Compare/Head to head

Handshake vs TrueUp

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

Starting price

Handshake

$450/mo Free tier

University recruiting and early-career talent, with a free tier for employers.

Where Handshake fits

University recruiting teams
Early-career programmes at large employers
Talent teams filling intern and graduate roles
Campus teams already working in Handshake

TrueUp

12%/hire

Tech job marketplace plus TrueUp Talent intros. Employer hires via TrueUp Talent cost 12% of first-year base salary.

Where TrueUp fits

Listed tech companies hiring engineers and PMs
Startups that want intros without a 25% agency fee
Teams already on Ashby, Greenhouse, or Lever
Employers who will wait for mutual-interest matches

At a glance

Detail	Handshake	TrueUp
Starting price	$450/mo	12%/hire
Free tier	✓Yes	–No
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	–No	–No
Listed under	Job boards	Job boards, Sourcing

Where they pull apart

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

Senior professional hiring only
Agencies buying contact data

TrueUp

Stands out: Warm intros only after both sides confirm interest, at 12% instead of a classic 20-35% fee.

Watch out: Only companies already on TrueUp can apply, and they need a Trajectory Score of 60-plus or venture backing.

Not the right fit for

Companies that are not already on TrueUp
Teams that need an ATS rather than a talent channel

Pros and cons

Handshake

The default campus network
Early-career focus is the product
Free tier to start on

Not an ATS
Weak for senior hiring
Pro is $450 a month; Enterprise is quoted

TrueUp

Talent fee is 12% of first-year base
Intros only after mutual interest
Named Ashby, Greenhouse, and Lever fit

Only companies already on TrueUp qualify
Trajectory Score 60-plus or VC backing
Not a full ATS or recruiting CRM

What each one costs

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

TrueUp

12%/hire

TrueUp Talent is 12% of first-year base salary for hires sourced through Talent. The public job board is free for members. TrueUp AI is listed as unlimited roles. Only companies already on TrueUp can apply, with a Trajectory Score of 60+ or venture backing. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Handshake cheaper than TrueUp?

TrueUp starts lower, at 12%/hire against $450/mo for Handshake. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.

Can you try Handshake or TrueUp for free?

Handshake carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?