Firefish vs Gem
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed September 22, 2026How we research →
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
Firefish
Recruitment CRM with built-in marketing for UK agencies
Best for: UK agencies that treat their website and brand as a candidate channel
✓Recruitment marketing (website CMS, campaigns, engagement tracking) built in
✓Outstanding UK-based support reputation
✕Rigid contract lengths reported by customers
✕Some job board integrations are paid extras
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 Firefish if…
- ✓Multi-job-board posting is core to how you fill roles
Choose Gem if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Firefish doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Firefish doesn't focus on
- ✓You want built-in candidate sourcing instead of separate tools
- ✓AI matching and assistance are on your must-have list
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Firefish | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefish (reported) | £400/mo | £1,600/mo | £4,000/mo |
| Gem (official) | $695/mo | $2,780/mo | $6,950/mo |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of September 22, 2026; real quotes vary with plan tier, add-on modules, and contract terms. See how we label pricing confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do Firefish and Gem pricing compare?
Firefish pricing starts at £80/user/mo (reported, reviewed September 22, 2026). Gem pricing starts at $139/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026).
What does Firefish cost?
Firefish pricing starts at £80/user/mo (reported, reviewed September 22, 2026). Vendor site is quote-led: its pricing page names Basic, Professional and Enterprise plans without prices, plus add-on modules "from £150 per module" with no billing period stated (vendor pricing page, Sep 2026). Capterra reports Basic £80, Professional £90, Enterprise £105 per user/mo (Capterra, Oct 2025). Contract terms not verified; some job board integrations cost extra.
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, Firefish or Gem?
Gem is rated higher: 4.8/5 on G2 versus 4.4/5 for Firefish on G2.
Who is Firefish best for, and who is Gem best for?
Firefish: UK agencies that treat their website and brand as a candidate channel. Gem: Sourcing-led teams: in-house TA and outbound-heavy search firms.