Greenhouse is a popular applicant tracking system and hiring tool that promises to be “the only hiring platform you’ll ever need.”
There’s only one problem: figuring out how much this recruiting software actually costs. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as quickly skimming the Greenhouse pricing page because that would be too easy, right?
As a workaround, this guide explores Greenhouse pricing in more detail, including its plans, user reviews, and how it compares to competitors’ costs. Best of all, we’ll provide real figures to give you a ballpark of how much you can expect to pay on this platform.
How much does Greenhouse cost?
Greenhouse doesn’t offer transparent pricing. Requesting a demo is the only way to learn about Greenhouse’s pricing structure because the pricing plans featured on the company website don’t include actual prices.
Our research shows that Greenhouse costs at least $6,000-$10,000 per year, depending on your headcount. However, you might also receive a small discount by committing to a longer-term contract, such as two years instead of one.
“ATS pricing is a pain since most companies don’t list it upfront. Greenhouse is usually around $6K–$10K a year,” said one frustrated user.
Another prospective customer states, “Greenhouse just quoted my company $27k based on an EE headcount of 190,” while a third person reports similar figures, plus additional setup costs. “Got a quote from them last year and it was 18k for the cheapest package and 30k for the most, with a 1k implementation fee.
What’s included in each Greenhouse pricing plan?
Greenhouse offers three pricing plans: Essential, Advanced, and Expert. The plan is the first factor in the total price point, while the second is your company size.
The Essential plan
This basic Greenhouse offering creates a streamlined employer recruitment process and candidate experience. As a part of the Talent Sourcing feature set, it offers:
- CRM Essential + 1 event
- Multi-channel sourcing
- Job Ad Market
- Texting, powered by Grayscale
And in the “Scalable workflows” feature set, Greenhouse gives you:
- GDPR compliance
- Security and performance
- Automated task management
In the Interviewing and decision-making suite, you have:
- U.S. Standard demographic and EEOC questions
- DE&I behavioral nudges
- Company DE&I statement
- Candidate name pronunciation
- Collect candidate pronouns
Lastly, there is Reporting and Insights, with the following features:
- Core reports
- Goal-setting and tracking
This plan has all the basics for effective talent acquisition and creating a functional hiring process. But we can’t tell you how much this plan costs because of Greenhouse’s decision not to publish the latest details. Instead, Greenhouse tailors its pricing based on your headcount and specific needs.
The Advanced plan
Taking it up a gear, the Advanced plan is built for companies with some experience in HR apps who need to streamline their existing HR operations.
The Advanced level includes all the Standard features, but you’ll notice two differences in the Talent Sourcing feature set: there are 10 events, plus internal and multi-brand job boards.
In Scalable Workflows, there are a few differences too:
- Advanced data configuration
- Single sign-on
- Bulk action and approvals
- Automated user management and stage transition rules
- Bulk import
The extra features for interviewing and decision-making include:
- Candidate self-scheduling
- Auto-advance and reject
Last but not least, you can create fully customizable reports.
If you’re already familiar with talent acquisition software and are switching to Greenhouse to take advantage of its automation features, you should probably skip the Essential plan and go straight for the Advanced one instead.
The Expert plan
The Expert plan is the most expensive Greenhouse offering. This pricing level comes equipped with the highest customization capabilities, meant for businesses with larger human resources teams and more advanced hiring needs. For your money (however much that may be), you’ll receive all the features from the previous plans plus a few extras.
The Talent Sourcing module provides a CRM Expert + unlimited events, prospect posts, and reviews.
The Scalable workflows product portion has some extra features too:
- Enhanced security and performance
- Expert data configuration
- Developer sandbox
- Automated permissions management
- Sandbox sync*
The Interviewing module offers:
- DE&I structured interviewing
- Anonymized take-home tests
- Focus attributes for roundup
- Required scorecard explanations
And finally, the reporting functionality is comprehensive, too:
- Business Intelligence Connector
- DE&I-specific reports
- Custom demographic questions
- Audit log (this costs extra)
Obviously, you get all the features at this level. But only you can decide if they’re worth the additional cost to your organization.
Greenhouse integrations extend the value of the platform
A major part of Greenhouse’s appeal is its rich library of native integrations. The platform connects to a variety of HR tools and categories, such as:
- HRIS and onboarding
- Job distribution
- Sourcing
- Screening
- Productivity and collaboration
- Candidate experience
- Analytics
The catch? You’ll need to pay extra for the tools you need. For example, if you want to integrate with Aquera, an employee onboarding system, this tool has its own pricing. And since it’s an enterprise-level product, you won’t find transparent pricing there either, so there’s yet more guesswork involved.
In short, research your needs first and see if Greenhouse has all the features you may need in the basic (and more affordable) plans. Otherwise, you may have to cough up for the pricier Advanced and expert Greenhouse plans, plus the extra integration costs to manage your ideal talent acquisition tech stack.
What do users think of Greenhouse pricing?
So, do real-world customers think Greenhouse is worth the price they pay? It’s a mixed bag. Many users appreciate Greenhouse’s ease of use and breadth of features.
For example, according to this talent acquisition specialist, “While it may be a bit expensive for some, it’s worth the investment. Its integration features and robust reporting capabilities really stood out for our team.”
But this isn’t true for all Greenhouse customers. Here are some common complaints from Greenhouse customers who suggest it may not be the best value for money — at least not for everyone.
Steep learning curve can slow adoption
As with any new software, you want to integrate the platform into your workflow so that learning how to use something that’s supposed to make life easier is free of time, effort, and training costs.
But this internet services industry user points out a glaring problem with Greenhouse: “It’s expensive for small businesses, and the interface would take time to learn.”
New features are limited to higher tiers
Startups and smaller businesses can find the platform overpriced for their needs. Worse still, those at the bottom of the ladder don’t get to experience the latest functionality whenever the developers have been working hard on the latest innovation.
One employer branding specialist said, “Greenhouse is definitely one of the more expensive ATSs on the market. It seems that many of the new features released are only available to the highest tier, so while new features are great, they are not accessible to everyone.”
Customer service can also be expensive
Greenhouse only offers self-help articles and customer support via text unless you’re on the more expensive plans. If you want to speak to someone in real time, you’ll need to consider whether upgrading is worth the cost.
How does Greenhouse pricing compare to competitors?
Not sure if Greenhouse is the best fit? Not to worry, because there are several other Greenhouse alternatives to consider, especially if you need to commit at a lower price point. Notice how the vendors below provide transparent pricing, making it easier to figure out your budget as you explore options.
| Tool | Plan Names | Prices (USD) | Details |
| Greenhouse | • Essential • Advanced • Expert | ~$6,000–$70,000/year (custom pricing) | Pricing varies based on company size and features. Plans scale from basic ATS functionality to advanced analytics and integrations. |
| Toggl Hire | • Free • Starter • Premium • Business | • $0/month • $199/month (billed annually) • $349/month (billed annually) • Custom pricing | Offers unlimited candidates and customizable tests. Transparent pricing with a generous free plan. |
| Lever | Custom plans | ~$3,500–$140,000/year (based on company size) | Pricing varies by company size and needs. Offers flexible packages tailored to businesses of all sizes. |
| Workable | • Starter • Standard • Premier | $189–$3,559+/month (based on company size) | Transparent, tiered pricing suitable for small to mid-sized businesses. Offers a free trial and various add-ons. |
| BambooHR | • Essentials • Advantage | $12–$22 per employee/month | Pricing is based on a per-employee, per-month model, with discounts as employee count increases. |
How does Toggl Hire compare to Greenhouse?
Looking for a Greenhouse alternative that won’t break the bank? Here’s what you can expect from Toggl Hire compared to Greenhouse.
Toggl Hire is transparent and budget-friendly
Unlike Greenhouse, Toggl Hire offers transparent, upfront pricing. Plans start with a Free tier for basic needs, followed by the Starter plan at $199/month, which includes three active job openings and unlimited candidates. This straightforward pricing model is loved by startups and SMBs that don’t want to spend Greenhouse-type money.
Greenhouse is feature-rich but complex; Toggl Hire is intuitive and quick to deploy
Greenhouse’s extensive features offer flexibility, but they can also introduce complexity. Implementing and customizing Greenhouse can require significant time and resources, which may be impossible for smaller teams or those without dedicated IT support.
On the other hand, Toggl Hire is super user-friendly. Teams can quickly create job postings, set up assessments, and evaluate candidates without extensive training or onboarding.
Greenhouse relies on integrations for assessments; Toggl Hire provides them natively
Greenhouse does not include built-in assessment tools. To evaluate candidate skills, users must integrate third-party assessment platforms, which can add to the overall cost and complexity of the hiring process.
Toggl Hire also offers a full-cycle hiring platform with a cherry on top — a library of 150+ pre-built skills tests covering various roles and industries. These assessments are integrated directly into the platform, allowing you to evaluate top talent without additional tools or subscriptions.
Greenhouse is better for large enterprises; Toggl Hire is ideal for agile, cost-conscious teams
Greenhouse is best suited for mid-sized to large enterprises that require a comprehensive, customizable hiring platform and possess the resources to manage its complexity and cost.
Toggl Hire appeals to startups, SMBs, and remote teams seeking an affordable, efficient, and easy-to-use hiring solution. Its focus on skills-based assessments and streamlined workflows promises faster hiring decisions without sacrificing candidate quality.
Try Toggl Hire for free
The bigger the headcount, the more you end up paying for Greenhouse. And when you’re not bringing in new hires, you’re still spending thousands every year on this tool. For larger teams with a big budget and consistent hiring needs, Greenhouse can be a great fit. But if you’re lean and looking to hire exceptional people at an affordable cost, Toggl Hire is better.
Before you begin comparing pricing, check out our 100% free plan to sample how Toggl Hire can enhance your hiring processes. Once you’re ready, book a demo with our team so we can show you how to extract even more value from our platform.
FAQs
How much does Greenhouse cost per month?
Greenhouse starts at about $6,000 per year and up, based on anecdotal evidence from customers and prospects. The exact price depends on the plan you choose and the size of your workforce.
How does Greenhouse pricing compare to other HR tool providers?
Greenhouse pricing is similar to that of other enterprise HR tools like Lever. However, it’s significantly more expensive than that of HR SaaS tools built for smaller businesses.
Mile is a B2B content marketer specializing in HR, martech and data analytics. Ask him about thoughts on reducing hiring bias, the role of AI in modern recruitment, or how to immediately spot red flags in a job ad.
