Handshake Review
4.4(50)The campus recruiting network: 1,400+ colleges, 18M students
Handshake is where US early-career candidates actually are: 18M+ students across 1,400+ partner colleges. Employers start free, but serious campus programs land in Pro ($450/mo) or the quote-based enterprise suite for filters, campaigns, and ATS integrations.
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished
Handshake pricing
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).
- Free trial
- No
- Free tier
- Yes
- Min. seats
- Not published
- Billing
- Not published
Pricing data: Official (published by the vendor).
Pros
- ✓Unmatched campus reach: direct registrar-verified student profiles
- ✓Genuinely free Basic tier for job posting
- ✓Video-feed format drives strong student engagement
Cons
- ✕Free tier is tightly limited (10 messages/month)
- ✕Steep jump from Free/Pro to quote-based Enterprise
- ✕2025 free-tier cutbacks drew heavy user backlash
Features
| 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
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Handshake: frequently asked questions
How much 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).
Does Handshake offer a free trial?
There is no time-limited trial, but Handshake has a free tier you can start on.
Is Handshake an ATS or a CRM?
Handshake is a vertical specialist rather than a general-purpose recruitment CRM.
Who is Handshake best for?
Employers running campus, internship, and early-career programs. We rank it for campus & graduate recruiting.
What are the main drawbacks of Handshake?
The criticisms that come up most: Free tier is tightly limited (10 messages/month); Steep jump from Free/Pro to quote-based Enterprise; 2025 free-tier cutbacks drew heavy user backlash.
What are the best Handshake alternatives?
Based on segment overlap and review ratings, the closest alternatives: Manatal, Zoho Recruit, Avature, RippleMatch. Full list: https://recruitmentcrm.com/alternatives/handshake.