CEIPAL 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
CEIPAL
AI staffing OS: ATS, VMS & workforce management in one
Best for: High-volume IT and contract staffing firms that need ATS and VMS in one system
✓Unified ATS, VMS, and workforce management aimed at high-volume IT and contract staffing
✓AI ranking and bulk sourcing built for heavy requisition loads
✕Pricing is quote-based; the low third-party figures circulating are unverified
✕Breadth of the suite makes for a steeper learning curve
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 CEIPAL if…
- ✓You're in recruitment agencies & staffing firms, a segment Handshake doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in rpo providers, a segment Handshake doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment Handshake doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in contract & temp staffing, a segment Handshake doesn't focus on
Choose Handshake if…
- ✓You're in campus & graduate recruiting, a segment CEIPAL doesn't focus on
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | CEIPAL | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEIPAL (reported) | 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 CEIPAL and Handshake pricing compare?
CEIPAL uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026). Handshake pricing starts at $450/mo (Pro) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026).
What does CEIPAL cost?
CEIPAL uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026). Quote-based: CEIPAL does not publish seat pricing on its site. Third-party aggregators cite an entry figure around $24/user/mo, but that is unverified against any official page and modules (VMS, workforce management) are priced separately (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).
Which is rated higher, CEIPAL or Handshake?
CEIPAL is rated higher: 4.6/5 on G2 versus 4.4/5 for Handshake.
Who is CEIPAL best for, and who is Handshake best for?
CEIPAL: High-volume IT and contract staffing firms that need ATS and VMS in one system. Handshake: Employers running campus, internship, and early-career programs.