OpenTools

My Experience

OpenTools pitches itself right on the homepage as a place to “Explore the World’s Top AI Tools List” and “Discover and compare over 10,000 Top AI Tools, curated and ranked by our community of 3M monthly visitors,” with ratings based on tens of thousands of conversations. In practice, it feels like a hybrid between an AI tools search engine and a classic directory: you can browse top tools today, this month or all time, filter for free vs paid, and drill into detailed product pages and comparison views.

External write-ups and directory roundups consistently describe OpenTools as a community-driven AI tools hub where users can submit tools, upvote, comment and rely on peer recommendations rather than just ads. Early coverage on Product Hunt-style platforms and plugins also leaned into the “chat with our bot to find the right AI tool for your task” angle: instead of manually browsing, you can ask for a tool that does something specific (e.g. background removal), and the system suggests matching tools from the catalog. From a NickLaunches perspective, that mix of search, comparisons and rankings makes OpenTools a strong “central hub” listing for any serious AI product.

Submission Process

1. Sign in with Google

   • Click Submit A Tool on the OpenTools navbar; this routes you to a Google-based sign-in so you can access the launch / submission area. citeturn17view0
   • After sign-in, you’re redirected to the internal “launch tool” flow where you can add or manage your product.

2. Prepare your tool profile

   • Before you submit, have the essentials ready: tool name, URL, logo, short tagline, long description, pricing model (free / freemium / paid), and primary categories/use cases.
   • Articles about AI directories and OpenTools-style platforms highlight that these fields are standard for rankings and comparisons.

3. Submit your AI tool

   • Inside the launch/submit flow, you’ll typically enter your product details, choose categories (e.g. marketing, coding, image, research), add tags and indicate pricing tiers.
   • Position your product from the user’s perspective (“AI tool for X use case”) so it fits naturally into lists like Top AI Tools Today, Top Free AI Tools, and relevant category pages.

4. Enable comparisons and SEO details

   • Make sure your description and tags clearly match the problems you solve so you can show up in comparison pages (e.g. Tool A vs Tool B) and “best AI tool for [task]” style searches.
   • If you have clear pricing, integrations or standout features. This info on dedicated product pages that can rank on their own.

5. Decide on free vs paid promotion

   • Directory lists and founder write-ups indicate that OpenTools offers free inclusion plus optional paid promotion or sponsorship packages, with creators reporting prices around the low hundreds of dollars for campaigns or higher-visibility placements.
   • Use the Advertise with OpenTools link to explore newsletter, featured placement or other paid options if you want to push beyond organic rankings.

6. Monitor rankings and engagement

   • Once live, track where your tool appears in Top AI Tools lists (daily / monthly / all time), and watch for reviews, comments or saves.
   • Use UTM tags on your OpenTools link so you can measure traffic, trials and paid conversions from this directory separately.

7. Iterate your listing over time

   • As your tool evolves (new features, pricing changes, better landing page), come back to refine your description, screenshots and tags so rankings and click‑through rates keep improving.

Tips for Success

• Write for “AI tools for X” searches

  • Users come to OpenTools with jobs-to-be-done in mind (e.g. “AI for transcripts”, “AI for code review”). Frame your tagline and first sentence around the outcome you deliver, not just your tech stack.

• Make your page comparison-ready

  • Highlight clear differentiators (pricing, speed, accuracy, integrations) so that when your tool appears in “Tool A vs Tool B” pages or alternative lists, visitors immediately see why you might be the better choice.

• Leverage community signals

  • Encourage real users to save, review or comment on your tool; OpenTools is intentionally community-driven, and social proof helps tools float to the top of rankings.

• Layer in paid promotion strategically

  • Start with the free listing and basic ranking, then test paid promotion (featured spots, newsletter placements) once you know your funnel can turn directory traffic into signups or revenue.

• Treat OpenTools as your central AI directory hub

  • Because it’s widely cited in AI directory lists and used by millions of visitors, having a strong OpenTools profile gives you a credible “home base” listing. Combine it with a cluster of other AI directories (TAAFT, Futurepedia, etc.) to build both discovery and SEO around your product.