What makes you actually try a product on Product Hunt?
I’ve been browsing Product Hunt a lot lately, and honestly… it’s getting overwhelming.
There are so many launches every day that it’s impossible to sign up and try everything. At some point, you just run out of time.
So I’ve changed how I evaluate products:
I mostly rely on demos now.
If a demo clearly shows what the product does, how it works, and where it fits into my workflow, that’s usually enough for me to decide if it’s worth trying. If it clicks, I’ll sign up, sometimes even go straight to a paid plan.
But if the demo is vague, overly polished, or doesn’t show real usage… I skip.
I feel like this changes depending on experience level too:
Beginners might explore more and sign up freely
More experienced users become way more selective
How do you approach this?
When you see a new product on Product Hunt, what actually makes you take the next step?
Do you rely on demos?
Do you read comments/reviews?
Do you just sign up and explore?
Or something else entirely?
What’s the ONE thing that convinces you: “Yeah, I should try this” or even “I’ll pay for this”?
I would love to hear how you filter signal from noise. :)
Replies
For me personally, the demo video is the first filter. If there’s no demo video, I skip it in about 80% of cases, unless the product looks really exceptional.
Another thing that sometimes makes a difference is the first maker/hunter comment. When it’s well written and clearly explains the added value it can really convince me to take a closer look.
And there’s also a different situation:
when I’m actively looking for a specific tool and I see something on PH that matches exactly what I need. In that case, no hesitation: I go check the website and will probably test it.
@amraniyasser I do the same. And yes, maker / hunter comment gives that additional context about the product which the tagline and description cannot do. :)
@amraniyasser If the AI version doesn't look very sloppy, I would trust the AI one as much as the maker-led demo. How about you? :)
@rohanrecommends I used to trust real demos more.
But recently I discovered Naoma (launched on March 12), and it changed my mind.
Some AI-made demos are getting really convincing now.
Honestly, a clear and specific use case that I haven't seen before. Generic "AI tool" descriptions make me scroll past instantly. What got me to actually try something was when the product solved a frustration I personally had. Like — I kept wanting to read a specific type of story that didn't exist, so I ended up building zz-novel for it. Launched today actually 😅. So I guess: specificity + personal pain point = I'll try it.
Honestly, for me requiring sign-up upfront is the real blocker or at least a strong filter. If I can’t immediately see the value, I’m unlikely to go through the effort of creating an account just to “try” something.
Although when the product demo is so clear, fast, and compelling it makes me want to sign up. Otherwise, it’s usually a no from me.
On the flip side, when there’s no sign-up required, I’m much more likely to give it a quick try. Lower friction makes a huge difference in that first interaction.