ExploreYC vs Job Postings API (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of ExploreYC and Job Postings API on pricing, features, and fit, so you can decide which is right for you.
Quick answer
ExploreYC and Job Postings API are both strong choices, but they fit different needs. Choose ExploreYC if you mainly need developers building startup discovery or crm tools who need structured yc and a16z company data — its edge is completely free and open source with self-hosting option for unlimited usage. Choose Job Postings API if you need building a job board or recruiting platform with real-time listing data — its edge is massive dataset of over 1.8 million us job postings provides broad market coverage. ExploreYC starts at Pricing on request; Job Postings API starts at approximately $49/month based on usage volume.
Features compared
- Public JSON REST API with company lookups and filtering by VC, batch, industry, and country
- Interactive geographic map of portfolio companies worldwide
- Live hiring board aggregating open roles across YC and a16z portfolio companies
- Batch analytics and trend dashboards for cohort-level research
- Access to 1.8M+ active US job postings via REST API
- Filter and search jobs by industry, location, title, and keyword
- Monitor job market trends and hiring activity over time
- Structured JSON data output for easy integration into any application
Pros & cons
- Completely free and open source with self-hosting option for unlimited usage
- Covers 6,600-plus companies with rich data including funding, exits, and founders
- Developer-friendly JSON API with multiple filter dimensions out of the box
- Free tier is limited to just 5 API requests per day, which restricts production use cases
- Paid API Pro tier is not yet confirmed live, leaving heavy users without a clear upgrade path
- Massive dataset of over 1.8 million US job postings provides broad market coverage
- Structured API format makes integration into apps and dashboards straightforward
- Useful for both product development and research without manual data collection
- Coverage is currently limited to the US job market, which may not suit global use cases
- Pricing details are not fully transparent on the website, requiring users to contact for exact plans
The verdict
Choose ExploreYC if
you mainly need to developers building startup discovery or crm tools who need structured yc and a16z company data. Its edge: completely free and open source with self-hosting option for unlimited usage.
Choose Job Postings API if
you mainly need to building a job board or recruiting platform with real-time listing data. Its edge: massive dataset of over 1.8 million us job postings provides broad market coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Is ExploreYC better than Job Postings API?
Neither is universally better. ExploreYC is stronger for developers building startup discovery or crm tools who need structured yc and a16z company data, with an edge in completely free and open source with self-hosting option for unlimited usage. Job Postings API is stronger for building a job board or recruiting platform with real-time listing data, with an edge in massive dataset of over 1.8 million us job postings provides broad market coverage. Pick based on your main task.
Which is cheaper, ExploreYC or Job Postings API?
ExploreYC starts at Pricing on request and Job Postings API starts at approximately $49/month based on usage volume. Free tier: ExploreYC — 5 API requests/day; Job Postings API — Limited API calls available on free tier.
What is ExploreYC best for?
ExploreYC is best for developers building startup discovery or crm tools who need structured yc and a16z company data, investors performing due diligence or market mapping across the yc and a16z ecosystems, founders researching competitors, peers, or potential co-founders within specific yc batches.
What is Job Postings API best for?
Job Postings API is best for building a job board or recruiting platform with real-time listing data, conducting labor market research and workforce trend analysis, tracking competitor hiring patterns for competitive intelligence.
Do ExploreYC and Job Postings API have free plans?
ExploreYC: 5 API requests/day. Job Postings API: Limited API calls available on free tier. Check each tool's pricing page for current limits, as plans change.