Compare/Head to head
Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.
Starting price
$450/mo Free tier
University recruiting and early-career talent, with a free tier for employers.
Where Handshake fits
PPC / subscription Free tier
The default job board for both free and sponsored listings. You set a budget and pay when candidates engage.
Where Indeed fits
| Detail | Handshake | Indeed |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $450/mo | PPC / subscription |
| Free tier | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| MCP server | –No | ✓Yes |
| Public API | –No | ✓Yes |
| Listed under | Job boards | Job boards |
| Capterra | Not enough reviews | 4.5 from 7,613 reviews |
Handshake
Stands out: The campus network students already use, so the pipeline is there before you are.
Watch out: It is a supply channel, not a tracker, and it is weak for senior hiring.
Not the right fit for
Indeed
Stands out: The board candidates actually open, with MCP and an API on top.
Watch out: Pay-per-click spend can outrun a small budget quickly, and it is not your ATS.
Not the right fit for
Handshake
Indeed
Handshake
$450/mo
Basic is free for posting jobs, with 10 messages a month; promoted jobs are an add-on starting from $34 a day. Pro is $450 per month with 200 messages a month, AI applicant tools, multi-user collaboration and 3 promoted-job days a month. Enterprise is priced through sales on an annual plan. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 4 Nov 2026
Indeed
PPC / subscription
PPC / subscription. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 4 Nov 2026
All Handshake alternatives All Indeed alternatives Every Job boards tool
Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?