Bullhorn vs iSmartRecruit
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
iSmartRecruit
Affordable AI recruiting platform with global, multilingual reach
Best for: Small global agencies wanting broad AI features at low cost
✓Broad AI toolset (chatbots, semantic search, matching) at standard tiers
✓Strong multilingual support for global teams
✕Limited customization of core candidate fields
✕Learning curve across its broad feature set
Our verdict
Choose Bullhorn if…
- ✓You're in rpo providers, a segment iSmartRecruit doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment iSmartRecruit doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in contract & temp staffing, a segment iSmartRecruit doesn't focus on
- ✓You run temp or contract desks and need pay & bill in the platform
Choose iSmartRecruit if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Bullhorn doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Bullhorn doesn't focus on
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
- ✓AI matching and assistance are on your must-have list
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Bullhorn | iSmartRecruit |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| iSmartRecruit (official) | Custom quote | Custom quote | Custom quote |
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
How do Bullhorn and iSmartRecruit pricing compare?
Bullhorn pricing starts at $99/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). iSmartRecruit uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 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 iSmartRecruit cost?
iSmartRecruit uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Quote-based: the current pricing page shows Startup and Professional plans with placeholder prices (Startup includes up to 10 active jobs). Third-party estimates of $12–19/user/mo are unverified (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
Which is rated higher, Bullhorn or iSmartRecruit?
iSmartRecruit is rated higher: 4.8/5 on G2 versus 4.2/5 for Bullhorn on G2.
Who is Bullhorn best for, and who is iSmartRecruit best for?
Bullhorn: Mid-size to enterprise staffing firms, especially temp/contract. iSmartRecruit: Small global agencies wanting broad AI features at low cost.