Bullhorn vs Gem
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed October 23, 2026How we research →
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
Bullhorn
The market-leading platform for staffing and recruitment agencies
Best for: Mid-size to enterprise staffing firms, especially temp/contract
✓Deep partner ecosystem: 138 listings in its public marketplace, and VMS Sync pulls jobs from 123 VMS portals (Bullhorn marketplace and knowledge base, Oct 2026)
✓Deepest temp/contract back-office (timesheets, pay & bill)
✕Dated, click-heavy UI that reviewers call sluggish
✕Automation and AI (Amplify) are expensive modular add-ons
Gem
Sourcing-first talent platform with staffing-specific plans
Best for: Sourcing-led teams: in-house TA and outbound-heavy search firms
✓One-click sourcing across 30+ platforms with multi-channel sequencing
✓Best-in-class analytics and forecasting
✕Expensive at scale; enterprise deals run high per seat
✕Strict email-finding credit limits on lower tiers
Our verdict
Choose Bullhorn if…
- ✓You're in rpo providers, a segment Gem doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment Gem doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in contract & temp staffing, a segment Gem doesn't focus on
- ✓You run temp or contract desks and need pay & bill in the platform
Choose Gem if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Bullhorn doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Bullhorn doesn't focus on
- ✓You want built-in candidate sourcing instead of separate tools
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Bullhorn | Gem |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullhorn (official) | $495/mo | $1,980/mo | $4,950/mo |
| Gem (official) | $695/mo | $2,780/mo | $6,950/mo |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of October 23, 2026; real quotes vary with plan tier, add-on modules, and contract terms. See how we label pricing confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bullhorn cheaper than Gem?
Bullhorn has the lower published starting price. Bullhorn pricing starts at $99/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Gem pricing starts at $139/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026).
What does Bullhorn cost?
Bullhorn pricing starts at $99/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Publishes small-agency pricing only: Starter $99/user/mo (1–2 users) and Core $165/user/mo. Pro and larger deployments are quote-based, and optional modules (AI Search & Match, Onboarding, Back Office) are priced separately (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
What does Gem cost?
Gem pricing starts at $139/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). Staffing plans on monthly billing: Essentials $139/user/mo (up to 3 users per account) and Professional $199/user/mo (up to 10 users). Billed yearly those drop to $99 and $149. Enterprise is custom, with the choice of Gem's ATS or a third-party one. Both paid staffing plans start with a 7-day trial. Email-finding credits are 150/user/mo on Essentials and 750 on Professional. Corporate plans are quoted on company headcount, with discounted startup pricing under 100 employees (vendor pricing pages, Sep 2026).
Which is rated higher, Bullhorn or Gem?
Gem is rated higher: 4.8/5 on G2 versus 4.2/5 for Bullhorn on G2.
Who is Bullhorn best for, and who is Gem best for?
Bullhorn: Mid-size to enterprise staffing firms, especially temp/contract. Gem: Sourcing-led teams: in-house TA and outbound-heavy search firms.