I’m the maker of Indie AI Directory — a purpose-built catalog that highlights independent AI tools, startups, APIs, and experiments built by makers who aren’t backed by big funds or traditional marketplaces.

What It Is

Indie AI Directory is a searchable, categorized directory of AI tools and resources created by indie developers and solo founders. Each listing includes:

A short description of the AI product

A link to the tool or landing page

Relevant categories/tags for easier discovery

Optional founder credits and further links

The site is designed to help:

Discover emerging AI tools you may otherwise never find

Give indie makers visibility beyond social feed posts

Connect builders with early adopters and collaborators

Unlike most directories that are either static lists or focus only on funded startups, this one prioritizes indie-built AI work.

Why It Matters

There’s an explosion of AI tools every day, yet many interesting or useful projects — especially from solo builders — get buried in search or social feeds. A central, easy-to-browse resource helps:

Developers and users find niche tools faster

Founders get early traction, backlinks, and discoverability

The indie AI ecosystem gain visibility

I built this because as an indie maker myself, I saw too many makers struggle to find a place where their project could be both found and appreciated.

Paid Submissions (Why They Exist)

To keep the directory sustainable and well-curated, featured listing options are available. Paid submissions help cover:

Ongoing development & infrastructure

Manual curation and quality control

Better SEO and more traffic for all listings

You can still submit for free, but featured/priority positions bring extra visibility. Anyone can submit via:

https://indieai.directory/submit

I’ve structured the pricing to be:

Transparent and affordable for early stage makers

Predictable and worth the value if you’re looking for discoverability

Who This Is For

This directory is especially useful for:

AI builders looking for audience & early feedback

Developers searching for useful tools to integrate

Product teams scouting emerging ideas

Anyone interested in indie AI innovation

Feedback Welcome

I’m posting this here because HN folks are often early adopters, creators, and builders — the kind of audience who has experience with indie tools or launching them. I’d love feedback on:

What filters or categories would you find most useful?

What features would make this directory more valuable?

Do you see value in paid featured submissions?

Would appreciate honest thoughts — thanks!

Show HN: Indie AI Directory – A Curated List of Indie AI Tools