BetaList vs Launching Next
Choosing between BetaList and Launching Next? Here's how they compare on price, link policy, review time and launch format, with Hauntboard, our own launch board, as a third option. We run Hauntboard, so every fact about BetaList and Launching Next is sourced from their own pages.
Facts checked 14 Oct 2026 · BetaList sources · Launching Next sources
The Short Answer
BetaList is paid-only and selective, with a newsletter of 60,000+ subscribers by its own count, and it refunds startups it doesn't select. Launching Next is a free, permanent directory where free submissions aren't guaranteed to be published; a $99 upgrade gets you considered within 1 business day. Pick BetaList for early adopters and a selective feature; pick Launching Next for a simple, free listing.
Side by Side
BetaList, Launching Next and Hauntboard, from each one's own pages.
| Dimension | BetaList | Launching Next | Hauntboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free option | No: BetaList's FAQ says there is no free submission option. Startups that aren't selected get an automatic full refund. | Yes: Free submissions are reviewed daily, and you get an email if your startup is published. | Yes: the next open week, 20 free slots a week, with the Hauntboard badge on your site |
| Pricing | Paid submission only (plan prices shown at checkout); full refund if not selected. Optional Boost: $99/week or $199/month. | Free; $99 upgrade to be considered within 1 business day. | Free (next open week, Hauntboard badge required, 20 slots a week) · Launch Now $19 (pick your week, no badge) · Spotlight $49 (pinned top row for the week, 4 a week). One-time payments. |
| Link type | Dofollow: BetaList's FAQ says the Visit Site link is a 301 redirect without nofollow (it adds ref=betalist). On the listing we checked, the main button had no nofollow; image links to the same redirect were marked nofollow. | Dofollow: The outbound link on the listing we checked had no nofollow attribute. | Dofollow link for every approved launch; a free launch's link is nofollow while the Hauntboard badge isn't on its site |
| Review and timing | Depends on the plan; BetaList shows the timeline when you choose one. | Free: reviewed daily, no set timeline. Paid ($99): considered within 1 business day. | Human review: about 72 hours on the free tier, within 24 hours on paid launches |
| Launch format | Featured on the homepage feed; popular startups go in the newsletter at least 24 hours later. | Permanent directory listing. | Weekly board: one week on the board, and the product page stays up afterwards |
| Audience (its own figure) | 60,000+ newsletter subscribers | 5,000+ newsletter subscribers | No site-wide audience figure to quote yet; every launch page shows its own page views and visits, and totals are on the stats page. |
Which One Fits?
Choose BetaList if:
- • Your startup is pre-launch or early, and you want early adopters.
- • You'll pay for a selective listing and a newsletter feature.
- • You want a refund if you aren't selected.
Choose Launching Next if:
- • You want a free listing from a simple form.
- • You want a permanent directory entry, not a feature.
- • You'd pay $99 to be considered within 1 business day.
Using Both
Submitting to Launching Next takes minutes and costs nothing, so there's little reason not to. Use BetaList when you want a selective push for early adopters.
Where Hauntboard Fits
Hauntboard is a weekly launch board where a person reviews every launch, every approved launch gets a dofollow link, and each launch page shows its own page views and visits in public. It's new, so its audience is still small, and it can sit next to either of these. See how it compares with BetaList or Launching Next.
Common Questions
- Is Launching Next free?
- Yes, but free submissions aren't guaranteed to be published; you get an email if yours is. A $99 upgrade gets you considered within 1 business day.
- Which link is dofollow?
- BetaList's FAQ says its Visit Site link is a 301 redirect without nofollow. The outbound link on the Launching Next listing we checked had no nofollow.
- Which has the bigger newsletter?
- BetaList says 60,000+ subscribers; Launching Next says 5,000+. Both figures are their own.
Ready to launch?
Launch on Hauntboard: free launches get human review in about 72 hours, a dofollow link while the Hauntboard badge is on your site, and public page views and visits.