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ToplistScript — Website Directory & Toplist CMS

Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review.

by Petra Solm Verified New

in PHP

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Sale

Self-host ranked website directories and review hubs: SEO categories, affiliate entries, appearance CMS, optional AI, submissions, plain-PHP installer. Earn via affiliate URLs, Featured placements, and moderated submissions.

Version
3.76
Updated
Sales
New
Compatibility
PHP 8.1+/8.2, MySQL/MariaDB InnoDB utf8mb4, Apache 2.4 mod_rewrite

About

ToplistScript is a self-hosted website directory and toplist CMS — the same plain-PHP product powering demo.toplistscript.com. Launch niche affiliate directories, “best of” ranking sites, and review hubs on your own domain without WordPress, Composer, or a Node build step.

Earn money with your directory

ToplistScript is built for publishers who make money from rankings — not just pretty category pages:

  • Affiliate / outbound URL fields — each entry can store a separate affiliate destination (with nofollow controls). Visitor “Visit” links prefer the affiliate URL when set, so comparison and niche sites can earn commissions on clicks.
  • Featured badge + manual ranking — mark entries Featured and control sort_order in admin so you can sell premium placement packages offline (invoice, agency retainer, or partner deals) without bolting on a separate CMS.
  • Visitor submissions with moderation — optional /submit inbox lets you accept paid or free listing requests and publish only what you approve.
  • Click / pageview analytics (optional) — rollups help you see which categories and entries convert, so you can raise rates or double down on winning niches.

There is no bundled PayPal “buy a slot” checkout in the core CMS — you monetize through affiliate programs and the placement / submission workflows you sell as the operator. That keeps the product flexible for SEO publishers and agencies.

Who it’s for

Affiliate marketers and SEO publishers who want a dedicated directory product, agencies delivering ranked list sites for clients, and operators who need categories, reviews, thumbnails, and monetization fields without fighting a general-purpose CMS.

What you get

Version 3.76 ships as a complete Apache/PHP package with a browser installer, optional sanitized demo catalog (30 categories, 695 entries), full admin CMS, homepage layout editing, color schemes, branding, screenshots/favicons, optional AI-assisted content (your own OpenAI key), visitor submissions with moderation, and optional analytics.

Install overview

  1. Extract toplistscript_v3.76.zip and upload the package contents to your web root (include .htaccess)
  2. Create an empty MySQL database and user
  3. Open /install/, save DB credentials, choose your own admin username/password, optionally import the demo catalog
  4. Sign in at /admin/, replace placeholders, then remove or lock down /install/

Full steps live in README.md and INSTALL.md. No shared default admin password is shipped — you create the account during setup.

Author’s detailed specifications

Additional package and setup details from the author. The purchase options and marketplace license terms govern your order.

What’s included

  • Category and review/entry pages with clean URLs, ratings, pros/cons, badges, thumbnails, and affiliate-link fields
  • Homepage block layout, ordering, color schemes, branding, backgrounds, footer links, and popups
  • Search, mobile navigation, and “saved websites” stored in the visitor’s browser
  • Admin CMS for entries, categories, information pages, reports, and settings
  • Optional public /submit flow with an admin moderation inbox
  • Optional AI drafts using your OpenAI API key (provider costs are separate)
  • Screenshot providers, favicon caching, uploads, and an icon library
  • Optional pageview/click analytics with retention and daily rollups
  • Browser installer + migrations, INSTALL.md, admin/architecture/maintenance docs

Requirements

  • PHP 8.2 recommended (8.1 minimum)
  • MySQL/MariaDB with InnoDB + utf8mb4 (tested MariaDB 10.4.32)
  • Apache 2.4 with mod_rewrite and .htaccess overrides (Nginx/IIS need equivalent routing)
  • Extensions: pdo_mysql, curl, gd (WebP/PNG/JPEG), mbstring, fileinfo, DOM/XML, JSON, sessions
  • Writable media/cache directories; HTTPS in production

Licensing

  • Regular ($299.99) — one end product (one live directory site)
  • Extended ($299.99) — resell or offer as a hosted directory service for clients

Both licenses are currently the same price. The distribution is DRM-free and unobfuscated.

Live demo: https://demo.toplistscript.com · Product site: https://toplistscript.com

Features

  • Curated category lists and detailed review/entry pages with clean SEO URLs
  • Earn via affiliate URL fields, Featured placements you sell, and moderated paid submissions
  • Ratings, pros/cons, badges, thumbnails, and affiliate URL fields per entry
  • Homepage layout editor with ordering, schemes, branding, backgrounds, and popups
  • Full admin CMS for entries, categories, info pages, reports, and settings
  • Optional visitor submissions (/submit) with moderation inbox
  • Optional AI-assisted drafts via your own OpenAI API key
  • Screenshot providers, favicon caching, uploads, and icon library
  • Optional pageview/click analytics with daily rollups
  • Browser installer with empty catalog or sanitized demo (30 categories, 695 entries)
  • Plain PHP 8.1+/8.2 — no Composer or npm build required for production

Your purchase includes

Compatibility

Works with
PHP 8.1+/8.2, MySQL/MariaDB InnoDB utf8mb4, Apache 2.4 mod_rewrite
Supported software
PHP, MySQL, MariaDB, Apache, OpenAI API (optional)
Platform
Shared hosting or VPS
Framework
Plain PHP

Tags: Directory Toplist Affiliate PHP MySQL CMS SEO Reviews Monetization Website Directory

Browse more in PHP, or see all items by Petra Solm.

FAQ

Common questions about this listing.

What is ToplistScript?

ToplistScript is a self-hosted plain-PHP CMS for website directories and ranked “best of” lists. You get category pages, review entries, search, admin appearance controls, optional submissions, and optional AI assist — without WordPress.

Can I really earn money with this?

Yes — primarily via affiliate / outbound URL fields on each entry (Visit links prefer your tracked affiliate destination). You can also sell Featured badge + ranking placement packages offline using admin sort order and the Featured flag, and gate visitor /submit listings as paid approvals. Core CMS does not ship a PayPal slot checkout; you keep billing flexible for your niche.

What are the server requirements?

PHP 8.2 recommended (8.1 minimum), MySQL/MariaDB with InnoDB and utf8mb4, Apache 2.4 with mod_rewrite, plus pdo_mysql, curl, GD (WebP/PNG/JPEG), mbstring, fileinfo, DOM/XML, JSON and sessions. Writable upload/cache directories and HTTPS in production.

Does it include demo content?

Yes. During install you can import a sanitized demo with about 30 categories and 695 entries, information pages, and appearance settings. Previous admin accounts, API keys, analytics, and affiliate URLs are excluded. Or start with an empty catalog.

How do I install it?

Upload the package, create an empty database, open /install/, save credentials, create your admin account, optionally import the demo, then finish in /admin/. Details are in INSTALL.md. There is no shared default password.

Can I monetize with affiliate links?

Yes. Entries support outbound and affiliate URL fields, nofollow controls, and niche category structures suited to SEO and comparison sites. You configure your own offers and tracking.

Is AI required?

No. AI is optional and uses your own OpenAI API key if you enable it. Provider plans and usage costs are separate and not included with the license.

Where is the live demo?

https://demo.toplistscript.com — a public demo of the directory front end. Product docs and sales info are at https://toplistscript.com.

Regular vs Extended license?

Regular covers one end product (one live directory). Extended covers resale or offering the script as a hosted service for clients. Both are currently priced at $299.99.

Is the code obfuscated?

No. The package is DRM-free and unobfuscated so you can read, customize, and deploy the PHP source normally.

Do I get updates and support?

Updates the author publishes for this listing line appear on the Versions tab. Product support is from the ToplistScript seller via this marketplace (and purchase chat after checkout).

Can you install it on my server?

Yes — add the Installation Service addon at checkout, or contact the seller after purchase. Check the requirements above before ordering installation.

Version history

Release notes for this item, newest first.

Current v3.76

  1. v3.76

    Current
    BestScripts release of ToplistScript v3.76. Includes browser installer, migrations, demo catalog option, admin/appearance tools, /submit moderation, and documentation set. Package excludes original credentials, API keys, analytics private data, and runtime caches.
    Buy to download this version

Log in after purchase to download version files.

Reviews

5.0

1 review

5 stars 1
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 0

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1 review

Directory CMS without a framework

Hannah Cho Reviewed v3.76

This is the one I wanted for a niche website directory. Category lists, review pages with pros and cons, affiliate URL fields, and featured placements are all in the admin, and the SEO URLs came out clean after the installer. Visitor submissions sit in a moderation inbox instead of going live on their own. Plain PHP on shared hosting was the requirement, and it met it.

Helpful

Questions & answers

Ask the seller about setup, compatibility or customisation before you buy.

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About the author

Self-hosted website directory & toplist CMS

Petra Solm Verified New

Creators of ToplistScript — a plain-PHP CMS for curated website directories, ranked category lists, and review pages. Ships with browser installer, admin appearance tools, optional AI assist, and a sanitized demo catalog.

All items by Petra Solm →

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ToplistScript — Website Directory & Toplist CMS

USD 224.99 Sale