Quick answer: IndieTools currently separates three decisions. Free creates a permanent product listing and founder presence. The Permanent Followed Backlink is a one-time link-treatment option for the product page. Featured buys 30 days of clearly labelled visibility and campaign measurement. Featured never buys organic directory rank, and it does not automatically include or remove a followed link.
Prices and availability can change. Use the live IndieTools pricing page for current commercial terms rather than relying on an old screenshot or article.
Options at a glance
| Option | Duration | Primary value | Link treatment | Organic rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Permanent while approved and published | Directory and founder discovery | Product destination uses nofollow |
Organic only |
| Permanent Followed Backlink | Permanent under current terms | Removes nofollow from product-page destination |
Ordinary followed link | No change |
| Featured | 30 days under current terms | Labelled visibility across selected surfaces | Keeps whatever link treatment the listing already has | No change |
These options can be evaluated separately. A founder may only need the free listing, may buy Featured for a campaign, or may choose the link option independently.
Free: the permanent product foundation
The Free option is the starting point for eligible products. It includes the durable discovery layer:
- permanent approved product listing;
- discovery through product search, categories, and tags;
- founder profile connection;
- product features and details;
- related-product context;
- embeddable “Listed on IndieTools” badge;
- eligibility for posts and releases connected to the product;
- external product link with
nofollowunder the current model.
Free is not a limited trial. The listing can continue to help people discover and verify the product after any paid visibility ends.
Start with how to submit a product to IndieTools and how to optimize the listing.
Permanent Followed Backlink: a link-treatment option
The Permanent Followed Backlink changes the external destination on the product page from a nofollow link to an ordinary followed link. It is currently presented as a one-time purchase rather than a recurring campaign.
It does not buy:
- Featured impressions;
- a higher directory position;
- a category rank;
- editorial coverage;
- a badge earned through another program;
- guaranteed search performance;
- guaranteed referral traffic.
The option is permanent under the current terms and remains separate from Featured. Read how IndieTools backlinks work before deciding.
Search-policy consideration
Google recommends qualifying links created through payment with sponsored or nofollow. A purchased ordinary followed link may conflict with that guidance even when the seller makes no ranking promise. Buyers should assess this risk independently and avoid purchasing links primarily to manipulate search rankings.
See Google's outbound-link guidance.
Featured: measured paid visibility
Featured is the paid placement IndieTools sells for distribution. Under the current public description:
- the placement runs for 30 days;
- availability is limited to six products at a time;
- Featured is labelled wherever it appears;
- paid placement does not change organic directory position;
- campaign reporting includes impressions, clicks, and click-through rate;
- the product keeps its permanent free listing afterward;
- link treatment stays exactly what it was before the campaign.
Featured is most useful when a product already has a working conversion path and the founder wants more qualified people to see it.
What paid visibility cannot buy
IndieTools explicitly separates money from organic rank. Paying does not purchase:
- votes;
- an organic product position;
- a category position;
- unlabelled editorial preference;
- a performance badge;
- guaranteed users or revenue.
This distinction protects the meaning of ordinary directory ordering and makes commercial placements visible to visitors.
Which option fits which goal?
| Goal | Best starting choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Establish a permanent product presence | Free | Provides the complete directory foundation |
| Connect a product to its founder | Free | Founder profile is included |
| Share progress and releases | Free | Social and product activity can connect to the listing |
| Run a time-bounded awareness campaign | Featured | Adds labelled distribution and campaign metrics |
| Change the product-page link from nofollow | Permanent Followed Backlink | This is the specific implementation change |
| Buy a higher organic rank | None | IndieTools does not sell organic position |
| Guarantee SEO improvement | None | No individual link can promise that outcome |
When Free is enough
Stay with Free when:
- the product is newly submitted;
- positioning is still changing;
- onboarding has not been tested;
- the target audience is unclear;
- the landing page does not convert;
- you primarily need a permanent reference and founder profile.
Improve the free listing before buying distribution. A clearer tagline, current screenshots, and accurate category usually matter more than sending extra traffic to a weak page.
When Featured may make sense
Consider Featured when:
- the product is live and stable;
- the IndieTools audience overlaps with the target user;
- the listing is complete;
- the official destination works on mobile and desktop;
- analytics can record activation and conversion;
- there is a timely campaign or important product change;
- the founder can respond to interest during the period.
Featured should be judged by qualified discovery, not only impressions.
How to evaluate the link option
Evaluate more than the attribute:
- Is the product page relevant and indexable?
- Will real visitors find and click it?
- Is the listing permanent?
- Does the page describe the product accurately?
- What does current search-engine policy say about paid links?
- Is the purchase justified without assuming a ranking increase?
If the only expected return is a guaranteed Domain Rating or ranking change, the expectation is unsafe.
Metrics for Featured
Track the full path:
Featured impression
→ product-page visit
→ official-site click
→ signup
→ activation
→ retained user or customer
Useful metrics include:
- unique placement viewers;
- product-page visits;
- click-through rate;
- official-site referral sessions;
- signup and activation rate;
- assisted conversions;
- retained users by source;
- cost per activated user.
A high click-through rate with no activation may indicate message mismatch, weak onboarding, or the wrong audience.
What happens after Featured ends?
The product returns to ordinary directory discovery and keeps the benefits of its free listing. A separately purchased Permanent Followed Backlink remains under the current terms because it is not part of the Featured period.
Founders can continue to publish product updates, maintain release history, and participate through the social feed.
Frequently asked questions
Is product listing really free?
Yes. IndieTools states that an approved free listing is permanent rather than a temporary trial.
Does Featured include a followed backlink?
No. Featured and the Permanent Followed Backlink are separate. Featured keeps the listing's existing link treatment.
Does the Permanent Followed Backlink include Featured?
No. It changes the product-page link but does not purchase additional placement.
Can I pay to rank first in the IndieTools directory?
No. Organic rank cannot be purchased. Featured is displayed as a labelled paid placement.
Does IndieTools guarantee traffic or rankings?
No. Availability, audience behavior, search-engine decisions, and product conversion remain outside any such guarantee.
Where should I confirm the current price?
Use indietools.app/pricing. This article deliberately avoids hard-coding prices that may change.
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