5 Best iCIMS Alternatives for All Business Types
Discover about the best iCIMS alternatives and competitors that can take your recruitment process to the next level with cutting-edge features and cost-effective solutions.
Recruitment software’s a proper game-changer for businesses trying to sort out their hiring without all the faff. It’s brill for speeding things up, making the candidate experience less of a chore, and using data to nail better hires. Companies typically seek this when they’re frustrated with slow processes, aim to reduce hiring time, or need to manage large volumes of talent. The right kit can completely transform how recruitment works, keeping it efficient and streamlined for whatever the business needs next. iCIMS is a well-known name in this space; they’ve some tools that tackle the complex aspects of large-scale hiring.
As businesses grow, they often realise that tools like iCIMS no longer fit their needs or don’t work well with the other software they’ve started using. That’s when they begin looking for new options, ones with better features, a more user-friendly design, or more affordable prices. Some even decide to move away from older tools like iCIMS because they’re after something more modern, easier to set up, or with better support, prompting them to make the switch.
Let’s explore why these iCIMS alternatives and competitors are worth considering.
iCIMS is a big name in the recruitment software stuff, but it ain’t always bang on for what every company wants or can splash the cash on. That’s why companies are starting to look around for something different. Many new platforms are emerging with innovative ideas and pricing that are somewhat flexible, which could work better for different crews. They’re made to keep things easy, make it feel nicer to use, and maybe save a few quid, too, so they’re tempting for anyone trying to fix up their hiring properly.
Also, the recruitment world always keeps changing, so you need stuff to keep up and fit in properly with what you already have. Companies are looking for software that integrates seamlessly into their existing tech stack and allows them to customise it to their needs. As they want it custom and able to grow, loads are looking again at what they’re using for hiring and checking out other options that might match their plans and how they can do things better.
Here’s why you should be switching to iCIMS competitors:
- -Price is a bit steep for smaller businesses
- - The platform can be complex to navigate for new users
- - You can’t tweak it much unless you chuck more cash at upgrades
- - Integration with existing systems may require additional resources
- - Customer support’s a bit slow to sort you out, could be quicker
iCIMS has its good bits, but having a nose at other options might turn up something that fits your business and your wallet better. In this rundown, we’re digging into the best iCIMS swaps to help you pick the hiring gear that works for how your company’s growing and what it’s all about.
Top iCIMS Alternatives in Overview
If you’re after something else instead of iCIMS and want a quick look, this rundown gives you the gist of the top picks, chucking in their best bits and how much they’ll set you back, so you can figure out what’s worth a punt.
 iSmartRecruit
|
 iCIMS
|
 Bullhorn
|
 Greenhouse
|
 Recruiterflow
|
 Ceipal
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Starts From |
$1,700 |
- |
- |
$99 |
$24 |
|
| Free Trial |
|
No |
No |
No |
|
|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
4.6 |
| Customer Service | 4.7 |
4.4 |
4 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
4.6 |
| Features | 4.6 |
4.1 |
4 |
4.3 |
4.6 |
4.6 |
| Value for Money | 4.6 |
4.1 |
3.7 |
4.2 |
4.8 |
4.6 |
| Capterra Rating | ||||||
| G2 Rating | ||||||
Pricing Starts From Get Quote
Free Trial: YES
Ease of Use: 4.5
Customer Service: 4.7
Features: 4.6
Value for Money: 4.6
Capterra Rating:
G2 Rating:
Pricing Starts From $1,700
Free Trial: No
Ease of Use: 4.1
Customer Service: 4.4
Features: 4.1
Value for Money: 4.1
Capterra Rating:
G2 Rating:
Pricing Starts From -
Free Trial: No
Ease of Use: 4.1
Customer Service: 4
Features: 4
Value for Money: 3.7
Capterra Rating:
G2 Rating:
Pricing Starts From -
Free Trial: No
Ease of Use: 4.4
Customer Service: 4.4
Features: 4.3
Value for Money: 4.2
Capterra Rating:
G2 Rating:
Pricing Starts From $99
Free Trial: Yes
Ease of Use: 4.7
Customer Service: 4.8
Features: 4.6
Value for Money: 4.8
Capterra Rating:
G2 Rating:
Pricing Starts From $24
Free Trial: Yes
Ease of Use: 4.6
Customer Service: 4.6
Features: 4.6
Value for Money: 4.6
Capterra Rating:
G2 Rating:
Which iCIMS Alternatives Offer Better Features?
iCIMS Alternative #1: iSmartRecruit
iSmartRecruit is the best alternative to iCIMS among all due to several reasons. It has some extraordinary plus points that you won't find in any other. It simplifies and optimises your talent acquisition process without hassle, making it suitable for businesses of any size.
Features like automating job postings, resume parsing and creating intelligent workflows, all with AI capabilities and with affordable price structure, not only make it stand out more than iCIMS and others but also result in a smooth and efficient hiring experience.
To summarise, iSmartRecruit is the right choice if you're wondering about alternatives to iCIMS. You can book a free demo today to see how it works.
Suitable For
Small, mid-size, and large staffing firms, recruitment agencies, executive search firms, and in-house HR teams.
Star Rating
4.8 on G2 & 4.6 on Capterra
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Key Features of iSmartRecruit
Sourcing Mailbox- Assign Multiple Recruiters
- Revenue
- Knockout Screening
- Pre-Assessment Screening
- Autopilot Workflow
- Smart Search
- Fuzzy & Proximity Search
- Self Scheduling Interviews
- AI features - Matching jobs & candidates,
suggesting candidates.
- Pipeline Management
- IMAP Configuration (Communication)
- Client & Candidate Portal
- Client Job Tracker
- Seamless Data Migration
- Languages
- Vendor Management
- Referral Campaign
Find the perfect feature for your hiring needs!
Pros
Supportive customer service, custom solutions and value for money.
Highly customisable with robust Java-based features.
User-friendly and easy to onboard HR teams.
Ideal for startups needing affordable, quick setups.
Easy-to-use features.
Flexible and Innovative, consistently improving based on feedback.
Self-service portals for clients and candidates.
Excellent customer support.
Strong job posting and regular updates.
Streamlined candidate tracking and reporting with a clear dashboard.
Excellent recruitment database for resume search and candidate tracking.
iSmartRecruit has been a lifesaver for streamlining our application tracking. Since it’s cloud-based, our team members can manage everything from job posts to candidate tracking, no matter where we are. It keeps all our data in one easy-to-navigate dashboard, so we no longer have to jump between spreadsheets and emails—it's a huge time-saver.
Cons
Minor display and loading delays.
Pastel colour palette reduces visibility.
No automatic record display for incoming calls.
Platform speed can be slow at times.
Occasional errors and missing functionalities.
Training is necessary for effective use.
Limited file upload options.
Complex settings, though CS is helpful.
Sometimes it takes time to load a single page while doing bulk upload.
iCIMS Alternative #2: Bullhorn
Bullhorn has been a big deal in the recruitment game for over 25 years. It is collectively a good alternative to iCIMS. It stands out because of its flexibility, as you can tailor it to match your exact needs.
It’s also mobile-friendly, which means you can keep on top of things wherever you are. And since they’re always updating the system, it stays current with what’s happening in the industry. This can make it a good option against iCIMS, but it can’t compete with iSmartRecruit.
When bullhorn lacks speed and is reported much slower compared to other platforms like iCIMS, iSmartRecruit is easy to operate and hosted on a faster AWS server. It also requires less training to get started compared to a bullhorn.
Suitable For
Small, mid-size, and large organisations involved in staffing, recruitment, executive search, and internal HR functions.
Star Rating
4 on G2 & 4.1 on Capterra
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Key Features of Bullhorn
Candidate Management
Job Management
Resume Parsing
Email Integration
Mobile Access
Reporting And Analytics
Interview Scheduling
Client Management
Pipeline Management
Document Management
Activity Tracking
Pros
A flexible and easy-to-use platform that lets users set it up how they want, making work faster and easier.
The system keeps track of candidates and updates their progress automatically, making hiring easier and more organised.
Its mobile app lets recruiters cheque and update candidate records, view placements, and take notes anywhere, making hiring easier.
The platform helps teams work together and contact candidates quickly, making hiring faster.
It provides recruitment data to help recruiters make better decisions and improve hiring strategies.
It connects with Gmail and Outlook, letting recruiters pull details from emails, add notes, and set tasks. All messages are tracked in the ATS, cutting down on manual work.
Bullhorn is one of the best applicant tracking systems as it reduces tracking and improves the talent experience with less paperwork.
Cons
It can be slow to load and sometimes crashes, especially with large datasets.
The interface can be frustrating and may slow down work.
Users are unhappy with customer support.
Costs rise with more users, making it pricey for startups.
I feel like it can be very glitchy. Things just seem to not work properly at times, and you have to wait for an update or find a workaround.
Even when everything else on my computer is operating at regular speed, Bullhorn can be very slow.
iCIMS Alternative #3: Greenhouse
Greenhouse includes several essential features to make hiring more efficient, which makes it an ideal alternative to iCIMS. Its Applicant Tracking System (ATS) enables companies to manage job listings, track candidate applications, and monitor the entire interview process all in one place.
It supports data-driven decision-making by providing insightful metrics and reports that measure hiring performance. However, it has limited third-party integrations, and some users reported unresponsive customer support for errors.
Since they continually improve their platform to ensure users gain maximum value, it can be a good alternative to iCIMS. Still, it can't compete in terms of features and affordability with iSmartRecruit.
Suitable For
Mid to Large-Sized Companies.
Star Rating
4.5 on G2 & 4.5 on Capterra
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Key Features of Greenhouse
Customisable job postings
Interview scheduling
Automated email notifications
Candidate sourcing
Integration with job boards
Mobile accessibility
Offer letter management
Talent pool management
Applicant tracking
Pros
User-friendly and intuitive platform for easy navigation.
Customisable tools covering sourcing to onboarding.
Clear reports for better decision-making.
Outstanding customer support with live chat and onboarding help.
Quick and smooth implementation process.
A solid ATS choice for those with the budget.
It has been positive. There are many benefits, as we can integrate tools into the system and centralise our process.
I like the ease of use and visibility for the whole team.
Cons
Steep learning curve for new users.
Limited third-party integrations.
Performance issues during peak hours.
Unresponsive customer support for errors.
Confusing permission management.
No resume-based candidate search.
Difficult to add formatted interview notes.
The system is hardly configurable, with poor tech support and weak security measures.
iCIMS Alternative #4: Recruiterflow
Recruiterflow is also good alternative to iCIMS. It is a cloud-based recruitment platform serving staffing and recruiting agencies worldwide. It can be one of the good alternatives of iCIMS. Even though it has features combined with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with Candidate Relationship Management (CRM), it lacks features like AI co-pilot that you'll able to see in iSmartRecruit.
With Recruiterflow, Compared to iCIMS, You'll see poor customer support, hidden invoices, and slow issue resolution, which create frustration. Also, Some users find the Recruiterflow unintuitive, glitchy, and clunky for the application forms and job setup. This is when iSmartRecruit comes in to tackle all these problems with recruiterflow.
Suitable For
Small, mid-size, and large staffing firms, recruitment agencies, executive search firms, and in-house HR teams.
Star Rating
4.6 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Key Features of Recruiterflow
Personalised Email Sequencing
Zapier & other Integration
Pipeline management
Chrome extension
Resume page formatting
Bulk emails and Text
Scorecard
Recruitment automation tool
KPI and activity tracking
Custom data dashboard
Pros
Simple, user-friendly platform with clear candidate tracking.
Intuitive design, easy navigation, and full CRM/AMS features.
Responsive support with real-time assistance and frequent updates.
Ideal for new agencies with competitive pricing and setup support.
Powerful automation streamlines recruiting steps.
Customisable views (list, Kanban, grid) with efficient search and tracking.
Quick outreach via automation and email campaigns.
Self-service tools, strong analytics, and reporting features.
What I like best about Recruiterflow is the ease of use. All my information is just a click away. It makes managing all this information more efficient. I don't waste time looking for contacts or other needed data. I get the information I need when I need it.
Cons
Glitchy, unintuitive system lacking user-friendliness.
Limited tool integration; no mobile app.
Poor support, often unhelpful and blame-shifting.
Restricted resume search and candidate stage management.
Rigid job posting; removing jobs affects visibility.
Frequent page reloads and unsaved job data can be lost.
Outdated LinkedIn data transfer, requiring manual PDF parsing.
Lacks key features; feels overpriced for its capabilities.
Not as flexible of a platform, the development team isn't as capable of custom requests, exporting data is a complete mess, data migration had issues.
iCIMS Alternative #5: Ceipal
Ceipal is a full-fledged, AI-powered alternative recruitment platform to iCIMS. The platform combines an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with a Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) system, making it easier to find, connect with, and hire the best candidates.
Since Ceipal's ATS uses AI to help sourcers find candidates, parse resumes, and schedule interviews automatically, recruiters can quickly pinpoint and reach out to top talent. Still, iSmartRecruit beats iCIMS and Ceipal when it comes to providing AI features in the recruitment software from AI-based Candidate Matching to Recruitment Co-pilot that helps recruiter in every step.
Suitable For
Staffing agencies and HR professionals seeking an integrated platform for recruitment and workforce management.
Star Rating
4.5 on G2 & 4.5 on Capterra
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Key Features of Ceipal
Job posting and distribution
Resume parsing and search
AI-powered candidate matching
Candidate management and tracking
Talent pool management
Mobile app for recruiters and candidates
Wide range of integrations
Timesheet management
Pros
Automation boosts productivity and sourcing.
User-friendly interface simplifies management.
Integrated job board search saves time.
Tools streamline recruitment.
Reliable ATS, highly recommended.
Quick, responsive support.
Dependable and efficient.
The platform is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to manage the recruitment process. Its automation and AI features significantly streamline candidate tracking and communication.
Cons
Frequent bugs and errors disrupt operations.
Slow loading and buffering require process restarts.
Repeated login issues are frustrating.
Performance lags during peak usage.
Limited customisation for branding in job postings and emails.
Integration features lag despite being useful.
Candidate contact details occasionally fail to load.
Implementation has been a pain. Data migration from CSV files has taken 30 days. Data imported from CSV files cannot be searched. You need to have resumes on hand to enable search. Reporting is extremely limited.
Wrapping Up
iCIMS has been properly solid in the recruitment software scene for many years, but as what the industry wants keeps flipping, so does what agencies are after. iCIMS has some decent kit, but now stuff like iSmartRecruit’s showing up, and it’s all about being more handy and not costing a bomb. These other options chuck in some fresh ideas with cool features and prices that bend a bit, sorting out all kinds of businesses, big or small.
By looking at stuff other than iCIMS, companies can nab some proper high-tech gear and a better vibe that fits their hiring headaches right now. Things like iSmartRecruit ain’t just about making the hiring quicker—they chuck in top-notch help and ways to tweak it so recruiters can smash their own targets. That sort of flex keeps businesses on their toes and ready for whatever the job world throws at ‘em next.
Jump on board with iSmartRecruit and see how its fancy new tricks can shake up your hiring game. Grab a trial of iSmartRecruit today and find a sharper way to sort your recruits. With the right kit in your hands, setting up and smashing out a decent hiring plan gets easy and packs more punch, so you can pull in and keep the best talent without the faff.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best alternatives to iCIMS?
The best alternatives to iCIMS include iSmartRecruit, Bullhorn, Greenhouse, Recruiterflow and Ceipal. These platforms offer cost-effective and advanced recruitment tools that suit businesses of all sizes, with a focus on streamlining the hiring process and improving efficiency.
2. Do iCIMS alternatives offer free trials?
Yes, some iCIMS alternatives, including iSmartRecruit and Recruiterflow, offer free trials. This allows businesses to test the features and determine if the software meets their recruitment needs.
3. How does iSmartRecruit compare to iCIMS?
iSmartRecruit offers more customisation, AI-powered automation, and better integration options, making it ideal for businesses that want more flexibility without the high costs. In contrast, iCIMS is more complex and pricey, with fewer customisation options unless additional costs are incurred.
4. Which alternative is best for small businesses: iSmartRecruit, Bullhorn, or Greenhouse?
iSmartRecruit is the best choice for small businesses due to its affordability, ease of use, and AI-driven features. Bullhorn and Greenhouse offer robust solutions, but their pricing and complexity may be better suited for larger businesses or enterprises.
5. Is iSmartRecruit a good alternative to iCIMS for recruitment automation?
Yes, iSmartRecruit excels in recruitment automation with AI-powered features that help streamline the entire hiring process. It’s an excellent choice for businesses seeking an intuitive, cost-effective solution compared to iCIMS, which may be more expensive and less flexible.
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