ATS Comparison
CRM power you don't need yet. ATS speed you need now.
Lever (LeverTRM) is a powerful CRM + ATS hybrid built for talent relationship management. Keelzo is a focused ATS built for teams hiring now — with speed, transparency, and AI built in from day one.
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Pricing — Real Numbers
Lever does not publish pricing. Based on verified buyer reports:
- Lever LeverTRM: ~$6,000–$10,000/year for small teams (base only)
- Lever with analytics + automation: ~$18,000–$25,000+/year
- Advanced AI tools and automation are sold separately as add-ons
- No free trial available
- Keelzo Free Tier: $0 — 2 active jobs, AI screening, automated communications included
All-Inclusive Pricing
AI screening, automation, and analytics included — not sold as add-ons.
Focused ATS
Built for hiring now, not nurturing passive pipelines for months.
Candidate Transparency
Automatic status updates at every stage — core to the platform.
When to Choose Keelzo Over Lever
You're hiring for open roles now — not building a passive candidate pipeline
You want AI screening and automation included, not as paid add-ons
Transparent, published pricing matters to your team
Candidate experience and status transparency are priorities
When Lever Might Still Be the Right Choice
Lever's CRM capabilities are genuinely best-in-class for passive talent nurturing.
- Talent relationship management (passive candidate nurturing) is your primary need
- You have budget for $18,000–$25,000+/year ATS spend
- You need deep CRM workflows for long-term pipeline building
- Your team has dedicated sourcers who live in CRM tools
If you're hiring now, Keelzo is faster. If you're nurturing for later, Lever has deeper CRM.
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of what each platform offers.
| Category | Lever | Keelzo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $6,000+/year (base) | Free tier available |
| AI screening | Paid add-on | Included from free tier |
| Automation | Paid add-on | Included |
| Candidate transparency | Limited (requires config) | Automatic at every stage |
| CRM / passive nurturing | Best-in-class | In development |
| Setup time | Days–weeks | Under 5 minutes |
| Free trial | Not available | Free tier — no trial needed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about keelzo vs lever — 2026 ats comparison.
Pricing opacity and mandatory add-ons. Advanced analytics, AI tools, and automation are all sold separately from the base package. A team expecting the full product quickly finds itself paying $18,000–$25,000+ per year. There's also no free trial.
Lever has a candidate portal that allows limited status visibility. However, automatic candidate notifications at every stage are not a default behaviour — they require configuration.
Lever's CRM (LeverTRM) is significantly more advanced for passive candidate nurturing. If talent relationship management is your primary need, Lever has an advantage. If you're hiring for open roles now, Keelzo's focused ATS outperforms on speed and candidate experience.
Need an ATS that works out of the box?
Keelzo includes AI, automation, and candidate transparency from day one. Free to start.