{"slug": "i-built-a-free-job-search-agent-that-runs-on-the-claude-plan-you-already-pay-for", "title": "I built a free job-search agent that runs on the Claude plan you already pay for", "summary": "A developer built FreeApply, an open-source (MIT) local stdio MCP server and signed workflow that lets an existing MCP-capable AI app such as Claude Code or Claude Desktop run a job search on the user's own subscription rather than paid API credits. The tool finds matching jobs, tracks them in a local dashboard, applies on employer sites through the AI app, and checks Gmail for replies, with tools that lock if the signed workflow is modified. In a test using two Claude Max subscriptions over 12 hours, it tracked 201 jobs and applied to the 61 best fits.", "body_md": "I'm job hunting right now, and applying is a full-time job. I like automating things, and I've been fascinated by what Claude's skills, plugins and MCP can do, so I built FreeApply.\n\nAI tools for consumers mostly can't sell you a flat monthly plan, so they charge for API credits priced for business use. That's fine B2B, but it's expensive for one person looking for work. Meanwhile many of us already pay for Claude.\n\nFreeApply is a local stdio MCP server plus a signed workflow. It gives your own AI app the tools, context and guardrails; your app does the heavy lifting on your subscription. The backend is a small VPS that serves updates and anonymous aggregate stats.\n\nIt finds jobs that match your settings (any field), tracks every one in a local dashboard, applies on the employer's site through your AI app, and checks Gmail for replies. The tools enforce the rules rather than the prompt:\n\nIf the signed workflow is modified, the tools lock until the official version is restored.\n\nYour resume, profile and job history stay on your computer. In the US, anonymous usage stats and job-market data are on by default (off elsewhere and with Global Privacy Control), and you can turn them off in Settings. The recruiter Talent Pool is off until you turn it on. When something fails, FreeApply shows you a problem report with your personal details removed, and sends it only if you tick its box.\n\n2 Claude Max subscriptions, 12 hours: 201 jobs tracked, applied to the 61 that fit best.\n\nIt needs an MCP-capable AI app. Tested in Claude Code and Claude Desktop; Cursor and VS Code should work but are untested.\n\n`/plugin marketplace add FreeApply/freeapply`, then `/plugin install freeapply@freeapply`\n`freeapply.mcpb` from It's early. Bug reports and blunt feedback are very welcome.\n\nSite: [https://www.mybotsai.com](https://www.mybotsai.com) · Code (MIT): [https://github.com/FreeApply/freeapply](https://github.com/FreeApply/freeapply)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-free-job-search-agent-that-runs-on-the-claude-plan-you-already-pay-for", "canonical_source": "https://dev.to/freeapply_mybotsai/i-built-a-free-job-search-agent-that-runs-on-the-claude-plan-you-already-pay-for-1old", "published_at": "2026-10-28 03:01:35+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-10-28 03:11:29.506702+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-agents", "agent-protocols", "ai-tools", "ai-products"], "entities": ["FreeApply", "Claude", "Claude Code", "Claude Desktop", "Cursor", "VS Code", "Gmail", "Anthropic"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-free-job-search-agent-that-runs-on-the-claude-plan-you-already-pay-for", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-free-job-search-agent-that-runs-on-the-claude-plan-you-already-pay-for.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-free-job-search-agent-that-runs-on-the-claude-plan-you-already-pay-for.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-free-job-search-agent-that-runs-on-the-claude-plan-you-already-pay-for.jsonld"}}