Vercel Templates vs Hauntboard
Looking for a Vercel Templates alternative, or deciding where to launch? Here is how Vercel Templates 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 Vercel Templates is the better pick.
Vercel Templates facts checked 20 Oct 2026. See sources
The Short Answer
Unlike Vercel Templates (100% Free (requires open-source repo); Dofollow link), Hauntboard gives every approved launch a 7-day weekly board slot, verified public page views and outbound clicks, and a dofollow link ($0 with badge or $19 Launch Now with no badge).
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 | Vercel Templates |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Outbound clicks and visitor analytics are private to the platform. |
| 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: Publishing an open-source starter template linking to your SaaS earns massive developer traffic. |
| Launch Format | One board of every launch: each spends its first 7 days in New this week, and its page stays up for good | Official Vercel starter template marketplace |
| Review | Human review: about 72 hours on the free tier, within 24 hours on paid launches | 1-2 weeks PR review |
| Pricing | Free (live once approved, Hauntboard badge required, 20 slots a week) · Launch Now $19 (review within 24 hours, top of New this week for 7 days, no badge) · Spotlight $49 (pinned top row for the week, 4 a week). One-time payments. | 100% Free (requires open-source repo) |
1. Traffic Data
Upvotes and comments show interest, but not how many people clicked through to your site. On Vercel Templates: Outbound clicks and visitor analytics are private to the platform.
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
Vercel Templates: Dofollow: Publishing an open-source starter template linking to your SaaS earns massive developer traffic.
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 Vercel Templates if:
- • It's best for: Dev tools, headless CMS, Auth, and database SaaS
- • Its format suits you: Official Vercel starter template marketplace
Choose Hauntboard if:
- • You want a week on the board, with a free tier.
- • You want to see your launch's page views and visits in public.
- • You want a dofollow link and are happy to show the Hauntboard badge (or pay $19 to skip it).
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.