Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC vs Hauntboard
Looking for a Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC alternative, or deciding where to launch? Here is how Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC 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 Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC is the better pick.
Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC facts checked 20 Oct 2026. See sources
The Short Answer
Unlike Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC (YC Alumni only (Hacker News Show HN is open to all); 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 | Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Public upvotes or community rankings, but outbound traffic to maker sites is private. |
| 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: Public 'Launch YC' directory gives high-DR links (restricted to YC alumni). |
| 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 YC startup launch feed |
| Review | Human review: about 72 hours on the free tier, within 24 hours on paid launches | YC Cohort |
| 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. | YC Alumni only (Hacker News Show HN is open to all) |
1. Traffic Data
Upvotes and comments show interest, but not how many people clicked through to your site. On Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC: Public upvotes or community rankings, but outbound traffic to maker sites is private.
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
Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC: Dofollow: Public 'Launch YC' directory gives high-DR links (restricted to YC alumni).
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 Y Combinator Bookface / Launch YC if:
- • It's best for: YC-backed startups (use Show HN if bootstrapped)
- • Its format suits you: Official YC startup launch feed
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.