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Workable vs Bullhorn

Workable vs Bullhorn vs iSmartRecruit: Best Recruitment Software Compared (2025)

Which tool is the Right Choice?

Quick Summary

Workable and Bullhorn are both widely-used recruitment platforms, but they serve different needs based on business size and complexity. Workable is perfect for smaller teams or in-house HR departments. Its user-friendly design allows businesses to post jobs, manage applicants, and collaborate with ease. The platform is straightforward and integrates well with other tools, making it an ideal solution for companies looking for simplicity and efficiency without a steep learning curve.

On the other hand, Bullhorn is a robust recruitment CRM Software built for larger organisations and staffing agencies. It’s packed with advanced features like candidate management, in-depth reporting, and workflow automation, which are essential for handling high-volume recruitment processes. While these features offer extensive control and customisation, the platform can be overwhelming for smaller businesses or those just starting with recruitment software.

Ultimately, the choice between Workable and Bullhorn comes down to the scale of your hiring needs. Workable is an excellent choice for businesses that need a simple, easy-to-use tool, while Bullhorn is better suited for organisations that require a more sophisticated system to manage large-scale recruitment.

Metrics Comparison of Workable vs Bullhorn

Workable
Workable
Bullhorn
Bullhorn
iSmartRecruit
iSmartRecruit
Pricing Starts From

$189

$99

Free Trial

Best For Businesses of all sizes in Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality, Media and Manufacturing industries Small businesses, Mid size businesses and Large enterprises Corporate HRs, Mass recruiters, Hiring managers, Employment and recruiting agencies, Executive search firms, Staffing firms, Small businesses and startups
Help Videos

New Release/Updates Monthly Annually Monthly
Trustpilot Score 1.9 4.6 4
Software Suggest Score 4.8 4.5 4.7
SaaSWorthy Score 4.4 3.9 4.6
Capterra - Ease of Use 4.4 4.1 4.5
Capterra - Customer Service 4.2 4.0 4.7
Capterra - Features 4.1 4.6 4.6
Capterra - Value for Money 4.1 3.7 4.6
Mobile Application

Capterra Rating
G2 Rating
Workable

Pricing Starts From $189

Free Trial:

Ease of Use: 4.4

Customer Service: 4.2

Features: 4.1

Value for Money: 4.1

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

Bullhorn

Pricing Starts From $99

Free Trial:

Ease of Use: 4.1

Customer Service: 4.0

Features: 4.6

Value for Money: 3.7

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 Workable

Are you exploring workable nowadays? Not sure about whether to go with it or not?

Here, you'll find all of your answers related to workable, workable pricing, workable applicant tracking, workable ats features and everything about it. this guide will be your one-stop solution for anything to everything about workable ats.

Workable is a cloud-based recruitment platform that was founded in 2012 by Nikos Moraitakis and Spyros Magiatis in Athens, Greece. It has relocated its headquarters to Boston, Massachusetts in 2014.

Workable supports businesses of mainly big sizes in making hiring easier through its collection of tools.

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is the core of Workable that streamlines the process of finding, assessing, and managing job applicants. Users can post job ads to multiple job boards simultaneously that increases exposure with just a single post. but it has lack of customisation options and are limited for specific recruiting needs. But still, Workable utilises artificial intelligence to suggest suitable candidates by analysing job descriptions and matching them with likely applicants.

Beyond recruitment software, Workable also offers functionalities for employee management, including time-off and attendance tracking, performance management, and compliance tools to assist with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. These features enable organisations to manage HR operations seamlessly within a single platform.

Workable remains good at recruitment technology with continuous development and a commitment to integrating AI into human resource processes. This empowers businesses to efficiently discover, hire, and manage highly skilled professionals.

Apart from all good points, there are some unfavorable points that you should consider before choosing workable. Like, it's integration with third-party tools is challenging and higher pricing makes it less competitive for small businesses.

pros

Pros

cons

Efficient in finding top applicants and generating reports.

cons

Enhances team collaboration with shared candidate profiles.

cons

Automates recruitment, ideal for growing businesses.

cons

User-friendly interface for recruiters and candidates.

cons

Data-driven insights through advanced analytics.

cons

Excellent support with account management and training.


Charlotte D.

"Streamlined. Great tools. Efficient."
I like being able to manage multiple jobs and seeing them on one dashboard. I also like how easy it is to move candidates through the stages of the hiring pipeline, efficiently, and also customizing pipelines according to specific hiring needs. Email templates are also also a great tool, and I'm able to organize them according to departments.

Verified G2 Review

pros

Cons

cons

Higher pricing makes it less competitive for small businesses.

cons

Archived positions require unarchiving to access, causing inconvenience.

cons

Customer support prioritizes contracts over user concerns, with rude interactions reported.

cons

The mobile site is poorly optimized but not a primary focus.

cons

Customization options are limited for specific recruiting needs.

cons

Users report occasional glitches and performance issues.

cons

Integration with third-party tools is challenging.


Richard M.

"simply is a lie and doesn't work as promised."
It simply doesn't work and tech support is a joke. I would advise anyone to seek alternative advertising. I have been doing my own business and advertising for 19 years and this is the worst experience I have ever had.

Verified Capterra Review

Overview of Bullhorn

Bullhorn has been a right big deal in the recruitment game for over 25 years. They’re based out in Boston, but their cloud gear’s used by over 10,000 agencies all over the world. It’s a proper all-in-one solution—handles everything from finding candidates and placing them in jobs to managing payroll and keeping everything legally sound.

The main bit of Bullhorn’s kit is their Applicant Tracking System—ATS for short. It’s a cracking tool that takes the boring grunt work out of hiring, keeps all your candidate info in one spot, no faffing about. In the CRM, you can stay in touch with clients and make sure those relationships don’t go cold. Plus, they've got this AI tech that matches candidates to jobs, streamlines your workflow, and even predicts what's coming next—giving you useful data to stop guessing and start making informed decisions.

Bullhorn stands out because of its flexibility. Whether you're running a small agency or a large one, it adapts to your way of working. You can tailor it to match your exact needs. It’s also mobile-friendly, which means you’re not stuck at your desk—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.

But the thing is how they operate. They’re not just selling software—they work closely with their clients, helping them improve their processes and grow their businesses. They're all about helping the recruitment team smash it in this market.

pros

Pros

cons

Access client information and maintain detailed interaction records.

cons

Seamlessly integrates with our systems and is mobile-friendly.

cons

User-friendly with an efficient sorting system.

cons

Entering and submitting hours is straightforward with a clear format.

cons

Collecting and analysing resumes is quick and easy.


Chris C.

"Good Recruitment ATS & CRM"
Overall, it's quite good to deal with. Everything is laid out quite well and it integrates with a lot of 3rd party solutions.

Verified Capterra Review

pros

Cons

cons

Accessing both calendars at once is not easily accessible.

cons

The software is much slower compared to other platforms.

cons

The learning curve can be steep.

cons

It is quite pricey for what it offers.

cons

Limited support for foreign language integration.


Jeff A.

"Be very careful before going down the Bullhorn path"
Unfortunately it's been one of the worth experiences yet for us. It's expensive to implement (due to the customization's) and on contract renewal they try to increase the price by 20%. In addition, the support team is horrible.

Verified Capterra Review

Features Comparison

Workable
Workable
Bullhorn
Bullhorn
iSmartRecruit
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

Find the perfect features for your hiring needs!

Why iSmartRecruit is Best?

When comparing Workable and Bullhorn, they're built for different ends of the recruitment spectrum. Workable is known for its intuitive interface and plug-and-play setup, which is ideal for small teams looking for an easy way to post jobs and manage candidates. Bullhorn, meanwhile, is tailored more towards larger staffing firms, offering deep customisation, strong reporting, and CRM capabilities—but often with a steeper learning curve and higher cost.

That’s where iSmartRecruit stands out as a smart alternative. It balances usability and robust functionality, making it an ideal solution for growing recruitment agencies and SMES. It combines ATS and CRM features in a single platform, with automation tools that save time on repetitive tasks and multilingual support that helps teams operate globally.

Unlike Bullhorn, which can feel overwhelming without dedicated support, iSmartRecruit keeps things user-friendly and highly customisable—no tech team needed. And while Workable is great for job postings, it lacks the depth of recruiter-focused features that iSmartRecruit offers, such as candidate engagement tools, GDPR compliance, and built-in workflow automation.

In short, if you're after a recruitment solution that grows with your business, doesn't break the bank, and keeps things straightforward, iSmartRecruit is well worth considering.

Our Client Testimonial Speaks Louder Than Words!

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Conclusion

Choosing the right AI Recruitment Software ultimately depends on your team’s needs, growth plans, and working style. Workable offers a solid solution for smaller organisations or internal teams prioritising simplicity and quick setup. Its user-friendly interface and streamlined job posting tools make it a practical choice for teams without a dedicated recruitment department. Conversely, Bullhorn serves larger staffing agencies that require deep CRM functionality, complex workflows, and advanced reporting. While powerful, it may be more than necessary for smaller teams and often has a steeper learning curve.

For businesses looking for a middle ground—something more flexible than Workable but less intensive than Bullhorn—a platform that blends automation, candidate engagement, and scalability without needing heavy technical support can prove invaluable. This is especially true for SMES and recruitment agencies operating in fast-changing markets or across multiple geographies. The ideal system should grow alongside your business, offering functionality and ease of use. Taking the time to assess what features matter most—from compliance and integration to multilingual capabilities—can make a real difference in hiring outcomes. Ultimately, the best recruitment CRM or ATS is the one that fits seamlessly into your team’s rhythm and supports long-term success.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Workable or Bullhorn better for recruiters?

Bullhorn suits staffing agencies with CRM needs. Workable is better for in-house HR and simpler hiring workflows.

2. What’s the main difference between Workable and Bullhorn?

Bullhorn combines CRM and ATS, which is excellent for agency use. It is workable and focuses on job posting and team collaboration.

3. Which is better for high-volume hiring – Workable or Bullhorn?

Bullhorn is built for high-volume and multi-role recruitment. Workable works best for leaner hiring processes.

4. Is Workable a good ATS for small businesses?

Yes, Workable is easy to use, budget-friendly, and ideal for small teams. Bullhorn can be more complex.

5. How do Workable and Bullhorn compare on pricing?

Workable offers transparent pricing for SMBS. Bullhorn is more expensive but includes CRM features.