Handshake vs Workable
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
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
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 Handshake if…
- ✓You're in campus & graduate recruiting, a segment Workable doesn't focus on
- ✓You want built-in candidate sourcing instead of separate tools
Choose Workable if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Handshake doesn't focus on
- ✓AI matching and assistance are on your must-have list
- ✓You want to trial before committing (free trial available)
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Handshake | 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 | ~ | ✓ |
What would it cost your team?
| Est. monthly cost, entry tier | 5 seats | 20 seats | 50 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handshake (official) | $450/mo (Pro)flat | $450/mo (Pro)flat | $450/mo (Pro)flat |
| 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 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 Handshake and Workable pricing compare?
Handshake pricing starts at $450/mo (Pro) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Workable pricing starts at $299/mo (1–20 employees) (official, reviewed July 4, 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).
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, Standard $299/mo, Premier $599/mo, Enterprise $719/mo on annual billing; larger bands quote differently. 15-day free trial; AI-agent credits sold separately (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
Who is Handshake best for, and who is Workable best for?
Handshake: Employers running campus, internship, and early-career programs. Workable: Growing companies that want to be live in a week without a sales cycle.