Compare/Head to head

Handshake vs Wellfound

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

Wellfound

$135/seat/mo 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

Detail	Handshake	Wellfound
Starting price	$450/mo	$135/seat/mo
Free tier	✓Yes	✓Yes
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	–No	–No
Listed under	Job boards	Job boards
Capterra	Not enough reviews	4.7 from 35 reviews

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

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

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

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

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

Wellfound

$135/seat/mo

Job posts are free with unlimited listings, and Job Ads for top placement cost from $200 per ad. Wellfound Reach, the AI sourcing product, has a free Explore tier, Starter at $135 per seat a month, Growth at $199 per seat a month and custom Scale pricing. Autopilot, a dedicated recruiter, is $500 a month per open role plus a 10% placement fee on hire. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Handshake cheaper than Wellfound?

Wellfound starts lower, at $135/seat/mo 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 Wellfound for free?

Handshake and Wellfound carry a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Handshake alternatives All Wellfound 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?