# Submit to HackerNews

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

- **Canonical:** https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories/hackernews
- **Markdown twin:** https://tools.launchllama.co/directory-spokes/hackernews.md
- **Directory:** HackerNews (news.ycombinator.com)
- **Submit URL:** https://news.ycombinator.com
- **DR:** 91
- **Pricing:** Free
- **Category:** Community (#59 of 113 by DR in this category)
- **Referral traffic:** Very High
- **Backlink quality:** Weak
- **Link type:** Nofollow — news.ycombinator.com comment and post links are nofollow ugc — community traffic, not SEO pass-through

## Quick verdict

Community channel — DR 91, free to submit. Worth it if you participate authentically before pitching; skip if you plan a drive-by link drop with a new account.

**Best for:** Technical founders building comment history and credibility on HN · Products that benefit from long-form technical discussion in threads

## Approval & timeline

- **Time-to-live:** Comments and posts go live immediately subject to karma rules. Building credibility takes weeks of genuine participation, not minutes.
- **Review:** Community flags spam, vote manipulation, and low-effort promo. Moderators shadow-ban repeat offenders.
- **Common rejections:** New accounts posting only product links, copy-paste marketing in unrelated threads, or coordinated upvote rings.
- **Reputation:** Tracker duplicate for news.ycombinator.com — use Show HN for structured product launches and this row as a reminder to earn trust first.

## Pros

- DR 91 domain with Very High traffic potential for trusted contributors
- Free — no submission fees or directory queues
- Deep technical audience for dev tools, infra, and B2B SaaS
- Comment reputation compounds — helpful history improves future launch posts

## Cons

- Backlink quality rated Weak — nofollow on all outbound links
- Cold outreach style posts fail — requires upfront community investment
- Duplicate domain with other HN tracker rows — easy to confuse launch formats
- Moderation is opaque — shadow bans and flags happen without clear appeals

## What you need before you submit

- HN account with comment history on topics related to your product space
- Clear understanding of Show HN vs Ask HN vs link post formats
- Live demo ready — HN rejects “coming soon” funnels quickly
- Plan to reply in comments for hours, not post-and-disappear
- Read the Show HN guidelines and our dedicated Show HN spoke checklist

**Gotchas:**

- This tracker row mirrors news.ycombinator.com — follow Show HN rules for product launches
- Do not treat HN like a passive directory — engagement quality drives outcomes
- Same URL resubmitted within weeks often gets penalized regardless of account age

## Submission mechanics

- **Account:** Hacker News account at news.ycombinator.com — participate via comments before submitting posts.
- **Categories:** Community norms favor Show HN for new products; unrelated threads are for discussion, not stealth promo.
- **Anchor text:** Product links appear in post titles or comment text — all outbound links are nofollow.
- **Link placement:** Ephemeral feed and comment threads — not permanent directory listings.

## FAQ

### How is HackerNews different from the Hacker News tracker row?

Same site — this row emphasizes community participation before pitching. Use the Show HN spoke for structured product launch mechanics.

### Can I launch on HackerNews with a new account?

Technically yes for Show HN, but new accounts with no comment history often get flagged. Comment genuinely for a few weeks first.

### Does HackerNews help SEO?

Minimal direct SEO — links are nofollow. Treat HN as traffic, feedback, and credibility with technical buyers.

### Should I use this row or Show HN in my tracker?

Track Show HN for launch-day submissions. Use this row if you are planning the community warm-up phase before launch week.

## Related

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