Compare/Head to head

TrueUp vs Wellfound

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

Starting price

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

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

DetailTrueUpWellfound
Starting price12%/hire$135/seat/mo
Free tier–No✓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

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

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

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

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

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

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 TrueUp cheaper than Wellfound?
TrueUp starts lower, at 12%/hire against $135/seat/mo for Wellfound. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try TrueUp 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?