Product Hunt Launch Checklist (2026)
The complete launch timeline and template. 35 action items across 5 phases — everything you need to ship a top-of-day launch, from four weeks out to the day after.
35
Action items
5
Timeline phases
0%
Your progress
4
Linked helpers
💡Pre-launch
Idea, validation, MVP, and pick your date.
- 1Open helper
Identify a real problem to solve
High - 2
Validate demand before building
High - 3Open helper
Ship an MVP that solves one thing well
High - 4
Get 10-50 real users before launch
High - 5
Pick a launch date 2-4 weeks out
High - 6
Check if PH audience matches your buyer
Med - 7
Study 10 top launches in your category
Med
🌱Getting started on PH
Account, profile, hunter, warm-up.
- 1Open helper
Create a Product Hunt account
High - 2
Complete your maker profile
High - 3
Warm up your account (2-4 weeks)
Med - 4
Build a shortlist of potential hunters
Med - 5
Reach out to a hunter (optional)
Med
🎨Assets & copy
Tagline, description, gallery, first comment.
- 1Open helper
Write your tagline (60 char max)
High - 2
Write your description (500 char max)
High - 3
Design thumbnail (240x240, ≤2MB)
High - 4
Create 3-6 gallery images (1200x630)
High - 5
Record a 30-60s demo (Loom or YouTube)
Med - 6
Draft your maker first comment (≤800 char)
High - 7
Prepare 3 shoutouts to tools you use
Low - 8
Draft launch-day social posts
High
🚀Launch day
Hour-by-hour: post, reply, share, rally.
- 1
Schedule your launch for 12:01am PT
High - 2
Notify your team and inner circle
High - 3
Post your launch tweet at 12:05am PT
High - 4
Email your list at 6-8am PT
High - 5
Reply to every comment within 1 hour
High - 6
Post in relevant communities (respectfully)
Med - 7
Second social push at 1pm PT
Med - 8
Do NOT use upvote services or vote groups
High
🎉Post-launch
Thank people, follow up, measure, iterate.
- 1
Post a thank-you within 24h
High - 2
Add the PH badge to your site
Med - 3
Follow up with every new signup
High - 4
Write a launch retro
Med - 5
Keep replying for 3-5 days
Med - 6
Measure signups, revenue, press
Med - 7
Plan your next launch (in 6+ months)
Low
Checklist FAQ
How long before launch should I start this checklist?
Four weeks is comfortable, two weeks is the minimum. The pre-launch phases (positioning, assets, distribution warm-up) are where launches are won, and they can't be compressed into the final 48 hours.
Is this Product Hunt launch checklist free?
Yes. All 35 items are free to read and track. Signing in (also free) saves your progress across devices; without an account, progress is saved in your browser.
Can I use this as a launch checklist template for my team?
Yes. Work through the phases in order and assign items to teammates. The hour-by-hour launch day timeline covers the day itself, and the prep-kit gives you a fillable document with all your copy and assets in one place.
What's the most commonly skipped item that matters?
Warming your distribution before launch day. Most makers polish assets but never build the list of 50 to 300 people who will actually show up. Ranking is decided by who you can reach in the first hours.
Next steps: pick your day with the launch day picker, then follow the hour-by-hour launch day timeline.