What is Hacker News (Show HN)?

Run by the startup accelerator Y Combinator, Hacker News functions as a social news website focusing on computer science and entrepreneurship. While it serves as a general link aggregator for tech news, its Show HN sub-forum is a dedicated space for founders to showcase something they have made for others to try. The platform lists everything from developer tools and open-source packages to new SaaS products and hardware hacks.

Because the community consists of software engineers, founders, and tech enthusiasts, submissions receive direct, highly analytical, and sometimes brutally honest discussion in the comment sections.

How to submit to Hacker News (Show HN)

To submit your product to Hacker News, you must first create an account or sign in on their platform. Once logged in, navigate to the submit page where you will find a simple form requiring a title, a URL, and optionally a text description. For a startup launch, your title must start with Show HN followed by a clear, non-clickbait description of what your product does. No images or logos are required to list your product, as the platform relies entirely on text-based links. After clicking submit, your post will appear in the newest section, where community voting and engagement will determine whether it rises to the main Show HN page or the front page.

What you'll need to submit

Have these ready before you start so you can fill the form in one pass:

  • Your product name
  • A live, public URL (your real landing page)
  • A one-line tagline
  • A short description (a few sentences)
  • A free account on Hacker News (Show HN)
  • The category or tags that best fit your product

Tips to get listed on Hacker News (Show HN)

  • Start your title with Show HN followed by a clear, plain description of what the product does rather than using marketing jargon.
  • Be present in the comments immediately after posting to answer technical questions and acknowledge feedback from the community.
  • Ensure your landing page makes it incredibly easy for a technical user to try your product immediately without jumping through complex signup hoops.
  • Share a genuine story in a text comment explaining why you built the product and what technical challenges you solved.

Is Hacker News (Show HN) worth it?

Submitting to Hacker News is absolutely worth the effort for technical founders, especially since it is entirely free. While the SEO backlink is marked as nofollow and the platform has a domain rank of 52/100 on Open PageRank, the real value lies in direct traffic and developer feedback rather than search engine optimization. A successful post can drive thousands of highly engaged visitors and potential early adopters to your site within hours. However, founders must be prepared for critical, technical questioning, as the audience has a low tolerance for marketing fluff and unpolished products.