Compare/Head to head

iHireEngineering vs Wellfound

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

Starting price

Niche engineering job board on the iHire network. Employer job slots start at $316/month on quarterly billing. Job seekers search free.

Where iHireEngineering fits

  • Employers hiring engineers who want a niche board
  • TA teams that already use an ATS among 50-plus connections
  • Companies that want unlimited users on a job-slot plan
  • Engineering job seekers using the free search

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

DetailiHireEngineeringWellfound
Starting price$316/mo$135/seat/mo
Free tier–No✓Yes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underJob boardsJob boards
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 from 35 reviews

Where they pull apart

iHireEngineering

Stands out: Industry-specific engineering community with AI matching and partner distribution to Indeed and Google.

Watch out: The $316 rate needs quarterly billing; one slot is $369 billed monthly. Freelance work takes an 8 percent fee.

Not the right fit for

  • Employers who need only a one-off job post
  • Teams hiring outside engineering

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

iHireEngineering

  • Niche engineering talent community
  • Unlimited users on employer plans
  • Job slots swap as reqs change
  • Lowest slot price needs quarterly billing
  • Only useful if you hire engineers
  • Freelance jobs take an 8% fee

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

iHireEngineering

$316/mo

Job-slot plans are published. One job slot is $316/month on quarterly billing, or $369 monthly. Three slots are $405/month quarterly ($450 monthly) and ten slots $733/month quarterly ($799 monthly). Slots can be swapped at any time with no long-term commitment, and larger or longer-term plans are quoted by phone. Unlimited users. Job-seeker search is free. Freelance marketplace takes 8 percent. 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 iHireEngineering cheaper than Wellfound?
Wellfound starts lower, at $135/seat/mo against $316/mo for iHireEngineering. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try iHireEngineering or Wellfound for free?
Wellfound carries a free tier on our listing.

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