Firefish vs iSmartRecruit
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed July 5, 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
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 Firefish if…
UK agencies that treat their website and brand as a candidate channel. See the feature table below for where it differs from iSmartRecruit.
Choose iSmartRecruit if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Firefish doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Firefish doesn't focus on
- ✓AI matching and assistance are on your must-have list
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Firefish | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefish (reported) | £400/mo | £1,600/mo | £4,000/mo |
| iSmartRecruit (official) | Custom quote | Custom quote | Custom quote |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of July 5, 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 iSmartRecruit pricing compare?
Firefish pricing starts at £80/user/mo (reported, reviewed September 22, 2026). iSmartRecruit uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 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 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, Firefish or iSmartRecruit?
iSmartRecruit is rated higher: 4.8/5 on G2 versus 4.4/5 for Firefish on G2.
Who is Firefish best for, and who is iSmartRecruit best for?
Firefish: UK agencies that treat their website and brand as a candidate channel. iSmartRecruit: Small global agencies wanting broad AI features at low cost.