Indeed vs Wellfound (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Wellfound grades higher than Indeed: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Wellfound grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Indeed
Job search site with free and sponsored job posts for employers
Wellfound
Startup job board with AI sourcing and recruiter service
Which one is for you
Pick Indeed if
- Fits if you want to post a job free and see who applies
- Works for small employers hiring a few roles
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you want more than free posts, as sponsored jobs cost extra with no rates shown
- Skip it if you want a full applicant tracker, as this is posting and a dashboard
- Watch out: posts are reviewed first and most go live within 24 to 48 hours
- Watch out: the page loaded was a Malaysia version, so features and costs may differ in the US
Pick Wellfound if
- Fits if you're a startup that wants to post roles without paying
- Works for a solo recruiter who wants AI sourcing at $135 a seat
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you source a lot: Reach's free plan stops at 20 contact reveals a month
- Pricey if you want Autopilot, at $500 a month per open role plus a 10% placement fee
- Watch out: promoted job ads start at $200 each on top of the free listing
- Watch out: Reach is per seat, $135 or $199, and Scale is sold through sales only
- Too light for non-startup hiring, since the audience is startups
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAIndeedFair | 2.6GPAWellfoundGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BFree job posts and free tracking tools, but sponsored jobs are billed by budget as candidates engage and no rates are shown. | BJob posts are free and unlimited. Reach starts at $135 a seat a month, Growth at $199, and Autopilot is $500 a month per open role plus 10% of a hire. |
| Free plan and trial | BA free employer account with free job posts and a free applicant dashboard. Reach is the part you pay for. | BJob Posts are free with unlimited listings and a built-in ATS. Reach Explore is free too, but only 20 contact reveals a month. |
| Features | CJob posts, a dashboard, screener questions and resume search. It is mostly posting and sorting, not a full applicant tracker. | CJob board, promoted ads, AI sourcing, an optional recruiter and ATS sync. Its reach is mainly startups, and ATS links come with Reach Growth. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. An employer account and job posts to write. | CNo rating on record. You set up listings and sourcing agents yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only and no integrations listed on the page read. | BWeb only, but it syncs with Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby and Workable, plus Gmail and Outlook. |
| Best for | free job posts on the biggest job site | posting jobs to a startup audience |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Indeed and Wellfound. How we grade
Where they differ
- Wellfound also covers AI agents.
At a glance
| Indeed | Wellfound | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $135 per seat / month for Reach Starter; job posts are free |
| Free plan | Free job posts and free applicant tracking tools; registering an employer account is free. | Job Posts are free: unlimited listings with a built-in ATS. Reach Explore is $0 with 20 contact reveals a month. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Indeed | Wellfound |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | wellfound.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Indeed
- Sponsored jobs are bought with a daily or monthly budget and billed when candidates engage; the page gives no rates.
- Indeed's pricing pages could not be read, so no plan prices are recorded here.
- The employer page that loaded was a Malaysia version, so features and costs may differ in the US.
- Posts are reviewed first and the page says most go live within 24 to 48 hours.
Wellfound
- Reach plans are per seat: $135 or $199 a month, and Scale is sold through sales only.
- Autopilot adds a 10% placement fee on top of $500 a month per open role.
- Promoted Job Ads start at $200 per ad on top of the free listing.
- The Reach free plan stops at 20 contact reveals a month.
Key features
Indeed
- Free job posts
- The employer page says an account is free and a free job post can be published straight away.
- Sponsored jobs
- A sponsored job stays prominent in search and job alerts, with Urgently Hiring tags and Instant Match.
- Applicant dashboard
- Applicants who meet your requirements are grouped at the top, with messages, notes and interest marking.
- Screener questions and interviews
- Screener questions filter for must-have qualifications, and Indeed Interview runs live virtual interviews.
- Resume search
- Indeed Smart Sourcing searches resumes and lets you invite matches to apply.
Wellfound
- Free job posts
- Unlimited listings are broadcast through Wellfound search, candidate email alerts and the weekly newsletter, with a built-in ATS for applicants.
- Promoted Job Ads
- An add-on from $200 per ad that adds top-of-search placement, a dedicated email blast and a spot in the newsletter.
- Reach AI sourcing
- Self-serve agents find candidates, write personalized outreach and send it from the recruiter's own Gmail or Outlook.
- Autopilot recruiter
- A dedicated recruiter sources, pitches and schedules, and the page says to expect 5 to 10 candidates delivered each week.
- ATS sync
- Two-way sync with Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby and Workable is included on every plan, and more can be requested.
Plans
Indeed
Pricing could not be confirmed. See indeed.com.
Wellfound
Job Posts$0
Unlimited job listings and applicant management, with a built-in ATS or sync to your own.
Reach Explore$0
per month
AI sourcing agents with 20 contact reveals a month and 3 active agents.
Reach Starter$135
per seat / month
250 contact reveals a month and unlimited agents, for a solo recruiter.
Reach Growth$199
per seat / month
1,000 contact reveals a month plus ATS integration and applicants.
Reach ScaleCustom
Unlimited contact reveals, ATS integration and SSO, sold through sales.
Autopilot$500
per month for each open role
A dedicated Wellfound recruiter, plus a 10% placement fee on a successful hire.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Indeed or Wellfound?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Indeed has no price we could confirm, and Wellfound starts at $135 per seat / month for Reach Starter; job posts are free.
Which has a free plan, Indeed or Wellfound?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Indeed and Wellfound have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.