Top Echelon Review
4.6(515)Affordable ATS/CRM with a built-in split-placement network
Top Echelon pairs a budget ATS/CRM — TE Recruit, rebuilt and rebranded from Big Biller in 2024 — with something nobody else has: a split-placement network that generates deals for solo recruiters. Automations, Sequences, Smart-TE AI and natural-language search land on the Professional tier; AI candidate matching is not shipped yet. The economics are the draw.
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
Top Echelon pricing
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).
- Free trial
- Yes
- Free tier
- No
- Min. seats
- 1
- Billing
- Monthly available
Pricing data: Official (published by the vendor).
Pros
- ✓Extremely affordable with transparent pricing
- ✓Automations, Sequences, and Smart-TE AI on the Professional tier
- ✓TE Network: unique split-placement revenue opportunities
- ✓Well-reviewed customer support
Cons
- ✕Resume parsing into existing candidate records trips reviewers up (Capterra, 2026)
- ✕Email integration draws more criticism than any other feature in reviews
- ✕A learning curve, and screens newer users call unintuitive
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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Top Echelon: frequently asked questions
How much 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).
Does Top Echelon offer a free trial?
Yes. Top Echelon offers a free trial. There is no free tier.
Is Top Echelon an ATS or a CRM?
Top Echelon is a combined ATS + CRM platform: applicant tracking and candidate/client relationship management in one system.
Who is Top Echelon best for?
Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements. We rank it for recruitment agencies & staffing firms, executive search firms.
What are the main drawbacks of Top Echelon?
The criticisms that come up most: Resume parsing into existing candidate records trips reviewers up (Capterra, 2026); Email integration draws more criticism than any other feature in reviews; A learning curve, and screens newer users call unintuitive.
What are the best Top Echelon alternatives?
Based on segment overlap and review ratings, the closest alternatives: Atlas, Vultus Recruit, Happlicant, Recruit CRM. Full list: https://recruitmentcrm.com/alternatives/top-echelon.