I'm seeing more products launch on Product Hunt that require payment to actually use any features. No free trial, no freemium tier, just a download that leads straight to a paywall.
Part of me thinks this makes sense. If your product has real value, why give it away? People on Product Hunt understand they're looking at premium tools. Plus offering free access can attract users who will never pay anyway.
But I also see the argument for temporary free access during launch. Product Hunt users want to actually try what they're upvoting. How can they give meaningful feedback or become advocates if they hit a paywall immediately?
I launched my product recently on Product Hunt. I put effort into the messaging, visuals, and value and was honestly excited to share it. But after 24 hours, I ve barely gotten any traction. A handful of upvotes, no meaningful feedback just cold emails and offers from marketers.