Firefish vs SmartRecruiters
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
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
SmartRecruiters
Enterprise hiring suite, now part of SAP
Best for: Multi-location enterprises, especially SAP SuccessFactors customers
✓Winston conversational AI handles screening and scheduling
✓575+ marketplace integrations; deep SAP SuccessFactors alignment
✕Roadmap uncertainty after the SAP acquisition (Sept 2025)
✕Pricing shifting toward SAP enterprise models
Our verdict
Choose Firefish if…
- ✓You're in recruitment agencies & staffing firms, a segment SmartRecruiters doesn't focus on
- ✓Reporting and analytics drive how you run the desk
Choose SmartRecruiters if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Firefish doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment Firefish doesn't focus on
- ✓AI matching and assistance are on your must-have list
- ✓You need an open API for custom integrations
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Firefish | SmartRecruiters |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefish (reported) | £400/mo | £1,600/mo | £4,000/mo |
| SmartRecruiters (official) | $14995/yr (Essential, from)flat | $14995/yr (Essential, from)flat | $14995/yr (Essential, from)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 Firefish and SmartRecruiters pricing compare?
Firefish pricing starts at £80/user/mo (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026). SmartRecruiters pricing starts at $14995/yr (Essential, from) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026).
What does Firefish cost?
Firefish pricing starts at £80/user/mo (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026). Vendor site is quote-led; 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 SmartRecruiters cost?
SmartRecruiters pricing starts at $14995/yr (Essential, from) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Essential plan starts at $14,995/yr with ATS, CRM, onboarding, SMS, and scheduling bundled; Professional, High Volume, and Complete plans are quote-based. The old free 'SmartStart' plan is no longer verifiable on current pages (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
Who is Firefish best for, and who is SmartRecruiters best for?
Firefish: UK agencies that treat their website and brand as a candidate channel. SmartRecruiters: Multi-location enterprises, especially SAP SuccessFactors customers.