Launch guide ยท Mobile apps

The best launch platforms for mobile apps in 2026

Most launch platforms were built for web products, so a mobile app has to work harder to show itself: no one can try it from a link on their laptop. The platforms below suit apps, either because they show products in motion or because their audience installs apps.

Quick answer

The best places to launch a mobile app are Lifto (a vertical demo-reel feed, the same format as a phone screen recording), Product Hunt (accepts iOS and Android launches), BetaList (beta testers before launch), AlternativeTo (listing your app as an alternative to a known app), Reddit communities that allow app launches, and Indie Hackers, Peerlist, Fazier and Uneed for indie apps. Link straight to your App Store or Google Play page.

10 places to launch a mobile app

  1. Lifto

    Vertical demo-reel feed

    Best for: Apps, because a phone screen recording is already the right format

    • Vertical 9:16 reels: upload your screen recording as it is
    • At most 10 free launches a day, so each one is seen
    • Link to your App Store or Google Play page

  2. Product Hunt

    The largest daily launch community

    Best for: Consumer and productivity apps with a launch-day audience

    • Accepts iOS and Android launches
    • Large early-adopter audience
    • Watch out: Homepage featuring is curated

  3. BetaList

    Directory of pre-launch startups

    Best for: Finding beta testers before release

    • Audience that signs up to try new products
    • Watch out: Free queue can take months

  4. AlternativeTo

    Crowdsourced software alternatives

    Best for: Apps that compete with a well-known app

    • Covers iOS and Android
    • Long-term referral traffic from 'X alternatives' searches

  5. Reddit

    App and side-project communities

    Best for: Direct feedback from people who install apps

    • Free and immediate
    • Honest replies
    • Watch out: Many app subreddits limit self-promotion to set threads or days

  6. Indie Hackers

    Community of bootstrapped founders

    Best for: Indie apps with a story behind them

    • Engaged founder audience
    • Good for build-in-public updates

  7. Peerlist Launchpad

    Weekly launches for the Peerlist community

    Best for: Developer-built apps

    • Professional audience
    • Weekly launch window
    • Watch out: Needs a verified Peerlist profile

  8. Fazier

    Daily launch platform for early-stage products

    Best for: A smaller, less competitive launch day

    • Free to submit
    • Daily launches

  9. Uneed

    Daily launch board with a curated audience

    Best for: Indie apps that want a scheduled launch day

    • Curated indie audience

  10. Hacker News (Show HN)

    Show & Tell on Hacker News

    Best for: Technically interesting apps: offline-first, open source, unusual tech

    • Free and immediate
    • Huge reach if it takes off
    • Watch out: Less suited to typical consumer apps

How launching a mobile app is different

Your store listing is your landing page. Link launch visitors straight to the App Store or Google Play page so installing takes one tap, and make sure the first screenshots there match what your demo shows.

Record vertically. A 30 to 60 second screen recording of the core flow, captured on a phone, works on Lifto as it is and doubles as your store preview video.

Ask for ratings later, not on day one. Early ratings shape how the stores rank you, so ask once people have used the app enough to rate it well.

Launch on Lifto

Free to submit. At most 10 launches a day, each shown as a demo, and every approved product keeps a do-follow link to its site. Submit your product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I launch a mobile app on Product Hunt?
Yes. Product Hunt accepts iOS and Android apps; link to the store page so visitors can install in one tap.
Can I launch an app that is still in beta?
Yes. BetaList is built for pre-launch products, and on Lifto you can link to a public beta or your website. Make sure people can actually get the app from the link.
What format should a mobile app demo be?
A vertical 9:16 screen recording of the core flow, 30 to 60 seconds long. It fits Lifto's feed as it is and can be reused as your store preview video.