Compare/Head to head

Cosign vs Wellfound

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Cosign

Free Free tier

Cosign is a free a16z network of endorsed startup talent, curated lists and startup jobs. Recruiters hiring for startups get warm context on who is worth calling and a mutual-interest Would Hire signal, plus a free API and MCP server, but it covers the startup world only and has no recruiter seats or exports.

Where Cosign fits

  • Recruiters hiring for venture-backed startups
  • Finding engineers and operators with peer endorsements
  • Warm, mutual-interest outreach to passive talent
  • Teams that want startup talent search inside Claude or ChatGPT

Wellfound

Free + paid seats Free tier

Startup and tech jobs, formerly AngelList. Free job posts, with paid ads from $200.

Where Wellfound fits

  • Startups hiring technical people
  • Teams that still recruit early-stage on Wellfound
  • Companies on Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby or Workable
  • Recruiters who want a free post before paying

At a glance

DetailCosignWellfound
Starting priceFreeFree + paid seats
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underSourcing, Job boardsJob boards
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 from 35 reviews

Where they pull apart

Cosign

Stands out: Profiles carry endorsements from named people saying what someone actually did, which is the context a reference call usually gives you. The Would Hire signal only opens a chat when interest is mutual, so outreach starts warm, and the official MCP server lets you search people and jobs from Claude or ChatGPT.

Watch out: Coverage is limited to startups and tech, and the product is new. Many profiles are assembled by AI from public information before the person joins, so details can be wrong. There is no Boolean search, contact data, export or ATS sync, so it is a discovery and warm-intro tool rather than a sourcing database.

Not the right fit for

  • Volume hiring outside tech
  • Teams that need emails, phone numbers or exports
  • Agencies that need ATS or CRM sync

Wellfound

Stands out: A free job post on a board early-stage candidates actually browse.

Watch out: Weak outside early-stage tech, and the paid tiers are a different product from the free post.

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprise hourly hiring
  • Brand campaigns outside the startup world

Pros and cons

Cosign

  • Completely free, including the API and MCP
  • Named, attributed endorsements on profiles
  • Mutual-interest signals keep outreach warm
  • Startup and tech coverage only
  • AI-built profiles can be inaccurate
  • No contact data, export or ATS sync

Wellfound

  • Free job posts
  • Startup audience is the product
  • Connects to the major modern trackers
  • Weak outside early-stage tech
  • No API or MCP
  • Paid tiers are a separate product

What each one costs

Cosign

Free

Cosign is free. a16z runs it as a free product and lists no paid plans, seats or credits. The public directory API needs no key, and the member MCP server is free with a Cosign account. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Wellfound

Free + paid seats

Free + paid seats. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try Cosign or Wellfound for free?
Cosign and Wellfound carry a free tier on our listing.
Does Cosign or Wellfound have an MCP server?
Cosign ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Cosign alternatives All Wellfound alternatives Every Sourcing tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 2 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?