Ashby vs Top Echelon
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed September 22, 2026How we research →
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
Ashby
Analytics-first ATS expanding from startups into agencies
Best for: Tech-focused teams that prioritize analytics and product velocity
✓Best-in-class custom reporting and analytics
✓Rapid product velocity, constant shipping
✕Built for in-house hiring; weak multi-client database separation for agencies
✕Opaque pricing for AI add-ons and larger plans
Top Echelon
Affordable ATS/CRM with a built-in split-placement network
Best for: Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements
✓Extremely affordable with transparent pricing
✓Automations, Sequences, and Smart-TE AI on the Professional tier
✕Resume parsing into existing candidate records trips reviewers up (Capterra, 2026)
✕Email integration draws more criticism than any other feature in reviews
Our verdict
Choose Ashby if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Top Echelon doesn't focus on
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
- ✓AI matching and assistance are on your must-have list
- ✓You need an open API for custom integrations
Choose Top Echelon if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Ashby doesn't focus on
- ✓Your team sources through LinkedIn every day
- ✓Multi-job-board posting is core to how you fill roles
- ✓You want to trial before committing (free trial available)
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Ashby | Top Echelon |
|---|---|---|
| ATS + CRM core | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email/inbox sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| LinkedIn / Chrome extension | ~ | ✓ |
| Multi-job-board posting | ~ | ✓ |
| Built-in candidate sourcing | ~ | ~ |
| Workflow automation | ✓ | ~ |
| AI matching & assistance | ✓ | ~ |
| Reporting & analytics | ✓ | ~ |
| Temp back-office (pay & bill) | – | – |
| Open API | ✓ | ~ |
| Mobile app | – | ~ |
IncludedPartial or paid add-onNot available
What would it cost your team?
| Est. monthly cost, entry tier | 5 seats | 20 seats | 50 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashby (official) | $400/mo (org ≤100 employees)flat | $400/mo (org ≤100 employees)flat | $400/mo (org ≤100 employees)flat |
| Top Echelon (official) | $475/mo | $1,900/mo | $4,750/mo |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of September 22, 2026; real quotes vary with plan tier, add-on modules, and contract terms. See how we label pricing confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do Ashby and Top Echelon pricing compare?
Ashby pricing starts at $400/mo (org ≤100 employees) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Top Echelon pricing starts at $95/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026).
What does Ashby cost?
Ashby pricing starts at $400/mo (org ≤100 employees) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Foundations $400/mo for organizations up to 100 employees (10% annual-commitment discount); larger plans and Analytics are custom-quoted. Priced by company headcount, not recruiter seats (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
What does Top Echelon cost?
Top Echelon pricing starts at $95/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). Monthly billing: TE Recruit Standard $95/user/mo and Professional $115/user/mo. Committing annually drops those to $79 and $95. Automations, Sequences, Smart-TE AI, Natural Language Search, [BETA] AI People Search, inbound email sync, and API access are Professional-tier only. The TE Network split-placement subscription is billed separately: $150/mo per agency plus a $350 startup fee on monthly billing, or $135/mo annually with the startup fee waived (vendor pricing page, Sep 2026).
Which is rated higher, Ashby or Top Echelon?
Ashby is rated higher: 4.7/5 on G2 versus 4.6/5 for Top Echelon on Capterra.
Who is Ashby best for, and who is Top Echelon best for?
Ashby: Tech-focused teams that prioritize analytics and product velocity. Top Echelon: Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements.