100% FREE
Until You Trial or Hire
Register, post jobs, and get matched to candidates — all completely free.
You only pay when you find someone you want to trial or hire.
What's Free vs What Costs
We want you to find the right person first. You only pay when you're ready to trial or hire.
Always FREE
- Create your employer account
- Post unlimited job openings
- Get matched to verified candidates
- View candidate profiles & scores
- Browse our candidate pool
- Access our AI matching engine
R0 — No credit card needed
Only When You're Ready
- 1Trial Fee: R500/month
Only when you want to trial a candidate. 1 month trial.
- 2Placement Fee: R1,500
Once-off, only if you hire them permanently.
Maximum total: R2,000
1 month trial + permanent hire
How It Works
Register & Post — FREE
Sign up, post your job, and get matched to verified candidates. No credit card. No commitment. No catches.
Trial a Candidate — R500/month
Found someone promising? Start a paid trial to see them work. You pay the worker directly for their shifts. Our R500/month fee covers the matching and placement service.
Hire Permanently — R1,500
Happy with them? Make it permanent for a one-time R1,500 fee. That's 90% less than a typical R15,000+ recruitment agency.
Important: Worker Payment
You pay the worker directly for the shifts they work. Our fees are for the matching and placement service — we help you find the right person, you compensate them fairly for their work.
This keeps things simple and ensures workers are paid promptly by you, their employer.
Compare the Cost
See how much you save with ShiftMate
Recruitment Agency
Traditional approach
Per placement, no trial
- No trial period
- Upfront payment
- High risk
Job Board Ads
DIY approach
Per listing, no guarantees
- No verification
- Pay to list
- 100s of CVs to filter
ShiftMate
Trial-to-hire
to start, R500/mo to trial
- Free to register & post
- See them work first
- Max R2,000 total
Ready to Hire
Permanently?
When you decide to make a trial worker a permanent employee, we charge a one-time placement fee.
Save R13,500+ vs typical R15,000 agency fees!
Why Trial-to-Hire Works
- See them in action
Real work performance beats any interview
- Culture fit matters
Discover if they gel with your team
- Reduce hiring risk
Only commit when you're confident
Preview Assessment Scores First?
Want to see a candidate's skills and behavioural assessment results before committing to a trial? You can unlock their scores for a small fee.
Common Questions
Is it really free to register and post jobs?
Yes, 100% free. You can create your account, post as many jobs as you like, and get matched to verified candidates — all at no cost. No credit card required. You only pay when you decide to start a trial with a candidate.
When do I start paying?
Only when you find a candidate you want to trial. The R500/month trial fee covers our matching and placement service for that candidate. You also pay the worker directly for their shifts — that's between you and them.
What does the R500/month trial fee cover?
It covers our work in sourcing, verifying, and matching the candidate to your role. This fee is charged for a 1 month trial period. You pay the worker their wages directly.
What happens if I want to hire them permanently?
Simply pay the R1,500 permanent placement fee — that's it! Compare this to typical recruitment agency fees of R15,000 or more. Your maximum total cost with ShiftMate is R2,000 (1 month trial + placement fee).
What if the trial doesn't work out?
No problem — you only paid R500 for that month. You can try another candidate with a new trial. There's no long-term commitment.
Why is it so much cheaper than a recruitment agency?
Traditional agencies charge 8-15% of annual salary upfront. We use technology and AI to do the matching efficiently, so we can offer a flat, affordable rate. Plus, you get to see the person work before committing.
Ready to Find Your Next Great Hire?
Join hundreds of South African businesses using trial-to-hire to build better teams with confidence.
It's completely free to get started.