Lever ATS Review: Features, Pricing, Market Position, and More

In the competitive world of talent acquisition, Lever has emerged as a top-tier solution, combining Applicant Tracking System (ATS) functionality with Talent Relationship Management (TRM) capabilities. Known for its sleek design, user-friendly interface, and innovative features, Lever stands out as a leader in fostering collaborative, efficient, and data-driven hiring. This review provides an in-depth look at Lever, its features, pros and cons, pricing, customer base, integrations, and more to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your recruitment needs.

Overview of Lever

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, Lever serves as an integrated solution for streamlining hiring workflows while enabling teams to nurture talent relationships. It is trusted by thousands of organizations, including Netflix, Shopify, and KPMG, and continues to gain traction across industries for its commitment to innovation, data-driven decision-making, and diversity-focused hiring.

Lever’s standout feature is its unified ATS + CRM platform, which ensures companies can manage active hiring needs while maintaining a robust pipeline of passive candidates. This comprehensive approach allows organizations to recruit strategically, engaging talent across every stage of the hiring funnel.

Intuitive Hiring Pipeline

Key Features

Lever offers a powerful suite of tools designed to optimize every aspect of the recruitment process:

1. Integrated ATS + CRM: A single platform for both active job postings and long-term candidate relationship management.

2. Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Provides actionable insights, including time-to-fill, pipeline bottlenecks, and sourcing effectiveness.

3. Collaboration Tools: Features like shared candidate notes, scorecards, and automated feedback requests ensure alignment among hiring teams.

4. Customizable Workflows: Tailored workflows and processes for organizations of any size.

5. DEI Tools: Built-in capabilities to anonymize candidate information, track diversity metrics, and foster inclusive hiring.

6. Automation: Automates repetitive tasks like email follow-ups and interview scheduling, freeing up recruiters for strategic work.

Diversity Summary

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. User-Friendly Interface: Clean, intuitive design makes it accessible for recruiters and hiring managers.

2. Strong Candidate Experience: Easy applications, automated communications, branded career pages, and streamlined interview scheduling enhance candidate engagement.

3. Talent Relationship Management (TRM): Maintains robust pipelines of passive candidates for future hiring needs.

4. Global Hiring Support: Multi-language capabilities and compliance tools for international hiring.

5. Comprehensive Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with tools like LinkedIn, Workday, Slack, and G Suite.

   
   

Cons

1. Mobile Browser Ready, Not Mobile Phone Ready: Enables candidates to have a clean interface for applying to jobs, but does not have a dedicated mobile app to further the user experience

2. Limited Customization in Some Areas: Reporting dashboards could offer more flexibility for advanced users and larger organizations.

3. Advanced Search Limitations: Users have noted that Lever's search functionality lacks advanced Boolean capabilities relative to its competitors, making it challenging to filter candidates effectively.

4. Passive Candidate Profiles Might Be Dated: Can search past applicants resumes, but due to no access to public data, the passive candidate data can be stale and missing recent candidate experiences.

5. Pricing Transparency: Lack of public pricing details can be a deterrent for smaller businesses.

   
   

Pricing Structure

Lever does not provide detailed pricing information on its website. However, reviews suggest a tiered pricing model based on:

• Company size

• Number of users

• Feature set requirements

While there is no freemium plan, Lever’s scalable pricing structure makes it accessible for small to large enterprises. Organizations can request custom quotes to better understand their options.

Lever ATS Customer Base

Lever serves a global clientele, with a strong presence in North America and Europe. Its customer portfolio includes high-profile names like Netflix, Atlassian, KPMG, and Shopify, reflecting its appeal to industries ranging from tech to professional services. Lever’s primary focus is mid-sized and large enterprises, but its scalability also makes it suitable for fast-growing startups.

Integration Capabilities

With over 100 pre-built integrations, Lever seamlessly connects to existing HR Tech stacks. Popular integrations include:

• LinkedIn for sourcing. Users can download PDF resume from LinkedIn and save it to the pipeline through Lever’s Chrome Extension.

• Workday and BambooHR for HR management.

• Slack and Zoom for team collaboration and interview scheduling.

Lever’s API allows custom integrations, ensuring that unique business needs are met.

Implementation

Lever provides robust implementation support, including:

• Onboarding resources.

• Training materials.

• A dedicated customer success team.

Implementation timelines may vary depending on the size and readiness of the organization, but Lever’s customer support is well-regarded for ensuring a smooth transition.

User Feedback

Reviews on G2 and other platforms highlight Lever’s ease of use, collaborative features, and robust analytics as standout strengths. Users also praise its DEI tools and automation capabilities. However, some feedback points to a need for more customizable reporting and occasional issues with bugs in analytics.

G2 Lever User Reviews

The Company’s Direction

Lever has consistently innovated in the HR Tech space, with a strong focus on enhancing DEI and improving user experiences. Its acquisition by Employ Inc. in 2022 signals a strategic push to solidify its position as a market leader in talent acquisition technology. Lever’s forward-thinking approach ensures it remains at the forefront of modern recruitment.

Alternatives

For organizations evaluating other ATS and CRM platforms, here are a few notable competitors:

1. Greenhouse: Renowned for its structured interview kits and robust integrations.

2. Workable: Affordable and intuitive, ideal for smaller businesses.

3. BambooHR: A broader HR platform with recruitment capabilities, suitable for holistic HR management.

   
   

Conclusion

Lever is a powerful and comprehensive tool for modern recruitment teams, offering innovative features, a collaborative interface, and strong DEI support. While it has room for improvement in areas like customization and pricing transparency, its robust capabilities make it a top choice for companies seeking to build a seamless, data-driven, and people-focused hiring process.

For HR leaders aiming to stay competitive in today’s talent market, Lever provides the tools and insights needed to attract and retain top talent while fostering long-term relationships.

By Joe Battafarano, co-founder of DataVertex Advisory and an HR Tech Advisor dedicated to helping organizations make informed decisions about talent acquisition technology and candidate data partnerships. With a deep passion for the HR tech landscape, Joe shares valuable insights on optimizing recruitment strategies and selecting the right tools to drive business success.