We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
The clearest reason to switch from Breezy HR is price: the pricing page puts its annual starting price at $157 per month. But the Reddit evidence here does not show a Breezy-specific complaint. One thread’s original poster chose Breezy for a balance of core features and simplicity. So the right move depends on what changed: you may want an ATS plus CRM, staffing-focused tools, recruiting analytics or more automation. Compare these alternatives by that need, not by feature lists alone.
01Why people leave Breezy HR
The starting price is a hurdle
Breezy HR starts at $157 per month with annual billing on the pricing page. CATS, Bullhorn and Gem list lower starting prices, but their plan details differ.
Your recruiting setup has changed
You may now need an ATS with CRM, analytics, passive-candidate pipelines or staffing back-office tools. These alternatives target those needs more directly.
You want a different level of simplicity
A Reddit thread’s poster chose Breezy for core features without unnecessary complexity. The comments favor simplicity for small teams, but do not document a Breezy-specific problem.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- ATS and CRM
CATSCATSChoose CATS if you want an ATS and recruiting CRM together rather than a recruiting setup centered on one system. The pricing page also calls out candidate-stage workflow automation and agency tracking for clients and applicants. Its starting price is $95, below Breezy HR’s listed $157 monthly annual starting price; check the plan details before treating that as a like-for-like comparison.
Trade-off: The per-user price can add up as the team grows.
6.5/10from
$95/mo - Staffing firms
BullhornBullhornBullhorn is the closer fit if you run a staffing firm and need ATS and CRM in one workflow. The pricing page highlights recruiting automation and back-office tools for North American agencies. Its listed starting price is $99, below Breezy HR’s $157 monthly annual starting price, but the listing advises getting a quote before budgeting for AI or front-to-back operations.
Trade-off: Get a quote for AI or front-to-back operations.
7.2/10from
$99/mo - Small teams
GemGemGem is worth comparing if your team has 1–10 FTE or wants to replace several recruiting tools while keeping its current ATS. The pricing page also notes a free plan and a $130 starting price. That gives small teams a lower listed entry point than Breezy HR, but custom pricing means the total cost may take a sales conversation to pin down.
Trade-off: Custom pricing makes the full cost harder to compare.
7.0/10from
$130/mofree plan - ATS plus CRM
LeverLeverLever suits teams that want ATS and recruiting CRM coverage in one product, especially if they build passive-candidate pipelines or need hiring analytics and AI. Those are the pricing page’s stated strengths, making Lever a fit to investigate if those needs now matter more than Breezy HR’s listed entry price. There is no public price in the listing, so budget fit is unknown.
Trade-off: No public price or relevant Reddit feedback is listed.
6.2/10from
Custom - Hiring automation
ParadoxParadoxConsider Paradox if your main reason to leave is a need for broader recruiting automation across multiple hiring stages. The pricing page also identifies it as an option for employers keeping an existing system of record, so it may suit a team that does not want to replace every HR tool. Pricing and plan limits are not published in the listing.
Trade-off: Pricing and limits are unpublished.
6.2/10from
Custom - Recruiting analytics
AshbyAshbyAshby is aimed at teams consolidating recruiting tools or adding built-in recruiting analytics, including organizations that already have an ATS and want analytics. That makes it a different kind of switch from simply finding a lower listed starting price. The published pricing notes conflict: one gives a $360 starting price, while another calls the entry plan $400 per month. Confirm the price and limits before comparing.
Trade-off: The published entry-price figures conflict; larger plans hide their prices.
6.0/10from
$360/mo
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Breezy HR Breezy HR (current) | 7.0 | $157/mo | No | Teams hiring regularly |
| CATS CATS | 6.5 | $95/mo | No | Recruiters needing ATS and CRM together |
| Bullhorn Bullhorn | 7.2 | $99/mo | No | Staffing firms consolidating ATS and CRM |
| Gem Gem | 7.0 | $130/mo | Yes | Startups with 1–10 FTE |
| Lever Lever | 6.2 | Custom | No | Teams combining ATS and recruiting CRM |
| Paradox Paradox | 6.2 | Custom | No | Organizations automating hiring tasks |
| Ashby Ashby | 6.0 | $360/mo | No | Teams consolidating recruiting tools |
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest Breezy HR alternative here?
Among the alternatives listed, CATS starts at $95 and Bullhorn at $99; Gem starts at $130 and has a free plan. The published Breezy HR listing says $157 per month with annual billing. These figures are starting prices, not proof that equivalent plans include the same features.
Does Reddit show why people are leaving Breezy HR?
Not in the Reddit discussion we read. One thread’s original poster says they chose Breezy HR because it balanced core features with simplicity. The comments include general support for simple tools, but they do not report a Breezy-specific reason to leave.
Which alternative combines an ATS and CRM?
CATS, Bullhorn and Lever are described on the pricing page as combining ATS and CRM. CATS is positioned for recruiters and agencies, Bullhorn for staffing firms, and Lever for teams building passive-candidate pipelines. Their listed prices and availability differ, so check the relevant plan or request pricing.