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Platform vs Placement: When to Self-Serve Shortlists vs Fee-on-Hire for Urgent Hardtech Roles
When should a hardtech founder use Platform — monthly credits for unique-fit shortlists they run and outreach themselves — versus Placement, where DevMatch sources, shortlists, and outreaches, with a fee only on a confirmed hire? And what does “never both on the same hire” mean in practice?
This page is the decision frame. Numbers and rules match pricing exactly. It is not a claim that either path converts better, and not a competitor fee teardown. Role and category guides already point here when they say “See Platform vs Placement.”
Two paths, one rule
Pay monthly for the platform, or pay on hire when DevMatch runs Placement. Never both on the same hire.
Platform: monthly credits for unique-fit shortlists (chat, MCP, Slack /devmatch). Reveal is free on a shortlist you already paid for. Connect email to outreach yourself.
Placement: for urgent roles, DevMatch sources, shortlists, and runs outreach. A card is required at submit ($0 today). Fee only when a hire from the shortlist is confirmed — $10,000 under a $200k base midpoint, $15,000 at $200k and above. Never stack Platform and Placement on the same hire.
What this page is not
Not a savings calculator beyond the published billing string Yearly · save 16%. Not a win-rate comparison. Not advice to stack both paths. Plan ceilings stay on pricing.
Decision framework
The choice is about who runs the work and when money changes hands — not about which path fills faster or converts better. Those claims are off-limits.
Choose Platform when…
- You want to run shortlists yourself (chat, MCP, or Slack /devmatch)
- Your team will own outreach via connected email
- You’re exploring fit or building a pipeline with Free or Pro credits
- You already have capacity to review evidence-linked shortlists
Choose Placement when…
- The role is urgent and you want DevMatch to source, shortlist, and outreach
- You want done-for-you outreach (not via Slack bot)
- You’re ready to put a card on file and pay only if a hire from the shortlist is confirmed
- You want shortlist review with DevMatch running outreach
Platform in detail
Billing on pricing: Monthly, or Yearly · save 16%. That is the only published discount string — this page does not invent other savings math.
Credit actions (Platform only). Numbers match pricing:
Free includes 250 company credits every month — about ten unique-fit shortlist runs. Pro includes 350. Reveal is free after a paid run. Company-shared pool · reset monthly · no rollover · Platform only Channels: chat, MCP, Slack /devmatch. Platform sending uses connected email. Tool names and install steps live on MCP docs.
Placement in detail
For urgent roles, DevMatch sources, shortlists, and outreaches. Card at submit. $0 today. Fee only on confirmed hire. No Pro subscription required.
- Done-for-you sourcing and outreach (not via Slack bot)
- Shortlist review with your team; we run outreach
- 30-day placement guarantee
- Card required when you submit a Placement role
- No credit meter on Placement — fee is on confirmed hire only
Slack and Discord are for Approve / Pass review. Placement outreach is from DevMatch — contrast with Platform’s connected email. Submit a role from pricing or the Placement signup.
Never stack Platform + Placement on the same hire
Never stack Platform and Placement on the same hire.
In plain language: do not burn Platform credits and pay a Placement fee for one confirmed hire. Pick a path per hire. If you started on Platform and later want Placement — or the reverse — for a different role, that is a separate decision. This page does not invent migration discounts, proration, or credit-to-fee conversion math.
How unique-fit shortlists fit either path
Both paths use the same product idea. Unique mission fit from NASA reports, published papers, SBIR awards and code. Every signal traces to a real source, never a resume. Platform: you run the shortlist. Placement: DevMatch runs sourcing, shortlist, and outreach for you.
Method depth lives on unique-fit vs keyword recruiting, not here. Role examples: flight software, robotics firmware, research engineers, defense / SBIR. Inbound claims are a different job — check inbound claims.
Questions
Questions hiring teams ask
What is the difference between DevMatch Platform and Placement?
Platform is monthly credits for unique-fit shortlists you run in chat, MCP, or Slack /devmatch. Reveal is free on a shortlist you already paid for; you connect email and outreach yourself. Placement is for urgent roles: DevMatch sources, shortlists, and outreaches. A card is required at submit ($0 today); the fee is charged only when a hire from the shortlist is confirmed. Never both on the same hire.
When should a hardtech team choose Platform credits instead of Placement?
Choose Platform when you want to run shortlists yourself, own outreach via connected email, and explore fit with Free or Pro credits. Choose Placement when the role is urgent and you want DevMatch to source, shortlist, and outreach — card at submit, $0 today, fee only on a confirmed hire. The choice is who runs the work and when money changes hands, not which path converts better.
How much does DevMatch Placement cost, and when is the fee charged?
Placement is a flat fee on confirmed hire only: $10,000 when the base midpoint is under $200k, and $15,000 at $200k and above. A card is required at submit ($0 today). No Pro subscription is required. There is no credit meter on Placement. A 30-day placement guarantee is included.
Can you use Platform credits and Placement on the same hire?
No. Never stack Platform and Placement on the same hire. Do not burn Platform credits and pay a Placement fee for one confirmed hire — pick a path per hire. A different role is a separate decision. This page does not invent migration discounts or credit-to-fee conversion.
What do DevMatch Platform shortlist runs and MCP calls cost in credits?
A shortlist run (find_candidates / chat / Slack /devmatch) costs 25 credits on all plans. Reveal on a shortlist you already paid for is 0 credits. get_profile costs 1 credit per profile; find_similar_projects costs 3 credits. Free includes 250 company credits each month; Pro includes 350. Credits are a company-shared pool, reset monthly, no rollover, Platform only.
What to do next
Start free on the platform — 250 company credits each month, no card required. Paste a job description and get a unique-fit shortlist with evidence attached.
Urgent role? Submit Placement — card at submit, $0 today, fee only when a hire from the shortlist is confirmed. Never stack Platform and Placement on the same hire.
Related: Unique-fit shortlist vs keyword recruiting · Hire flight software from public evidence · Hire robotics firmware from public evidence · Hire research engineers from public work · Check inbound claims against public work · Find defense and SBIR/STTR-experienced engineers · DevMatch MCP docs. Product overview · paste a job description.