What Lever does
Lever was the first mainstream ATS to merge the applicant tracker with a candidate relationship manager, so passive candidates, nurture emails, and pipeline live in one record. Now owned by Employ (alongside JazzHR and Jobvite), it remains a strong mid-market choice with a cleaner UI than Greenhouse and slightly fewer integrations.
| Category | Applicant Tracking Systems |
|---|---|
| Best for | Mid-sized companies that want CRM nurture campaigns inside the ATS |
| Pricing | Quote-based (LeverTRM and LeverTRM for Enterprise); typically $5,000–$25,000+ per year. |
| Free tier | No |
| Company fit | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Notable integrations | Gem, Calendly, Checkr, CodeSignal |
| Website | lever.co |
Strengths
- Native CRM, nurture sequences, and talent pools
- Clean, fast interface recruiters like
- Good automation rules and approvals
Weaknesses
- Product investment slowed after the Employ acquisition
- Analytics require the enterprise tier or an add-on
- Fewer marketplace integrations than Greenhouse
Where Lever fits in the stack
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is the system of record for hiring: it posts jobs, collects applications, moves candidates through stages, stores interview feedback, and reports on the pipeline. Every other recruitment tool plugs into it.
Buy first. The ATS is the foundation the rest of the stack integrates with, so choose it before sourcing, scheduling, or assessment tools.
Alternatives to Lever
Greenhouse
The structured-hiring ATS most scaling tech companies standardize on.
Best for: Companies of 200–5,000 employees that want structured interviews and a deep integration marketplace
ATSAshby
All-in-one ATS, scheduling, CRM, and analytics built for data-driven teams.
Best for: Startups and scale-ups (20–2,000 employees) that want analytics and scheduling without extra tools
ATSWorkable
Small-business ATS with job distribution, AI screening, and HR add-ons.
Best for: Companies of 10–300 employees that want posting, tracking, and basic HR in one subscription
FAQ
What is Lever?
Lever is an applicant tracking system product: ATS plus built-in CRM for teams that nurture as much as they process.
Who is Lever best for?
Mid-sized companies that want CRM nurture campaigns inside the ATS.
How much does Lever cost?
Quote-based (LeverTRM and LeverTRM for Enterprise); typically $5,000–$25,000+ per year.
What are the main alternatives to Lever?
Greenhouse, Ashby, Workable. See all applicant tracking systems in our Applicant Tracking Systems ranking.
Reviewed by the RecruitmentTools.org Research Desk. Scores reflect our independent assessment; pricing is as published or as reported by customers and changes often — confirm with the vendor. Spotted an error? Tell us.