AlternativeTo

About

AlternativeTo is the world's largest crowdsourced software recommendation platform. Founded in 2009 by Ola Johansson and Markus Olausson in Sweden, it serves as the go-to search engine for people looking to find better software alternatives. Instead of relying on editorial reviews, AlternativeTo leverages its community of millions to discover, suggest, and vote on software across every category and platform.

What AlternativeTo Does

AlternativeTo helps users answer a simple question: "What software can I use instead of [product name]?"

• Alternative Discovery: Enter any software name, and instantly get a list of similar products recommended by real users.
• Powerful Filters: Narrow down results by platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Web), license type (Free, Open Source, Freemium, Paid), and features.
• Crowdsourced Rankings: The community upvotes and downvotes alternatives, ensuring the most useful recommendations rise to the top.
• User Lists & Collections: Users can create and share curated lists of software for specific use cases (e.g., "Best AI tools for video editing").

Key Facts

Metric	Value
Founded	2009
Founders	Markus Olausson & Ola Johansson
Headquarters	Sweden
Domain Authority (DA)	79 (Ahrefs) / 80 (Moz)
Total Apps Listed	127,000+
Active Users	1.88 million+
Monthly Visits	~6.4 million
Link Attribute	Nofollow
Submission Cost	Free

Why AlternativeTo Matters

For AI tool creators, SaaS founders, and software developers, AlternativeTo offers significant value despite its nofollow backlinks:

• High Domain Authority: A DA of 79 means the platform itself carries substantial weight. Your product page often ranks on the first page of Google for queries like "[Your Product] alternative".
• Targeted, Intent-Driven Traffic: Visitors come with clear intent — they are actively searching for software solutions. This leads to high conversion rates for free trials, signups, or purchases.
• Free and Fair: Listing your product is completely free. Rankings are determined by community votes, not advertising spend, giving new and innovative tools a chance to compete.
• Valuable Feedback: User comments and votes provide real-world insights into how your product compares to competitors.

Who Uses AlternativeTo

• General Users: People looking for free alternatives to expensive software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop alternatives).
• Tech Enthusiasts & Professionals: Seeking specialized tools for development, design, or productivity.
• Developers & Founders: Promoting their own software and conducting competitive research.
• Open Source Advocates: Discovering and supporting open-source projects.

How to Get Listed

Submitting your software to AlternativeTo is straightforward and free:

1. Create an Account: Sign up at https://alternativeto.net.
2. Navigate to Suggest: Click on your profile avatar (top right) and select "Suggest new application".
3. Fill in the Details:
   • Name: Your software's official name.
   • Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, etc.
   • License: Free, Open Source, Freemium, Paid, etc.
   • Description: A clear, compelling description of what your software does.
4. Submit for Review: The AlternativeTo team reviews submissions to ensure quality. Once approved, your product goes live.

Tip: Encourage your users to upvote your listing on AlternativeTo. Higher votes improve your ranking and visibility.

Link Attribute Note

AlternativeTo uses nofollow links on all external outbound links, including those from product listings. This means the link will not directly pass SEO authority (PageRank) to your website.

However, the platform remains highly valuable for:

• Direct referral traffic from high-intent users
• Brand exposure and credibility
• Potential secondary SEO benefits (e.g., social signals, brand mentions)