Greenhouse vs Lever

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Greenhouse

Applicant tracking system built around structured hiring, used by many mid-sized and large tech companies.

Paid

Visit Greenhouse Greenhouse profile

Lever

Recruiting software that combines an applicant tracking system with a candidate CRM, now part of Employ.

Paid

Visit Lever Lever profile

The short answer

Greenhouse and Lever are both established applicant tracking systems for mid-sized and larger companies, both priced by custom quote. Greenhouse is known for structured hiring with interview kits, scorecards and strong reporting; Lever combines an ATS with a candidate CRM for recruiters who source and nurture passive candidates. Teams focused on consistent evaluation lean Greenhouse; teams that do a lot of outbound sourcing lean Lever.

Greenhouse or Lever: our take

Greenhouse builds its product around structured interviewing. Interview plans, kits and scorecards push every interviewer to assess candidates against the same criteria, and reporting and analytics are a strength. It covers job posting, sourcing, a candidate CRM, scheduling and offers, and has added AI features including an interview notetaker (included in the Core plan), talent matching and spam detection, plus MCP access for AI assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini. Its integration marketplace is one of the largest in recruiting, and it reports 7,500+ customer companies. Plans are Core, Plus and Pro, priced by company size.

Lever's distinguishing feature is that the ATS and CRM are one platform, so recruiters can nurture passive candidates with email sequences and move them into active pipelines without switching tools. It includes AI screening and matching, unlimited AI interview transcripts and summaries, and fraud signals, and integrates with major HRIS products and job boards. Lever is owned by Employ Inc., which also owns JazzHR, and reports 26k+ hiring teams. Customers note that reporting can feel clunky and that newer rivals have overtaken some features.

Both run in the browser with iOS and Android apps, and neither publishes prices; both can feel expensive for small companies. Greenhouse's advanced reporting and automation sit on higher tiers, and Lever sells extras such as advanced analytics and onboarding as add-ons, so comparing quotes for the same feature set matters. Pick Greenhouse when hiring volume is steady and the priority is fair, consistent evaluation and deep reporting across many teams. Pick Lever when the recruiting team spends much of its time sourcing and nurturing talent and wants that pipeline in the same tool as applicant tracking.

Choose Greenhouse if…

Mid-sized and large companies that want consistent, structured hiring at scale
Structured interview kits and scorecards
Very large integration marketplace

Choose Lever if…

Mid-sized companies whose recruiters source and nurture candidates proactively
ATS and CRM in a single tool
Good sourcing and nurture campaigns

What is Greenhouse?

Greenhouse is an applicant tracking system known for structured hiring: interview plans, kits and scorecards that push hiring teams to assess every candidate against the same criteria. It covers job posting, sourcing and a candidate CRM, scheduling, offers, reporting and analytics, and it has added AI features such as an interview notetaker, talent matching, fraud and spam detection, and an MCP connection for AI assistants. Its integration marketplace is one of the largest in recruiting, and Greenhouse Onboarding is available for new-hire workflows. Plans are Core, Plus and Pro, priced by quote based on company size. It runs in the browser with iOS and Android apps. It suits companies hiring steadily at scale; smaller companies may find it expensive and more process than they need, and reporting beyond the standard set can require the higher tiers.

What is Lever?

Lever combines an applicant tracking system with a candidate relationship manager, so recruiters can source and nurture passive candidates and move them into active pipelines without switching tools. It covers job posting, sourcing, email sequences, interview scheduling, feedback, offers and reporting, and it has added AI screening and matching, unlimited AI interview transcripts and summaries, and fraud signals. Lever is owned by Employ Inc., which also owns JazzHR. Pricing is custom-quoted by company size and needs, with add-ons for things like advanced analytics and onboarding. It runs in the browser with iOS and Android apps and integrates with major HRIS and job boards. It works best for mid-sized companies with active sourcing; customers report that reporting can be clunky and that pace of product change slowed in some years compared with newer rivals.

Side by side

Attribute	Greenhouse	Lever
Pricing	Paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Best for	Mid-sized and large companies that want consistent, structured hiring at scale	Mid-sized companies whose recruiters source and nurture candidates proactively
Status	Active	Active