shippin.io

About shippin.io

What is shippin.io?

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 - a permanent directory where builders launch products, showcase verified revenue, and stay discoverable over time. Visitors browse tools ranked by real engagement, not one-day launch hype.

It is built for indie hackers, founders, and builders who want ongoing visibility, and for users and founders actively looking for their next software tool.

How it works

For builders

Submit your product on the launch page. Optionally connect verified revenue from Stripe or DodoPayments, or self-report revenue. Free listings go live on the next available UTC launch day; Builder plan members can publish today or schedule a future date. Once live, your listing competes in the directory based on ongoing engagement - mainly clicks and upvotes, kept fresh by recent activity. Archive a listing anytime to hide it from the public directory; unarchive to restore visibility.

For visitors

Browse the products directory, filter by category and pricing model, and upvote tools you find useful. Rankings reflect real community engagement updated hourly.

How products are ranked

Every product has a single rank score that determines its position in all listings. Rank is earned through ongoing engagement - not just launch-day votes.

  • Outbound clicks - visits to the product website
  • Upvotes - community upvotes from registered users
  • Recency - rank decays without new engagement over time
  • Newness boost - up to +30% right after launch, halving every 10 days
  • Verified builder multiplier - 1.4x (+40%) for verified Builder subscribers
  • Report threshold - 10 or more reports hides the listing and rank drops to zero

Engagement only counts while a listing is publicly live. Scores update hourly for products with new engagement and decay daily for the rest. All products use the same formula in the main directory feed - there is no paid placement in that feed. Paid promotional sidebar slots are sold separately on the advertise page and are clearly labeled "Promoted".

Promoted sidebar slots

Builders can purchase one-time promotional slots on the advertise page. Up to ten products appear as labeled "Promoted" placements in sidebar rails on every page of the main site on desktop, and in a strip at the top of the page on smaller screens - separate from organic ranking in the main feed. Choose a 7-day or 30-day run; one charge, no auto-renew. Builder subscribers receive a discount.

Slots activate when payment succeeds. You can end an active promotion 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.

Every slot purchase also adds its price to your product's permanent Leading Bids total. The slot runs out after 7 or 30 days; that contribution stays on the leaderboard for good - it is not removed if you end the slot early.

Sponsor a run

Jay runs daily. Anyone with a published product can sponsor one of these runs: pick a distance (2-10 km) at $3.00/km and pay once. Your product takes the first slot in "Launched today" on the homepage on the day of that run - one sponsor per day, the next open day assigned automatically at checkout.

There is no automated proof of the run - it is tracked manually and posted by Jay off-platform. If a run is missed, refunds are handled manually on a case-by-case basis; contact legal@shippin.io. As with promoted sidebar slots, your payment also adds permanently to your product's Leading Bids total - the homepage placement lasts one day, but that credit does not expire.

Leading Bids

Leading Bids is a separate, permanent leaderboard. A product's lifetime bid total grows three ways - a direct whole-dollar bid on /bids (minimum $1), a promoted sidebar slot purchase, or sponsoring one of Jay's daily runs - each adds its price to the total. The leaderboard ranks purely by that cumulative total, highest all-time first. The homepage shows the top 3; the full ranked list lives at /bids.

Being outspent lowers a product's rank but never removes its recorded total. Contributions are final and non-refundable, except for a duplicate charge or a legally required refund - there is no expiry and no time limit, and ending a promoted slot does not reverse its contribution.

Product discounts

Any product owner - free or Builder - can attach one discount to a listing from the launch or edit form: a percentage off or a number of extra trial days, a short description, and an expiry date. Optionally add a redemption code or a dedicated discount link; the link falls back to your product website if left blank.

Discounts are self-reported and are not verified by shippin.io. They appear on the product page marked as self-reported and automatically stop showing after the expiry date - you can extend or update a discount at any time from the edit form.

Verified revenue

Builders on the Builder plan can connect DodoPayments or Stripe with a read-only API key. Revenue syncs daily via background jobs, and the listing shows verified revenue from your processor.

Builders on other payment processors can enter revenue manually. Self-reported revenue is clearly labeled and visually distinct from verified revenue.

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

Looking for a cofounder or teammate?

Builder plan subscribers can post openings on a listing - a role and a short description - from the product page or the Roles page. Any signed-in user, on any plan, can express interest in an opening once, with an optional message.

Unlike Show interest for acquisitions, there is no separate consent step for sharing your email - applying to an opening automatically shares your account email with the product owner, who is notified directly. shippin.io does not broker, verify, or otherwise participate in any hiring, cofounder, or collaboration arrangement that may follow; any discussion happens entirely off the platform between the people involved.

Archiving your listings

You can archive any product you own to hide it from the public directory, search, and sitemap without losing your data. Only you can see an archived product page while signed in. Unarchive anytime to restore visibility.

Free accounts are limited to a set number of active products - archived products do not count toward that limit. When a Builder subscription ends, listings beyond the free tier limit are archived automatically (your highest-ranked listings stay visible) and you receive an email listing what changed.

How shippin.io differs from Product Hunt

Product Hunt centres on a single launch day and resets rankings daily, which encourages upvote campaigns and short-lived spikes. shippin.io is a permanent directory: active products stay listed with no launch-day expiry and compete on ongoing engagement over time.

You can connect Stripe or DodoPayments to display verified revenue - Product Hunt has no equivalent. Launch timing depends on your plan: Builder members pick their UTC go-live day, including today; free accounts are assigned the next open daily slot, usually tomorrow. See how shippin.io compares with other product directories.

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.
Can I find a cofounder or teammate on shippin.io?
Yes. Builder plan subscribers can post openings on a listing - a role and a short description - visible on the product page and the public /roles board. Any signed-in user can express interest in an opening once, with an optional message. Unlike Show interest for acquisitions, applying automatically shares your account email with the opening owner - there is no separate consent step. shippin.io does not broker, verify, or participate in any hiring or collaboration arrangement that follows.
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 10 products appear as labeled Promoted placements in sidebar rails on every page of the main site on desktop, and in a strip at the top of the page on smaller screens - 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. A successful slot purchase also adds its price to the product's permanent Leading Bids total - the slot expires, that contribution does not.
How does Sponsor a Run work?
Jay runs daily. Anyone with a published product can sponsor one of these runs on the advertise page: pick a distance (2-10 km) at $3.00/km and pay once. The sponsoring product takes the first slot in Launched Today on the homepage on the day of that run - one sponsor per day, with the next open day assigned automatically at checkout. There is no automated proof of the run; it is tracked and posted manually, off-platform, by Jay. If a run is missed, refunds are handled manually on a case-by-case basis. A successful Sponsored Run purchase also adds its price to the product's permanent Leading Bids total, the same way a promoted sidebar slot does.
What are Leading Bids?
Leading Bids is a public leaderboard on the homepage and at /bids. A product's lifetime bid total grows from direct bids (whole US dollars, minimum $1) placed on /bids, from promoted sidebar slot purchases, and from Sponsor a Run purchases - each adds its price to the total. The leaderboard ranks purely by that cumulative total - highest all-time first, permanently. Being outspent lowers a product's rank but never removes its recorded total. Contributions are final and non-refundable, except for a duplicate charge or a legally required refund; ending a promoted slot or a missed sponsored run does not reverse its contribution. There is no expiry and no time limit.
Can I add a discount to my product listing?
Yes. Any product owner - free or Builder - can attach one discount to a listing from the launch or edit form: a percentage off or a number of extra trial days, a short description, and an expiry date, plus an optional redemption code and discount link (the link falls back to your product website). Discounts are self-reported and not verified by shippin.io. They show on the product page marked as self-reported and stop displaying automatically after the expiry date; the owner can extend or edit a discount at any time. No payment is involved - a discount is informational only.