marketer Tools catalogs marketing software — useful for GTM and growth tools that want category discovery traffic (dofollow listing, free to submit) (DR 20 authority).
dofollow where Medium is nofollow · same category (Marketing Tools) - 03
Funnel Directory is a small, hand-curated index of funnel builders, email marketing, and conversion tools — useful only if your SaaS fits that marketing niche. Listings are reviewed, dofollow, and free, with an optional $19/mo featured tier.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow · same category (Marketing Tools) - 04
There’s An AI For That is one of the most visited independent AI catalogs — category placement and sharp use-case copy determine whether you get browse traffic or disappear in the crowd.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 05
BetaList reaches early adopters explicitly looking for beta products — strong for waitlist signups and pre-GA credibility with a dofollow link.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 06
Future Tools (Matt Wolfe) combines AI tool discovery with newsletter distribution — one of the highest-reach independent AI directories for new tool launches.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 07
Behance showcases visual design portfolios — relevant for design tools and agencies with strong UI, not for back-end infrastructure SaaS.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 08
Startup Stash is a launch board — value comes from coordinated launch promotion and community upvotes, not passive long-term SEO. (free to submit, DR 76 authority)
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 09
List Your Idea is a launch board — value comes from coordinated launch promotion and community upvotes, not passive long-term SEO. (dofollow listing, free to submit, relatively easy submit)
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 10
DevHunt is a Product Hunt-style board for developer tools — launch-day visibility among dev-focused early adopters.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 11
ScrollLaunch is a weekly Product Hunt-style launch board for indie makers and SaaS founders — climb the weekly rankings, earn a dofollow backlink, and get in front of early adopters.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow - 12
Twelve Tools curates a dozen tools at a time — selective visibility means sharper positioning matters when you do get featured.
dofollow where Medium is nofollow
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Medium?
MarketingDB (DR 57, dofollow, free) ranks highest among directories similar to Medium. MarketingDB works as a marketing channel through useful content or visual assets — not a traditional product directory submit. (dofollow listing, free to submit)
Are there free alternatives to Medium?
Yes — 8 of the 12 alternatives are free: MarketingDB, Marketer Tools, Funnel Directory, Future Tools, Behance.
Which Medium alternatives give dofollow links?
12 of them: MarketingDB, Marketer Tools, Funnel Directory, There's An AI For That, BetaList. A dofollow link passes authority to your domain; nofollow links still send referral traffic.
Should I still submit to Medium?
Yes. Medium is rated recommended on the leaderboard (#14 of 1001). Submit there first, then work through the alternatives — they add reach, they do not replace it.