Top Echelon vs Vultus Recruit
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
Top Echelon
Affordable ATS/CRM with a built-in split-placement network
Best for: Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements
✓Extremely affordable with transparent pricing
✓Automations, Sequences, and Smart-TE AI on the Professional tier
✕Resume parsing into existing candidate records trips reviewers up (Capterra, 2026)
✕Email integration draws more criticism than any other feature in reviews
Vultus Recruit
Ultra-low-cost ATS for IT staffing
Best for: IT staffing firms running high-volume contract desks on a budget
✓Among the cheapest per-seat prices in the market
✓Handles mass mailing well
✕Bare-bones interface
✕No advanced AI matching
Our verdict
Choose Top Echelon if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Vultus Recruit doesn't focus on
- ✓Your team sources through LinkedIn every day
- ✓You want to trial before committing (free trial available)
Choose Vultus Recruit if…
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment Top Echelon doesn't focus on
- ✓Entry price matters: $18.99/user/mo published vs $89 for Top Echelon
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Top Echelon | Vultus Recruit |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Echelon (official) | $445/mo | $1,780/mo | $4,450/mo |
| Vultus Recruit (reported) | $94.95/mo | $379.8/mo | $949.5/mo |
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
Is Top Echelon cheaper than Vultus Recruit?
Vultus Recruit has the lower published starting price. Vultus Recruit pricing starts at $18.99/user/mo (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026). Top Echelon pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026).
What does Top Echelon cost?
Top Echelon pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Monthly billing: TE Recruit Standard $89/user/mo and Professional $110/user/mo. Committing annually drops those to $75 and $89. Automations, Sequences, Smart-TE AI, Natural Language Search, [BETA] AI People Search, inbound email sync, and API access are Professional-tier only. The TE Network split-placement subscription is billed separately: $150/mo per agency plus a $350 startup fee on monthly billing, or $135/mo annually with the startup fee waived (vendor pricing page, Aug 2026).
What does Vultus Recruit cost?
Vultus Recruit pricing starts at $18.99/user/mo (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026). Reported seat bands: $18.99/user/mo (3–5 users), $14.99 (6–30), $9.99 (30+). No vendor-owned pricing page verified; 1–2 seat pricing unknown (Capterra, Jul 2026).
Which is rated higher, Top Echelon or Vultus Recruit?
Vultus Recruit is rated higher: 4.9/5 on G2 versus 4.6/5 for Top Echelon on Capterra.
Who is Top Echelon best for, and who is Vultus Recruit best for?
Top Echelon: Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements. Vultus Recruit: IT staffing firms running high-volume contract desks on a budget.