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, enterprises1
- Pricing model
- Quote only1
- Deployment
- Cloud2
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 the 20 facts this page shows, each checked against the source listed under “Sources”, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score uses only those verified facts, as our methodology explains; third-party ratings, where we quote them, never count in the score.
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, Integrations1
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 recommendations1
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: Yes1
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: API: Yes3
Quick rollout
Lever says most customers are fully implemented within weeks, not months, with personalized guidance.
Evidence: Typical implementation: Within weeks, not months1
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: Yes4
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 only1
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)1
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, Integrations1
Price at a glance
Pricing model
Quote only1
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 only1
- 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, Integrations1
- 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: 20125
- Who owns Lever?
- Employ Inc. acquired Lever in August 2022. Employ also owns JazzHR and Jobvite.Based on Ownership: Subsidiary5
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 setup3
- Configurable hiring workflow · not verified yet
- Job distribution6
- Career site and mobile apply · not verified yet
- Resume parsing and search3
- Interview scheduling7
- Hiring team collaboration7
- Candidate communications4
- Offer management3
- EEO and adverse impact reporting · not verified yet
- Records retention and audit trail2
- Integrations and API3
Specifications
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 19 products compared: 2
- Indeed · documented by 12 of 19
- LinkedIn · documented by 10 of 19
- ADP · documented by 7 of 19
- Checkr · documented by 7 of 19
- BambooHR · documented by 6 of 19
- HiBob · documented by 6 of 19
- Zapier · documented by 6 of 19
- Gusto · documented by 5 of 19
- DocuSign · documented by 4 of 19
- Microsoft Teams · documented by 4 of 19
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier, API or named by the vendor), 19 live applicant tracking systems products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Where it ranks
- #8 of 13 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems
- #5 of 7 scoredRecruitment CRM
- #5 of 6 scoredTalent Acquisition Software
- #10 of 14 scoredRecruiting Software
- #3 of 9 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems for Enterprises
- #9 of 11 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems for Mid-Sized Companies
- #8 of 9 scoredApplicant Tracking Systems for Small Business
- #5 of 10 scoredRecruiting Software for Enterprises
- #9 of 11 scoredRecruiting Software for Mid-Sized Companies
- #9 of 10 scoredRecruiting Software for Small Business
- #3 of 6 scoredRecruitment CRM for Enterprises
- #5 of 5 scoredRecruitment CRM for Mid-Sized Companies
Lever alternatives
Greenhouse90% similar
Ashby80% similar
Teamtailor75% similar
iCIMS70% similar
SmartRecruiters70% similar
Jobvite60% similar
Compare Lever
Security and compliance
About Lever
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?
Our Lever vs Ashby comparison sets out when each one fits.
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.
How this page was made
What it is built from
20 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Nov 9, 2026.
Method
Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology
Independent review
Not reviewed yet by our independent reviewer. How we review
Hands-on testing
We have not tested Lever hands-on: this page uses public information only.
Who made it
The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us
Independence and errors
Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction
Is Lever right for your team?
Lever quotes its prices. Answer one quick question to see the 2 alternatives that fit you best.
LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.We may earn a fee.
How we make money
LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.
LeverLeadChange Score 6.7
What changed
IntegrationsWe no longer list OAuth 2.0 in Lever’s API type.
IntegrationsWe now list Gusto, Paylocity and 6 more in Lever’s notable integrations.
PublishedFirst published.
Sources
The 9 pages this page's facts come from. The date beside each is our last check of the facts taken from it (the oldest, when they differ). The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- Lever (Employ Inc.) Lever: Pricing“Compared to competitors, Lever stands out for its intuitive interface, seamless integrations, and ability to streamline the entire hiring process for teams of all sizes.” “To get Lever pricing, you’ll need to contact Lever directly for a custom quote.”
- Lever (Employ Inc.) lever.co/security“The Lever by Employ Platform is a Software-As-A-Service (SaaS) platform based on a multitenant architecture that logically separates customer data through access control based on company, users, and roles.” “Employ's security programs and practices have been independently verified against the SOC 2 and ISO 27001 framework.”
- Lever (Employ Inc.) hire.lever.co/developer/documentation“Webhooks allow you to build or set up integrations which subscribe to certain events in Lever.” “Integrations are built using OAuth authentication.”
- Employ lever.co/solutions/candidate-texting
- Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lever_(company)“It was founded in 2012 by Nate Smith, Sarah Nahm, Randal Truong, and Brian Noguchi.” “In August 2022, Lever was acquired by Employ Inc.”
- Employ lever.co/marketplace/providers/indeed
- Lever (Employ Inc.) lever.co
- Employ Inc. lever.co/careers“With a full suite of brands, including JazzHR, Lever, and Jobvite, we serve more than 22,000 customers across multiple industries.”
- Lever (Employ Inc.) lever.co/marketplace“Indeed helps millions of job seekers and employers find the right fit for them every day.”
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