ApplicantStack vs Lever: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for ApplicantStack and Lever side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Lever leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
ApplicantStack
Find, hire, and onboard new employees with a simple, fast, and powerful HR software.
Best for you if:
- • You want comprehensive solution covering both recruiting and onboarding
Lever
All-in-one talent acquisition to build equitable hiring
Best for you if:
- • You want combined ATS+CRM
| At a Glance | ApplicantStack | Lever |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $29.99/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | From $6/mo, billed monthly LeverTRM plan |
Category | HR & Recruiting ATS | HR & Recruiting ATS |
Rating | 4.4/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.4 · TrustRadius 4.6 2,373 reviews | 4.4/5 G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.6 2,778 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Additional admin/hiring manager seats cost extra on higher tiers. | Potential seat minimums for LeverTRM |
Choose ApplicantStack or Lever?
Choose ApplicantStack if
- You want comprehensive solution covering both recruiting and onboarding
- You want highly customizable workflows to fit specific hiring processes
Choose Lever if
- You want combined ATS+CRM
- You want great UX
- Budget matters ($6/mo, billed monthly vs $29.99/mo, billed monthly)
In-Depth Analysis
ApplicantStack
Find, hire, and onboard new employees with a simple, fast, and powerful HR software.
ApplicantStack offers a fair pricing structure, especially for smaller businesses with limited hiring needs.
Watch out
Additional admin/hiring manager seats cost extra on higher tiers.
Strengths
- Pro: Comprehensive solution covering both recruiting and onboarding
- Pro: Highly customizable workflows to fit specific hiring processes
- Pro: Integrated text messaging for improved candidate communication and engagement
- Pro: User-friendly interface, making it easy to adopt
- Pro: Strong customer support with HR experience
Weaknesses
- Con: Specific details on advanced analytics capabilities are not explicitly detailed
- Con: No mention of direct integrations with payroll systems or other HRIS beyond its own onboarding module
- Con: The extent of customization for the employee portal is not fully specified
Key features
Lever
All-in-one talent acquisition to build equitable hiring
Lever's pricing, particularly the LeverTRM tier at $6-8/employee/month, appears competitive for its comprehensive ATS/CRM features.
Watch out
Potential seat minimums for LeverTRM
Strengths
- Pro: Combined ATS+CRM
- Pro: Great UX
- Pro: Strong integrations
Weaknesses
- Con: Enterprise pricing
- Con: No public pricing
Key features
Plans and prices: ApplicantStack vs Lever
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ApplicantStack |
| applicantstack.com/pricing read Oct 8, 2026 |
| Lever |
| lever.co/pricing read Oct 3, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on ApplicantStack pricing and Lever pricing.
Key Takeaways
ApplicantStack
- Choose if you want find, hire, and onboard new employees with a simple, fast, and powerful HR software
Lever
- Lower entry price: $6/mo, billed monthly vs $29.99/mo, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, Lever leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 2,373 reviews for ApplicantStack, 4.4/5 from 2,778 reviews for Lever).
- Lever has the lower entry price: $6/mo, billed monthly (LeverTRM) against $29.99/mo, billed monthly (Starter) for ApplicantStack.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do ApplicantStack and Lever compare in 2026?
On the data below, Lever leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 2,373 reviews for ApplicantStack, 4.4/5 from 2,778 reviews for Lever). Lever has the lower entry price: $6/mo, billed monthly (LeverTRM) against $29.99/mo, billed monthly (Starter) for ApplicantStack.
What are ApplicantStack and Lever used for?
ApplicantStack: Find, hire, and onboard new employees with a simple, fast, and powerful HR software. Lever: All-in-one talent acquisition to build equitable hiring.
What does ApplicantStack cost vs Lever?
ApplicantStack's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $29.99/mo, billed monthly. Lever's cheapest paid plan is LeverTRM at $6/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between ApplicantStack and Lever?
ApplicantStack's main strength: comprehensive solution covering both recruiting and onboarding. Lever's main strength: combined ATS+CRM.