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Comparison

Loxo vs Cluen

Loxo vs Encore's Cluen: Detailed Comparison For You is Here!

Which tool is the Right Choice?

Quick Summary

When looking for the right recruitment software, confusion is obvious in the market full of tools. Loxo and Cluen are also among them. For Loxo, your common queries would likely be similar to those for Loxo alternatives, Loxo ATS reviews, and Loxo ATS pricing, among others. Meanwhile, for Cluen, you might be looking for information on Cluen integration with firm prospects or whether Cluen integrates with firm prospects.

We'll discuss the detailed comparison of loxo and cluen to filter out the best there.

Loxo and Cluen are both software platforms focused on making the recruitment process more efficient. Loxo acts as a comprehensive Talent Intelligence Platform, combining applicant tracking, CRM, and AI-powered sourcing tools into one system, essentially consolidating multiple recruitment tools.

Cluen's Encore software caters specifically to executive search firms. It helps manage assignments, build candidate databases, and streamline workflows, all while prioritising data security and GDPR compliance. Both Loxo and Cluen's Encore are web-based and work across various devices like desktops and mobiles, offering recruitment professionals plenty of flexibility. User feedback suggests that Loxo has a generally well-received rating, while Cluen's Encore has a slightly lower rating.

We'll also be taking a look at iSmartRecruit, an affordable recruitment software designed to meet the needs of agencies and small to medium-sized businesses. Also, we'll see how it combines the features of Loxo and Cluen.

Metrics Comparison of Loxo vs Cluen

	Loxo	Cluen	iSmartRecruit
Pricing Starts From	$209	-	Get Quote
Free Trial			Get a Trial
Best For	Direct Hire Recruiting Firms, Executive Search Firms, Recruitment Agencies, RPO Teams, Staffing Teams and Internal Talent Acquisition Teams	Executive Search Firms, Legal Recruiters, In-House Talent Acquisition Teams, Government Bodies, Universities, Venture Capital Firms and Private Equity Firms	Corporate HRs, Mass recruiters, Hiring managers, Employment and recruiting agencies, Executive search firms, Staffing firms, Small businesses and startups
Help Videos
New Release/Updates	-	Every alternate month	Monthly
Trustpilot Score	4	0	4
Software Suggest Score	0	0	4.7
SaaSWorthy Score	5	0	4.6
Capterra - Ease of Use	4.6	0.0	4.5
Capterra - Customer Service	4.6	0.0	4.7
Capterra - Features	4.5	0.0	4.6
Capterra - Value for Money	4.5	0.0	4.6
Mobile Application
Capterra Rating
G2 Rating		-
Profile Overview	View Profile	View Profile	Get a Demo

Loxo

Pricing Starts From $209

Free Trial:

Ease of Use: 4.6

Customer Service: 4.6

Features: 4.5

Value for Money: 4.5

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

Cluen

Pricing Starts From -

Free Trial:

Ease of Use: 0.0

Customer Service: 0.0

Features: 0.0

Value for Money: 0.0

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating: -

iSmartRecruit

Pricing Starts From: Get Quote

Free Trial: Get a Trial

Ease of Use: 4.5

Customer Service: 4.7

Features: 4.6

Value for Money: 4.6

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

Overview of Loxo

Loxo is presented as an AI recruiting platform for recruitment firms that want to bring sourcing, CRM, ATS, outreach, reporting and business development into a more connected workflow.

The platform is aimed mainly at direct hire recruiters, executive search firms, agency teams and talent acquisition professionals who need to find candidates, engage them, manage client-facing activity and track recruitment performance without relying on too many separate tools.

Its 2026 product messaging focuses strongly on repeatable recruitment workflows. Loxo combines recruitment CRM, applicant tracking and talent intelligence, giving teams a system for candidate discovery, pipeline management, outreach, client collaboration and reporting.

Key product areas include Loxo Source, Chrome Extension, Contact Info Finding Agent, Loxo Outreach, campaign automation, AI Notetaker, ATS, CRM, Self-Updating CRM Agent, Candidate Status Reports, Hiring Manager Portal, Candidate Submittal Agent, Business Reporting, Team Reporting, Job Reporting, Sales CRM, Account-Based Prospecting and Business Development Outreach.

The pricing page includes a Free plan for one user, unlimited jobs or projects, ATS, recruiting CRM, Loxo Boost and Chrome extension importing. The Basic plan starts at $169 per user/month and adds features such as Sales CRM, organic job board posting, multiple users, custom dashboards, analytics, resume parsing, technical support and reporting. Professional and Enterprise plans use sales-led pricing and include more advanced AI, sourcing, outreach, client portal, reporting and enterprise features.

Loxo can work well for recruiting firms that are heavily focused on sourcing, outreach and AI-supported workflow consolidation. At the same time, buyers should look closely at the higher per-user cost, feature differences between plans, contact data quality, search relevance, CV formatting needs, training effort and support experience before deciding whether it is the best long-term fit for agency, staffing or multi-workflow recruitment operations.

Pros

Includes ATS, recruiting CRM and talent intelligence in one platform.

Free plan is available for one user with unlimited jobs or projects.

Basic plan includes Sales CRM, dashboards, analytics, resume parsing, technical support and reporting.

Useful for direct hire and executive search firms focused on sourcing-led workflows.

Candidate status reports and client-facing tools can support external collaboration.

Katherine L.

"Loxo"
Loxo is the best platform that offers a combination of applicant tracking & outreach/CRM

Verified Capterra Review

Cons

Basic paid pricing starts at $209 per user/month.

Professional and Enterprise pricing are not publicly disclosed.

Several advanced AI, sourcing, outreach and client collaboration features sit beyond the Basic plan.

Contact data reliability and search relevance should be checked before purchase.

CV formatting and support responsiveness have been raised in user feedback.

Teams replacing several tools may need extra training and workflow alignment.

Daniel D.

"Worst decision ever. Some good features but can't do any of the basics"
Inability to format CV's within the system before sending to clients. Customer support - My customer success manager ignores most messages or issues. I've been trying to cancel and it's just on deaf ears.

Verified Capterra Review

Overview of Cluen

Cluen is an executive search CRM and recruitment database provider established in 1990 and based in New York City. Its main platform, Encore, is designed for executive search consultants, legal recruiters, in-house talent acquisition teams, government bodies, universities and venture capital or private equity firms.

Encore helps search teams manage relationships, historical data, candidate records, client information, communication activity and business development opportunities from one recruitment database. The platform is positioned for relationship-led search work rather than high-volume applicant tracking.

For 2026, Cluen’s newer positioning focuses on relationship intelligence, workflow automation and AI-supported compliance. Encore can surface past touchpoints, warm introductions and client-candidate dynamics, helping recruiters work with more context during executive search assignments.

The platform also highlights automated follow-ups, reminders and task routing to reduce manual administration. Its compliance support includes AI features for consent tracking, audit trails and data privacy workflows, while the company also states that Encore is GDPR compliant and works with any email programme.

Cluen may suit firms that need a specialist executive search database with relationship tracking, compliance support and long-term client history. Buyers should still review pricing visibility, interface modernisation, integration needs, support scope and whether Encore’s workflow matches their current search process before committing.

Pros

Purpose-built for executive search and relationship-led recruitment.

Encore supports executive search consultants, legal recruiters and in-house talent teams.

Helps manage historical data, client relationships and business development activity.

Relationship intelligence can surface past touchpoints and warm introductions.

Workflow automation supports reminders, follow-ups and task routing.

AI-supported compliance features cover consent tracking and audit trails.

Mike J.

"Encore is a great way to recruit new talent"
I use Encore when looking to hire new talent. It's a excellent way to keep track of every candidate and organize all the information. It's a very simple system of keeping track of finding and hiring new talent.

Verified Capterra Review

Cons

Public pricing is not clearly available.

Interface and usability may feel dated for some users.

Teams should check integration requirements before purchase.

May be more suitable for executive search than general recruitment workflows.

Implementation and configuration may require support for complex databases.

Buyers should review support scope, data migration and contract terms carefully.

Jill M.

"Behind the times"
This product is quite behind their competitors and it feels like an old "DOS" computer as compared to other like products. It is also extremely slow and lacking many desirable features.

Verified Capterra Review

Features Comparison	Loxo	Cluen	iSmartRecruit
API
Activity Dashboard
Activity Tracking
Alerts/Notifications
Applicant Tracking
Application Management
Approval Workflow
Assessment Management
Billing & Invoicing
Boolean Search
Built-in ATS
CRM
Calendar Management
Campaign Analytics
Campaign Management
Candidate Management
Candidate Profiles
Candidate Sourcing
Candidate Tracking
Careers Page
Chatbot
Collaboration Tools
Commenting/Notes
Compliance Management
Compliance Tracking
Configurable Workflow
Contact Database
Content Management
Customisable Branding
Customisable Forms
Customisable Reports
Customisable Templates
Data Import/Export
Document Management
Electronic Signature
Email Management
Email Marketing
Email Templates
Employee Database
Employee Onboarding
Employee Referral Management
For Recruiting Agencies
For Small Businesses
For Staffing Agencies
Full Text Search
HR Management
Internal Chat Integration
Internal HR
Interview Management
Interview Scheduling
Job Application Management
Job Board Software
Job Management
Job Posting
Job Requisition
Job Tracking
Lead Management
Marketing Automation
Matching Engine
Mobile Access
Multi-Channel Marketing
Onboarding
Pipeline Management
Pipeline Reports
Question Library
Real-Time Analytics
Real-Time Reporting
Recruiting Firms
Recruitment Management
Reference Checking
Reminders
Reporting & Statistics
Reporting/Analytics
Resume Database
Resume Parsing
Resume Search
Resume Storage
SMS Messaging
Scoring
Search/Filter
Self Service Portal
Skills Assessment
Social Media Integration
Social Recruiting
Status Tracking
Tagging
Talent Acquisition
Talent Pool
Task Management
Temporary Staffing
Third-Party Integrations
Workflow Management

View More Features +

Find the perfect features for your hiring needs!

Explore Features

Why iSmartRecruit is Best?

iSmartRecruit is a powerful recruitment software tailored for staffing companies, recruitment agencies, and executive search experts. It brings AI-driven resume parsing, adaptable pipelines, and CRM tools to the table, simplifying the recruitment process.

iSmartRecruit platform is an excellent fit for global teams as it supports operations in over 70 countries with its multilingual capabilities. It's user-friendly, allowing teams to get up to speed quickly, and its sophisticated reporting tools provide valuable insights for informed decision-making.

iSmartRecruit stands out with its affordability and scalability, making it a dependable option for businesses looking to sharpen their hiring process effectively. You can discover its potential with a free trial and transform the way you hire.

Our Client Testimonial Speaks Louder Than Words!

Our Client Testimonial Speaks
Louder Than Words!

Easy-to-use ATS with powerful candidate management, client-based job organization, and flexible reporting—ideal for consulting and recruitment firms.

Zandra - Executive Search Specialist, We Search, Philippines

Great candidate management system, good technical support with competitive pricing

Tamar - Managing Director, Talingual, UK

Very well customisable system for a very good pricing

Markéta - Executive & Direct Search Professional, SBR Recruitment, Czechia

We have been running this solution for over a month and it has all the user features you could need from a recruitment side through to talent pipelining. After 3 years of researching solutions, I am happy to finally have found a best staffing software that gives you what you need!

Stephanie Weitz - Talent Consultant, Talent Brand, South Africa

Excellent. Product works very well and meets our needs. Support and development staff were knowledgeable and helpful.

Lawrence Kieffer - COO, Fidel Consulting, Japan

With automation workflows and visibility on the candidate journey, we were able to reduce our time-to-hire by 57% and cost per hire by 49%. Candidates are having a positive experience with us, and it's because of iSmartRecruit's AI Recruitment Software.

Nitin Shah - CEO, Systemart LLC, USA

Our Client Testimonial Speaks Louder Than Words!

Easy-to-use ATS with powerful candidate management, client-based job organization, and flexible reporting—ideal for consulting and recruitment firms.

Zandra - Executive Search Specialist, We Search, Philippines

Great candidate management system, good technical support with competitive pricing

Tamar - Managing Director, Talingual, UK

Very well customisable system for a very good pricing

Markéta - Executive & Direct Search Professional, SBR Recruitment, Czechia

Stephanie Weitz - Talent Consultant, Talent Brand, South Africa

Excellent. Product works very well and meets our needs. Support and development staff were knowledgeable and helpful.

Lawrence Kieffer - COO, Fidel Consulting, Japan

Conclusion

Loxo and Cluen both offer strong recruitment tools, but they serve different needs. Loxo offers a comprehensive Talent Intelligence Platform, ideal for agencies seeking an AI-powered, all-in-one solution.

Cluen's Encore, on the other hand, is focused on executive search, giving recruiters specialised tools to boost teamwork and keep data safe.

When it comes to looking for features like Loxo or executive search like Cluen, iSmartRecruit can be a great fit. iSmartRecruit is worth considering if you're an agency or a small to medium-sized business seeking a comprehensive recruitment package without breaking the bank. It's full packed with AI features, supports multiple languages, and is easy to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Loxo replace multiple recruiting tools?

Loxo combines ATS, CRM, sourcing, outreach, AI, and recruiting workflows in one platform, which can reduce tool switching for recruitment teams.

2. What are the key functionalities of Loxo and Cluen?

Loxo offers applicant tracking, CRM, AI-driven sourcing, multi-channel outreach, and a comprehensive people and company search engine. Cluen's Encore offers project management, client collaboration tools, candidate management, and reporting functionalities designed for executive search.

3. How do Loxo and Cluen support candidate sourcing?

Loxo focuses on AI sourcing, outreach, and talent intelligence. Cluen Encore supports executive search teams with candidate pipeline insights and relationship-driven recruiting.

4. Which platform is better for relationship-led recruitment?

Cluen Encore may suit firms managing long-term candidate and client relationships, while Loxo fits teams wanting AI sourcing, CRM, outreach, and ATS workflows together.

5. Why should agencies consider iSmartRecruit over Loxo and Cluen?

iSmartRecruit offers a cost-effective solution with advanced features like AI-powered resume parsing, multilingual support, and Customisable workflows, making it a suitable choice for agencies and small to medium-sized businesses seeking to enhance their recruitment processes.