OpenStartup Review (2026): Pricing, Features & Honest Verdict
TLDR
OpenStartup is a directory of startups that publish their metrics in public. OpenStartup is a small but genuinely useful resource if you are building in public or thinking about it. Best for: indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, and aspiring solopreneurs who want to benchmark their own metrics against real public data. Price: Free. Rating: 7.1/10.
What is OpenStartup?
OpenStartup is a directory of startups that publish their metrics in public. Founders who run their company in the open share revenue, customers, and growth numbers, and OpenStartup aggregates those from sources like Baremetrics, Indie Hackers, Twitter, and Stripe into a single browsable list.
The site is aimed at indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, and curious investors who want to see real numbers rather than press releases. Instead of pitch decks and rumored ARR, you can scroll through actual MRR, churn, and customer counts for projects of every size.
What Are OpenStartup’s Key Features?
Open metrics directory
Browse a curated list of startups that publish revenue, customers, and growth metrics, sorted and filterable by size and category.
Verified data sources
Pulls numbers from Baremetrics, Indie Hackers, Stripe, ChartMogul, and Simple Analytics so figures are not just self-reported screenshots.
MRR and customer tracking
Each profile shows monthly recurring revenue, customer count, and trend data when the underlying source supports it.
Submission flow for founders
Lets founders add their own startup, link a verified analytics provider, and become discoverable to other indie hackers.
Filtering by stage and category
Sort startups by industry, MRR range, or stage so you can find peers who are at a similar point in their journey.
Inspiration and benchmarking
Helps founders benchmark their own numbers against comparable products and see what realistic revenue looks like at each stage.
OpenStartup Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Browse open startup directory, view metrics, submit your own startup | Indie hackers and curious founders |
OpenStartup is a free directory. There is no paid tier.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Genuinely useful benchmarks for indie hackers and bootstrapped founders
- Free with no signup required to browse
- Verified data through analytics integrations adds credibility
- Inspiring to see real revenue at the small-startup tier
- Helpful counter to the venture-funded narrative dominating tech news
Cons
- Coverage skews toward indie hackers and small SaaS, not enterprise
- Some listed startups update infrequently and data goes stale
- Filtering and search are basic compared to a dedicated investor database
- Survivorship bias is real, you only see startups willing to share numbers
- Not a replacement for due diligence or a proper market research tool
| Plan | Price | Plan Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Browse open startup directory, view metrics, submit your own startup | Indie hackers and curious founders |
Who is OpenStartup Best For?
Use OpenStartup if: indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, and aspiring solopreneurs who want to benchmark their own metrics against real public data.
Skip OpenStartup if: the use case doesn’t match your day-to-day workflow.
Best OpenStartup Alternatives
| Tool | What It Does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Indie Hackers | Community of bootstrapped founders with revenue verification and discussion forums. | Free |
| Baremetrics Open | Public metrics dashboards for SaaS companies that opt in, hosted by Baremetrics. | Free to view |
| Buildspace Open Startup List | Curated list of indie startups operating in public with revenue verification. | Free |
Final Verdict: Is OpenStartup Worth It?
OpenStartup is a small but genuinely useful resource if you are building in public or thinking about it. Seeing real MRR figures from peers is more motivating and informative than reading another VC-funded launch post.
It is not a deep analytics product and was never trying to be. Treat it as inspirational reading and a benchmarking shortcut, not a serious database. For its intended audience it earns a spot in the bookmark bar.
FAQ
Is OpenStartup free?
Yes, browsing the directory and submitting your own startup is free with no paywall.
How are the metrics verified?
Most listings link to verified analytics providers like Baremetrics, ChartMogul, or Stripe so the numbers are not just screenshots.
Can I add my own startup?
Yes. Founders can submit their startup to the directory and connect a verified data source to display real-time metrics.
Who uses OpenStartup?
Mostly indie hackers, bootstrappers, and curious founders looking to benchmark their own progress against similar small SaaS projects.
Does OpenStartup cover venture-funded startups?
Coverage is heavily weighted toward indie and bootstrapped projects. Most VC-funded startups do not publish open metrics.
How current is the data?
Data is only as current as the underlying source. Some startups update daily, others go quiet for months, so freshness varies by listing.
OpenStartup Pros & Cons
What We Like
- Genuinely useful benchmarks for indie hackers and bootstrapped founders
- Free with no signup required to browse
- Verified data through analytics integrations adds credibility
- Inspiring to see real revenue at the small-startup tier
- Helpful counter to the venture-funded narrative dominating tech news
What Could Be Better
- Coverage skews toward indie hackers and small SaaS, not enterprise
- Some listed startups update infrequently and data goes stale
- Filtering and search are basic compared to a dedicated investor database
- Survivorship bias is real, you only see startups willing to share numbers
- Not a replacement for due diligence or a proper market research tool
OpenStartup FAQ
Is OpenStartup free?
Yes, browsing the directory and submitting your own startup is free with no paywall.
How are the metrics verified?
Most listings link to verified analytics providers like Baremetrics, ChartMogul, or Stripe so the numbers are not just screenshots.
Can I add my own startup?
Yes. Founders can submit their startup to the directory and connect a verified data source to display real-time metrics.
Who uses OpenStartup?
Mostly indie hackers, bootstrappers, and curious founders looking to benchmark their own progress against similar small SaaS projects.
Does OpenStartup cover venture-funded startups?
Coverage is heavily weighted toward indie and bootstrapped projects. Most VC-funded startups do not publish open metrics.
How current is the data?
Data is only as current as the underlying source. Some startups update daily, others go quiet for months, so freshness varies by listing.
