Lever Review
by Employ Inc.
Lever is an applicant tracking system and recruiting CRM in one product, owned by Employ Inc. since 2022.
- Company size
- Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises
- Pricing model
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
Best for
- Recruiting teams that source and nurture passive candidates, not only post jobs
- Companies that want ATS and CRM in one product with no sync between tools
- Teams that text candidates and need built-in opt-out
Not ideal for
- Buyers who want a posted monthly price: Lever quotes every customer
- Teams that want onboarding included: it is an add-on
- Small teams that only post a few jobs a year and need no CRM
How we evaluated Lever
This review rests on 18 facts checked against Lever’s official pricing pages and documentation, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score and the pros and cons use only those verified facts, as our methodology explains, and third-party ratings are quoted, never scored.
Our verdict
Lever fits recruiting teams that want an ATS and a candidate CRM in one place, so sourcing, nurture emails and texts, interviews and offers live on one candidate record. AI screens and ranks applicants, and every interview gets an AI transcript and summary. Security is well documented, with SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. Pricing is a custom quote, and add-ons such as onboarding cost extra. It is less suited to buyers who want a posted monthly price or payroll in the same system.
Strengths
ATS and CRM in one record
Sourcing, nurture and hiring run in one platform with no sync to a separate CRM. Talent pools let recruiters search and resurface past applicants for new roles.
Evidence: Modules: Applicant tracking (ATS), Candidate relationship management (CRM), Reporting and analytics, Integrations
AI across screening and interviews
AI ranks applicants and flags likely fraud, and every interview can get an AI transcript and summary with no usage cap. Lever says its AI is governed with IBM watsonx.governance.
Evidence: AI features: AI-powered screening and matching, Unlimited AI interview transcripts and summaries, AI fraud prevention signals, Next-best-action recommendations
Well-documented security
Lever holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, encrypts stored data with AES-256, hosts on AWS in the US and the EU, and shares its SOC 2 report and pen test results on request.
Evidence: SOC 2 Type II: Yes
Open API and webhooks
A documented REST API and webhooks cover postings, opportunities, offers, requisitions and EEO data, and the marketplace lists HRIS, payroll, background check and job board partners.
Evidence: Open API: Yes
Quick rollout
Lever says most customers are fully implemented within weeks, not months, with personalized guidance.
Evidence: Typical implementation: Within weeks, not months
Candidate texting built in
Recruiters text candidates from Lever, schedule messages, and rely on built-in opt-out to stay within consumer messaging rules.
Evidence: Text messaging: Yes
Weaknesses
No published prices
Lever pricing is available on request and depends on company size, hiring volume, products, integrations and support level.
Evidence: Pricing model: Quote only
Some tools are add-ons
Candidate Insights, AI Screening by VONQ and Onboarding are sold as add-ons on top of the core plan.
Evidence: Extra costs: Candidate Insights (add-on), AI Screening by VONQ (add-on), Onboarding (add-on)
Recruiting only
Lever covers hiring and stops at the offer and onboarding hand-off; HR records and payroll need a separate system connected through the marketplace.
Evidence: Modules: Applicant tracking (ATS), Candidate relationship management (CRM), Reporting and analytics, Integrations
Price at a glance
Pricing model
Quote only
Quick answers
- How much does Lever cost?
- Lever does not publish prices. You request a custom quote based on company size, hiring needs, products and support level.Based on Pricing model: Quote only
- Is Lever an applicant tracking system?
- Yes. Lever is an ATS and a recruiting CRM in one platform, with reporting, AI screening and integrations included in every plan.Based on Modules: Applicant tracking (ATS), Candidate relationship management (CRM), Reporting and analytics, Integrations
- Is Lever legit?
- Yes. Lever was founded in 2012 and has been part of Employ Inc., which also owns JazzHR and Jobvite, since August 2022. It holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001.Based on Founded: 2012
- Who owns Lever?
- Employ Inc. acquired Lever in August 2022. Employ also owns JazzHR and Jobvite.Based on Ownership: Subsidiary
Coverage of core applicant tracking systems capabilities
Each core capability we evaluate in Applicant Tracking Systems, checked against Lever’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.
9 verified of 12 core capabilities
Applicant Tracking Systems
- Requisition and job setup
- Configurable hiring workflow · not verified yet
- Job distribution
- Career site and mobile apply · not verified yet
- Resume parsing and search
- Interview scheduling
- Hiring team collaboration
- Candidate communications
- Offer management
- EEO and adverse impact reporting · not verified yet
- Records retention and audit trail
- Integrations and API
Specifications
Pricing
- Price transparency
- Quote only
Product
- Modules
- Applicant tracking (ATS), Candidate relationship management (CRM), Reporting and analytics, Integrations
- AI features
- AI-powered screening and matching, Unlimited AI interview transcripts and summaries, AI fraud prevention signals, Next-best-action recommendations
Integrations
- Open API
- Yes
- API type
- REST
- Webhooks
- Yes
Support
- Typical implementation
- Within weeks, not months
Lever integrations
Lever integration coverage
The 10 apps that applicant tracking systems products document most often, and whether Lever documents each.
8 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by Lever; median of the 14 products compared: 3
- Indeed · documented by 9 of 14
- Checkr · documented by 7 of 14
- BambooHR · documented by 6 of 14
- HiBob · documented by 6 of 14
- ADP Workforce Now · documented by 5 of 14
- Gusto · documented by 5 of 14
- LinkedIn · documented by 5 of 14
- DocuSign · documented by 4 of 14
- Verified First · documented by 4 of 14
- Zapier · documented by 4 of 14
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier or API), 14 live applicant tracking systems products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Where it ranks
- #6 of 11 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems
- #3 of 5 scoredRecruitment CRM
- #5 of 6 scoredTalent Acquisition Software
- #7 of 11 scoredRecruiting Software
- #3 of 8 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems for Enterprises
- #6 of 8 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems for Mid-Sized Companies
- #6 of 7 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems for Small Business
- #3 of 8 scoredRecruiting Software for Enterprises
- #5 of 7 scoredRecruiting Software for Mid-Sized Companies
- #6 of 7 scoredRecruiting Software for Small Business
- #2 of 5 scoredRecruitment CRM for Enterprises
- #3 of 3 scoredRecruitment CRM for Mid-Sized Companies
Lever alternatives
Compare Lever
Security and compliance
- SOC 2 Type IIYes
- ISO 27001Yes
- GDPR programYes
About Lever
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, and Toronto, Canada
- Ownership
- Subsidiary
- Parent company
- Employ Inc.
Official profiles
Lever: frequently asked questions
Does Lever have an API?
Yes. Lever has a documented REST API with OAuth for partner apps, plus webhooks that send events to your own URL.
Does Lever integrate with Workday, BambooHR and Gusto?
Yes. Lever's marketplace lists Workday, BambooHR, HiBob, Gusto, Paylocity, ADP and Dayforce, plus Checkr and First Advantage for background checks.
How long does Lever take to implement?
Lever says most customers are fully implemented within weeks, not months.
Is Lever GDPR compliant?
Lever says its security parameters comply with GDPR and CCPA, and customers can request a data privacy addendum and EU standard contractual clauses.
What is Lever used for?
Lever is an applicant tracking systems product built for small businesses, mid-market companies, and enterprises. Its modules include Applicant tracking, Candidate relationship management, Reporting and analytics, and Integrations.
What are the best alternatives to Lever?
In our applicant tracking systems ranking, the highest-scored products other than Lever are Workable, Breezy HR, and Ashby. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Lever alternatives.
Which is better, Lever or Ashby?
It depends on the team. Choose Lever if: you want nurture campaigns and talent rediscovery built into the ATS. Choose Ashby if: you want to see the price first: Foundations starts at $300 a month. The full comparison: Lever vs Ashby.
What are the pros and cons of Lever?
Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: ATS and CRM in one record, AI across screening and interviews, and Well-documented security. It is less suited to buyers who want a posted monthly price: Lever quotes every customer and teams that want onboarding included: it is an add-on.
Get Lever pricing for your team
Lever quotes its prices. Answer up to 4 quick questions and see it next to the 2 alternatives that fit you best; if a provider works with us, you can ask it for a quote.
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How we make money
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What changed
IntegrationsLever no longer lists OAuth 2.0 in its API type.
IntegrationsLever added Gusto, Paylocity and 6 more to its notable integrations.
PublishedFirst published.
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