Where to find your first customers: Extensions & plugins
49 channels fit this audience, 38 of them free. Start with the first one in the list, read its guide, and try it for two weeks before you judge it.
- UneedLaunch boards · Free + paid options · effort ●○○
Curated daily launches with a lasting directory page.
- Dev HuntLaunch boards · Free · effort ●○○
Launch board aimed at developer tools.
- r/SideProjectCommunities · Free · effort ●○○
Friendly place to show a project and collect first reactions.
- Search Console and Bing WebmasterSearch & discovery · Free · effort ●○○
Set up on day one so you can see which queries bring people in.
- Chrome Web StoreStores & marketplaces · Free + required fee · effort ●○○
Search inside the store brings steady installs. One-time developer fee applies.
- VS Code MarketplaceStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●○○
Developers search extensions from inside their editor.
- Figma CommunityStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●○○
Publish templates and plugins to a design audience.
- Relaunch on every big releaseLaunch boards · Free · effort ●●○
Several boards allow a new listing after a major update. Treat each version as a fresh announcement, and check each board's rules.
- Indie HackersCommunities · Free · effort ●●○
Home of bootstrapped founders. Milestone and revenue write-ups travel further than announcements.
- Get added to 'best X tools' roundupsSearch & discovery · Free · effort ●●○
Find articles that list your competitors and ask the author to include you, with a short reason.
- WordPress plugin directoryStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●●○
Huge install base. A free plugin can lead to a paid version.
- Answering questions where they are askedDirect outreach · Free · effort ●●○
Search Reddit, forums and X for questions your product answers. Help properly and mention the product only when it fits.
- Newsletter swaps and cross-promotionPartnerships & loops · Free · effort ●●○
Trade a mention with a maker who has a similar-sized list and a nearby audience.
- Pitching niche bloggers and newsletter writersPress & PR · Free · effort ●●○
Small writers in your category often reply and are glad to cover a useful new tool.
- Product HuntLaunch boards · Free · effort ●●●
Biggest daily launch stage. Gives you a badge and a day of traffic. Competition is heavy, so line up supporters first.
- Niche subredditsCommunities · Free · effort ●●●
Find where your users already complain. Read the rules, contribute first, and expect plain self-promotion to be removed.
- Build in public on XSocial & content · Free · effort ●●●
Slow to start. The audience you build carries over from one product to the next.
- YouTubeSocial & content · Free · effort ●●●
Tutorials and demos can rank in search for years.
- Your own newsletterSocial & content · Free · effort ●●●
The one audience nobody can take away. Even a small list converts well at launch.
- FazierLaunch boards · Free + paid options · effort ●○○
A newer Product Hunt alternative. A cheap extra launch day.
- MicroLaunchLaunch boards · Free · effort ●○○
Small launch board built for indie makers.
- Tiny StartupsLaunch boards · Free + paid options · effort ●○○
Directory and launch list for small, early products.
- TinyLaunchLaunch boards · Free · effort ●○○
Launch board for indie makers and small projects.
- PeerPushLaunch boards · Free + paid options · effort ●○○
Launch platform with lasting product pages. Check its current visibility rules.
- Microsoft Edge Add-onsStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●○○
Same extension, a second store with less competition.
- Firefox Add-onsStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●○○
Smaller store with loyal, privacy-minded users.
- Obsidian community pluginsStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●○○
Plugin directory for a loyal note-taking community.
- AMAs and live Q&AsEvents · Free · effort ●○○
Host a question session in a community you already belong to.
- Local founder and coworking meetupsEvents · Free · effort ●○○
In-person trust brings referrals and honest feedback.
- Launching NextLaunch boards · Free + paid options · effort ●○○
Daily showcase of new startups.
- StartupBaseLaunch boards · Free · effort ●○○
Launch and discover new products every day.
- r/indiehackersCommunities · Free · effort ●○○
Subreddit for indie hackers. Feedback and peer attention.
- QuoraCommunities · Free · effort ●●○
Long answers to questions your buyers ask can keep sending traffic for years.
- Podcast guestingSocial & content · Free · effort ●●○
Pitch shows your buyers listen to with a specific story, not a product plug.
- Medium and Substack NotesSocial & content · Free · effort ●●○
Borrow an existing readership for essays about the problem you solve.
- Slack App DirectoryStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●●○
A listing inside a tool your users have open all day.
- Zoom App MarketplaceStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●●○
Apps and meeting tools for Zoom users.
- JetBrains MarketplaceStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●●○
Plugin store for IntelliJ-based editors.
- Raycast StoreStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●●○
Extensions for a popular Mac launcher with an active community.
- Maker bundles and swapsPartnerships & loops · Revenue share · effort ●●○
Join other indie makers in a bundle or shared launch week.
- Google Workspace MarketplaceStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●●○
Add-on store for Gmail, Docs, Sheets and other Workspace apps.
- Microsoft StoreStores & marketplaces · Free + required fee · effort ●●○
Windows app store. Good for desktop apps, with a developer fee and certification.
- Apple PodcastsSocial & content · Free · effort ●●○
Podcast directory. Free to list a show. Listeners build slowly.
- Run your own communityCommunities · Free · effort ●●●
A small Discord or forum for your users. It turns customers into support, feedback and referrals.
- Shopify App StoreStores & marketplaces · Free · effort ●●●
Merchants search here for solutions. The review process is strict.
- Atlassian MarketplaceStores & marketplaces · Revenue share · effort ●●●
Teams buy add-ons for Jira and Confluence here.
- SideProjectorsCommunities · Free · effort ●○○
Marketplace and community to show, buy and sell side projects.
- twelve.toolsLaunch boards · Free + paid options · effort ●○○
Daily list of twelve tools.
- Podcast sponsorshipsPaid & sponsorship · Paid · effort ●●○
Host-read ads work when the show fits your buyers closely.
Each channel links to its own guide. Check each platform's current rules before you post. Browse every channel.