StartupBase vs Hauntboard
Looking for a StartupBase alternative, or deciding where to launch? Here is how StartupBase compares with Hauntboard, our own launch board for indie makers and solo founders. We run Hauntboard, so we've kept the facts sourced and said where StartupBase is the better pick.
StartupBase facts checked 20 Oct 2026 · comparison updated 20 Oct 2026. See sources
The Short Answer
StartupBase runs daily launches and sells promotion on top: premium placement ($99 a month), a review article with dofollow backlinks, and newsletter sponsorship. The terms of a standard launch weren't clear on the pages we could read, and many of its outbound links are nofollow. Hauntboard's launches run for a week, are reviewed by a person, and get a dofollow link.
Free Hauntboard listings show the Hauntboard badge on your site; while the badge isn't there, the link is nofollow.
Direct Feature Comparison
Pricing, link policy, review times, and the traffic data each platform shows.
| Dimension | Hauntboard | StartupBase |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Data | Each launch page shows its page views and the visits it sent to your site, in public (once per browser per day, known bots filtered) | No published click data found. |
| Link Type | Dofollow link for every approved launch; a free launch's link is nofollow while the Hauntboard badge isn't on its site | Dofollow (conditional): StartupBase says a launch earns a DR 75+ backlink, which is its own claim, not something we measured. On 20 Oct 2026, 13 of 41 outbound links on its homepage were plain and 28 were marked nofollow. Its review articles include dofollow backlinks. |
| Launch Format | Weekly board: one week on the board, and the product page stays up afterwards | Daily launches at 12:00 AM PDT, with a weekly top products list. |
| Review | Human review: about 72 hours on the free tier, within 24 hours on paid launches | Not published. |
| Pricing | 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. | Standard launch pricing isn't stated on the pages we could read. Premium placement $99 a month; a review article $99 (shown reduced from $199); newsletter sponsorship $59 per issue. |
1. Traffic Data
Upvotes and comments show interest, but not how many people clicked through to your site. On StartupBase: No published click data found.
On Hauntboard, each launch page shows its page views and the visits it sent to the maker's site, in public. Each browser counts once per launch per day, and known bots are filtered out. Here's exactly how we count a visit.
2. Link Policy
StartupBase: StartupBase says a launch earns a DR 75+ backlink, which is its own claim, not something we measured. On 20 Oct 2026, 13 of 41 outbound links on its homepage were plain and 28 were marked nofollow. Its review articles include dofollow backlinks.
On Hauntboard, every approved launch, free or paid, gets a dofollow link. Free Hauntboard listings show the Hauntboard badge on your site; while the badge isn't there, the link is nofollow.
3. Which One Fits?
Choose StartupBase if:
- • You want a daily launch at a fixed time (12:00 AM PDT).
- • You'd pay for premium placement or a review article.
- • You want a launch list that also keeps a weekly top products page.
Choose Hauntboard if:
- • You want to know what a free launch includes before you start.
- • You want a week on the board, not a day.
- • You want your launch's page views and visits shown in public.
4. Using Both
Both can go on your list. Check what StartupBase's standard launch includes before paying, and use a tagged link so you can see what each platform sent.
5. Common Questions
- How much does StartupBase cost?
- Standard launch pricing isn't stated on the pages we could read. It sells Premium placement at $99 a month, a review article at $99 (shown reduced from $199) and newsletter sponsorship at $59 per issue.
- Does StartupBase give a dofollow backlink?
- It says a launch earns a DR 75+ backlink, which is its own claim. On 20 Oct 2026, 28 of 41 outbound links on its homepage were nofollow. Its review articles include dofollow backlinks.
- When do StartupBase launches go live?
- Every day at 12:00 AM PDT, according to its homepage.
Ready to unghost your product?
Launch your app 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.