1. AlternativeTo: list against the apps owners already use
Pet owners search AlternativeTo when they're annoyed with an app they already have. Add your app, then mark it as an alternative to the tools it actually replaces, such as 11pets, Pawprint, or Rover if you handle sitter booking. Open your description with the comparison: "A simpler alternative to 11pets for tracking vaccines, meds and vet visits for multiple pets." Only tag apps you truly overlap with, because moderators remove loose matches.
2. Product Hunt: launch on a planned day, not a whim
Create a maker account now and comment on other launches for a week or two before you post, since brand new accounts get little reach. Use a tagline that names the pet and the job, like "Never miss a flea treatment or vet booster again." Line up 10 to 20 people you actually know who own pets to try the app on launch day. Don't ask anyone for upvotes. Product Hunt penalizes that, so ask for honest feedback instead.
3. BetaList: get early adopters before you are polished
BetaList accepts pre-launch and early products and sends them to people who like trying new things. The free listing has a waiting period, so submit it today. Write one sentence on who it's for, such as "For people with two or more pets who lose track of meds and appointments," and add a signup link that sends you an email for every new user.
4. SaaSHub and Uneed: cheap backlinks and search traffic
SaaSHub lets you claim a listing and add alternatives, much like AlternativeTo. Uneed runs daily launches with a free queue. Paste a description that starts with the problem, add 3 or 4 real screenshots of the pet profile and reminder screens, and pick the closest category, such as lifestyle or health. These sites bring in slow but steady clicks from people searching for comparisons.
5. r/SideProject and Indie Hackers: post the story, not the pitch
r/SideProject allows sharing your own project, and the Indie Hackers products directory gives you a page with your own posts attached. Write about why you built it, for example: "My dog's heartworm pill got skipped twice in one month because my partner and I both thought the other gave it. So I built a shared reminder app. Here's what I learned from the first 30 users." End with a specific question so people reply.
6. Pet subreddits: read the rules first, then help
r/dogs, r/cats, r/puppy101 and r/DogAdvice are full of your buyers, but most ban self-promotion or limit it to specific threads. Read each sidebar and search for words like "app" or "tracker" to find people already asking for a tool. Answer the question fully first. Only mention your app if the rules allow it and it actually fits the request. If a sub bans links outright, just be helpful and keep the app in your profile.
7. Local and breed communities: ask for a resource listing
Breed clubs, rescue groups and local Facebook pet groups often keep a resources page or a pinned post of recommended tools. Message the admin or the rescue's adoption coordinator with something like: "I built a free app that helps new adopters track vaccines and meds. Would it be useful to add to your new owner checklist? Happy to set up a shared account for your fosters." A rescue that recommends you sends you every new adopter.
8. Track what each listing sends you
Use a separate UTM link or signup code for every directory so you know which ones bring real users, not just visits. After two weeks, drop the dead ones and update the listings that work with new screenshots and changelog notes. Hulby, an AI cofounder, does this listing and follow-up work daily for founders who would rather spend their time on the product.
People asking this right now
Real, public posts from the last few weeks. Each one is somebody you could help today.
- On a SaaS directory, open your description with what your tool is an alternative to. Readers there may be comparing tools. Save the AI-first (Bluesky)
- The sys.path list contains the directories Python searches when looking for modules and packages to import. It's a plain list of strings, so (Bluesky)
Mistakes to skip
- Pasting the same generic description everywhere instead of writing it for each site's readers.
- Dropping app links in pet subreddits that ban self-promotion and getting the account banned.
- Asking friends to upvote on Product Hunt, which can get your launch flagged.
- Listing your app as an alternative to tools it doesn't actually replace.
Want this done for your pet care app, every day?
Hulby finds the people asking for what you built, writes every reply and email, and keeps you on it until they pay. Free to start.
Find my first customersQuestions
Are paid directory listings worth it at this stage?
No. Use the free tiers first. Pay only once a free listing on that site has already brought you users.
Should I list on Product Hunt before the app is finished?
Use BetaList for pre-launch. Save Product Hunt until people can sign up and use the core feature the same day.
How many directories should I start with?
Five or six done well beats thirty done badly. Start with AlternativeTo, BetaList, Product Hunt, SaaSHub and one rescue or breed group.
Do app store listings count as directories?
Yes, and they matter most for a consumer pet app. Put the problem in the first line of your App Store and Google Play descriptions, just as you would on any directory.