Kardow is the most affordable way to launch a modern job board. Starting at $17/month ($144/year), it undercuts nearly every competitor and delivers a clean, functional platform you can set up in ten minutes. Plans scale to $42/month ($348/year) for Pro and $99/month ($828/year) for Enterprise, with 150, 400, and 2,000 monthly aggregation credits respectively (1 credit per imported job). Its AI-powered backfiller covers 195 countries, it charges zero platform fees, and it ships with privacy-friendly analytics out of the box.
But Kardow is still a newer platform building its track record. While each plan includes aggregation credits (150–2,000/month depending on tier), high-volume boards may need to purchase additional credits (available at $9 for 500 credits, $39 for 2,500 credits, or $79 for 10,000 credits) or upgrade plans. If you're planning to scale beyond a side project, it's worth understanding what else is out there and what you'd gain or lose by switching.
How to evaluate Kardow alternatives
Our job board software buyer's guide covers the 9 key decisions for choosing a platform. Here's how those decisions apply when evaluating Kardow alternatives specifically.
Kardow's biggest selling point is price, so any honest comparison has to start there. But sticker price is only part of the story. Here's how to think about the decision if you're bootstrapping a job board on a tight budget.
Total cost of ownership
Kardow's $17/month base plan looks unbeatable on paper and includes 150 monthly aggregation credits. But if you need more volume, additional credits cost $9/500 to $79/10,000, which can add $20–50/month depending on your niche. Compare that to Cavuno at $29/month with aggregation included on all plans (up to your active job limit) and no credit system, and the gap narrows fast for high-volume boards. Always calculate your real monthly spend, not just the subscription line item.
Employer tools: features you can skip early on
When you're starting out, you don't need enterprise SSO, advanced analytics dashboards, or multi-admin permissions. Kardow's lean feature set is actually a strength here because you're not paying for things you won't use. But if a competitor bundles features like unlimited job posts or built-in SEO tools at a similar price point, that changes the math. Jobboardly at $40/month includes unlimited jobs with no per-listing caps, which matters once employers start posting regularly.
How costs scale as you grow
The cheapest platform at launch isn't always the cheapest at 1,000 active listings. Kardow's Pro plan jumps to $42/month ($348/year) with 400 monthly credits, and Enterprise is $99/month ($828/year) with 2,000 credits. Artha offers a free tier that can handle up to 1,050 active jobs (actually free, not a trial). JBoard starts at $149/month but includes extensive scraping and automation that would cost you far more to replicate manually. Think about where you'll be in six months, not just today.
Monetization infrastructure: hidden costs and add-ons
Aggregation credits are the obvious one with Kardow, but look beyond that. Does the platform charge for custom domains? Email notifications? API access? Some competitors roll everything into one flat price. Cavuno's $29/month plan includes aggregation on all plans, custom domains, and AI-powered features with no add-on pricing. Transparency in billing matters when every dollar counts.
Kardow alternatives comparison
| Platform | Starting price | Aggregation model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kardow | $17/mo ($144/yr) | 150–2,000 credits/mo (1 credit per job) | Budget-conscious testing |
| Cavuno | $29/mo | Included on all plans, no credits | Predictable costs at any volume |
| Jobboardly | $40/mo | Pay-per-credit ($0.009/credit) | Unlimited job posts from employers |
| Artha | Free | Included | Validating ideas at zero cost |
| JBoard | $149/mo | 800+ sources included | Enterprise-grade automation |
Which Kardow alternative is right for you?
If you want the lowest possible starting cost and Kardow's backfiller credits fit your budget, Kardow remains a solid choice, especially for testing a niche before committing serious resources.
If you need aggregation included without tracking credits, Cavuno at $29/month is the strongest option. You get AI-powered features, semantic search, and predictable monthly billing with no surprises.
If your board will have employers posting directly and you want unlimited job listings, Jobboardly at $40/month removes per-listing limits and gives you a straightforward publishing workflow.
If you're validating an idea and want to spend nothing upfront, Artha's free tier supports over 1,050 active jobs. It's the only platform where you can launch a real job board at zero cost.
If you're building something larger (a regional job board or an industry-specific platform with high-volume automation needs), JBoard at $149/month delivers enterprise-grade scraping and tools that justify the higher price once you have revenue flowing.
