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If you’re considering leaving Lever, start with the reason: price uncertainty, a need for a different recruiting stack, or a specific workflow Lever doesn’t cover for you. The available information describes Lever’s feature coverage as strong, but lists no public price. The published Reddit material is about gym equipment and rifles, not recruiting, so it offers no useful evidence about why Lever customers switch. These alternatives range from ATS-and-CRM suites to sourcing and technical screening tools.
01Why people leave Lever
Price uncertainty
Lever’s price is listed as n/a, so buyers cannot compare its total cost with alternatives using the available public information.
A different recruiting stack
If you want ATS plus CRM, analytics, sourcing or automation in a different bundle, compare tools around the workflow you actually need.
No useful Reddit evidence
The published Reddit material is about gym equipment and rifles, not Lever recruiting, so it does not establish why customers leave.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- ATS plus CRM
CATSCATSChoose CATS if your reason for leaving is wanting ATS and recruiting CRM together. Its listed strengths also include candidate-stage workflow automation and tracking clients and applicants, which may suit recruiting agencies. The listed starting price is $95, giving buyers a concrete figure to compare with Lever’s unpublished price.
Trade-off: The per-user price can add up as your team grows.
6.5/10from
$95/mo - Analytics and consolidation
AshbyAshbyAshby is worth comparing if you want to consolidate recruiting tools or put more emphasis on recruiting analytics. The listing starts at $360, while larger-plan prices are not published. The entry plan is described as having limits, so confirm which features and capacity your team needs before treating the starting price as your likely bill.
Trade-off: Entry-plan limits and hidden larger-plan prices complicate budgeting.
6.0/10from
$360/mo - Keep your ATS
GemGemGem fits teams that want to replace several recruiting tools without replacing their current ATS. That makes it a different kind of switch from moving to another all-in-one ATS: you can keep the system of record and assess Gem for the surrounding recruiting work. Its listed starting price is $130, with a free plan also listed.
Trade-off: Custom pricing is opaque, so the listed starting price may not settle cost.
7.0/10from
$130/mofree plan - Staffing firms
BullhornBullhornBullhorn is the more relevant comparison if you run a staffing firm and want ATS and CRM coverage with recruiting workflow automation. Its listed strengths include back-office tools for North American agencies, which makes it a more specialized option than a general recruiting replacement. The listing starts at $99, but advises getting a quote before budgeting.
Trade-off: Get a quote for AI or front-to-back operations.
7.2/10from
$99/mo - Hiring automation
ParadoxParadoxConsider Paradox if automating hiring tasks is the main reason you are looking beyond Lever. It covers hiring across multiple stages and is positioned for employers that want to keep an existing system of record. That could make it a fit when you want another automation layer rather than a full ATS replacement.
Trade-off: Pricing and limits are unpublished.
6.2/10from
Custom - LinkedIn sourcing
LinkedIn RecruiterLinkedIn RecruiterLinkedIn Recruiter is a focused alternative if sourcing on LinkedIn is the part of your recruiting stack you want to change or strengthen. It is listed for recruiters sourcing on LinkedIn, small teams considering Recruiter Lite, and teams needing ATS integration. The starting price is $140, but the listing recommends getting a firm quote.
Trade-off: It is a sourcing option, not a broad ATS-and-CRM replacement.
6.3/10from
$140/mo - Technical screening
HackerRankHackerRankHackerRank is a narrower option for teams whose switching need is technical hiring rather than replacing every recruiting workflow. Its listed use cases include structured technical screening, pair-programming interviews and assessing AI fluency. The listing starts at $165 and includes a free plan, with pricing tied to attempt caps.
Trade-off: Attempt caps and mixed candidate feedback are worth weighing.
5.9/10from
$165/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lever Lever (current) | 6.2 | Custom | No | Teams combining ATS and recruiting CRM |
| CATS CATS | 6.5 | $95/mo | No | Recruiters needing ATS and CRM together |
| Ashby Ashby | 6.0 | $360/mo | No | Teams consolidating recruiting tools |
| Gem Gem | 7.0 | $130/mo | Yes | Startups with 1–10 FTE |
| Bullhorn Bullhorn | 7.2 | $99/mo | No | Staffing firms consolidating ATS and CRM |
| Paradox Paradox | 6.2 | Custom | No | Organizations automating hiring tasks |
| LinkedIn Recruiter LinkedIn Recruiter | 6.3 | $140/mo | No | Recruiters sourcing on LinkedIn |
| HackerRank HackerRank | 5.9 | $165/mo | Yes | Teams assessing AI fluency |
Questions people ask
How much does Lever cost?
Lever’s price is listed as n/a in the available information, so we can’t give a public starting price or compare plan costs directly. Several alternatives publish a starting figure, but those prices may not represent your final quote or the capacity your team needs.
Which Lever alternative includes both an ATS and recruiting CRM?
CATS is explicitly listed for recruiters needing ATS and CRM together, and Bullhorn is listed for staffing firms consolidating ATS and CRM. Compare their workflow fit and pricing against your needs: CATS starts at $95, while Bullhorn starts at $99 and recommends a quote for some needs.
Can we switch from Lever without replacing our ATS?
Gem is listed for recruiters keeping their current ATS, while Paradox is aimed at employers keeping an existing system of record. They may suit teams looking to change surrounding tools or automate hiring tasks without making an ATS replacement the whole project.