Indie Hackers vs r/SideProject (Reddit)
Choosing between Indie Hackers and r/SideProject (Reddit)? 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 Indie Hackers and r/SideProject (Reddit) is sourced from their own pages.
Facts checked 14 Oct 2026 · Indie Hackers sources · r/SideProject (Reddit) sources
The Short Answer
Neither is a launch board, and both are free. Indie Hackers is a founder community with product pages and posts, and its main product link was nofollow on the page we checked. r/SideProject is a Reddit community where makers share projects and ask for honest feedback; its rules and moderators decide what stays up, and we couldn't verify its link attributes. Use Indie Hackers for stories and advice; use r/SideProject for fast, candid feedback on an early project.
Side by Side
Indie Hackers, r/SideProject (Reddit) and Hauntboard, from each one's own pages.
| Dimension | Indie Hackers | r/SideProject (Reddit) | Hauntboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free option | Yes: Posting and product pages are free. | Yes: Posting is free; subreddit rules apply. | Yes: the next open week, 20 free slots a week, with the Hauntboard badge on your site |
| Pricing | Free to post. | Free. | 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 | Not dofollow: The main website link on the product page we checked was marked nofollow, and HackerNoon found the same in September 2026. Links inside one post we checked had no nofollow, so this can vary. | Link type unverified: Not verified: Reddit blocked our automated check on 14 Oct 2026. Check the link attributes on your own live post. | 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 | No submission queue. | No submission queue; subreddit rules and moderators apply. | Human review: about 72 hours on the free tier, within 24 hours on paid launches |
| Launch format | Forum posts and product pages. | Community discussion post. | Weekly board: one week on the board, and the product page stays up afterwards |
| Audience (its own figure) | No figure published on the pages we checked. | No figure published on the pages we checked. | 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 Indie Hackers if:
- • You want advice from bootstrapped founders.
- • You have a story or real numbers to share.
- • You want a product page that lives on the site.
Choose r/SideProject (Reddit) if:
- • You want candid feedback and bug reports on an early project.
- • You're looking for early testers.
- • You're ready to reply to every comment for a few hours.
Using Both
Post on r/SideProject first, while the product is still changing, to get feedback and fix the rough edges. Then write up what you learned for Indie Hackers. Read each community's rules on the day you post.
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 Indie Hackers or r/SideProject (Reddit).
Common Questions
- Are both free?
- Yes. Posting and product pages on Indie Hackers are free, and posting on r/SideProject is free, with the subreddit's rules applying.
- Which gives a backlink?
- The main website link on the Indie Hackers product page we checked was marked nofollow. For r/SideProject, Reddit blocked our automated check on 14 Oct 2026, so check the link attributes on your own post.
- Which should I post on first?
- Usually r/SideProject, while the product is still changing, then Indie Hackers once you have something to say about how it went.
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.