Product Hunt Launch Guide
Product Hunt's own guide to launching on the site: how launches work, how to prepare, what to post and the rules, including the big one that you must never ask for upvotes. Read it before you pick a launch date so your launch is not removed.
Guide
Career Growth
Product Hunt
An hour to read, weeks to prepare
Beginner
Free
What it is
Product Hunt is a site where makers post new products and the community upvotes and comments on them each day. The Launch Guide is Product Hunt's official explanation of how to launch there: getting started, launch day, growing a community afterwards, and a glossary of the site's terms.
Key points from the guide (as of 2026-09)
- Launch time: each launch day runs for 24 hours starting at 12:01 am Pacific Time. Pick the day you are most prepared for rather than chasing a "best" weekday.
- Post it yourself: you do not need a well-known "hunter" to post your product. Posts must come from personal accounts, not company accounts.
- Never ask for upvotes: ask people to visit and comment or give feedback. Paying for or soliciting upvotes can get your product removed and your account banned.
- Featuring: not every post reaches the homepage. Product Hunt says it features products that are ready to use, and avoids minimal, undifferentiated products focused only on quick money.
- Relaunches: you can launch again when you have a significant new version.
What you need ready
A clear name and tagline, a thumbnail, at least two gallery images, a short description, a first comment from the maker explaining why you built it, and a product people can try that day. Have your landing page, onboarding and payment flow tested before you post.
Is it worth it?
A Product Hunt launch can bring a spike of visitors, early users and feedback, and a badge for your site. It rarely creates a lasting business on its own; traffic falls within days. It works best for products whose customers are tech-savvy early adopters, such as developer tools, productivity apps and design assets. For a niche business tool, the communities your customers use may matter more.
Common questions
Do I need a big following first? It helps, but honest engagement in the comments matters more than a list of friends.
Should I buy a launch service? No. Services that promise upvotes break the rules and put your launch at risk.
Sources: producthunt.com/launch and the Product Hunt help centre, checked 2026-09.
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