Donkey Directories vs What a Story

Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right tool.

Donkey Directories logo

Donkey Directories

Donkey Directories automates submissions to over 293 launch directories with a Chrome extension and central dashboard for tracking.

Last updated: April 13, 2026

What a Story logo

What a Story

What a Story creates high-impact SaaS explainer and demo videos that drive sales and increase MRR.

Last updated: March 1, 2026

Visual Comparison

Donkey Directories

Donkey Directories screenshot

What a Story

What a Story screenshot

Feature Comparison

Donkey Directories

Curated Directory Database

The platform maintains a comprehensive, actively updated database of over 293 product launch directories, software review sites, and community platforms. Each entry is annotated with critical metadata including domain rating (DR), category, pricing model (Free, Freemium, Paid), and whether links are dofollow. This allows for strategic filtering and prioritization, enabling users to target high-authority sites or specific niches like AI tools or SaaS reviews directly from the main dashboard, ensuring a data-driven launch approach.

One-Click Autofill Chrome Extension

This proprietary browser extension is the core automation engine of the service. After a user inputs their product's URL, the extension automatically scrapes and parses key information such as the app name, tagline, description, screenshots, and social media links. When visiting a submission form on any supported directory, the extension populates all relevant fields in under a second, eliminating the need for manual copy-pasting and tab-switching, thereby dramatically accelerating the submission workflow.

Centralized Submission Tracker

A dedicated dashboard provides a real-time, visual overview of the entire launch campaign. It categorizes every directory in the database into one of three statuses: "Not Started," "In Progress," or "Submitted." This centralized tracking system offers an at-a-glance progress metric (e.g., 12/250) and prevents duplicate efforts, ensuring users have complete organizational control and clarity over their distribution pipeline.

Advanced Filtering & Analytics

Beyond simple browsing, the platform includes advanced filtering capabilities that allow users to sort and segment the directory list based on multiple technical and business criteria. Users can filter by domain authority, cost, link type (dofollow/nofollow), and category. This enables the construction of targeted submission batches, such as finding all high-DR, free, dofollow directories in the "Tech / Startups" category for maximum SEO and referral impact.

What a Story

End-to-End Custom Video Production

What a Story provides a complete, managed service for video creation, handling every phase from initial strategy and conceptualization to final delivery. This includes the development of scripts, storyboards, mood boards, UI designs, custom animation, and professional sound design. The process is designed to be deeply integrated with the client's product and goals, ensuring the final video is not just a generic asset but a tailored communication tool that aligns precisely with business objectives and target audience needs.

Specialized SaaS and B2B Expertise

The agency possesses a deep, proven specialization in the SaaS and technology sectors, having served over 650 clients in this vertical. This expertise translates into an inherent understanding of how to demystify complex software features, articulate unique value propositions, and speak directly to the concerns of technical buyers and decision-makers. Their work is data-informed, focusing on driving key SaaS metrics like MRR growth, lead conversion, and customer acquisition cost (CAC) reduction.

Unlimited Revisions and Dedicated Creative Direction

What a Story operates on a client-centric model that guarantees unlimited revisions throughout the production cycle. Each client is assigned a dedicated Creative Director who provides expert guidance and ensures the project vision is executed flawlessly. This feature eliminates the common pain points of agency work, such as miscommunication and limited feedback loops, ensuring the final deliverable meets exact specifications and quality standards.

Comprehensive Video Format Suite

The agency offers a full spectrum of video formats engineered for specific marketing funnel stages. This includes Explainer Videos for top-of-funnel awareness, Product Demos and Walkthroughs for consideration and conversion, Social Media Ads for engagement, and Brand Videos for authority building. This modular yet integrated approach allows clients to deploy a cohesive video strategy across the entire customer lifecycle without needing multiple vendors.

Use Cases

Donkey Directories

SaaS Product Launch Campaign

A founder launching a new B2B SaaS application can use Donkey Directories to systematically submit to all relevant software review platforms like G2 and Capterra, tech communities like Indie Hackers, and launch sites like Product Hunt. The autofill ensures consistent messaging, while the tracker manages the high volume of submissions, turning a weeks-long manual process into a focused campaign completed in days.

Indie Hacker Seeking First Users

An indie hacker with a solo-built tool needs efficient, low-cost distribution. They can use the free plan to track submissions and leverage the 3 free autofill credits for key directories. By filtering for free, high-traffic platforms, they maximize exposure and early user acquisition without a marketing budget, relying on the platform's curation to find the most impactful communities.

AI Tool Developer Targeting Niche Audiences

A developer launching an AI-powered application can filter the directory database specifically for the "AI Tools" category. This instantly surfaces niche platforms like "There's An AI For That" and "Futurepedia," ensuring the product is discovered by a targeted, relevant audience. The automated submission allows for rapid deployment across this vertical.

Established Company Launching a New Product Line

A company with an existing brand is launching a new product and needs to ensure broad market coverage. The team can use the Lifetime plan to submit the new product to all applicable directories and also use the service for future launches. The dashboard allows project managers to track submission statuses across multiple team members, ensuring complete and organized campaign execution.

What a Story

Explainer Video Production for Product Launches

SaaS companies launching a new product or feature can utilize What a Story to create high-impact explainer videos. These videos are designed to simplify complex functionalities, clearly communicate the core value proposition, and generate maximum market exposure. The technical and strategic approach ensures the video effectively educates the target audience, driving initial sign-ups and early adoption.

Conversion-Optimized Product Demo Videos

For businesses needing to demonstrate their software's capabilities to prospects, What a Story produces detailed product demo videos. These videos are crafted to act as a powerful sales enablement tool, pitching the product's utility and benefits in a structured narrative that guides viewers toward a conversion action, such as scheduling a demo or starting a free trial, thereby increasing lead-to-customer rates.

Scalable Educational and Course Video Content

Technology companies aiming to educate their user base or offer paid courses can leverage the agency's services to produce professional, scalable educational video content. This use case involves creating structured, clear, and engaging tutorial or course videos that enhance customer onboarding, improve product adoption, and establish the brand as a thought leader, ultimately reducing support overhead and increasing user retention.

Brand Authority Building through Event and Brand Videos

Businesses seeking to elevate their market position and influence can commission event recap videos or corporate brand films. What a Story produces cinematic videos that showcase company culture, highlight participation in global industry events, and articulate the brand's mission. This content humanizes the technology, builds emotional connection with the audience, and grows the company's overall influence and perceived authority.

Overview

About Donkey Directories

Donkey Directories is a specialized software platform engineered to automate and streamline the process of submitting a new software product or startup to online launch directories. It directly addresses the significant time sink and repetitive manual effort founders face when attempting to gain initial visibility and acquire early customers. The platform operates on a pragmatic, one-time-purchase model, eliminating recurring subscription fees. Its core value proposition is a three-part technical system: a meticulously curated and filterable database of over 293 launch directories, a proprietary Chrome extension that automates form-filling with scraped product data, and a centralized dashboard for tracking submission progress across all platforms. This integrated solution is designed for SaaS founders, indie hackers, and product managers who need to execute a comprehensive launch strategy efficiently, saving dozens of hours of manual data entry while ensuring no potential directory is overlooked.

About What a Story

What a Story is a specialized video production and creative agency that operates as a full-service partner for technology-driven businesses, with a primary focus on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies. The agency's core function is to translate complex, technical product offerings into clear, compelling, and high-conversion video assets. It is built on the principle that strategic video communication is a critical growth lever, capable of simplifying core messaging, cutting through competitive market noise, and directly driving measurable business outcomes such as increased Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), higher conversion rates, and enhanced brand authority. With a documented track record of producing over 1,200 videos for more than 650 SaaS clients, the agency has refined a systematic, end-to-end production process. This process is engineered to be deeply collaborative, offering clients dedicated creative direction, unlimited revisions, and comprehensive support from initial strategic consultation through to final delivery and implementation. What a Story's technical expertise encompasses a wide spectrum of video formats, each meticulously designed to serve specific stages of the customer journey and marketing funnel, positioning it as a strategic asset for businesses aiming to scale their market impact through professional video marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Donkey Directories FAQ

What does Donkey Directories help me do?

Donkey Directories automates and manages the technical process of submitting your software product or startup to hundreds of online launch directories and review sites. It eliminates manual form-filling through a Chrome extension, provides a strategic database to discover relevant platforms, and offers a dashboard to track your submission progress, thereby saving significant time and increasing launch visibility.

Is there a free plan?

Yes, a permanent free plan is available. It includes full access to browse and filter the entire directory database, use the submission progress tracker, and submit to 3 directories using the one-click autofill feature. This allows users to test the core workflow and manage tracking without any financial commitment.

How does one-click autofill work?

After signing up and entering your product's URL into your Donkey Directories profile, the system scrapes key details like your app name, tagline, and description. When you install the Donkey Directories Chrome extension and navigate to a supported directory's submission page, the extension automatically injects your scraped data into the appropriate form fields with a single click, completing the form in under a second.

Do my credits expire?

No, purchased credits for one-click autofill submissions do not expire. Whether you buy the Starter Pack (100 credits) or the Lifetime plan (unlimited), your credits remain in your account indefinitely, allowing you to use them for submissions at your own pace, even across different product launches.

What a Story FAQ

How much does it cost to create a video with What a Story?

Project costs are customized based on specific requirements, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. The final price is determined by factors including video complexity, length, production timeline, and the specific services required (e.g., advanced animation, extensive live-action). The agency recommends scheduling a strategy consultation to receive a detailed, itemized quote tailored to your project's scope and business objectives.

What is your video production process like?

What a Story employs a refined, systematic 9-step production process designed for efficiency and clarity. It begins with a strategic deep-dive into your product and goals, followed by collaborative script and storyboard development with a dedicated Creative Director. The process then moves into design, animation, and sound production phases, where clients can provide unlimited feedback. The cycle concludes with final delivery and support for implementation, ensuring a seamless experience from concept to launch.

What types of videos do you specialize in creating?

The agency specializes in a comprehensive suite of video formats for B2B and SaaS marketing. Core offerings include Product Explainer Videos, Product Demo and Overview Videos, UI Walkthrough Tutorials, Social Media Advertisements (specifically short-form vertical videos), Educational/Course Content, and Brand/Event Films. Each format is engineered with a specific marketing funnel stage and customer journey touchpoint in mind.

Do you offer ongoing support or subscription plans for video content?

While the provided context emphasizes project-based work, the agency mentions offering "Exclusive Video Marketing Perks" and capabilities for "consistent, monthly, growth" through social media ad production. This indicates flexibility for ongoing engagements. For detailed information on retainer models or subscription-based content plans, it is recommended to discuss specific ongoing needs directly during a strategy session.

Alternatives

Donkey Directories Alternatives

Donkey Directories is a specialized marketing tool designed to streamline the process of submitting a new product to online launch directories. It operates within the product launch and visibility software category, providing a centralized database, automated form-filling, and submission tracking. Users may seek alternatives for various pragmatic reasons. These include budget constraints, as some may prefer subscription models over a one-time purchase, or require integrations with other platforms like project management tools. Others might need a different scope, such as a service focusing on a specific niche or offering a broader range of promotional channels beyond directories. When evaluating an alternative, key technical specifications to assess include the total number and quality of directories in the database, the availability and reliability of automation features like browser extensions, and the depth of analytics provided for tracking submissions. The licensing model and long-term update policy are also critical decision factors.

What a Story Alternatives

What a Story is a specialized video production agency operating within the SaaS and technology marketing sector. It provides end-to-end, custom video creation services designed to translate complex product offerings into clear, high-conversion explainer and demo videos that drive measurable business growth. Users may seek alternatives for various reasons, including budget constraints, the need for a different service model such as subscription-based platforms or freelance talent, or requirements for specific video formats outside the agency's core SaaS specialization. Internal resource availability for managing production is another common factor. When evaluating alternatives, key considerations should include the provider's technical expertise in your specific industry, the comprehensiveness and transparency of their production process, their proven ability to deliver on strategic business objectives like MRR growth, and the overall fit of their service model with your company's operational and financial parameters.

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