Aplica

Open source alternative to JobCopilot, LazyApply and AIApply

3 stars
MIT
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Nov 1, 2026

Automate job applications in your own browser using a Claude Code plugin that scores roles, fills forms from your profile, and stops at risky steps.

Visit website GitHub3

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Aplica is for#

Technical job seekers on an active search

Job hunters applying to 5 to 20 roles per week can use Aplica to handle repetitive ATS form-filling while keeping all profile data local. The plugin tracks each application in a SQLite database, deduplicates re-posts, and generates per-source metrics for the applications it sends.

Skip if:

If you are applying to fewer than a handful of roles and each board is different enough that form-filling is not repetitive, the setup cost outweighs the benefit for occasional use.

Engineers tracking multiple resume variants

If you keep a backend-focused and a full-stack resume and want to know which lands more interviews, Aplica assigns the best keyword match per role and reports reply rates broken down by variant in the daily status output. You adjust which variant wins by editing the keywords in your config file.

Skip if:

If you have one resume and are not running parallel variants, the variant tracking feature adds no value over a simpler apply flow.

Privacy-conscious applicants who won't use cloud services

Aplica stores your profile, employment history, essay answers, and application database in a local directory on your own machine. Your credentials for job boards stay in your logged-in Chrome session, not in a vendor's database. The trade for this privacy is that you manage your own machine and Claude plan.

Skip if:

If you are comfortable with cloud-based auto-apply services and prefer a managed experience with no local setup, JobCopilot or LazyApply offer that.

Non-technical job seekers who prefer a GUI

The desktop app for Windows and Linux covers the full workflow without a terminal: prerequisite checks, profile form, every toggle, a drag-and-drop pipeline board, and a Run button with live output. The app installs the plugin on first run and verifies Python and Claude in Chrome are present.

Skip if:

The desktop app does not yet support macOS. Mac users must run the plugin directly from Claude Code.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Job hunting at volume means retyping the same information across different ATS forms: your name, contact details, work authorization, and answers to essay questions that vary slightly from one application to the next. At any scale beyond a handful of roles, tracking which applications are open, which resume variant you sent, and which boards produced actual responses becomes a spreadsheet problem that breaks down fast.

Paid auto-apply services address the volume problem by managing your browser remotely and storing your profile on their servers. That means your employment history, resume files, and contact details live on a third-party service, filling forms on your behalf using data they hold. For job seekers who cannot accept that trade, manual tracking is the only fallback.

how Aplica solves it

How it solves it#

Local profile, zero data in repo

Your name, contact details, work authorization, essay answers, and resume files live in a config directory on your own machine (`~/.config/aplica` on Linux, `%APPDATA%\aplica` on Windows), never in the plugin repo. The agent reads from that directory at runtime; nothing is sent to a third-party server.

Ghost-job scoring

Before each role gets an application slot, Aplica runs a ghost-job score that flags evergreen talent pools and stale re-posts. Roles above the configurable `ghost_max` threshold are skipped automatically, so you do not spend a daily application cap on positions that have not been actively filled for months.

Resume variant selection with reply rate tracking

You can keep several resume files in your config directory. For each application, Aplica selects the variant whose keywords best match the job description and records which variant it used. The daily status report breaks down response and interview rates by variant, so you can see which version performs in practice.

Anti-ban posture with immediate CAPTCHA stop

Applications go out one per role, deduplicated, at a human pace with a configurable cadence between 45 and 240 seconds. Social actions (comments, DMs, connections) are off by default and have their own daily caps. On any CAPTCHA, block, or expired sign-in, the plugin stops immediately and logs the event to Notifications with the suggested next step.

Point-and-click desktop cockpit

The desktop app for Windows and Linux gives you onboarding with prerequisite checks, a settings modal for your profile and every toggle, a drag-and-drop pipeline board, a recruiter CRM, and a Run button with live output. The app checks for Python and the Claude in Chrome extension on first run and installs the plugin for you.

Grounded cover letter drafting

The `/aplica-draft cover <id>` command generates a cover letter, follow-up, or interview prep note for one application. Output is grounded in your profile and the recorded job facts only; the plugin rules forbid invented or inflated claims, since a false claim in an application can fail an interview.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

All application data stays on your machineProfile, answers, resume files, and the SQLite application database (`state.db`) all live in your local config directory. Nothing passes through a vendor's cloud; the only network traffic is the job applications themselves and, optionally, a summary email to yourself.
MIT license with no paid tierAplica is free to run without any subscription beyond the Claude plan you already pay for. The MIT license allows commercial use, modification, and distribution without restriction. You own the full stack and can fork or extend the plugin without licensing constraints.
Honest-by-design rules enforced at the plugin levelThe plugin rules forbid inventing or inflating any answer, including cover letters and follow-ups. Forms, letters, and follow-ups use your profile and the recorded job facts only. Anything that would require invented information is flagged for you to handle by hand, rather than auto-submitted with a fabricated answer.
Conservative defaults reduce ban riskSocial features (comments, connections, DMs) are off by default. Daily application caps are set low. The orchestrator applies one role at a time from your own account and IP, matching a human pace. The plugin stops immediately on any CAPTCHA or block, unlike cloud services that may retry from another IP.

Trade-offs

-Requires a paid Claude planAplica runs through Claude in Chrome, which does not work on a free Claude account. A Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise subscription is required. This means the tool is not free to run; the cost floor is the Claude Pro subscription price, in addition to the zero-cost Aplica software itself.
-Desktop app: Windows and Linux onlyThe point-and-click desktop cockpit does not support macOS. The Claude Code plugin works wherever Claude Code runs, but the GUI is limited to Windows and Linux. Mac users must run the plugin directly from a Claude Code session without the onboarding or pipeline board.
-Job board Terms of Service riskLinkedIn, Indeed, and most job boards restrict automated access in their Terms of Service, and any automation can result in a limited or banned account. Aplica's conservative defaults (low caps, human cadence, CAPTCHA stop) lower this risk but do not eliminate it. The repo includes a DISCLAIMER.md that covers this explicitly.
-Early-stage project with low community adoptionThe repository was created in October 2026 and has a small contributor base (3 stars at time of listing). Issues and edge cases that arise in real-world use may not yet have documented fixes or community-sourced workarounds.

versus alternatives

Aplica vs alternatives#

Aplica vs JobCopilot

Both tools automate job applications across multiple boards, but they differ on where your data lives and how the automation runs. JobCopilot is a cloud service: you upload your resume and configure job preferences on their platform, and they run the automation from their servers. Aplica runs from your own machine: your profile stays in a local config directory, and the plugin applies through your own logged-in Chrome session.

Feature	Aplica	JobCopilot
License	MIT	Proprietary (SaaS)
Data residency	Local config directory	Vendor cloud
Browser	Your own Chrome session	Vendor-managed
Pricing	Free (Claude plan required)	Paid subscription
Platforms	Windows, Linux (desktop app)	Browser extension / web

Aplica is the better choice when data privacy matters and you cannot accept uploading your employment history to a third-party service. JobCopilot is worth considering when you want a fully managed experience with no local setup, no Python or Claude plan dependency, and support for macOS.

Aplica vs LazyApply

LazyApply is a browser extension that automates job applications on LinkedIn, Indeed, and other boards. Like JobCopilot, it is a proprietary service that manages the application process through its own infrastructure.

Feature	Aplica	LazyApply
License	MIT	Proprietary
Data residency	Local only	Vendor cloud
Resume variants	Multiple, with per-variant reply rate	Limited
Open source	Yes	No
Pricing	Free (Claude plan required)	Paid subscription

LazyApply is easier to start with: install the browser extension and it is ready without Python or a Claude plan. Aplica has more setup but keeps your data local and tracks which resume variant produces responses. LazyApply is the better fit when you want a quick start with no local dependencies; Aplica is the better fit when you want full data ownership and per-variant performance tracking.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Download the Windows installer (.exe) or Linux package (.AppImage or .deb) from GitHub Releases: https://github.com/eurafaeldecarvalho/aplica/releases/latest

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: PythonTypeScript
Frameworks: ElectronReact

frequently asked

FAQ#

Does using Aplica risk getting my LinkedIn or Indeed account banned?

Yes, it carries risk. LinkedIn and most job boards restrict automated access in their Terms of Service, and any automation can result in a limited or banned account. Aplica's defaults are conservative: social actions off, low daily caps, human cadence, immediate stop on any CAPTCHA or block. That reduces but does not eliminate the risk. The repo includes DISCLAIMER.md with a full breakdown; read it and decide for yourself before running a round.

Does my profile data leave my computer?

No. Your profile, answers, resume files, and application database live in a local config directory (~/.config/aplica on Linux, %APPDATA%\aplica on Windows). The only data that leaves your machine is the job applications you submit and, optionally, a summary email to yourself. What the agent sends to Claude to fill a form goes through your own Claude session, the same as any Claude Code prompt.

What does it cost to run Aplica?

Aplica is free and MIT licensed. The only cost is the Claude plan required to run it: a paid Claude Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise subscription. The free Claude tier does not support Claude in Chrome, which is what the plugin uses to operate your browser. Beyond the Claude subscription you already pay, there is no additional fee.

Does it work for non-engineering roles?

Yes. The target profile is entirely config-based: job titles to search, required and excluded stack terms, accepted markets, and work mode preferences. The shipped example uses a backend engineering template; you replace it with your own titles and filters. The desktop app provides a settings form for this without editing JSON directly.

Can I run it without using Claude Code directly?

Yes, through the desktop app for Windows and Linux. The desktop cockpit handles onboarding, fills in your profile through a settings modal, exposes every toggle, and provides a Run button that starts the plugin. You do not need to open a Claude Code session manually. The app also checks for Python and the Claude in Chrome extension on first launch and installs the plugin for you.

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Aplica vs JobCopilot

Feature	Aplica	JobCopilot
License	MIT	Proprietary (SaaS)
Data residency	Local config directory	Vendor cloud
Browser	Your own Chrome session	Vendor-managed
Pricing	Free (Claude plan required)	Paid subscription
Platforms	Windows, Linux (desktop app)	Browser extension / web

Aplica vs LazyApply

Feature	Aplica	LazyApply
License	MIT	Proprietary
Data residency	Local only	Vendor cloud
Resume variants	Multiple, with per-variant reply rate	Limited
Open source	Yes	No
Pricing	Free (Claude plan required)	Paid subscription

Who Aplica is for#

Technical job seekers on an active search

Skip if:

Engineers tracking multiple resume variants

Skip if:

Privacy-conscious applicants who won't use cloud services

Skip if:

Non-technical job seekers who prefer a GUI

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Local profile, zero data in repo

Ghost-job scoring

Resume variant selection with reply rate tracking

Anti-ban posture with immediate CAPTCHA stop

Point-and-click desktop cockpit

Grounded cover letter drafting

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Aplica vs alternatives#

Aplica vs JobCopilot

Aplica vs LazyApply

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

AI & Machine Learning

Business & Productivity

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who Aplica is for#

Technical job seekers on an active search

Skip if:

Engineers tracking multiple resume variants

Skip if:

Privacy-conscious applicants who won't use cloud services

Skip if:

Non-technical job seekers who prefer a GUI

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Local profile, zero data in repo

Ghost-job scoring

Resume variant selection with reply rate tracking

Anti-ban posture with immediate CAPTCHA stop

Point-and-click desktop cockpit

Grounded cover letter drafting

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Aplica vs alternatives#

Aplica vs JobCopilot

Aplica vs LazyApply

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

AI & Machine Learning

Business & Productivity

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software