We've tested and compared the leading recruitment CRMs to help you find the right fit for your agency. Our research focused on real-world usability, pricing, and feedback from recruiters who use these tools daily.
Recruitment Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are essential for modern talent acquisition, but choosing the right platform can be challenging for growing organizations. Unlike generic CRMs, recruitment-specific platforms must manage two parallel workflows: nurturing candidate relationships while tracking client requirements.
Our evaluation included hands-on testing and direct feedback from talent acquisition teams. We prioritized platforms that effectively handle candidate sourcing, pipeline management, and client relationship tracking. This guide highlights the best recruitment CRM software that actually helps you hire faster, keep your talent pool engaged, and understand your recruiting progress.
Software | Rating | Best For | Deployment | Key Features | Starting Price | Review | Action |
Greenhouse (Editor’s Choice) | 4.4/5 | Growing companies and large enterprises | Cloud | Talent Sourcing, Candidate Experience | Custom pricing | Read Detailed Greenhouse Review | View Demo
|
HubSpot | 4.6/5 | Small and mid-sized agencies | Cloud | Email Campaigns, Customer Support | Starting at $50/month | Read Detailed HubSpot Review
| View Demo
|
Pipedrive | 4.4/5 | Small businesses | Cloud | Leads Inbox, Customizable Dashboards | Starting at $24/seat/month | Read Detailed Pipedrive Review | View Demo |
Gem | 4.3/5 | Businesses of all sizes | Cloud | Forecasting and Planning, Diversity Recruiting | Starting at $139/user/month | Read Detailed Gem Review
| View Demo |
SmartRecruiters | 4.2/5 | Growing enterprises | Cloud | Conversational AI Chat, AI Talent Matching | Starting at $14,995 | Read Detailed SmartRecruiters Review
| View Demo |
Loxo | 4.6/5 | Small businesses and growing agencies | Cloud | Candidate Sourcing, Contact Data | Starting at $209/user/month (Free plan available) | Read Detailed Loxo Review
| View Demo |
Nimble | 4.5/5 | Solopreneurs, small recruiting teams, marketing-focused agencies | Cloud | Contact Management, Sales Intelligence, | $29.90/seat/month | Read Detailed Nimble Review
| View Demo |
Bullhorn | 3.7/5 | Businesses of all sizes | Cloud | ATS, Email Integration | Starting at $99 | Read Detailed Bullhorn Review
| View Demo |
iCIMS | 4.3/5 | Businesses of all sizes | Cloud | Employee Onboarding, Candidate Relationship | Starting at $9,000 | Read Detailed iCIMS Review | View Demo |
1. Greenhouse (Editor’s Choice)
Greenhouse software is one of the best recruitment CRM software built for growing companies and enterprise hiring teams. It combines applicant tracking, structured interviews, and AI-based tools to manage sourcing, evaluations, and onboarding. This focused approach makes it a strong choice for organizations that prioritize consistent, data-driven hiring at scale.
Pros | Cons |
User-friendly and easy to navigate for recruiters and hiring managers Integrates well with a wide range of other HR and business tools Excellent customer support, responsive and helpful Offers many great features for the entire hiring process | Some users dislike the new user interface, finding it less intuitive Limited automated email campaign functionality |
Best For:
Growing companies and large enterprises that need a structured, data-backed hiring process.
Key Features:
- Talent Sourcing
- Candidate Experience
- Scalable Workflows
- Interviewing And Decision-Making
- Onboarding
- Reporting And Insights
Pricing:
The vendor offers three pricing plans with custom pricing. The plans are:
- Essential
- Advanced
- Expert
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Greenhouse is the clear choice for established companies that treat hiring as a core business strategy. Its core features make it ideal for mid-to-large enterprises needing a consistent process to ensure quality and fairness. Greenhouse remains the industry benchmark for organizations aiming to build a scalable, top-tier hiring process.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.4/5 based on user reviews on our site. Users praise Greenhouse for its intuitive interface, strong reporting, and effective recruiting funnel management, though some note occasional technical display issues.
2. HubSpot
HubSpot CRM software is a recruiting-focused tool designed for staffing and recruiting teams. It helps organizations track candidates, manage pipelines, and maintain detailed interaction histories, making it easier to match talent with client needs. This makes it well-suited for agencies aiming to improve placement efficiency and leverage recruitment data for actionable insights.
Pros | Cons |
Clean and organized user interface Great at tracking relationships individual customer interactions Intuitive features streamline task management and workflows | Limited analytics and dashboard customization options Data migration processes can result in prolonged system downtime |
Best For:
Small and mid-sized businesses requiring organized candidate tracking and efficient pipeline management.
Key Features:
- Email Campaigns
- Customer Support
- Insight Tools
- Leads
- Meeting Scheduling
Pricing:
HubSpot offers three pricing tiers for its Smart CRM, which is based on a base-fee-plus-per-seat model, including:
- Smart CRM Professional - $50/month (includes 1 core seat)
- Smart CRM Enterprise - $75/month (includes 1 core seat)
HubSpot also provides free basic tools to get started, available for up to two users.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
HubSpot CRM excels for small to mid-sized organizations, prioritizing ease of use and organized contact management. Its intuitive design and free entry point make it a practical launchpad for firms to establish their processes. For teams needing a straightforward system to track candidate relationships efficiently, it's a reliable starting point.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.6/5 based on user reviews on our site. Users praise HubSpot CRM for its ease of use, effective contact tracking, and helpful customer support, though some users note setup complexity.
3. Pipedrive
Pipedrive CRM is a recruiting CRM built for staffing and recruiting teams to manage candidate pipelines and track hiring progress. It helps recruiters organize applicant data, schedule follow-ups, and monitor every stage of recruitment. This makes it ideal for small agencies focused on improving placement efficiency.
Pros | Cons |
Provides a simplified search engine tool Keeps all aspects of a client in one spot Users laud the kanban style deal interface with the ‘Rot’ feature | Some users suggest that its filter options could be better Reporting feels limited for in-depth analytics |
Best For:
Small businesses looking for a visual CRM with automation and diverse integration.
Key Features:
- Leads Inbox
- Customizable Dashboards
- Revenue Forecasting
- Smart Contact Data
- Deal Rotting
Pricing:
The platform provides multiple pricing tiers designed for businesses seeking to scale their hiring operations. These include:
- Lite - $24/seat/month
- Growth - $49/seat/month
- Premium - $79/seat/month
- Ultimate - $99/seat/month
It also offers a 14-day free trial.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Pipedrive offers a focused solution for small recruiting teams who need clarity in their pipeline management. The platform's visual approach and predictable pricing structure make it particularly suitable for growth-focused agencies that need to track candidate progress efficiently without administrative complexity.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.4/5 based on user reviews on our site. Users appreciate Pipedrive’s clean interface, visual sales pipeline, and automation tools that simplify lead tracking and follow-ups. However, some mention limited reporting depth and the absence of built-in marketing tools.
4. Gem
Gem recruiting addresses a critical recruiting challenge: keeping track of candidates across every stage, from active prospects to passive candidates to previous applicants. This platform is built for staffing and in-house teams to nurture these candidates, re-engage them when relevant, and document every interaction. This systematic approach converts a scattered network into a structured, actionable pipeline.
Pros | Cons |
Simplifies and automates the candidate sourcing process Responsive and helpful customer support team Gain insights with detailed analytics and reporting | Occasional issues with integrating Gem Recruiting with other tools Dashboard creation can be slow and cumbersome |
Best For:
Businesses of all sizes needing an AI-first CRM to source and nurture candidates.
Key Features:
- Forecasting And Planning
- Diversity Recruiting
- Campus And Events
- Candidate Experience
Pricing:
Gem offers the following pricing plans with a 7-day free trial:
- Essentials - $139/user/month
- Professional - $199/user/month
- Enterprise - Custom pricing
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Gem is the clear choice for recruiting teams focused on building relationships, not just filling roles. It excels at turning a wide network of contacts into an organized talent pipeline. This makes it valuable for agencies of all sizes and in-house teams that prioritize long-term candidate engagement.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.3/5 based on user reviews on our site. Users commend Gem for its easy setup, reliable reporting, and strong collaboration tools that simplify team workflows. However, some mention that project filtering and dashboard customization could be more flexible for advanced reporting needs.
5. SmartRecruiters
For enterprises managing constant hiring cycles, SmartRecruiters provides a unified solution to build talent pools proactively. Its integrated module allows large talent acquisition teams to move beyond reactive hiring by creating and nurturing dedicated talent communities all within their primary recruiting platform.
Pros | Cons |
Quick, seamless implementation that scales across multiple branches Strong candidate management tools for high-volume recruitment Broad job board integrations for wider talent reach | Notifications are limited mainly to hiring managers Self-scheduling feature could be improved |
Best For:
Growing enterprises and global organizations managing large-scale, continuous recruitment needs.
Key Features:
- Conversational AI Chat
- AI Talent Matching Engine
- AI-Powered Candidate Screening
- AI-Powered Hiring Agent
- Applicant Tracking (ATS)
Pricing:
The SmartRecruiters pricing structure is organized into tiered plans designed to cater specific needs of businesses. These plans are:
- Essential - Starts at $14,995
- Professional - Custom pricing
- High Volume - Custom pricing
- Complete - Custom pricing
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
SmartRecruiters works best for large companies with high-volume recruiting across multiple offices. For enterprises needing a single, powerful system to manage their entire global hiring process, it's a strong and practical choice.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.2/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users commend SmartRecruiters for its intuitive interface and easy multi-branch implementation, though some report time-consuming manual resume uploads and occasional document orientation issues.
6. Loxo
Loxo equips recruiters with a searchable talent database, automated outreach, and real-time analytics to build strong pipelines. It provides executive search firms, staffing agencies, and in-house teams with a searchable talent intelligence hub, automated multi-channel outreach, and real-time pipeline analytics.
Pros | Cons |
Constant innovation and regular introduction of new features Strong focus on AI for recruitment Streamlined tech stack, reducing the need for multiple tools | Duplicate candidate profiles are created when applying to multiple jobs Occasional syncing delays with emails and texts |
Best For:
Small businesses and growing agencies focused on scaling talent pipelines while maintaining enterprise-grade data security.
Key Features:
- Candidate Sourcing
- Contact Data
- Outreach
- Recruiting CRM
- Application Tracking System (ATS)
- Sales CRM
Pricing:
The Loxo pricing model is organized into four structured plans, each designed to meet the unique needs of recruiting agencies and in-house talent teams.
- Free - $0 (free forever)
- Basic - $209/user/month
- Professional - Custom pricing
- Enterprise - Custom pricing
It also offers a 7-day free trial.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Loxo eliminates the friction of juggling multiple recruiting tools by consolidating sourcing, candidate management, and communication into a single interface. For executive search firms and growing recruiting teams, that integration means faster workflows and fewer missed follow-ups. However, its premium pricing positions it best for firms with enough volume and process discipline to extract full value from an integrated system.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.6/5 based on multiple user reviews. Users appreciate Loxo's all-in-one package and effective outreach tools, though many report outdated AI sourcing, challenging pipeline management, and email integration issues.
7. Nimble
Nimble helps staffing and talent acquisition (TA) teams manage candidates, track pipelines, and enrich data from sources like LinkedIn. This makes it ideal for small firms seeking a single source of truth for all their recruiting relationships. The result is a more organized, proactive, and effective recruiting operation.
Pros | Cons |
The group messaging feature keeps organization connected with customers Updates and syncs data automatically Tracks and manages sales pipeline efficiently Effective timesheet tracking and scheduling | Limited storage for saving and organizing tasks Menus lack simple and clear navigation |
Best For:
Solopreneurs, small recruiting teams, and marketing-focused agencies needing a simple way to organize candidate and client information.
Key Features:
- Contact Management
- Sales Intelligence
- Engagement Platform
Pricing:
Nimble offers a single CRM plan priced at $29.90/seat/month. This makes it an affordable option for recruitment agencies and small staffing teams looking to manage candidate and client relationships efficiently.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Nimble provides an affordable, straightforward hub for solopreneurs and small recruiting teams managing both candidate and client relationships. Its simplicity and fixed pricing deliver exactly what small agencies need without unnecessary complexity.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.5/5 based on user reviews on our site. Users praise Nimble for its intuitive interface, group messaging, and easy tracking features, though some note a complex email structure and limited customization options.
8. Bullhorn
Bullhorn CRM helps agencies run their staffing business from one place. It simplifies how you track candidates, communicate with clients, and manage the daily workflow. It's a solid choice for a global enterprise but also scales well for a small team. This makes it a practical and growth-ready choice.
Pros | Cons |
Mobile-friendly with progressive features Effective applicant tracking and reporting tools available Customization of detailed tear sheets and distribution lists Multiple options for dashboard setup | Workflow is occasionally disrupted by errors Unable to hide email templates from users Adding multiple jobs can be time-consuming |
Best For:
Businesses of all sizes, from small teams to global enterprises, requiring a scalable and growth-ready CRM.
Key Features:
- Applicant Tracking System
- Customer Relationship Management
- Email Integration
Pricing:
Bullhorn provides multiple modules designed to meet the needs of recruitment teams. Its key module, Bullhorn ATS & CRM, starts at $99, offering essential tools to manage candidates, clients, and placements effectively.
Other than that, Bullhorn Recruitment Cloud involves the following plans with custom pricing for each:
- Bullhorn ATS
- Bullhorn Front Office
- Bullhorn Workforce Edition
- Bullhorn 360
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Bullhorn works well for staffing agencies and TA teams that need one system to manage both candidates and clients. It handles the needs of large enterprises but remains accessible for smaller teams. It works well for organizations looking for a single, scalable platform to run their recruitment management.
User Ratings:
Rated 3.7/5 based on user reviews on our site. Users praise Bullhorn for its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and strong candidate management features, though some note limited integrations, mobile app limitations, and occasional clunky CV viewing.
9. iCIMS
ICIMS software provides enterprise-grade recruitment CRM, built to meet the complex demands of talent acquisition teams of all sizes. It enables organizations to systematically find, engage, and nurture talent within a structured hiring framework. This makes it a solid platform for building talent pipelines and bolstering the candidate's experience on a scale.
Pros | Cons |
Robust customer support Easy to set up Effective talent tracking for requisitions Robust suite of tools Cloud-based accessibility | Search functionality needs improvement Report generation can be improved for a user-friendly experience |
Best For:
Businesses of all sizes requiring candidate engagement and hiring management across industries.
Key Features:
- Employee Onboarding
- Candidate Relationship Management
- SkillSurvey
- Text Engagement
- Advanced Analytics
Pricing:
iCIMS pricing is structured annually based on company size:
- 1–100 employees: $9,000
- 101–250 employees: $11,500
- 251–500 employees: $15,000
- 501–1,000 employees: $24,000
- 1,000–2,500 employees: $55,000
- 2,500–5,000 employees: $80,000
- 5,000+ employees: $140,000 and up
Disclaimer: The pricing is sourced from third-party sites and is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
iCIMS works well for established companies that need to manage large-scale, organized hiring processes. Its structure suits regulated industries and organizations where consistent hiring practices are important. This platform fits businesses with complex recruitment needs that require a systematic approach to talent acquisition.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.3/5 based on user reviews on our site. Users praise iCIMS for its organized candidate tracking, ease of application management, and overall reliability, though some note excessive application steps and mobile usability issues.
For recruitment teams, a CRM is the main engine of business. It needs to manage both candidate and client relationships with equal strength. Below, we outline the key factors to consider when selecting the best recruitment software to manage your candidate pipeline and client relationships effectively.
How To Choose The Right Recruitment CRM For Your Agency
Look for a platform that understands how a recruitment agency truly works. You need a system that helps you find candidates quickly, automates follow-ups, and shows you exactly where every placement stands. It should also give you clear reports on the most important numbers, such as how long it takes to fill a role and your placement success rate.
Make sure it can grow with you, easily handling more candidates and users. Pay close attention to how the vendor charges per-user fees. Before committing, go through reviews about the system's reliability and the technical proficiency of its customer support team.
What Not To Overlook
- Dual pipeline management for candidates and clients
- Automated communication logging for all interactions
- Job board and LinkedIn integrations
- Placement and commission tracking
- Full-featured mobile access for recruiters