Indie Hackers vs Hauntboard
Looking for a Indie Hackers alternative? Here is a feature-by-feature breakdown of how Indie Hackers compares to Hauntboard, our own launch board, for indie hackers and solo founders.
Indie Hackers facts checked 14 Oct 2026. See sources
The Core Difference
Indie Hackers is for conversation and build-in-public stories. Hauntboard gives a launch a week on a board, a dofollow link, and public page views and outbound clicks.
Free Hauntboard listings show the Hauntboard badge on your site; if the badge is removed, the link switches to nofollow.
Direct Feature Comparison
Pricing, link policy, review times, and the traffic data each platform shows.
| Dimension | Hauntboard | Indie Hackers |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Data | Each launch page shows its page views and outbound clicks in public (once per browser per day, known bots filtered) | Upvotes and replies are public. |
| Link Type | Dofollow link for every approved launch; a free listing's link switches to nofollow if the Hauntboard badge is removed | Not dofollow: The main website link on the product page we checked was marked nofollow, and HackerNoon found the same in September 2026. Links inside one post we checked had no nofollow, so this can vary. |
| Launch Format | Weekly board: one week on the board, and the product page stays up afterwards | Forum posts and product pages. |
| Review | Human review: about 72 hours on the free tier, within 24 hours with Launch Now | No submission queue. |
| Pricing | Free (next open week, Hauntboard badge required, 30 slots a week) · Launch Now $19 (pick your week, no badge) · Spotlight $49 (pinned top row for the week, 4 a week). One-time payments. | Free to post. |
1. Traffic Data
Upvotes and comments show interest, but not how many people clicked through to your site. On Indie Hackers: Upvotes and replies are public.
On Hauntboard, each launch page shows its page views and outbound clicks in public. Each browser counts once per day, and known bots are filtered out. A ghost meter marks visibility milestones from those counts.
2. Link Policy
Indie Hackers: The main website link on the product page we checked was marked nofollow, and HackerNoon found the same in September 2026. Links inside one post we checked had no nofollow, so this can vary.
On Hauntboard, every approved launch, free or paid, gets a dofollow link. Free Hauntboard listings show the Hauntboard badge on your site; if the badge is removed, the link switches to nofollow.
3. Which One Fits?
Choose Indie Hackers if:
- • It's best for: Founder stories, build-in-public updates, and peer-to-peer advice.
- • Its format suits you: Forum posts and product pages.
Choose Hauntboard if:
- • You want a week on the board, with a free tier.
- • You want to see your launch's page views and outbound clicks in public.
- • You want a dofollow link and are happy to show the Hauntboard badge (or pay $19 to skip it).
Ready to unghost your product?
Launch your app on Hauntboard. Free launches get human review in about 72 hours, a dofollow link while the Hauntboard badge is on your site, and public page views and outbound clicks.