Greenhouse vs Lever: Applicant Tracking Systems Compared (2026)
Greenhouse and Lever are two widely compared ATSs. Greenhouse is an applicant tracking system and hiring platform built around structured interviewing, scorecards and hiring analytics, sold in Core, Plus and Pro tiers. Lever is an applicant tracking system with built-in candidate relationship management (CRM) for sourcing and nurturing talent, part of Employ Inc.
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 2 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Greenhouse vs Lever: the short answer
Greenhouse is an applicant tracking system and hiring platform built around structured interviewing, scorecards and hiring analytics, sold in Core, Plus and Pro tiers. Lever is an applicant tracking system with built-in candidate relationship management (CRM) for sourcing and nurturing talent, part of Employ Inc. Both are ATSs, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus.
On pricing, Greenhouse is described as: annual quote-based contracts; Lever as: annual quote based on company headcount. Neither documents a permanent free plan in the sources reviewed. Greenhouse is positioned for scaling companies that want structured, data-driven hiring, and Lever for teams that source and nurture candidates proactively.
Everything below is drawn from the two sourced profiles and the 2 dated sources listed at the end. Where a source does not document something it is marked Unknown, and third-party estimates are labelled. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your size, budget and requirements.
Greenhouse and Lever at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Greenhouse
Greenhouse · Applicant Tracking Systems
Greenhouse is an applicant tracking system and hiring platform built around structured interviewing, scorecards and hiring analytics, sold in Core, Plus and Pro tiers.
- Pricing
- Not published; estimates about $6,500 a year (small teams) to $15,000-$40,000 (mid-market) and $70,000+ (enterprise).
- Best for
- Scaling companies that want structured, data-driven hiring
Lever
Employ Inc. · Applicant Tracking Systems
Lever is an applicant tracking system with built-in candidate relationship management (CRM) for sourcing and nurturing talent, part of Employ Inc.
- Pricing
- Custom quote by headcount; estimates about $12,000 a year at 200 employees and $35,000-$65,000 at 500-1,000.
- Best for
- Teams that source and nurture candidates proactively
Greenhouse vs Lever: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Greenhouse |  Lever |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Product typeDiffers | YesStructured hiring ATS | YesATS with recruiting CRM |
| VendorDiffers | YesGreenhouse | YesEmploy Inc. |
| Best forDiffers | YesScaling companies that want structured, data-driven hiring | YesTeams that source and nurture candidates proactively |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | PartialAnnual quote-based contracts. | PartialAnnual quote based on company headcount. |
| Pricing summaryDiffers | UnknownNot published; estimates about $6,500 a year (small teams) to $15,000-$40,000 (mid-market) and $70,000+ (enterprise). | PartialCustom quote by headcount; estimates about $12,000 a year at 200 employees and $35,000-$65,000 at 500-1,000. |
| Free plan | NoNo | NoNo |
| Free trial | NoNot documented | NoNot documented |
| Applicant Tracking Systems criteria | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | PartialQuote (annual) | PartialQuote by headcount |
| Starting priceDiffers | Partial~$6,500/yr (est.) | Partial~$12,000/yr at 200 staff (est.) |
| Free plan / trial | NoNo | NoNo |
| Published pricing | YesNo | YesNo |
| Best forDiffers | YesStructured hiring | YesSourcing + ATS |
| Fit and platform | ||
| Team size | YesMid-size teams, Large enterprises | YesMid-size teams, Large enterprises |
| Platforms | YesWeb, iOS, Android | YesWeb, iOS, Android |
| IntegrationsDiffers | YesLinkedIn, Workday, BambooHR, Slack | YesLinkedIn, Slack, Google Workspace, HRIS systems |
| API | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. |
Greenhouse vs Lever pricing.
Plan names, prices and billing terms as reported in each profile's sources. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded unless stated.
Greenhouse pricing
Annual quote-based contracts.
- CoreQuote (est. from ~$6,500 per year) · Annual
- PlusQuote · Annual
- ProQuote · Annual
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Estimates from Rework (August 2026); figures conflict within the source. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Greenhouse plans and sources
Lever pricing
Annual quote based on company headcount.
- Lever (ATS + CRM)Quote (est. ~$12,000 per year at 200 employees) · Annual
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Estimates from Rework (August 2026); ranges conflict within the source. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Lever plans and sourcesGreenhouse vs Lever: pricing model, ecosystem and fit.
Pricing model and cost drivers
Greenhouse: annual quote-based contracts. Estimates from Rework (August 2026); figures conflict within the source. Lever: annual quote based on company headcount. Estimates from Rework (August 2026); ranges conflict within the source. Model costs at your real seat count, usage and contract term before comparing headline prices.
What sets each apart
The Greenhouse profile highlights: structured hiring focus; core, Plus and Pro tiers; paid sourcing and onboarding add-ons. The Lever profile highlights: built-in CRM; headcount-based pricing; part of Employ Inc.
Integrations and ecosystem
Greenhouse integrations named in its sources: LinkedIn, Workday, BambooHR and Slack. Lever: LinkedIn, Slack, Google Workspace and HRIS systems. Check that the connectors you rely on exist on the plan you would buy.
Deployment and team fit
Greenhouse runs on Web, iOS and Android and is documented for mid-size teams and large enterprises. Lever runs on Web, iOS and Android and is documented for mid-size teams and large enterprises. We did not test setup or migration.
Greenhouse and Lever: each option, in balance.
Each point is linked to a dated source on the product's profile.
Greenhouse
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Structured interview kits and scorecards.
- Strong hiring analytics.
- Scales to enterprise.
- No published pricing.
- Sourcing and onboarding cost extra.
- Expensive for small teams.
Lever
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Built-in candidate CRM.
- Documented public API.
- Suited to proactive sourcing.
- No published pricing.
- Price scales with total headcount.
- Estimates vary widely.
Greenhouse or Lever: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Greenhouse if you are…
- Scaling companies that want structured, data-driven hiring
- Enterprise talent teams
- Companies standardising interviews
Less suited to: very small businesses; buyers wanting transparent prices.
See the Greenhouse profile
Choose Lever if you are…
- Teams that source and nurture candidates proactively
- Mid-market talent teams
- Recruiting-heavy companies
Less suited to: small businesses; buyers wanting self-serve pricing.
See the Lever profileSwitching between Greenhouse and Lever.
Moving off Greenhouse or Lever means exporting candidates, resumes, notes and consent records, re-creating job templates, stages and scorecards, reconnecting job boards, calendars and HRIS, and retraining hiring managers. Avoid switching mid-way through active hiring for key roles. Run one open role end to end in each shortlisted ATS, including posting, interviews, scorecards and an offer.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Compare total cost at your real volume, including add-ons and services.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Greenhouse vs Lever: questions and answers
What is the difference between Greenhouse and Lever?
Greenhouse is an applicant tracking system and hiring platform built around structured interviewing, scorecards and hiring analytics, sold in Core, Plus and Pro tiers. Lever is an applicant tracking system with built-in candidate relationship management (CRM) for sourcing and nurturing talent, part of Employ Inc. Both are ATSs, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus. Greenhouse is positioned for scaling companies that want structured, data-driven hiring; Lever for teams that source and nurture candidates proactively.
Is Greenhouse cheaper than Lever?
It depends on your volume and plan. Greenhouse: Not published; estimates about $6,500 a year (small teams) to $15,000-$40,000 (mid-market) and $70,000+ (enterprise). Lever: Custom quote by headcount; estimates about $12,000 a year at 200 employees and $35,000-$65,000 at 500-1,000. Compare both at your real seat count, usage and contract term.
Do Greenhouse or Lever have a free plan?
Neither documents a permanent free plan in the sources reviewed. Greenhouse free trial: Not documented. Lever free trial: Not documented.
What are the main limitations of Greenhouse and Lever?
Greenhouse: No published pricing. Lever: No published pricing.
How much does Greenhouse cost?
Greenhouse publishes no prices; an August 2026 guide estimates about $6,500 a year for small teams and $15,000 to $40,000 for mid-market.
How much does Lever cost?
Lever quotes by company headcount; an August 2026 guide estimates about $12,000 a year at 200 employees.
What are the alternatives to Greenhouse and Lever?
Stack18 has alternatives guides for both: Greenhouse alternatives and Lever alternatives, each comparing at least four other ATSs on pricing, free plan, features and fit. The Applicant Tracking Systems category lists every profile.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Best Applicant Tracking Systems in 2026 (updated 13 August 2026) Rework Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
- ATS pricing comparison (terms read September 2026) Yardstick (competing vendor) Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
This comparison summarises the Greenhouse and Lever profiles and their sources. Third-party figures are labelled; confirm current pricing and terms with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested these products.
Ready to test Greenhouse and Lever?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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