# Submit to GitHub Trending

> Launch Llama directory submission tracker review — last reviewed 2026-08-25

- **Canonical:** https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories/github-trending
- **Markdown twin:** https://tools.launchllama.co/directory-spokes/github-trending.md
- **Directory:** GitHub Trending (github.com)
- **Submit URL:** https://github.com/trending
- **DR:** 96
- **Pricing:** Free
- **Category:** Developer Tools (#3 of 27 by DR in this category)
- **Referral traffic:** Very High
- **Backlink quality:** Very Strong
- **Link type:** Mixed — Trending feed links to repo pages on github.com; no separate listing URL

## Quick verdict

Algorithmic Developer Tools spike — DR 96, free to submit. Worth pursuing with a polished repo and launch push; skip if you expect a form-based directory listing.

**Best for:** Open-source projects with launch-week star momentum and active maintainers · Dev tools combining HN, Reddit, and newsletter promotion with a ready repo

## Approval & timeline

- **Time-to-live:** No approval queue — GitHub’s algorithm surfaces repos within hours based on star velocity and forks in a rolling window.
- **Review:** Fully algorithmic. Policy teams may remove spam repos, but there is no editorial review for trending eligibility.
- **Common rejections:** Star manipulation, bot networks, or repos violating GitHub ToS can be removed from trending or banned entirely.
- **Reputation:** Trending is ephemeral — traffic spikes for 24–48 hours. Plan follow-up content and issues to convert visitors.

## Pros

- DR 96 domain with Very High referral traffic on trending days
- Very Strong backlink quality via indexed repo pages linked from the feed
- Free — no paid placement tier on the trending page itself
- High-intent developer audience browsing new and rising repos

## Cons

- No submission form — you cannot “apply” to trend; star velocity is required
- Highly competitive — only a handful of repos per language appear daily
- Traffic is short-lived; long-tail referral traffic drops quickly after trending
- Paid star campaigns risk ToS violations and reputational damage

## What you need before you submit

- Polished public repo with README, demo GIF, and clear install instructions
- Homepage URL in repo About section linking to your product site
- Launch plan for HN Show HN, dev communities, newsletters, or social on the same day
- Responsive maintainers ready to answer issues and PRs during the spike
- Topics/tags set so the repo is discoverable beyond the trending page

**Gotchas:**

- Trending rewards recent star acceleration — launch promotion timing matters more than total stars
- A empty README or broken install steps waste trending traffic instantly
- Do not confuse trending with GitHub Marketplace or GitHub Sponsors

## Submission mechanics

- **Account:** No separate account for trending — use your existing GitHub repo. Visibility is earned, not submitted.
- **Categories:** Trending is split by language and timeframe (daily/weekly). Pick repo primary language accurately in settings.
- **Anchor text:** Repo name and README links — founders control outbound URL via README and About homepage field.
- **Link placement:** Trending links to github.com/{org}/{repo} — crawlable repo homepage, not a third-party directory page.

## FAQ

### How do you get on GitHub Trending?

Publish a strong public repo and drive legitimate stars and forks in a short window — usually via Show HN, dev communities, newsletters, and social on launch day. There is no apply form.

### Is GitHub Trending free?

Yes. The trending feed has no paid placement. Some founders buy ads or sponsorships elsewhere to drive stars, but the trending page itself is free and algorithmic.

### How is GitHub Trending different from GitHub?

GitHub is your repo and profile presence. Trending is a discovery feed that highlights repos with recent momentum — you need both a repo and promotion to benefit.

### Does GitHub Trending send dofollow backlinks?

Trending links to your repo page on DR 96 github.com. Backlink quality is Very Strong on repo pages — expect a referral spike more than a permanent SEO directory listing.

## Related

- [Directory Submission Tracker](https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories)
- [Developer Tools directories](https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories?category=developer-tools)
- [Directory backlink service](https://tools.launchllama.co/launch#directory-submissions)
- [llms.txt](https://tools.launchllama.co/llms.txt)