How much does Indie Hackers cost?

Joining the forum is free with a Google sign-in. Indie Hackers Plus, the paid membership, is US$198 a year.

Do I need to apply to join Indie Hackers?

No. The about page says that apart from setting out to make money independently, there are no requirements.

What does Indie Hackers Plus include?

It adds a case studies database the site says holds 600+ founder interviews, weekly idea reports, trend analysis, a premium profile and first-class posting privileges from day one.

Who runs Indie Hackers?

Courtland Allen created it in 2016 and his brother Channing joined as co-founder after Stripe acquired it in 2017. It became independent again in March 2023, with Stripe as a seed investor.

Indie Hackers: price, who can join and alternatives

Indie Hackers at a glance

What	Detail	Source
Free sign-up	You join with a Google account and can then post, comment and upvote. The sign-up page shows no price.	indiehackers.com
Paid tier price	Indie Hackers Plus is offered as an annual membership at US$198 a year.	indiehackers.com
What the paid tier adds	IH+ adds a case studies database it says holds 600+ founder interviews, plus weekly idea reports and trend analysis.	indiehackers.com
Posting privileges	IH+ members get first-class community privileges, which the page says lets them post from day one without a wait.	indiehackers.com
Entry rule	There are no requirements beyond setting out to make money independently.	indiehackers.com
Who it's for	It says indie hackers are often solo, technical and bootstrapped, but co-founders, non-coders and funded founders are fine.	indiehackers.com
Founded and ownership	Courtland Allen created it in August 2016. Stripe acquired it in April 2017 and it was spun back out as an independent business in March 2023, with Stripe as a seed investor.	indiehackers.com
Format	A custom-built community forum, founder interviews and a weekly newsletter compiled from what the community upvotes.	indiehackers.com

Who it suits

Founders at any stage, since there are no entry requirements and joining is free.
Bootstrappers who want to read how other founders reached revenue, through the interviews and case studies.

Who it doesn't suit

Anyone wanting a vetted, closed room, as anyone can sign up with Google.
Founders after live calls or in-person events, since the pages read describe a forum, interviews and a newsletter.

Alternatives to Indie Hackers

Community	Price	Entry rule
MicroConf Connect	US$49 a month or US$499 a year, paid once accepted; 30-day refund	Short application, reviewed within 3 business days; paused until 17 November
MicroConf Masterminds	Application fee US$250 to US$2,500, scaled by ARR	US$500+ ARR or a previous business; matching reopens in northern autumn 2026
Remote Builders (ours)	Free	Instant join; directory profiles and dinner seats checked by hand
CEO Pavilion	Not shown on the CEO page	US$5M to US$500M ARR; six hub cities; application
Dynamite Circle	US$697 a year	US$100K+ annual revenue to apply
Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO)	US$2,470 global dues plus US$3,500 initiation, prorated by join month, plus chapter dues	US$1M+ revenue; chapter interview
Founders Network	US$75, US$134 or US$249 a month, billed annually	Invite-only; committee review
Hampton	Annual dues, amount not published; 45-day refund	US$3M+ revenue or raised, or US$10M+ exit; 18 chapter cities

Compare all 54 founder communities, each row dated.

Questions about Indie Hackers

How much does Indie Hackers cost?: Joining the forum is free with a Google sign-in. Indie Hackers Plus, the paid membership, is US$198 a year.
Do I need to apply to join Indie Hackers?: No. The about page says that apart from setting out to make money independently, there are no requirements.
What does Indie Hackers Plus include?: It adds a case studies database the site says holds 600+ founder interviews, weekly idea reports, trend analysis, a premium profile and first-class posting privileges from day one.
Who runs Indie Hackers?: Courtland Allen created it in 2016 and his brother Channing joined as co-founder after Stripe acquired it in 2017. It became independent again in March 2023, with Stripe as a seed investor.