There is no single platform that is the best choice for every company. The right option depends on how many jobs you want to post, how much you want to spend, and how you prefer to find candidates.
If you want a remote job board with a large audience and are willing to pay $299 for a 30-day job posting, We Work Remotely is one option. The platform says it has 6 million monthly visitors and focuses exclusively on remote jobs.
If you want to start without an upfront cost, Online.jobs allows employers to post one job completely free, collect applications, and preview AI-ranked applicants. When you need more candidate contacts or active job postings, you can move to a paid plan.
For companies that are testing remote hiring for the first time, that difference can matter: you do not have to pay for a job posting before you know whether the platform fits your hiring needs.
Disclosure: This comparison is published by Online.jobs and includes our own platform. Features and pricing were reviewed using publicly available information in August 2026. Pricing and features may change over time, so readers should check the current details before making a decision.
We Work Remotely vs. Online.jobs
We Work Remotely and Online.jobs have a similar basic purpose — connecting companies with people looking for remote work — but they differ in how employers access job postings and candidates.
We Work Remotely focuses specifically on remote jobs and charges companies to publish job postings. Online.jobs gives employers the option to start with one free job posting and then move to a paid plan when they need additional candidate access or hiring capacity.
For companies looking to test a new hiring channel, being able to start without an upfront cost can be important.
How Much Does We Work Remotely Cost?
According to the current information on the We Work Remotely website, the base price for a job listing is $299 per month. Job postings last 30 days and automatically renew unless the employer turns off auto-renewal.
We Work Remotely also offers optional upgrades designed to increase the visibility of a job posting. Its Boost option costs $199 as a one-time upgrade.
The platform also offers a Filtering Service for $199, which is separate from the standard job posting. According to We Work Remotely, its team reviews and prioritizes applications based on the employer's requirements.
For companies that already have a remote recruiting budget, this is a straightforward paid job-posting model. For companies that want to test a platform without paying for the initial posting, a free option may be more appealing.
How Much Does Online.jobs Cost for Employers?
Online.jobs uses a different model.
Companies can post one job completely free, keep one active posting, receive applications, and preview AI-ranked applicants. The Free plan includes two candidate unlocks per month.
If a company needs more hiring capacity, the Starter plan costs $49 per month, while the Pro plan costs $99 per month.
Starter includes up to 5 job posts, 3 active jobs, 50 candidate unlocks, and 50 invitations per month. Pro includes up to 15 job posts, 10 active jobs, 200 candidate unlocks, and 200 invitations per month. Both paid plans include AI match summaries.
Employer Pricing Comparison
Why Does Free Job Posting Matter to Employers?
The cost of a job posting is not the only factor a company should consider. It also matters how quickly a company can determine whether a platform is bringing in relevant candidates.
If a company only hires occasionally, paying several hundred dollars for every job posting may not always make sense.
With Online.jobs, an employer can start with one free job posting, see what kinds of applications come in, and decide whether it needs additional candidate access.
That can be particularly useful for small businesses, startups, and teams that are testing remote hiring for the first time.
What Does We Work Remotely Offer Employers?
We Work Remotely is a platform focused specifically on remote jobs and companies hiring remote workers.
According to figures displayed on its website, We Work Remotely has 6 million monthly visitors.
Employers can publish remote job postings and choose optional paid upgrades to increase their visibility. The platform also offers a Filtering Service, through which the We Work Remotely team reviews applications and prioritizes candidates based on the employer’s requirements.
The main difference for employers is the pricing model: job postings are paid, with the standard listing currently priced at $299 for 30 days.
What Does Online.jobs Offer Employers?
Online.jobs combines remote job postings with candidate profiles.
Employers can post one job for free, receive applications, and preview AI-ranked applicants. Candidate unlocks allow employers to open a candidate's full profile and start a conversation.
The Free plan includes two candidate unlocks per month. If a company needs more candidate contacts or active job postings, it can move to the Starter or Pro plan.
This model gives companies a way to try the platform without paying for a job posting upfront and then decide whether they need additional hiring capacity.
Which Option Makes More Sense for Employers?
It depends on what the company needs.
We Work Remotely may make sense for companies that want to post a remote job on a specialized remote job board and already have a recruiting budget.
Online.jobs may make more sense for companies that want to start without an upfront cost, post one job, receive applications, and review the strongest matches before deciding whether they need paid features.
If a company hires frequently, it is useful to compare more than the price of a posting. The quality of candidates, number of applications, and time required to find the right person can matter just as much.
What About People Looking for Remote Jobs?
The comparison is a little different for job seekers.
We Work Remotely offers a free Basic plan. Basic lets users browse and save jobs, upload a resume, follow companies, and access a free ATS resume review.
It also offers two paid plans. WWR Pro costs $14.95 per month with a 12-month commitment, with the first month currently listed at $2.95. Pro includes unlimited job applications, up to five custom job alerts, and subscriber-only events.
TopAccess costs $29.95 per month with a 12-month commitment and includes the Pro features plus access to partner marketplaces such as Toptal, Arc, and PeoplePerHour, as well as unlimited Toptal Resume tailoring.
Online.jobs takes a different approach: workers do not pay a subscription or platform commission. Candidates can create a profile, browse jobs, apply, and communicate with employers without paying the platform.
Candidate Pricing Comparison
Do You Need to Use Only One Platform?
No.
Companies can use multiple job boards and compare the results. The same is true for candidates.
An employer can post a job on several platforms and track where the strongest candidates come from. A job seeker can search multiple remote job boards to increase the number of relevant opportunities.
The key is to look at the quality of the match, not just the number of jobs or applications.
What Should Employers Check Before Paying for a Remote Job Board?
Before paying for a job posting, check:
- How much does one job posting cost?
- How long does it remain active?
- How many jobs can you post at the same time?
- Can you view candidate profiles?
- Can you contact candidates directly?
- Does the platform offer candidate screening or ranking?
- Is there a free option to test the platform?
- Are there additional fees?
Price alone does not tell you whether a platform is right for your company. It is also important to consider how the platform helps you identify candidates based on their skills and experience, rather than relying only on resumes or job titles. Our guide to skills-based hiring in 2026 explains how employers can assess candidates more effectively.
How Should You Choose Between We Work Remotely and Online.jobs?
If your priority is using an established remote job board and you already have a budget for job postings, We Work Remotely is one option.
If you want to post your first remote job without an upfront cost, Online.jobs lets you start with one free job posting.
For companies experimenting with remote hiring, being able to test a platform first may be more practical than paying for a job posting upfront.
For candidates, the difference is also straightforward: We Work Remotely offers a free Basic level as well as paid premium options, while Online.jobs is currently free for workers with no premium subscription.
What Is the Best Free Alternative to We Work Remotely?
There is no single platform that is the best choice for every company.
If you want a remote job board with a large audience and are willing to pay $299 for a 30-day job posting, We Work Remotely is one option. The platform says it has 6 million monthly visitors.
If you want to start without an upfront cost, Online.jobs allows employers to post one job for free, collect applications, and preview AI-ranked applicants. When you need more active jobs or candidate contacts, you can move to a paid plan.
For companies that are testing remote hiring, that difference can be significant: you do not have to pay for a job posting before you know whether the platform fits your needs.
Ready to post a remote job without an upfront cost?