Hand picked by our HR Technology experts after product testing, user research, and much debate - enjoy!
The best software for staffing and recruiting are designed to streamline your recruiting processes. On the last business day of December 2020, there were 6.6 million job openings in the US as the COVID-19 vaccination plan began to roll out. According to a CareerBuilder study, 77% of millennial clients plan to increase utilization of staffing companies over the coming years. As a result, staffing and recruiting agencies have a lot on their plates!
68% of professionals say the best way to improve recruiting performance is to utilize tech. Therefore, we put together this list of the best staffing agency software, complete with benefits, use cases, pricing, ROI, pitfalls, and more so you can stay ahead of the competition using SaaS.
We take research seriously. To make sure we’re offering our readers the very best solutions in a given software category, we are methodical, rigorous, and expansive in our research. We consult with HR professionals, vendors, and industry experts. We cut through the noise to bring you a carefully curated list of vendors, along with other essential information, to help you find the right software platform for your business.
Here’s how we chose who makes the cut:
Product: We believe in gaining a comprehensive understanding of a product before we recommend it, so we start by getting to know the software. Whenever possible, we meet with a senior executive (CEO or Head of Product) for a demo and Q&A. We also test the product ourselves to make sure it has a solid UI, intuitive workflows, and the features to make it a best-in-class offering.
User feedback: We go straight to the source and compile feedback on user experience. Real-world input supports our commitment to diligence in our software evaluation methods and the products we recommend. Keeping up with the everyday experience of HR pros also puts new vendors on our radar, and it keeps us close to our community so we can better connect the right products to the right people.
Financial metrics: We are certified finance nerds, so we use all the data we can get our hands on to make selections for our guides. We comb through data for concrete statistics like retention rates, growth, profitability, and scalability. We evaluate the bottom line of each product because we know making a software purchase can put your reputation on the line.
Best for a use case: Software is never a one-size-fits-all product. Sometimes the best solution is free or cheap. Other times it’s the one that is best for global companies or the one that’s sized right for early-stage startups. Keeping this in mind, we include solutions across the spectrum so our readers can find the best fit for their unique needs.
Here's more detail if you want to read more about how we research vendors. Our dedicated staff writers rely on hard data, impartial experts, and user feedback to ensure our reviews are helpful, truthful, and hopefully a pleasure to read!
We track thousands of HR Tech solutions. Here are the best staffing agency software solutions of 2022.
Why we love it
:
Not only does Manatal cover most of the features you’d expect from a budget-friendly ATS, the platform tops that off with CRM features, including email campaigns and revenue tracking dashboards.
Manatal
Review:
Manatal is a budget-friendly ATS that’s got candidate/customer relationship management (CRM) features built-in. It allows companies to customize pipelines that track the progress made with prospects, from initial contact to contract. It also offers a LinkedIn chrome extension to quickly connect with and save prospects’ contact info, and email integration for communication with those prospects, as well as sending them automated responses and mass campaigns.
To track the performance of your CRM efforts, Manatal offers detailed candidate placement and revenue tracking dashboards, letting you know how many candidates were successfully hired and how much money is coming in from clients.
Manatal
Customers:
Manatal is used in over 100 countries. Their customer list includes Unilever, Cocacola, Panasonic, Ogilvy, and Toyota.
Manatal is used in over 100 countries. Their customer list includes Unilever, Cocacola, Panasonic, Ogilvy, and Toyota.
Manatal
Pricing:
Manatal has two plans with fixed pricing. When Billed annually, they cost as follows:
Note:
Manatal has two plans with fixed pricing. When Billed annually, they cost as follows:
Note:
Best For
Manatal is used by organizations of all sizes across different industries, but it’s worth noting that the ball-park of their customers are SMEs.
Why we love it
:
CEIPAL ATS & CRM is a what’s-what of recruiting agency software, with all the ATS and CRM functions you expect plus numerous integrations and AI capabilities.
CEIPAL ATS & CRM
Review:
CEIPAL ATS & CRM is a cost-efficient staffing ATS with customizable dashboards, AI capabilities, and numerous integrations. CEIPAL stands out with a credit system of controlling job ad spend. Recruiters are given a certain amount of credits on a set timeline, and once they are out, they can’t spend anymore until the timeline is up. This saves your company a little extra money while ensuring recruiters aren’t relying on ads alone.
CEIPAL ATS & CRM
Customers:
Some of the notable customers that use CEIPAL are The Agency and Quality Staffing of America.
Some of the notable customers that use CEIPAL are The Agency and Quality Staffing of America.
CEIPAL ATS & CRM
Pricing:
CEIPAL ATS & CRM starts at $120 per month for teams of 5 recruiters or smaller. For a team of 50, it will cost $1050 per month. Teams of 100 pay $1900 a month. Teams of 150+ must contact sales for pricing. You’ll save 5% if you choose to be billed annually.
CEIPAL ATS & CRM starts at $120 per month for teams of 5 recruiters or smaller. For a team of 50, it will cost $1050 per month. Teams of 100 pay $1900 a month. Teams of 150+ must contact sales for pricing. You'll save 5% if you choose to be billed annually.
Best For
Why we love it
:
Bullhorn is an all-encompassing staffing solution, from applicant tracking to onboarding to back end recruiter management.
Bullhorn
Review:
Bullhorn is a well-known name in staffing software that focuses on the entire recruiting lifecycle from sourcing passive candidates to onboarding. Bullhorn even has additional functionality for operations personnel at staffing firms. Such features include timesheet management, expense and commission tracking, and invoicing modules.
Bullhorn
Customers:
Bullhorn
Pricing:
Bullhorn has four price plans, Team, Corporate, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus.
Pricing is determined by the number of users that want access to the system. You must request a pricing quote from Bullhorn for specific details.
Bullhorn has four price plans, Team, Corporate, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus.
Pricing is determined by the number of users that want access to the system. You must request a pricing quote from Bullhorn for specific details.
Best For
Bullhorn is best for large staffing firms who can make use of its entire product suite.
Why we love it
:
Zoho Recruit is an easy-to-use recruiting agency software that offers a free-forever version.
Zoho Recruit
Review:
Zoho Recruit’s simple user interface is infinitely customizable, allowing a staffing agency, for instance, to easily modify it to suit your needs. For an additional fee, you have access to their unique Client Portal, where your clients can actually create jobs, review candidates, and send feedback themselves, saving your team extra time.
Zoho Recruit
Customers:
Bosch, Deloitte, Saint-Gobain, PWC, Allianz
Bosch, Deloitte, Saint-Gobain, PWC, Allianz
Zoho Recruit
Pricing:
Zoho Recruit has three paid plans on top of the free plan.
The client portal and video interview modules are what’s available as add-ons. Zoho Recruit also has a 15-day free trial, as well as a free-forever version. The free version has limited features and only 1 active job at a time.
Zoho Recruit has three paid plans on top of the free plan.
The client portal and video interview modules are what’s available as add-ons. Zoho Recruit also has a 15-day free trial, as well as a free-forever version. The free version has limited features and only 1 active job at a time.
Best For
Zoho Recruit is perfect for large and small companies of various industries that use premium and niche job boards to give them an edge over competitors. It is also worth considering for smaller recruiting firms, but also has tons of functionality that enterprise companies would value. Of course, any company wanting a free ATS that can integrate with the rest of their tech stack would be wise to consider them.
Why we love it
:
JobAdder’s applicant tracking system is incredibly user-friendly, with customizable workflows and built-in job posting.
JobAdder
Review:
JobAdder is a popular applicant tracking system in the UK and Australia. The platform is a streamlined recruitment management platform, which encompasses the entire recruiting lifecycle. Job seekers will appreciate social network-style candidate functionalities where they can update their status, job title, contact details, and preferences.
JobAdder
Customers:
MacDonald Search Group, Revel, Westwood & Wilshire
MacDonald Search Group, Revel, Westwood & Wilshire
JobAdder
Pricing:
Best For
Staffing agencies or big in-house recruiting teams looking for an end-to-end recruitment system.
Why we love it
:
Avionté provides a robust end-to-end recruitment and staffing solution, specifically for IT staffing.
Avionté
Review:
Avionté is a great choice for staffing agencies looking for one comprehensive solution for their entire recruiting cycle. By partnering with Avionté, you’ll get an ATS, CRM, payroll & billing platform, sourcing tool, and onboarding solution.
Avionté is very customer-centric, providing free training resources and even a yearly conference called Avionté CONNECT.
Avionté
Customers:
TEEMA Solutions Group Inc., David Aplin Group Recruiting Solutions, Integrity Staffing
TEEMA Solutions Group Inc., David Aplin Group Recruiting Solutions, Integrity Staffing
Avionté
Pricing:
Best For
IT staffing companies looking for an end-to-end solution.
Why we love it
:
Gem gathers data from tools that recruitment teams use on a day-to-day basis, such as LinkedIn InMail, ATS, and email, and combines it into a single talent management hub that automates candidate sourcing and engagement while providing detailed insights to support and optimize your recruiting strategy.
Gem
Review:
Gem is primarily a talent engagement platform with features to support talent sourcing, candidate outreach, and recruitment pipeline management. Staffing agencies will find Gem especially useful for volume hiring as it allows you to build a current and comprehensive database that you can tap into to make placements for a variety of roles across industries. Further, since follow-ups, reminders, and reports can be automated, the entire hiring process becomes quicker and more streamlined.
Gem
Customers:
Coinbase, Slack, Asana, Dropbox, Lyft, Indeed, Pinterest, and Doordash
Coinbase, Slack, Asana, Dropbox, Lyft, Indeed, Pinterest, and Doordash
Gem
Pricing:
The cost of Gem's services is based on the size of your recruitment team, the number of hires, and other factors like custom ATS integrations. You can reach out to their sales team for a quote.
The cost of Gem's services is based on the size of your recruitment team, the number of hires, and other factors like custom ATS integrations. You can reach out to their sales team for a quote.
Best For
Gem is best suited for large enterprises and staffing agencies that need to hire more employees in a short time period.
Why we love it
:
Loxo boasts the world's largest talent pool of 530+ million people in their proprietary directory.
Loxo
Review:
Loxo promises to make your team a “hiring machine”. Their AI-powered solutions can cut time-to-hire by up to 80%. Powerful automation tools bookend the entire recruiting process, from sourcing and outreach to candidate relationship management.
Loxo
Customers:
Sanford Rose Associates Executive Search, Ranstad
Amazon, Randstad, Cigna, Lockton, Onpartners, CT Assist
Loxo
Pricing:
Loxo has two versions, free and premium.
The Free version comes with an ATS, recruiting CRM, and basic sourcing tools all for one user. The Premium version adds advanced sourcing tools, API, training & coaching resources, and dedicated customer support.
If you’re interested in the Premium version, you would have to contact a sales rep for more specific pricing details.
Best For
Executive search companies and mid to large-sized companies hiring at a high volume.
Why we love it
:
Recruit CRM has one of the best search functionalities for this product category. For instance, you can perform boolean searches and even a “radius search”, powered by Google Maps, to search for clients, candidates, and jobs all within a specific radius of any location.
Recruit CRM
Review:
Recruit CRM is a two-in-one software that combines an applicant tracking system (ATS) with customer relationship management (CRM). With the ATS features, you can source talent and build a solid candidate pipeline, making your recruitment process more proactive. Their CRM features, on the other hand, help you manage and collaborate with your clients to meet expectations.
Recruit CRM
Customers:
Hays International, Volkswagen, Hire Power Consulting, Dot Recruitment, Talent Source Japan, Blue Recruiting, NPAG
Hays International, Volkswagen, Hire Power Consulting, Dot Recruitment, Talent Source Japan, Blue Recruiting, NPAG
Recruit CRM
Pricing:
Recruit CRM offers three paid price plans, depending on the size of your agency, and a free plan. Their least expensive plan, Team, is best for recruitment agencies that are just starting out, typically those with 2- 15 employees. It has an ideal amount of clients and candidates you can add, and all the bells and whistles of applicant tracking and customer relationship management. However, some features like API access and access control are absent.
Then we have the mid-tier plan, Business. This one is more expensive and is ideal for already established firms (15 - 45 employees). The next price plan, which is the Enterprise plan, is a custom solution. It is best for big agencies with 100+ recruiters.
Here is a breakdown of how their prices compare:
Recruit CRM offers three paid price plans, depending on the size of your agency, and a free plan. Their least expensive plan, Team, is best for recruitment agencies that are just starting out, typically those with 2- 15 employees. It has an ideal amount of clients and candidates you can add, and all the bells and whistles of applicant tracking and customer relationship management. However, some features like API access and access control are absent.
Then we have the mid-tier plan, Business. This one is more expensive and is ideal for already established firms (15 - 45 employees). The next price plan, which is the Enterprise plan, is a custom solution. It is best for big agencies with 100+ recruiters.
Here is a breakdown of how their prices compare:
Best For
Though they have the capacity to accommodate as many as 100+ recruiters, Recruit CRM is best suited for small to medium-sized recruitment agencies— firms that have about 3 - 100 employees.
Why we love it
:
Odro is the primordial video recruitment software product for staffing firms. While their solution fits many other types of businesses, they have substantial experience with recruiting agencies.
Odro
Review:
Odro can cover nearly all of a staffing or recruiting agency’s video needs. This has been tremendously helpful for recruiting firms that want to stand out through video content, which they’ve found tends to be more engaging than traditional recruitment efforts.
Their platform has three main elements to it. The first is called Capture, which is for video sales messaging. The second one is Producer, which is an easy-to-use video editing suite. Finally, there is Vision, which is for live and asynchronous video interviewing.
Odro
Customers:
Odro is not only used by staffing agencies. Their product is used to create, manage, and share videos by companies like Adecco, Advantage Group, CastUK, Barclay Meade, Robert Walters, Strive Sales, and Theo James.
Odro is not only used by staffing agencies. Their product is used to create, manage, and share videos by companies like Adecco, Advantage Group, CastUK, Barclay Meade, Robert Walters, Strive Sales, and Theo James.
Odro
Pricing:
Odro is priced per user, but the fee varies depending on the volume of users and the length of the agreement. Most companies sign up for a 24 or 36 month commitment, although they do accept 12.
Odro is priced per user, but the fee varies depending on the volume of users and the length of the agreement. Most companies sign up for a 24 or 36 month commitment, although they do accept 12.
Best For
Staffing and recruiting agencies that want to give their sourcing efforts an edge; mostly UK-based, but also in Australia, the US, Canada, Germany, Spain, and LATAM.
If you’re on this page, chances are you either work for a staffing company or a third-party recruiting firm. Therefore, your goal is to source, interview, and hire the best talent for your client or organization.
However, recruiting is more than just finding and hiring candidates. Staffing agencies and recruiting teams have many more responsibilities that software can streamline. Here’s a list of use cases for recruiting agency solutions that span the entire process:
The most important pitfall to avoid when using recruiting agency software is over-reliance. If you’re a recruiter, you likely got into the line of work because you like helping people. Technology is supposed to aid that process, not take it over.
Candidate experience should be valued over everything else. If your only communication with a qualified candidate is through automated text messages, you’re probably not using your software correctly. Recruiting agency software will streamline the tedious tasks in your recruiting process. By doing so, it creates more time for you to directly interact with candidates. You’ll put more emphasis on building relationships and providing an enjoyable experience for job seekers.
When using recruiting agency software, you’re likely to get a few returns on investment.
Firstly, you’ll have access to larger talent pools. Some solutions have huge candidate pools already in-house for you. Others have AI sourcing tools that can pull data directly from social media and job boards. Either way, you’ll have access to tons of talent with the click of a button.
Consequently, you’ll see a faster time-to-fill. Having access to lots of candidates means you can nurture relationships with more people, creating a warm talent pipeline. A warm talent pipeline translates into quick transitions from job interest to hired.
As an overall result, you’ll save valuable time and effort in your process. Through the use of AI sourcing, candidate relationship management, and data & analytics tracking, your recruiters will be better equipped to do their jobs. Gone are the days of tedious, time-consuming tasks. Recruiters can focus on what they do best— working with talent.
The software solutions on our shortlist are all priced on a per user per month basis. Expect to pay anywhere from about $20 per user per month on the low end to $75 per user per month on the high end. Additional features and implementation fees may apply as well.
Assuming you’re looking for the middle-of-the-road solution price wise, here’s a rough estimate of cost broken down by the number of users:
Recruiting agency software is typically an end-to-end solution. This means it covers everything in the recruiting pipeline; sourcing, applying, screening, interviewing, offering, hiring, and onboarding.
This means that when you purchase a recruiting software solution, you’re actually getting multiple tools in one. These usually include:
Here are some important questions to ask when demoing staffing software:
These are just some examples. Think about your specific use case, and build out specific questions from there.
Recruitment agency software is any type of platform that helps recruitment agencies source, track, and interview potential hires for their clients.
Recruitment agencies will find many types of software useful, including applicant tracking systems, sourcing tools, candidate databases, CRMs, interview scheduling software, background check software, and timesheet, commission, and expense tracking.
Recruitment agency software can cost anywhere from about $20 per user per month to $75 per user per month on the high end.
Recruiting agency software can be incredibly useful because it houses everything you need in a single hub. However, that can sometimes be a detriment. While we believe that the vendors on this page are excellent, that doesn’t mean they are excellent for you. In fact, they may be extraneous.
If your recruiting company has a lot of success with your current ATS, then maybe look into purchasing AI sourcing tools. If you already have great sourcing tools, maybe you just need a staffing CRM/ATS hybrid.
In the end, make sure you’re paying for features that you are going to use instead of piling more on just because they’re offered in a bundle. Don’t be afraid to negotiate and/or reconsider in order to get the specific functionality you need. If you need additional help, check out our ebook on how to get the best price in HR tech, featuring strategies and expert advice.
Stay on top of what really matters in HR and People Tech. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up on the latest news, trends, and culture.