Gem vs Workable
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
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
Workable
Self-serve hiring platform with employee-band pricing
Best for: Growing companies that want to be live in a week without a sales cycle
✓No recruiter seat limits; pricing scales by company size instead
✓Live in under a week with self-serve setup
✕Employee-band pricing rises as the company grows, even if hiring doesn't
✕Limited customization for complex approval chains
Our verdict
Choose Gem if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Workable doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in recruitment agencies & staffing firms, a segment Workable doesn't focus on
- ✓You want built-in candidate sourcing instead of separate tools
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
Choose Workable if…
- ✓Multi-job-board posting is core to how you fill roles
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Gem | Workable |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gem (official) | $695/mo | $2,780/mo | $6,950/mo |
| Workable (official) | $299/mo (1–20 employees)flat | $299/mo (1–20 employees)flat | $299/mo (1–20 employees)flat |
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 Gem and Workable pricing compare?
Gem pricing starts at $139/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). Workable pricing starts at $299/mo (1–20 employees) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026).
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).
What does Workable cost?
Workable pricing starts at $299/mo (1–20 employees) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Employee-band pricing: for the 1–20 employee band on monthly billing, Standard $299/mo, Premier $599/mo, Enterprise $719/mo; larger bands cost more. Only Standard offers a monthly option (annual saves up to 20%) — Premier and Enterprise are pay-annually. 15-day free trial; AI-agent credits sold separately (vendor pricing page, Aug 2026).
Who is Gem best for, and who is Workable best for?
Gem: Sourcing-led teams: in-house TA and outbound-heavy search firms. Workable: Growing companies that want to be live in a week without a sales cycle.