The Difference Between Applying and Bidding on SolidFound
Understand when to apply vs. bid — and how to manage your bid credits effectively.
SolidFound gives workers two ways to pursue a job: applying and bidding. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right approach for each opportunity.
What Is Applying?
Applying is the standard way to express interest in a job. When you apply, the employer sees your profile, your verification status, your reputation score, and any answers you've provided to their screening questions. Applying is free and unlimited.
What Is Bidding?
Bidding is a more competitive approach where you submit a dollar amount — your proposed rate — along with a short message explaining why you're the right person for the job. Bidding is available on select job posts where the employer has opened the position to competitive pricing.
When to Apply vs. When to Bid
Apply when the pay rate is fixed and competitive, when you have a strong profile and reviews, or when the job matches your skills exactly and you want to move fast. Bid when the job is listed as open to competitive pricing, when you have specialized skills that justify a premium rate, or when the competition is high and you want to make a direct pitch to the employer.
Managing Your Bid Credits
Workers receive a set number of bid credits per day based on their account tier. Credits refresh daily and can also be earned by watching short sponsored video clips in the Bid Wallet section of the app. Unused daily credits do not roll over, so use them on jobs that genuinely match your skills.
Christopher Mendoza is the Founder of SolidFound, where he leads the platform's mission to connect local labor with reliable work opportunities.