Open Collective
Open Collective is free to list on, gives a nofollow link, and is best used for launch & referral traffic — with a very high domain rating of 89.
Overview
Open Collective serves open-source and downloadable software — best when you have repos, releases, or a dev-tool story. (free to submit)
- OSS credibility
- Developer downloads
- Technical audience
Open Collective is a good fit for developer tools. Audience: Developers & open-source users.
Pure SaaS web apps without OSS angle may feel out of place
How to submit
- 1Open the site
opencollective.com in a new tab.
- 2Find the submit flow
Look for “Submit”, “Add product” or “List your startup” in the nav or footer.
- 3Fill in your listing
Name, tagline, description, URL, logo, screenshots. The Chrome extension fills these in one click.
- 4Pick the right category
Choose Open Source or the closest fit so you reach the right audience.
- 5Submit and wait
Free listings are usually reviewed by hand — expect days to a few weeks.
Topical relevance matters: Open Source directories help most when your product fits that category. Nofollow links still drive referral traffic and brand visibility.
Similar directories
| # | Directory | DR | Link | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | SourceForgeBest for backlink & citation · sourceforge.net | 92 | Dofollow | Free | WORTH IT |
| 140 | OpenAlternativeBest for search visibility & seo · openalternative.co | 52 | Dofollow | Free | WORTH IT |
| 7 | There's An AI For ThatBest for launch & referral traffic · theresanaiforthat.com | 77 | Dofollow | Paid | TOP PICK |
| 1 | MarketingDBBest for launch & referral traffic · marketingdb.live | 57 | Dofollow | Free | TOP PICK |
| 23 | BetaListBest for launch & referral traffic · betalist.com | 76 | Dofollow | Paid | RECOMMENDED |
| 25 | Future ToolsBest for launch & referral traffic · futuretools.io | 69 | Dofollow | Free | RECOMMENDED |
Frequently asked questions
Is Open Collective worth submitting to?
Open Collective serves open-source and downloadable software — best when you have repos, releases, or a dev-tool story. (free to submit)
Does Open Collective give a dofollow or nofollow link?
Open Collective provides a nofollow link. It won't pass direct link equity, but it still drives referral traffic and helps brand discovery.
Is Open Collective free?
Yes — Open Collective offers a free way to get listed. Free listings are often reviewed manually, so approval can take from a few days to a few weeks.
What is Open Collective's domain rating (DR)?
Open Collective (opencollective.com) currently has a domain rating of 89 on Ahrefs' 0–100 scale — a very high score. Higher DR generally means a stronger backlink profile, which is one signal of how much weight a link from the site may carry.
What should I watch out for with Open Collective?
Pure SaaS web apps without OSS angle may feel out of place