1The Short Answer
LazyApply is a Chrome extension that mass-applies to jobs with one click. ShouldApply does the opposite: it scores each job 0-100 on fit, shows a gap breakdown, and flags ghost jobs so you only apply where you have a real shot. Bulk applying is easy to start and hard to get results from. Scoring first is the fix.
I built ShouldApply, so this is my honest read on what LazyApply does well, where it falls short, and who each tool fits.
2What LazyApply Does
LazyApply is a browser extension for 1-click bulk applying across LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter. It autofills and submits applications at high speed, and it sells on annual plans in roughly the $49 to $149 a year range.
The catch shows up in the results. LazyApply sits around 2.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot, and users report poor targeting and form errors: applications going to roles that do not fit, fields filled wrong, submissions that misfire. That is the predictable cost of a tool that optimizes purely for application count.
It is cheap and fast. If raw volume is the only thing you care about, it does that. Just know that speed and fit are not the same thing.
- Core feature: Chrome extension for 1-click bulk apply across LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter
- Price: annual plans, roughly $49 to $149/yr
- Best for: People who want maximum raw application volume and accept poor targeting
3What ShouldApply Does Instead
LazyApply: Pure Volume
1-click bulk apply via Chrome extension. ~$49 to $149/yr. ~2.5/5 Trustpilot. Users report poor targeting and form errors. No fit scoring.
Optimizes for application count.
ShouldApply: Quality First
Scores each job 0-100 before you apply. Why Not 100 gap analysis, L1 to L5 skill depth, ghost-job detection. Free fit score, Pro $14/mo in beta.
ShouldApply is a pre-application decision engine. Instead of firing off applications, it scores each job 0-100 first, weighted 70% on profile fit and 30% on resume match.
Each score includes a Why Not 100 breakdown that lists every gap with a point cost. It reads skill depth on an L1 to L5 scale, separating a skill you have touched from one you use daily. And it runs ghost-job detection so the listings with low hiring intent never make it onto your apply list.
The math is different. LazyApply maximizes how many applications you send. ShouldApply maximizes how many of them are worth sending.
Before you bulk-apply to 200 jobs, score them and see which ones you can actually win.
Score a Job Free4Feature and Price Comparison
How the two compare on what matters:
- Main job: ShouldApply = pre-application fit decision. LazyApply = bulk 1-click submitting.
- Fit score before applying: ShouldApply = yes (0-100). LazyApply = no.
- Ghost-job detection: ShouldApply = yes. LazyApply = no.
- Skill depth (L1 to L5): ShouldApply = yes. LazyApply = no.
- Targeting quality: ShouldApply = scores fit per job. LazyApply = users report poor targeting and form errors (~2.5/5 Trustpilot).
- Price: ShouldApply = free fit score, $14/mo Pro in beta. LazyApply = ~$49 to $149/yr.
5Which One You Should Use
Use LazyApply if you only care about raw application volume, the low annual price fits your budget, and you accept that a chunk of the applications will miss the mark.
Use ShouldApply if you would rather apply where you score well. Read the fit score, check the gap breakdown, skip the ghost jobs, and send fewer, better applications.
For the same fit-first logic applied to other tools, see our AIApply alternative and Jobright alternative breakdowns.
Trade 200 random applications for 20 you can actually win. Start with a fit score.
Try It FreeWritten by
Jesse Johnson
Founder, ShouldApply
Founder of ShouldApply. I write about job search strategy, hiring, and how to spend your time on opportunities that actually fit. Full bio →
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Frequently Asked Questions
LazyApply is worth it only if your single goal is raw application volume at a low annual price. It sits around 2.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot, and users report poor targeting and form errors, including applications sent to roles that do not fit. If callback rate matters more than count, the volume approach tends to underperform.
If you want quality over 1-click volume, ShouldApply is the fit-first alternative. It scores each job 0-100 before you apply, shows a Why Not 100 gap breakdown, reads skill depth on an L1 to L5 scale, and flags ghost jobs. The fit score is free; Pro is $14/mo during beta.
No. LazyApply is a bulk 1-click apply extension built for volume, not fit. It does not score whether a role matches you. ShouldApply produces a pre-application 0-100 fit score, weighted 70% on profile fit and 30% on resume match, with point costs per gap.
ShouldApply gives you a free fit score on a free account and a free ghost-job checker with no login. Pro is $14/mo during beta ($19/mo later). LazyApply sells annual plans roughly in the $49 to $149/yr range.
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Send fewer applications. Win more of them.
ShouldApply scores each job 0-100, flags ghost listings, and shows your exact gaps before you apply. Free fit score, no bulk-apply extension needed.
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