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
$135/seat/mo Free tier
Startup and tech jobs, formerly AngelList. Free job posts, with paid ads from $200.
Where Wellfound fits
Free Free tier
Work at a Startup is Y Combinator's own job platform for the companies it has funded. YC publishes no employer price and lists it as a founder benefit. It only fits YC portfolio companies hiring engineers and early team members.
Where Work at a Startup fits
| Detail | Wellfound | Work at a Startup |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $135/seat/mo | Free |
| Free tier | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| MCP server | –No | –No |
| Public API | –No | –No |
| Listed under | Job boards | Job boards, Sourcing |
| Capterra | 4.7 from 35 reviews | Not enough reviews |
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
Work at a Startup
Stands out: Every employer on the site is a YC company, and listings show salary and equity ranges alongside the YC batch. Candidates use one profile across hundreds of startups, and founders can reach out to them directly. YC also promotes roles through its own events and expos.
Watch out: You must be a YC-funded company to post, so it is not an option for most employers. YC publishes no employer pricing page or feature list, so details of the recruiter tools are not public.
Not the right fit for
Wellfound
Work at a Startup
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
Work at a Startup
Free
Y Combinator does not publish a price for employers. Work at a Startup is listed among the benefits YC founders receive, and access is limited to YC-funded companies, so there is no plan a non-YC company can buy. Candidates join for free. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 26 Sep 2026
All Wellfound alternatives All Work at a Startup 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?