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The Best Launch Platforms for Indie Makers and Side Projects

Big launch platforms can feel intimidating when it's just you and a side project. These are the friendlier places built for small, scrappy launches.

By The Runway· August 5, 2026· 2 min read

When you're a solo maker with a side project, the big launch platforms can feel like walking on stage at a stadium. You don't need a stadium. You need a room full of people who get what you're doing. The good news is that the indie corner of the internet is full of exactly those rooms, and most of them are free.

Community-first platforms

These are built around people who actually care about small projects:

A smaller, focused community often converts better than a giant feed. Twenty people who care about indie tools beat a thousand who scroll past.

Fair-shot launch days

When you want a launch moment, fair platforms that cap daily launches give every product real attention: Uneed, Fazier, and MicroLaunch again all fit. You launch free, everyone gets a turn near the top, and you're not competing with a hundred VC-backed products on the same day.

Give the project a permanent home

Side projects have a habit of getting abandoned, and that's fine, but a listing keeps working even when you've moved on. A permanent directory page stays indexed and discoverable, so the project can still find users (or buyers) later. That's part of why we built The Runway to welcome every stage, side projects and MVPs included. For the wider map, see the free launch guide.

The bottom line

You don't need to launch big to launch well. Start in the indie rooms, use a fair launch day, and give the project a permanent home. List your side project free — every stage belongs on the runway.

Frequently asked

Where should indie makers launch a side project?
Start with communities built for small projects: MicroLaunch, TinyLaunch, Indie Hackers, and build-in-public spaces like Makerlog and WIP. They're friendlier than the big feeds and give solo launches genuine attention. Add a permanent directory listing for lasting discovery.
Is Product Hunt too big for a side project?
Not too big, but easy to get lost in if you don't have an audience. Many indie makers get better results from smaller, focused platforms first, then use a bigger launch day once they have some momentum and supporters.
Do side projects benefit from directory listings?
Yes. A permanent listing gives even a tiny project a discoverable, indexed home and often a backlink, which keeps working long after you've moved on to the next thing you're building.

Your launch belongs on the runway.

Free forever. Human reviewed in 24 hours. Permanent listing with a dofollow backlink. No credit card, no catch.

↑ List your launch free
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