Greenhouse is a powerful applicant tracking system—there's no denying that. Their structured hiring approach and DEI focus have made them an industry leader. But there's a catch: Greenhouse starts at $6,500/year, and that's just for their basic plan.
For small businesses and growing companies, that's hard to justify. Especially when you're making 10-30 hires per year and just need core ATS functionality without enterprise complexity.
The good news? There are excellent Greenhouse alternatives that deliver professional recruiting capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Some offer better user experiences. Others provide features Greenhouse lacks. And many are 10x more affordable.
This guide compares the 10 best Greenhouse alternatives across pricing, features, and use cases to help you find the perfect fit.
TL;DR: For small businesses, JuggleHire delivers core ATS features at $19-99/month (vs $6,500/year). For mid-market teams wanting Greenhouse-level features, Lever and Workable are strong alternatives. For enterprise needs, SmartRecruiters and iCIMS compete directly with Greenhouse.
#Why Look for a Greenhouse Alternative?
Greenhouse is excellent, but it's not for everyone. Here's why companies search for alternatives:
#1. Price
Greenhouse Essential starts at ~$6,500/year. Advanced and Expert plans cost significantly more. For a 20-person company making 10 hires annually, that's $650 per hire just for software.
Alternative pricing:
- JuggleHire: $228-1,188/year ($23-118 per hire)
- Workable: $1,788-7,188/year
- Lever: $3,000-10,000/year
#2. Complexity
Greenhouse is built for sophisticated hiring operations. Their structured hiring methodology is powerful but requires significant setup, training, and change management.
What small teams actually need:
- Simple visual pipeline
- Basic team collaboration
- Email integration
- Interview scheduling
- Job posting
- Basic analytics
#3. Overkill for Small Teams
Features like advanced DEI analytics, compliance reporting, and enterprise integrations are valuable for large companies. For a 15-person startup? They're unnecessary.
#4. Better Fit Elsewhere
Some alternatives offer features Greenhouse doesn't:
- Better candidate relationship management (Lever)
- AI-powered sourcing (Workable)
- Built-in video interviewing (Breezy HR)
- Simpler, more intuitive UI (JuggleHire, Pinpoint)
#5. Implementation Time
Greenhouse implementation typically takes 4-8 weeks. Some alternatives are ready in hours or days.
#How Greenhouse Compares to Alternatives
#Quick Comparison Table
| Platform | Starting Price | Best For | Setup Time | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse | $6,500/year | Enterprise hiring | 4-8 weeks | Structured hiring |
| JuggleHire | $19/month | Small business | 15 minutes | Affordability + simplicity |
| Lever | ~$3K/year | Relationship focus | 2-4 weeks | Native CRM |
| Workable | $149/month | Fast setup | Same day | AI Recruiter |
| BambooHR | ~$99/month | HR integration | 1-2 weeks | All-in-one HRIS |
| Recruitee | €199/month | Collaborative hiring | 1-2 weeks | Team collaboration |
| SmartRecruiters | Custom | Enterprise scale | 6-12 weeks | Global capabilities |
| Breezy HR | Free-$399/mo | Visual pipeline | Hours | Kanban interface |
| JazzHR | $75/month | Growing companies | 1 week | Unlimited jobs |
| Pinpoint | Custom | Modern UX | 2-4 weeks | Beautiful interface |
#10 Best Greenhouse Alternatives (2025)
#1. JuggleHire — Best Affordable Alternative
JuggleHire delivers the core ATS functionality most teams actually need—without the enterprise price tag or complexity.
Why Choose JuggleHire Over Greenhouse
Price: $19-99/month vs $6,500+/year (96% cheaper) Setup: 15 minutes vs 4-8 weeks Learning curve: Intuitive from day one vs extensive training needed Features: Focused on what matters vs feature overload
Core Features
✅ Visual candidate pipeline with drag-and-drop ✅ Team collaboration with comments and feedback ✅ Custom career page for employer branding ✅ Email integration and templates ✅ Interview scheduling with calendar sync ✅ Job board posting to major platforms ✅ Source tracking and basic analytics ✅ Mobile access for recruiting on-the-go ✅ Unlimited team members on all plans
What You'll Miss from Greenhouse
❌ Advanced DEI analytics and reporting ❌ Extensive integration marketplace (300+ apps) ❌ Enterprise-grade compliance tools ❌ Advanced interview kit builder ❌ Dedicated customer success manager
Pricing
- Starter: $19/month (3 active jobs)
- Professional: $49/month (5 jobs, remove branding)
- Scale: $99/month (unlimited jobs, white-label)
All plans include: Unlimited candidates, unlimited users, core ATS features
Best For
Small businesses (1-50 employees) making 5-30 hires/year who need professional ATS without Greenhouse's cost or complexity.
Try JuggleHire Free for 14 Days →
#2. Lever — Best for Candidate Relationships
Lever combines ATS with CRM (Candidate Relationship Management), making it ideal for companies that invest in building talent pipelines.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | Lever |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $6,500+/year | ~$3,000+/year |
| Strength | Structured hiring | Relationship building |
| CRM | Basic | Native, powerful |
| Learning Curve | Steeper | Moderate |
| Setup Time | 4-8 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
Key Features
- LeverNurture CRM for talent pool management
- Automated sourcing and candidate discovery
- Pipeline analytics and reporting
- Diversity sourcing tools
- Referral program automation
- Interview kits and scorecards
- Extensive integrations
Pricing
- Custom pricing (typically $3,000-10,000/year based on company size)
- More affordable than Greenhouse for similar functionality
Best For
Companies (50-500 employees) who want to build long-term talent relationships, not just fill immediate openings.
#3. Workable — Best for Quick Implementation
Workable is the easiest enterprise-grade ATS to implement. Most companies are recruiting within hours of signing up.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | Workable |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 4-8 weeks | Same day |
| Starting Price | $6,500/year | $1,788/year |
| AI Features | Limited | AI Recruiter included |
| Ease of Use | Complex | Very intuitive |
| Candidate Database | Build your own | 400M+ profiles |
Key Features
- AI Recruiter for automated sourcing
- People Search with 400M+ candidates
- One-click job posting to 200+ boards
- Video interviews built-in
- Background checks integrated
- Mobile app for iOS/Android
- Fast setup (literally hours)
Pricing
- Starter: $149/month ($1,788/year)
- Standard: $299/month ($3,588/year)
- Premier: $599/month ($7,188/year)
Still cheaper than Greenhouse Essential, with faster ROI.
Best For
Companies (20-200 employees) who want enterprise features without long implementation timelines.
Related: Workable vs JuggleHire
#4. BambooHR — Best for HR Suite Integration
BambooHR combines ATS with full HRIS, creating seamless candidate-to-employee transitions.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | BambooHR |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Recruiting only | Full HR suite |
| Pricing | $6,500+/year | ~$99+/month |
| Onboarding | Separate tool needed | Included |
| HRIS | Must integrate | Native |
| Best For | Large recruiting teams | All-in-one HR |
Key Features
- Applicant tracking integrated with HRIS
- Seamless onboarding (hire → employee in one click)
- Employee database and records
- Time-off tracking
- Performance management
- E-signatures for offers
- Reporting across hiring and HR
Pricing
- Custom pricing (typically starts around $99/month + per-employee fees)
- Includes both ATS and HRIS
Best For
Small to mid-size companies (10-500 employees) wanting all-in-one HR and recruiting software.
#5. Recruitee — Best for Collaborative Hiring
Recruitee makes team collaboration effortless with an intuitive interface that doesn't overwhelm non-recruiters.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | Recruitee |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration | Good | Excellent |
| Pricing | $6,500+/year | €2,388+/year |
| UI/UX | Complex | Very intuitive |
| Setup | Weeks | Days |
| GDPR Compliance | Add-on | Built-in |
Key Features
- Kanban-style pipeline (visual, intuitive)
- Easy team collaboration without training
- Career site builder
- Talent pools for future hiring
- Automated workflows
- Chrome extension for sourcing
- GDPR-compliant out of the box
Pricing
- Launch: €199/month (~$215/month)
- Scale: €349/month (~$375/month)
- Lead: Custom pricing
Best For
European companies or distributed teams who need simple, collaborative hiring.
Related: Recruitee Alternatives
#6. SmartRecruiters — Best Enterprise Alternative
SmartRecruiters competes directly with Greenhouse at the enterprise level, often at better pricing.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | SmartRecruiters |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Features | Excellent | Excellent |
| Global Capabilities | Good | Better |
| Free Tier | None | Yes (limited) |
| Marketplace | 300+ integrations | 600+ integrations |
| Implementation | 6-12 weeks | 6-12 weeks |
Key Features
- Talent Acquisition Suite (end-to-end platform)
- Global compliance (40+ languages)
- SmartCRM for candidate relationships
- AI-powered matching
- 600+ integrations
- Advanced analytics
- Free version available
Pricing
- Free: Basic features (limited)
- Custom: Enterprise pricing (competitive with Greenhouse)
Best For
Large enterprises (500+ employees) wanting Greenhouse-level features with better global capabilities.
#7. Breezy HR — Best Visual Pipeline
Breezy HR emphasizes visual candidate management with a beautiful, intuitive Kanban-style interface.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | Breezy HR |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Pipeline | Standard | Exceptional |
| Pricing | $6,500+/year | Free-$4,788/year |
| Free Tier | None | Yes |
| Setup | Weeks | Hours |
| Video Features | Limited | Built-in video intros |
Key Features
- Kanban pipeline (drag-and-drop bliss)
- Free tier available
- Candidate video introductions
- Automated workflows
- Team scorecards
- Chrome extension for sourcing
- SMS recruiting
Pricing
- Bootstrap: Free (1 active job)
- Startup: $143/month
- Growth: $273/month
- Business: $399/month
Best For
Visual thinkers who want hiring to feel more like project management than database admin.
Related: Breezy HR vs JuggleHire
#8. JazzHR — Best for Growing Companies
JazzHR balances simplicity and power—perfect for companies outgrowing basic tools but not ready for Greenhouse.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | JazzHR |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $6,500+/year | $900+/year |
| Jobs Per Plan | Limited | Unlimited |
| Setup | Weeks | Days |
| Complexity | High | Moderate |
Key Features
- Unlimited jobs on all paid plans
- Customizable workflows
- Interview scheduling
- Team collaboration
- Branded career site
- Job board posting
- Reporting and analytics
Pricing
- Hero: $75/month ($900/year)
- Plus: $299/month ($3,588/year)
Much more affordable than Greenhouse with unlimited job postings.
Best For
Growing companies (20-100 employees) making 15-50 hires per year.
#9. Pinpoint — Best Modern Interface
Pinpoint offers a refreshingly modern, beautiful interface that makes recruiting feel less tedious.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | Pinpoint |
|---|---|---|
| UI/UX | Functional | Beautiful |
| Modern Feel | 2010s | 2020s |
| Setup | Complex | Streamlined |
| Pricing | Public | Custom (typically lower) |
Key Features
- Beautiful, modern UI
- Career site builder (gorgeous templates)
- Automated workflows
- Collaborative hiring
- Interview kits
- Analytics dashboard
- GDPR compliant
Pricing
- Custom pricing based on company size
- Typically more affordable than Greenhouse
Best For
Design-conscious companies who want an ATS that's a joy to use.
#10. Ashby — Best for Data-Driven Teams
Ashby is built for companies that take hiring analytics seriously, with best-in-class reporting.
vs Greenhouse
| Feature | Greenhouse | Ashby |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics | Good | Exceptional |
| Pricing | $6,500+/year | ~$3,600+/year |
| Modern Tech | Older platform | Built 2020s |
| Forecasting | Basic | Advanced |
Key Features
- Native analytics (not bolted on)
- Real-time dashboards
- Hiring plan tracking
- Recruiter productivity metrics
- Pipeline forecasting
- Clean, fast interface
- API-first architecture
Pricing
- Starting around $300/month (~$3,600/year)
- More affordable than Greenhouse with better analytics
Best For
Data-driven teams (100-1,000 employees) who want deep insights into hiring performance.
#Choosing the Right Greenhouse Alternative
#By Company Size
| Size | Recommended Alternative | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1-20 employees | JuggleHire, Breezy HR | Simple, affordable |
| 20-50 employees | JuggleHire, Workable, Recruitee | Balance of features and cost |
| 50-200 employees | Lever, JazzHR, Ashby | Scalable with good analytics |
| 200-500 employees | Lever, SmartRecruiters, Workable | Mid-market focused |
| 500+ employees | SmartRecruiters, iCIMS | Enterprise scale |
#By Primary Need
| Need | Best Alternative | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost | JuggleHire | $19/mo vs $6,500/year |
| Fast setup | Workable | Same-day vs weeks |
| Best CRM | Lever | Native relationship management |
| Visual pipeline | Breezy HR | Kanban-style interface |
| Analytics | Ashby | Best-in-class reporting |
| All-in-one HR | BambooHR | ATS + HRIS combined |
| Collaboration | Recruitee | Team-focused design |
| Enterprise scale | SmartRecruiters | Global capabilities |
#By Budget
| Annual Budget | Best Options |
|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | JuggleHire ($228-1,188/year) |
| $1,000-$3,000 | Workable Starter, JazzHR, Breezy HR |
| $3,000-$6,000 | Lever, Ashby, Recruitee |
| $6,000+ | SmartRecruiters, iCIMS, Workable Premier |
#Feature Comparison: Greenhouse vs Top Alternatives
| Feature | Greenhouse | JuggleHire | Lever | Workable | BambooHR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $6,500/year | $19/month | ~$3K/year | $149/month | ~$99/month |
| Visual Pipeline | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Email Integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Interview Scheduling | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Job Board Posting | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Team Collaboration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Career Site Builder | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Structured Interviews | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| DEI Analytics | ✅✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Native CRM | ❌ | ❌ | ✅✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| AI Sourcing | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅✅ | ❌ |
| HRIS Integration | Via partners | Via partners | Via partners | Via partners | ✅✅ Native |
| Setup Time | 4-8 weeks | 15 minutes | 2-4 weeks | Same day | 1-2 weeks |
| Best For | Enterprise | Small biz | Mid-market | Fast setup | All-in-one HR |
#What You'll Gain by Switching from Greenhouse
#1. Significant Cost Savings
Greenhouse: $6,500+/year Alternatives: $228-3,600/year
Savings: $2,900-6,272 annually (enough to fund referral bonuses, job board ads, or another team member)
#2. Faster Implementation
Greenhouse: 4-8 weeks of setup Alternatives: Hours to 2 weeks
Get recruiting faster. Every day without an ATS costs you efficiency.
#3. Simpler User Experience
Most alternatives have more intuitive interfaces requiring less training. Your team can be productive from day one.
#4. Right-Sized Features
Pay for what you need, not enterprise features you'll never use. Most teams don't need advanced workforce planning or compliance automation.
#5. Better Support (Often)
Smaller platforms often provide more responsive, personalized support vs. enterprise ticketing systems.
#What You'll Miss from Greenhouse
Be honest about what you're giving up:
#1. Structured Hiring Methodology
Greenhouse's interview kits, scorecards, and training are industry-leading. Alternatives offer these features, but Greenhouse's implementation is most refined.
Mitigation: Create your own interview scripts and scorecards. Most alternatives support these workflows.
#2. Advanced DEI Analytics
Greenhouse provides sophisticated diversity, equity, and inclusion reporting and tools.
Mitigation: Lever, Workable, and SmartRecruiters offer DEI features. JuggleHire users can track diversity manually or with Google Sheets.
#3. Extensive Integration Marketplace
Greenhouse integrates with 300+ apps. Alternatives typically offer 50-200 integrations.
Mitigation: Check if your critical tools integrate. Most alternatives cover popular HRIS, background checks, and assessments.
#4. Enterprise-Grade Compliance
For highly regulated industries, Greenhouse's compliance tools are robust.
Mitigation: SmartRecruiters and iCIMS offer enterprise compliance. Smaller teams likely don't need this level.
#5. Brand Recognition
Greenhouse is well-known and respected. Some candidates may have positive experiences with it.
Mitigation: Most candidates don't care about your ATS. They care about clear communication and smooth process.
#How to Switch from Greenhouse
#Phase 1: Evaluation (1-2 weeks)
-
Audit current usage
- Which Greenhouse features do you actually use?
- Which could you live without?
- What's working? What's frustrating?
-
Define requirements
- Must-have features
- Nice-to-have features
- Budget constraints
- Integration needs
-
Shortlist alternatives
- Request demos from 3-5 platforms
- Check pricing for your team size
- Read reviews from similar companies
#Phase 2: Decision (1 week)
-
Test finalists
- Sign up for trials
- Import sample data
- Have team test usability
- Verify integrations work
-
Calculate ROI
- Annual savings vs Greenhouse
- Time saved in setup and daily use
- Team productivity improvements
-
Get buy-in
- Present options to stakeholders
- Address concerns
- Make decision
#Phase 3: Migration (2-4 weeks)
-
Export from Greenhouse
- Candidate data
- Job templates
- Interview kits
- Historical data
-
Set up new platform
- Configure workflows
- Customize stages
- Create templates
- Set up integrations
-
Migrate data
- Import active candidates
- Transfer job postings
- Move templates
-
Train team
- Admin training
- Recruiter training
- Hiring manager training
- Create documentation
#Phase 4: Launch (1-2 weeks)
-
Soft launch
- Limited users
- 1-2 test jobs
- Gather feedback
-
Full rollout
- All users onboarded
- Deprecate Greenhouse
- Monitor for issues
-
Optimize
- Refine workflows based on usage
- Add integrations as needed
- Continuous improvement
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Is Greenhouse worth the price?
For large enterprises (500+ employees) with complex hiring needs, yes. Greenhouse's structured hiring, DEI analytics, and enterprise features justify the cost. For small to mid-size companies (1-200 employees), alternatives like JuggleHire, Lever, or Workable deliver 90% of the value at 10-50% of the cost.
#What's the cheapest Greenhouse alternative?
JuggleHire at $19-99/month ($228-1,188/year) is the most affordable professional ATS. Free options include Breezy HR (1 job), Freshteam (1 job), and Zoho Recruit (1 job), but with significant feature limitations.
#Which ATS is better than Greenhouse?
"Better" depends on your needs:
- Best CRM: Lever (better relationship management)
- Best AI: Workable (AI Recruiter surpasses Greenhouse)
- Best analytics: Ashby (superior reporting)
- Best value: JuggleHire (96% cheaper with core features)
- Best all-in-one: BambooHR (ATS + HRIS)
Greenhouse excels at structured hiring and DEI for enterprises.
#Can small businesses use Greenhouse?
Technically yes, but it's overkill. Small businesses (1-50 employees) don't need Greenhouse's enterprise features and find the $6,500/year price hard to justify. JuggleHire, Workable, or Breezy HR are better fits.
#How long does it take to switch from Greenhouse?
- Evaluation: 1-2 weeks
- Decision: 1 week
- Migration: 2-4 weeks
- Total: 1-2 months
Simpler alternatives like JuggleHire can be implemented in days vs weeks.
#Will I lose data switching from Greenhouse?
No, but plan carefully:
- Export all data from Greenhouse (candidates, jobs, notes)
- Clean and organize the export
- Import into new platform (most support CSV imports)
- Keep Greenhouse read-only for 3-6 months for historical reference
#Do Greenhouse alternatives integrate with my other tools?
Most alternatives integrate with popular tools:
- HRIS: BambooHR, Gusto, Rippling, ADP
- Background checks: Checkr, GoodHire, HireRight
- Assessment: Codility, TestGorilla
- Calendar: Google, Outlook
- Email: Gmail, Outlook
Check integration lists before switching.
#Conclusion
Greenhouse is a powerful ATS, but it's not the only option—and for many companies, it's not the best option.
For small businesses (1-50 employees), JuggleHire delivers professional recruiting at $19-99/month—96% cheaper than Greenhouse.
For mid-market companies (50-200 employees), Lever or Workable provide excellent balance of features and cost.
For enterprises (500+ employees) evaluating alternatives, SmartRecruiters offers comparable functionality, often with better global capabilities and pricing.
The key is honest evaluation:
- Which Greenhouse features do you actually use?
- What would you miss if you switched?
- What would you gain (cost savings, easier UX, faster setup)?
Most teams discover they're paying for enterprise features they don't need. The right alternative saves money while improving the recruiting experience.
Ready to explore alternatives? Try JuggleHire free for 14 days—no credit card required.
#Related Resources
Tagged with:

Zakir Hossen
Zakir, founder of JuggleHire - a Google Forms alternative for hiring. Bootstrapped entrepreneur and software engineer with 10+ years coding experience from BD.
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