Need help meeting the 3 active installs requirement for first-time marketplace submission

Apps Third-Party Apps
1

Hello all,

I am a first-time HubSpot marketplace publisher and need help meeting the 3 active installs requirement.

I do not currently have access to 3 unaffiliated companies with active HubSpot accounts willing to install an unverified app. The ‘I accept the risk’ warning during installation is a real blocker for prospective customers, which creates a chicken-and-egg problem: you need installs to get listed, but getting installs is hard without being listed.

The app connects HubSpot to Thingz, a lightweight action tracker and coordination platform that works across teams (Sales, Product, R&D, Customer Success, etc.). It allows salespeople to create and track action items for colleagues who are not on HubSpot. The app is loosely coupled with HubSpot: it requires crm.objects.deals.read to appear in the sidebar of Deal records, and crm.objects.deals.write to create notes. No contact data is read or stored.

Is there a process to get assistance from HubSpot to meet this requirement?

In the meantime, if any community member would be willing to install the app on their HubSpot portal and try it out, I would greatly appreciate it. Install link is here: https://app-eu1.hubspot.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=e41b8866-f4ba-43a5-947c-b3ecf3608bf6&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.thingzapp.com%2Fapi%2Fauth%2Fhubspot-callback&scope=oauth+crm.objects.deals.read+crm.objects.deals.write

PS: In case you want to use the app, you’ll need a Thingz account, you can sign up for free here: Thingz and go to Settings > HubSpot > Connect to (install if not already done) and connect Thingz to HubSpot.

Thank you,

3

Hi @greg.thingz and welcome, we are so glad to have you here!

Thanks for posting on the HubSpot Community and thank you for sharing this third-party integration with the HubSpot Community!

Internally, I cannot see the submission since it’s not finalized, can you please confirm that you’ve started the steps indicated in this documentation: Add your app to the HubSpot Marketplace?

Also, @greg.thingz, I’d love to hear more about your app and the specific problems it helps users solve.

Any details you can share would be helpful!

Thanks and have a lovely day!
Bérangère

4

Hi @Berangere
Thanks !
I cannot submit for review, this is blocked by the 3 install limits.

Check following snapshots:
Cannot submit because of the “More active installs needed” banner.
Yet, the Publish checklist shows I already have 3 installs (5 actually)

I can’t embed media directly in the message and cannot attach them either.
I uploaded them here:

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image2840×672 59.1 KB

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image1266×1154 86.6 KB

The long-term purpose of the add on is to connect the salespeople to the other functions in the company (R&D, Product, etc.). Right now it’s a lighweight action item tracker, HubSpot users can create and assign action items to other stakeholders. We have more features coming up but we need to start engaging with users, and the release of the first version is a must have to keep the ball rolling.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Thank you :slight_smile:

5

@greg.thingz We’re in the same spot.
Releasing a marketing analytics HubSpot App, and we’re in this loophole of active users to complete the review.

Can you get design partners? First “free” and trusted users?

I know how difficult it is, so I connected our account to support you :slight_smile:

You should see an account associated with Tulu.
Good luck!

6

hey @AdrianKnoll I guess i could but in the middle of the summer, this would take weeks, or even more. Thanks for connecting ! I’ll check on Tulu :smiley:

7

Hi @Berangere Apologies I realized I replied to my original post. You’ll find my reply above. Thank you !

8

Hi @greg.thingz and thanks for sharing the screenshots and additional details about your app!

Thanks also for your valuable feedback @greg.thingz and @AdrianKnoll!

This thread and the information in it are publicly available to all Community members and forum visitors. If your app helps them solve a roadblock they’re encountering, that’s great!

For information, here are the Third-Party App Promotion: Community Content Best Practices

Thanks and looking forward to seeing your app go live!
Bérangère

13

Hi @greg.thingz

I can understand the challenge. The three-install requirement can feel like a catch-22 when you’re launching your first Marketplace app, especially since many customers are understandably cautious about installing an unlisted app.

If there isn’t an exception process, one approach that might help is reaching out to existing Thingz users who already have HubSpot and offering to help them with the installation and onboarding. They’re more likely to trust the app because they’re already familiar with your product.

I’d also be interested to hear if anyone from the HubSpot Developer team can clarify whether there’s a recommended path for first-time publishers in this situation. It seems like a common hurdle for new Marketplace developers.

Wishing you the best with the launch I hope you get the remaining installs and your listing approved soon.

16

Thanks for laying this out so clearly @greg.thingz, I completely understand why this feels like a chicken-and-egg problem when trying to launch an app for the first time.

I also really appreciate you jumping in to help @Emmytech and @AdrianKnoll :raising_hands: this is a question that comes up a lot in the Developer Community, happy to share some insight and suggestions.

The three active installs requirement applies to all apps seeking a HubSpot Marketplace listing, so every app builder faces the same challenge that you are.

To qualify for listing, an app must have at least three active, unique installs from HubSpot production accounts that are unaffiliated with your organization. Active installs are based on real app activity within the last 30 days, not just completed installs.

So while the lighter scope footprint you described is helpful context, it wouldn’t change the requirement itself. All apps still need to meet the same minimum listing standards before they can be published in the Marketplace.

At this time, there isn’t a separate HubSpot process that substitutes for those installs or a way to bypass the requirement.

On the install warning specifically: the ‘I accept the risk’ message is a standard warning shown for all unlisted apps, not something unique to your app. Because the app is not yet listed in the Marketplace, HubSpot hasn’t completed the Marketplace review process for it, so prospective users will see that warning during install. That can absolutely create friction, but it is something every other app has also had to overcome.

It may help to address that directly in your outreach to early users with something like: ‘This is a standard warning for all unlisted HubSpot apps while they are going through the path to Marketplace listing. Here’s how Thingz is addressing your concerns: the app only requests the scopes needed for its functionality, it uses deal read access to appear in the deal sidebar and deal write access to create notes, and it does not read or store contact data.’

I know that’s not an easy answer to hear, especially when you’ve put a lot of time and effort into building your app. In practice, the best path is usually to continue recruiting early design partners, beta customers, or trusted community users who are willing to test the integration and generate real usage, while proactively explaining why the warning appears and what your app does to minimize risk.

A lot of app builders have also posted on Reddit to find beta testers, it might be worth searching for examples there and creating your own post if you’re still having trouble.

Wishing you all the best with your new app — the good news is that you’re not alone, there are thousands of developers in the community that have been exactly where you are and have been able to overcome these challenges! You’ve got this!!