Bullhorn vs Mercury
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
Bullhorn
The market-leading platform for staffing and recruitment agencies
Best for: Mid-size to enterprise staffing firms, especially temp/contract
✓Unmatched scale: 300+ marketplace integrations and 110+ VMS connections
✓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
Mercury
Recruitment platform built on Microsoft Dynamics 365
Best for: Enterprise agencies embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem
✓Unparalleled Microsoft integration (Teams, Outlook, Office 365)
✓Power Platform flexibility for custom automation
✕Complex interface requiring extensive training
✕High total cost: Mercury + Microsoft licensing + implementation
Our verdict
Choose Bullhorn if…
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment Mercury doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in contract & temp staffing, a segment Mercury doesn't focus on
- ✓You run temp or contract desks and need pay & bill in the platform
- ✓Your team sources through LinkedIn every day
Choose Mercury if…
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Bullhorn | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullhorn (official) | $495/mo | $1,980/mo | $4,950/mo |
| Mercury (official) | Custom quote | Custom quote | Custom quote |
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 Bullhorn and Mercury pricing compare?
Bullhorn pricing starts at $99/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Mercury 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 Mercury cost?
Mercury uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Custom quote only, no public seat pricing. Built on Microsoft Dynamics, so budget for Microsoft licensing plus Mercury's implementation, data migration, and training services (vendor site, Jul 2026).
Which is rated higher, Bullhorn or Mercury?
Bullhorn and Mercury both hold a 4.2/5 rating on G2.
Who is Bullhorn best for, and who is Mercury best for?
Bullhorn: Mid-size to enterprise staffing firms, especially temp/contract. Mercury: Enterprise agencies embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem.