Beamery vs Handshake
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed July 4, 2026How we research →
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
Beamery
AI talent platform for skills-first enterprise workforce planning
Best for: Global enterprises building skills-first talent networks on Workday/SAP
✓Deep skills-first frameworks and workforce intelligence
✓Surfaces overlooked candidates through intelligent mapping
✕Opaque modular pricing drives up total contract cost
✕Slow multi-stage enterprise implementations
Handshake
The campus recruiting network: 1,400+ colleges, 18M students
Best for: Employers running campus, internship, and early-career programs
✓Unmatched campus reach: direct registrar-verified student profiles
✓Genuinely free Basic tier for job posting
✕Free tier is tightly limited (10 messages/month)
✕Steep jump from Free/Pro to quote-based Enterprise
Our verdict
Choose Beamery if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Handshake 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 Handshake if…
- ✓You're in campus & graduate recruiting, a segment Beamery doesn't focus on
- ✓Multi-job-board posting is core to how you fill roles
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Beamery | Handshake |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | – | ~ |
What would it cost your team?
| Est. monthly cost, entry tier | 5 seats | 20 seats | 50 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beamery (official) | Custom quote | Custom quote | Custom quote |
| Handshake (official) | $450/mo (Pro)flat | $450/mo (Pro)flat | $450/mo (Pro)flat |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of July 4, 2026; real quotes vary with plan tier, add-on modules, and contract terms. See how we label pricing confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do Beamery and Handshake pricing compare?
Beamery uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Handshake pricing starts at $450/mo (Pro) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026).
What does Beamery cost?
Beamery uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Custom quote only: a demo- and implementation-led enterprise sale with no public module pricing. Positioned as an AI workforce platform connecting into Workday and SAP SuccessFactors (vendor site, Jul 2026).
What does Handshake cost?
Handshake pricing starts at $450/mo (Pro) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Basic is free (job posting, but capped at 10 messages/mo); Pro is $450/mo with 200 messages/mo; Enterprise is quote-based. Promoted jobs are a flexible-rate add-on. The old $100+/week Plus tier no longer exists (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
Who is Beamery best for, and who is Handshake best for?
Beamery: Global enterprises building skills-first talent networks on Workday/SAP. Handshake: Employers running campus, internship, and early-career programs.