Compare/Head to head

DMtheFounder vs Wellfound

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

Starting price

DMtheFounder

Free Free tier

Free job board for early engineering roles at startups. It gathers the hiring posts founders write on X and Hacker News, has a person check each one, and lists it with a direct line to the founder. Founders can submit a role free; engineers apply by email or on X with no form in between. It launched in October 2026.

Where DMtheFounder fits

  • Founders hiring a first or founding engineer
  • Pre-seed to Series A startups with no recruiting budget
  • Founders who already post roles on X and want more reach
  • Engineers who want to join a startup early

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

DetailDMtheFounderWellfound
Starting priceFreeFree + paid seats
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underJob boards, SourcingJob boards
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 from 35 reviews

Where they pull apart

DMtheFounder

Stands out: Every role is written by a founder or early employee, not a recruiter, and a person checks it before it goes live. Engineers skip the application form and write straight to the founder, and each listing shows the company's stage and recent funding.

Watch out: It is very new, launched in October 2026, so it has no track record or outside reviews yet. It only covers engineering roles at early-stage startups, and much of the list is re-posted from public X and Hacker News threads rather than submitted directly.

Not the right fit for

  • Non-engineering roles such as sales, ops or design
  • Agencies and recruiters, who are excluded
  • Larger companies hiring at volume

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

DMtheFounder

  • Free for founders to post and for engineers to use
  • Every role is checked by a person and comes from the company itself
  • Direct contact with the founder, no application form
  • Launched in October 2026, no track record yet
  • Engineering roles at early-stage startups only
  • No applicant tracking or candidate management for founders

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

DMtheFounder

Free

Listing a role is free for founders, and the site states this on its post-a-job page. Engineers browse and apply for free, and can sign up for a weekly email of new roles every Monday. No paid plans or promoted listings are published. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Oct 2026

Wellfound

Free + paid seats

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

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try DMtheFounder or Wellfound for free?
DMtheFounder and Wellfound carry a free tier on our listing.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Oct 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?