Primary Keyword: how to choose SaaS directory category
Secondary Keywords: SaaS category selection, web app category, software directory categories, primary category, secondary category, app listing category, SaaS directory submission, product classification, tool category, software tags, directory relevance, category SEO
Semantic Keywords: user intent, core workflow, product discovery, taxonomy, category page, navigation, filtering, related tools, listing relevance
Search Intent: How to / informational
Choosing a category sounds simple until your product does several things. An AI tool may also be a writing product. A CRM may include email marketing. A developer platform may offer APIs, automation, and analytics. If you choose categories based on every feature, the listing becomes unfocused.
The right category should reflect the main reason a user would look for the product. Start with the product’s core job, then use a secondary category to add useful specificity.
Think Like the Person Browsing the Directory#
Do not ask, “What technology did we use?” Ask, “Where would someone naturally look for this product?”
A user looking for an AI background remover is likely to browse AI Image Tools or Image Tools, not a broad Automation category even if the product uses automated image processing.
Category selection should match discovery behavior.
Start With the Core Job to Be Done#
Write one sentence:
“Our product primarily helps users ______.”
Examples:
- generate AI marketing images
- monitor API uptime
- manage sales relationships
- schedule social media posts
- compress PDF files
- manage Shopify inventory
The verb and object usually reveal the category.
Use the Primary Category for the Broad Product Family#
A primary category should answer, “What kind of software is this?”
Examples from a twenty category directory hierarchy might include:
- Artificial Intelligence
- SEO
- Marketing & Advertising
- Sales & Customer Management
- Productivity & Collaboration
- Automation & No Code
- Development & APIs
- Website & CMS Tools
- Ecommerce & Retail
- Design & UX
- Image, Video & Audio
- Documents & Writing
- Data & Analytics
- Finance & Accounting
- HR & Recruiting
- Education & Learning
- Security, Privacy & Legal
- Cloud, Hosting & Domains
- Startups, Apps & Creators
- Business & Other
The primary category should be broad enough to group related products but still meaningful to users.
Use the Secondary Category for the Specific Workflow#
The secondary category should answer, “What specific type of tool is this?”
Examples:
Artificial Intelligence → AI Image Tools
SEO → Keyword Research
Marketing & Advertising → Email Marketing
Sales & Customer Management → CRM
Development & APIs → API Tools
Image, Video & Audio → Video Tools
This two level structure keeps a directory easier to browse than a flat list of dozens of unrelated categories.
Choose One Main Category, Not Every Possible Category#
A product can have many features, but a directory listing needs a clear home.
Suppose your SaaS records meetings, creates AI summaries, sends follow up emails, and syncs contacts to a CRM. Possible categories include AI, productivity, email, automation, and CRM.
Ask which outcome is the product’s primary promise. If the product is sold as an AI meeting assistant, Artificial Intelligence with an AI related secondary category is more accurate than CRM simply because it syncs data there.
Use the Homepage Headline as a Category Test#
Look at your own H1 and first paragraph. What category would a stranger infer?
If the site says “Automated local rank tracking for multi location businesses,” SEO is probably the primary category and Local SEO the secondary.
If the site says “No code workflow builder connecting 1,000 apps,” Automation & No Code is the stronger primary category.
If your homepage cannot make the category clear, your positioning may need work before the directory listing does.
Look at the Competitors Users Compare You With#
Competitors can reveal category intent.
If users compare you with Ahrefs and Semrush, SEO is probably relevant. If they compare you with Zapier and Make, Automation & No Code is likely more accurate. If they compare you with Canva and Figma, Design & UX may fit better.
Do not copy a competitor category blindly. Use it as evidence of how users think about the market.
Technology Is Not Always the Category#
AI is the clearest example. Many products contain AI but should not necessarily use Artificial Intelligence as their primary category.
An accounting platform that uses AI to categorize expenses is still primarily Finance & Accounting if users buy it for accounting.
A video editor with one AI caption feature is still primarily Image, Video & Audio.
Use AI as the primary category when AI is central to how users discover, understand, or buy the product.
Audience Is Not Always the Category Either#
“Creator Tools” may fit a product designed specifically for creators, but a creator focused email marketing product might still belong primarily under Marketing & Advertising.
The strongest category combines product function and user discovery intent.
Avoid the “Other” Category Unless Necessary#
“Other” should be a fallback, not a shortcut.
Before using it, ask whether the product fits any broad category by its main workflow. Directory visitors rarely browse “Other” with a specific problem in mind.
Use Other only when placing the product elsewhere would genuinely mislead users.
Use Tags for Extra Dimensions#
You do not need categories to capture everything. Tags can represent:
- audience
- integrations
- platform
- technology
- workflow details
For example, an AI coding tool might use:
Primary: Artificial Intelligence
Secondary: AI Coding Tools
Tags: TypeScript, VS Code, code review, developer productivity
This gives precision without placing the listing in multiple unrelated categories.
Category Examples for Common SaaS Products#
AI Image Generator#
Primary: Artificial Intelligence
Secondary: AI Image Tools
Backlink Checker#
Primary: SEO
Secondary: Backlink Tools
Project Planning SaaS#
Primary: Productivity & Collaboration
Secondary: Project Management
WordPress Security Plugin#
Primary: Website & CMS Tools
Secondary: WordPress
Security can remain a tag if WordPress is the main discovery context.
API Testing Platform#
Primary: Development & APIs
Secondary: API Tools
Shopify Upsell App#
Primary: Ecommerce & Retail
Secondary: Shopify
Why Category Accuracy Matters#
Accurate categories improve:
- browsing
- filters
- related product suggestions
- category page relevance
- internal linking
- user expectations
A mismatched category may increase impressions but reduce useful clicks because visitors did not come for your type of software.
Category Selection and SEO#
Do not choose categories purely to target high volume keywords. Google’s people first guidance encourages useful content and organization for real users, not manipulative keyword placement.
A relevant category page can help search engines understand context, but the first job of taxonomy is to help humans navigate the directory.
What If No Category Fits?#
Choose the closest honest primary category and use the most specific available secondary category. If the directory allows feedback, suggest a new category rather than selecting an unrelated one.
On ListYourApp.online, category management is curated rather than open to submitters. This prevents users from creating dozens of duplicate or promotional category names.
A Simple Category Decision Framework#
Before submitting, answer:
- What is the product’s main job?
- What would a buyer call this type of software?
- Which competitors do users compare it with?
- Which category would the user browse first?
- Which secondary category describes the workflow most precisely?
- Can tags capture the remaining features?
If the answers point in the same direction, the category choice is probably correct.
Conclusion#
Choose a SaaS category based on the product’s main user outcome, not every feature it contains. Use one primary category for the broad software family and one secondary category for the specific workflow.
Accurate categorization helps users find the product, improves related listings and filters, and keeps directory pages meaningful. When in doubt, imagine the user browsing the directory with a problem in mind and ask where they would expect your product to appear.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Can my SaaS have more than one primary category?#
For a focused directory taxonomy, one primary category is usually better. Use a secondary category and tags for additional context.
Should an AI powered product always be under Artificial Intelligence?#
No. If AI is only a feature and users primarily buy the product for accounting, ecommerce, video editing, or another function, that functional category may be more accurate.
What is the difference between a category and a tag?#
A category defines the product’s main place in the directory hierarchy. Tags capture additional technologies, audiences, integrations, and use cases.
Should I choose the category with the most traffic?#
Choose the most relevant category. Irrelevant visibility produces weak clicks and a worse browsing experience.
What if my exact category is missing?#
Use the closest accurate option and suggest a category addition to the directory if there is a genuine gap.
John D.
John writes practical, research-led guides for SaaS founders, independent makers and product teams. His work focuses on product discovery, thoughtful launch strategy and building credible visibility without hype.
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