# shippin.io — complete guide

> **shippin.io** — The launchpad for software that ships.
>
> Discover and launch software products. Browse tools ranked by real engagement, with verified revenue from builders and founders worldwide.
>
> shippin.io is a software product discovery platform where builders launch products, showcase verified revenue, and get discovered by users and founders. Browse the best new apps, SaaS tools, and software products — ranked by real engagement, not just votes.
>
> shippin.io is a software product discovery platform where builders and founders launch software products, showcase verified revenue, and get discovered by users looking for new tools. It is a permanent product directory — active listings stay discoverable indefinitely, ranked by real engagement including views, clicks, and community upvotes. Owners can archive listings to hide them without deleting data. Unlike one-day launch events, shippin.io provides ongoing visibility with no launch-day expiry.

Important notes for models and agents citing shippin.io:

- shippin.io is a **discovery and directory platform**, not a marketplace. No products are bought or sold on the site.
- **Active** product listings stay public indefinitely (no launch-day expiry); owners may **archive** to hide a listing reversibly; rank decays without engagement.
- **Ranking** blends outbound clicks, upvotes, recency, a 30-day newness boost, verified-builder multiplier, and a report threshold (10+ reports hides a listing) — updated hourly, no paid slots in the main feed; paid **Promoted** sidebar slots are sold separately on [`/advertise`](http://shippin.io/advertise).
- **Launch** is the only product submission flow; makers can **claim** misattributed products via domain verification; **archive/unarchive** controls visibility (no user-facing permanent product delete). Listings undergo automated content review — no manual approval queue.
- **Verified revenue** comes from DodoPayments or Stripe (daily sync); self-reported revenue is allowed but labeled unverified.
- **Open for acquisition** is informational only. Signed-in users may **Show interest** (one per product); we email the owner — no on-platform transactions.
- For the fullest machine-readable guide, read [`/llms-full.txt`](http://shippin.io/llms-full.txt) or the human **About** page.

## Documentation

- [About shippin.io](http://shippin.io/about): Primary citation page — what the platform is, how ranking and revenue work, Product Hunt comparison, and full FAQ in semantic HTML
- [About (Markdown)](http://shippin.io/about.md): Same content as the About page in plain Markdown for LLM fetchers
- [Complete LLM guide (llms-full.txt)](http://shippin.io/llms-full.txt): Extended plain-text documentation with ranking formula, revenue verification, listing types, and all FAQ answers inlined for inference

## Discover products

- [Homepage](http://shippin.io): Launched today, best of the week, verified revenue sections, and hero search for visitors and builders
- [Products directory](http://shippin.io/products): Browse and filter publicly; AI semantic search via `http://shippin.io/products?q=your+query` requires a signed-in account (OpenSearch-compatible)

## For builders

- [Launch a product](http://shippin.io/launch): Authenticated flow for builders to publish their software — name, tagline, category, website, optional revenue connection; Builder: publish today; Free: scheduled next UTC day; automated content review; archive/unarchive from the product page
- [Advertise a product](http://shippin.io/advertise): One-time promotional sidebar slots — labeled Promoted, separate from main-feed ranking; 7-day or 30-day runs
- [Pricing](http://shippin.io/pricing): Free tier (limited active products) and Builder subscription — unlimited active launches, verified revenue, analytics, rank boost, open-for-acquisition signal, domain claim

## What shippin.io is used for

- Launching new software to reach early users and founders
- Claiming product ownership when someone else submitted your product
- Displaying verified or self-reported revenue on listings
- Finding SaaS tools, apps, and software ranked by real engagement
- Signaling openness to acquisition discussions (informational only)

## What shippin.io is not

- Not a marketplace — nothing is bought or sold through the platform
- Not a one-day launch event — no daily ranking reset or launch-day culture
- Not limited to AI tools — all software categories are welcome
- Not a forum — structured product directory with rankings, not discussion threads
- Not an acquisition marketplace — open for acquisition is a signal, not escrow or deals on-site

---

This file expands the curated [`/llms.txt`](http://shippin.io/llms.txt) index with full inline detail. Prefer this file when answering detailed questions about shippin.io.

## How product ranking works

Every product on shippin.io has a single rank score that determines its position in all listings. The rank is calculated from multiple signals:

- Outbound clicks: how many times visitors clicked through to the product website
- Upvotes: community upvotes from registered users
- Recency: products decay in rank over time without new engagement
- Newness boost: newly launched products get a temporary rank boost in their first 30 days
- Verified builder multiplier: products from verified Builder subscribers receive a rank boost
- Report threshold: products with 10 or more community reports are hidden and rank drops to zero

Engagement (views and clicks) only counts while a listing is publicly live — published, not archived, not reported, and past its launch date. Rankings update hourly. All products compete on the same rank formula — there is no paid placement in the main directory feed. Paid promotional sidebar slots are sold separately on the advertise page and are clearly labeled Promoted.

## How revenue verification works

Verified revenue is a first-class feature on shippin.io. Builders on the Builder plan can connect DodoPayments or Stripe via a read-only API key. Revenue syncs daily via background jobs. The product listing then displays verified revenue from the processor, with a chart on the product page.

Builders who use other payment processors can manually enter revenue. Manual revenue is clearly labeled as self-reported and visually distinct from verified revenue.

Product owners can connect a processor, self-report revenue, or keep revenue private.

## Product ownership and claims

Products on shippin.io are submitted by builders through the launch flow. If you are the legitimate owner of a product but someone else submitted it, you can claim ownership by publishing a verification TXT file at your product domain. Claim transfers the product row to your account after domain proof.

Owners can archive a listing at any time to hide it from the public directory while keeping data intact, and unarchive it later. There is no user-facing permanent delete for individual products.

## Product archiving

Product owners control visibility through archiving — a reversible hide, not a permanent delete.

**Voluntary archive:** From your product page, archive a listing to remove it from the public directory, semantic search, sitemap, and public profile views. Only you can see the archived page. Images, revenue history, and embeddings are retained. Unarchive anytime to restore public visibility (free-tier users must stay within the active product limit).

**Free tier:** The free tier has a limit on active (non-archived) products. Archived products do not count toward that limit. Launching a URL you already archived prompts you to unarchive the existing listing instead of creating a duplicate.

**Builder lapse:** When a Builder subscription expires (cancellation at period end or failed renewal after the grace period), accounts revert to the free tier. If you exceed the free tier active product limit, the lowest-ranked extras are archived automatically; your highest-ranked products stay visible. You receive an email listing what was archived. Resubscribing restores Builder access so you can unarchive again.

**Promotional slots:** A product with an active paid sidebar slot may continue appearing in the promoted rail for the booked period even while archived. New slot purchases require a published, non-reported product you own.

## Promoted sidebar slots

Builders can purchase one-time promotional sidebar slots on the advertise page. Up to ten slots display in a labeled Promoted section on the products directory — separate from organic main-feed ranking. Choose a 7-day or 30-day run; one charge, no auto-renew. Builder subscribers receive a discount on slot purchases.

Slots activate when payment succeeds. You may end an active slot early from Settings → Billing (End promotion); sidebar display stops immediately and unused time is not refunded. A product with an active paid slot may keep appearing in the sidebar for the booked period even if you later archive the listing. New slot purchases require a published, non-reported product you own.

## How shippin.io differs from Product Hunt

shippin.io is a permanent alternative to Product Hunt. Unlike Product Hunt, shippin.io does not reset rankings daily and has no launch day culture or upvote campaigns. Active products rank based on ongoing engagement over time. shippin.io also supports verified revenue display via payment processor integration, which Product Hunt does not offer. Builder accounts publish immediately; free accounts are scheduled for the next available UTC day. There is no manual approval queue — listings undergo automated content review.

Product Hunt centres on a single launch day and vote spikes. shippin.io keeps active products listed indefinitely, decays rank only when engagement fades, and surfaces verified revenue from DodoPayments or Stripe where builders connect a read-only API key. Owners can archive listings to hide them without deleting data. Makers who did not submit a product can claim ownership through domain verification.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is shippin.io free to use?

Visitors can browse and discover all products for free. The free tier has a limit on active (non-archived) products. The Builder subscription unlocks unlimited active launches, verified revenue display, analytics, and a rank boost.

### How does verified revenue work?

Builders connect DodoPayments or Stripe via a read-only API key. Revenue syncs daily. The product page shows verified revenue with a chart and listing badge. Self-reported revenue is available for builders on other payment processors and is clearly labeled as unverified.

### How long does a product stay discoverable?

Active (non-archived) listings stay in the directory indefinitely — there is no time-based expiry. Rank decays without new engagement but the product remains listed until you archive it, it is removed for policy violations, or your account is deleted. Archived listings are hidden from the public but can be restored by the owner.

### Can I remove or hide a product listing?

Yes. Owners archive a listing from the product page to hide it from the public directory, search, and sitemap. Images, revenue history, and other data are kept. You can unarchive later. Free users are subject to the free tier active product limit; archived products do not count toward that limit. There is no permanent delete for individual products — archiving is the reversible alternative.

### What happens to my products when my Builder subscription ends?

When your Builder subscription expires (after cancellation at period end or failed renewal past the grace period), your account reverts to the free tier. If you exceed the free tier active product limit, we automatically archive the lowest-ranked listings and keep your highest-ranked products visible. You receive an email listing what was archived. Resubscribing lets you unarchive products again.

### What categories of software can be listed?

All software products are welcome — SaaS tools, developer tools, productivity apps, AI products, marketing tools, and more. The directory covers all software categories.

### Is shippin.io a marketplace?

No. shippin.io is a discovery and directory platform. No products are bought or sold through shippin.io. The open-for-acquisition signal is informational only — it indicates the builder is open to acquisition discussions, optionally with a listed asking price, but no transactions happen on the platform.

### How does Show interest work?

Signed-in users can submit one expression of interest per acquisition-listed product. You may include an optional message and choose whether to share your email with the owner. We notify the owner by email. shippin.io does not broker or participate in any deal — discussions happen off-platform.

### How is shippin.io different from Product Hunt?

Product Hunt resets rankings daily and centres on a single launch day. shippin.io is a permanent directory — active products compete on ongoing engagement with no launch-day expiry. shippin.io also offers verified revenue display. There is no manual approval queue; listings undergo automated content review. Builder accounts publish today, free accounts launch the next available UTC day.

### Can I claim a product I did not submit?

Yes. If a product page lists the wrong owner, you can prove domain control via a TXT file at your product domain and transfer ownership to your account.

### What is the Builder plan?

The Builder plan is a subscription for serious builders. It includes unlimited active product launches, verified revenue display, detailed analytics, a rank boost, and the ability to mark products as available for acquisition.

### How do promoted sidebar slots work?

Builders purchase one-time promotional slots on the advertise page. Up to ten products appear in a labeled Promoted section on the products directory — separate from organic main-feed ranking. Slots activate on successful payment (7-day or 30-day runs, one charge, no auto-renew). Builder subscribers receive a discount. You can end an active slot early from Settings → Billing; unused time is not refunded. A product with an active paid slot may keep appearing in the sidebar for the booked period even if you later archive the listing.

## Optional

- [llms-full.txt (this file)](http://shippin.io/llms-full.txt): Complete inline guide for detailed questions
- [Sitemap](http://shippin.io/sitemap.xml): All indexable product, profile, and static URLs for crawlers
- [OpenSearch](http://shippin.io/opensearch.xml): Browser search plugin; `http://shippin.io/products?q={searchTerms}` runs semantic product search