Last updated: October 2026. Written by the Curriculo team.
Curriculo ATS fits teams that want free forever Starter, flat Pro is $50, and scored shortlists. Lever fits mid-market teams that want ATS plus CRM-style recruiting on a Custom quote. Pick by published price versus relationship CRM depth, as of Oct 2026.
A side-by-side comparison of two applicant tracking systems: one built for CRM-driven mid-market recruiting, one built for independent recruiters and small teams that need scored shortlists on day one.
Comparison table (as of Oct 2026)
| Feature | Curriculo ATS | Lever | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Recruiters and small teams | Mid-market (100 to 500+) | Product positioning |
| Starting price | Free Starter; Pro $50 | Custom quote | Curriculo pricing; Lever pricing |
| Per seat fees | No per-seat fees on any plan | Custom quote | Same |
| AI screening | 0 to 100 Impact Score plus written AI summary | Custom quote for current AI features | Same |
| Candidate Network | Candidate Network access to 10,000+ pre-structured profiles from the Curriculo resume builder | Not positioned the same way | Curriculo product |
| Free forever plan | Yes, unlimited jobs and members | No | Same |
| CRM-style nurturing | Drip campaigns on Starter | Full CRM plus nurture campaigns | Same |
| Setup time | About 15 minutes | Often weeks on larger rollouts | Same |
| Auth | Sign in with Google or Microsoft | Custom quote | Same |
Curriculo ATS scores every candidate from 0 to 100 against your job, with a written AI summary of the fit. Set up in about 15 minutes. No credit card.
What is Lever
Lever combines an applicant tracking system with CRM-style candidate relationship tools, so teams can build talent pools and run nurture campaigns. It is often shortlisted by mid-market companies that want relationship-based recruiting alongside a structured pipeline. Lever is now part of Employ Inc., and pricing is Custom quote on Lever pricing.
Teams that buy Lever usually care about outbound sourcing, pool nurturing, and collaboration across a larger hiring org. That is a different buyer than a fractional recruiter or a ten-person company that needs ranked shortlists without a sales cycle.
What is Curriculo ATS
Curriculo ATS is a recruiter-side applicant tracking system for independent recruiters and small teams. Curriculo ATS scores every candidate from 0 to 100 against your job, with a written AI summary of the fit. Starter is free forever with unlimited jobs and members, and 1,000 ranked candidates. Pro is $50 with 10,000 ranked candidates. No per-seat fees on any plan. Set up in about 15 minutes. No credit card.
Curriculo also includes Gmail and Microsoft 365 work mailboxes, Google Calendar, CSV and bulk resume imports, drip campaigns on Starter, WhatsApp automated calling, Candidate Network access to 10,000+ pre-structured profiles from the Curriculo resume builder, six agents on the plan (calendar, email, daily briefing, chief of staff, resume screening, recruiting), AI Interview Taker, Works with Slack through MCP, and API access. Curriculo supports 200+ languages and can read a resume in any language.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Price shape. Curriculo publishes free forever Starter and Pro is $50. Lever is Custom quote. If you need a number you can put in a budget without a sales call, Curriculo is clearer.
Screening. Curriculo ranks every applicant against the job with a written AI summary. Lever offers pipeline and CRM tools; treat current AI claims as Custom quote on Lever's own materials.
CRM depth. Lever is stronger if nurture campaigns and long talent pools are the center of your process. Curriculo covers drip campaigns on Starter and scored shortlists for active searches.
Setup. Curriculo is self-serve in about 15 minutes. Lever rollouts for mid-market teams often take longer because CRM workflows and permissions need design.
Integrations. Lever markets a wide integration set for mid-market stacks. Curriculo focuses on Gmail, Microsoft 365, Google Calendar, MCP clients, and API access. Lever is a capable mid-market ATS with CRM-style nurturing, and low-star reviews most often cite reporting limits, onboarding, and support gaps. Never got this up and going and never could get anyone to respond. Sales rep promises were never met. Data analytics are very basic- doesn't allow you to do sourcing with key words Individual opinions from a low-star sample, not a verdict for every buyer.What users complain about (Lever, n=10)
Lever
n=10
Capterra review, Dec 2025
Capterra review, Dec 2025
Capterra review, Feb 2023
Who should choose Lever
Pick Lever if you are a mid-market team that wants ATS plus CRM-style nurturing, already has budget for a Custom quote, and can invest in a longer implementation. Lever fits relationship-based recruiting where pools and campaigns matter as much as the active req.
Who should choose Curriculo ATS
You get a published free forever Starter and Pro is $50 instead of waiting on a Lever Custom quote. Curriculo ATS scores every candidate from 0 to 100 against your job, with a written AI summary of the fit. No per-seat fees on any plan. Choose Curriculo when ranked shortlists, unlimited jobs on free, and a fifteen-minute setup matter more than a full mid-market CRM suite.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Lever
Lever publishes Custom quote on Lever pricing, checked Oct 6, 2026. Third-party yearly guesses are not restated here.
Curriculo vs Lever pricing
Curriculo Starter is free forever. Pro is $50. Lever is Custom quote. Compare your Lever quote to those public Curriculo numbers.
Does Curriculo replace Lever CRM
Curriculo includes drip campaigns on Starter and scored shortlists. Teams that need Lever's full CRM-style suite should evaluate both before switching.
Is there a free Lever alternative
Yes. See best free ATS and Lever alternatives.
How long does Curriculo take to set up
Set up in about 15 minutes. No credit card. Connect mail and calendar, post a job, and open candidates in score order.
Can I import candidates when I leave Lever
Plan a CSV or vendor export first. Curriculo supports CSV and bulk resume imports.
Where is AI candidate ranking
Related pages
- Lever alternatives
- Greenhouse comparison
- Ashby comparison
- Best free ATS
- AI candidate ranking
- Curriculo pricing
- Workable comparison
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Sources
- Lever pricing, checked Oct 6, 2026
- Curriculo pricing, checked Oct 6, 2026