Sam's ListCommunity-driven directory for finding vetted developers, designers, and agencies recommended by founders.

4.3 (4)

Reviewed by Daniel Nikulshyn·Updated July 2026

Directory Community-Driven Freelancers Agencies Founders No-Code Hiring Marketplace

Overview

Sam's List is a curated marketplace that helps founders and business owners find trusted developers, designers, and agencies through peer recommendations. Instead of relying on cold outreach or anonymous reviews, users browse professionals who have been vouched for by other entrepreneurs in the community. The platform covers a range of build needs, including web development, mobile apps, no-code projects, branding, and landing pages. Listings typically include portfolios, pricing context, specialties, and notes from the people who recommended them, making it easier to shortlist the right fit. While not a pure AI product, Sam's List is frequently used by non-technical founders looking to hire help for AI-powered apps, SaaS MVPs, and modern web builds where finding the right collaborator matters more than the tech stack alone.

Key features

Vetted directory of developers and designers
Founder-submitted recommendations and reviews
Filters by specialty, stack, and project type
Profiles with portfolios and pricing context
Categories for web, mobile, no-code, and branding
Direct outreach to listed professionals

Pricing

Model: Free
Category: Finance
Rating: 4.3 / 5 (4)

Use cases

Hire a vetted developer for an MVP

Non-technical founders can browse founder-recommended developers to build a web or mobile MVP without relying on cold outreach or anonymous reviews.

Find a no-code builder for a quick launch

Discover specialists in no-code tools to ship landing pages, internal tools, or prototypes, filtered by stack and project type.

Source a designer for branding work

Shortlist designers with portfolios and peer notes to handle branding, identity, or landing page design for a new venture.

Shortlist an agency for a larger build

Compare agencies vouched for by other entrepreneurs, reviewing specialties and pricing context before reaching out directly.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Recommendations come from real founders, not paid ads
Useful for non-technical builders seeking trusted help
Covers developers, designers, and agencies in one place
Free to browse and contact listed professionals

Cons

Smaller pool than large freelance marketplaces
Quality and availability vary by professional
Limited built-in project management or escrow tools

Battle record

Across 1 battle in the Pantheon.

1st

2nd

3rd

Last battle

#5
Finance Showdown — August 1, 2025
Aug 1, 2025 · #5 of 7

Reviews

4.3

Average from 4 ratings.

Devin Walker

Feb 23, 2026

Skeptical, then convinced

I went in skeptical — most tools in this space overpromise. It actually delivers on direct outreach to listed professionals, and covers developers, designers, and agencies in one place caught me off guard. Smaller pool than large freelance marketplaces is why this isn't a perfect score, still, I'd recommend giving it a real trial.

Victor Nguyen

Feb 4, 2026

Use it every day

Honestly didn't expect to like it this much. Categories for web, mobile, no-code, and branding is exactly what I needed, and covers developers, designers, and agencies in one place. I do wish limited built-in project management or escrow tools, but I reach for it almost every day now and it just clicks.

Grace Okafor

Jan 31, 2026

Skeptical, then convinced

I went in skeptical — most tools in this space overpromise. It actually delivers on profiles with portfolios and pricing context, and useful for non-technical builders seeking trusted help caught me off guard. Smaller pool than large freelance marketplaces is why this isn't a perfect score, still, I'd recommend giving it a real trial.

Beatriz Costa

Aug 19, 2025

Compared a few options

Evaluated this against two competitors. Where it wins: vetted directory of developers and designers and covers developers, designers, and agencies in one place. Where it lags: smaller pool than large freelance marketplaces. On balance the feature set — especially vetted directory of developers and designers — justifies the 4 stars for our use case.