Greenhouse vs Lever (2026): features, security and which one to buy
Greenhouse and Lever compared on what they do, who they suit, their key features, pros and cons, and what each vendor publishes on security, admin and contract terms, with every fact checked on October 24, 2026.
Greenhouse or Lever: the short answer
Choose Greenhouse if
- Mid-size and enterprise teams that want structured interviews, scorecards and deep integrations.
- Companies that need an audit log and configurable session time-outs (Pro tier only)
Choose Lever if
- Teams that want ATS and sourcing CRM in one tool.
- Mid-size companies already in the Employ family (Jobvite, JazzHR) looking for a step-up tier.
What are Greenhouse and Lever?
Greenhouse
Structured-hiring ATS sold in three quote-only tiers (Core, Plus, Pro) for mid-size and enterprise hiring teams. Mid-size and enterprise recruiters who run structured interviews with scorecards should shortlist it. Three quote-only tiers (Core, Plus, Pro) mean no self-serve price for small teams. Audit logs and session time-out settings are Pro only, so confirm the tier early.
Lever
Combined ATS and recruiting CRM from Employ, sold on quote-only pricing with AI screening and interview summaries. Recruiting teams that want sourcing and tracking in one system, particularly those already in the Employ family, should request a quote. No SCIM provisioning is reported on any plan. Ask how candidate moves and pauses work, as reviewers call them fiddly.
Greenhouse vs Lever: features compared
| Greenhouse | Lever | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Structured-hiring ATS sold in three quote-only tiers (Core, Plus, Pro) for mid-size and enterprise hiring teams. | Combined ATS and recruiting CRM from Employ, sold on quote-only pricing with AI screening and interview summaries. |
| Best for | Mid-size and enterprise teams that want structured interviews, scorecards and deep integrations. | Teams that want ATS and sourcing CRM in one tool. |
| Company size | Mid-size to enterprise (vendor has a dedicated enterprise page); no small-business self-serve price. | Positioned by third-party research as the 'scalable hiring' tier in Employ's lineup (mid-size) |
| Pipeline and hiring-team collaboration | Structured hiring with scorecards is the vendor's core positioning (not confirmed by the vendor) | Not published |
| Resume parsing and screening | Not published | AI screening included in core platform per vendor. |
| Starting price | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| G2 rating | 4.4 (3,954 reviews) | 4.3 (2,102 reviews) |
Pros and cons
Greenhouse
Pros
- Integrates easily with other HR and recruiting tools.
- Clear, navigable interface for hiring teams.
Cons
- Limited customization, especially in reporting and scheduling.
- Steep learning curve and some functionality gaps.
Lever
Pros
- Well-organized candidate management.
- Automation saves recruiter time.
Cons
- Pausing or moving candidates can feel complicated.
- Customer support and customization limits, plus integration issues.
Greenhouse vs Lever pricing
Greenhouse starts at Contact sales and Lever at Contact sales. The pricing bases differ, so compare the full quote for your team rather than the entry price.
| Greenhouse | Lever | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | custom | custom |
| Billing | Quote. | Quote. |
| Add-ons | Not published | Candidate Insights (no price published); AI Screening by VONQ (no price published); Onboarding (no price published) |
Security, admin and contract: Greenhouse vs Lever
What each vendor states publicly about single sign-on, provisioning, audit logs, data location and the contract. A blank is a question for the sales call, not a no.
| Greenhouse | Lever | |
|---|---|---|
| SAML SSO | All three tiers (Core, Plus, Pro) per the vendor plan table. | Enterprise only (third-party source, unconfirmed) |
| SCIM provisioning | Not stated; vendor lists 'automated user management' for Plus and Pro only. | Not offered natively (third-party source) |
| Audit logs | Pro only. | Not published |
| Data residency | Not found (EU hosting not confirmed) | Unconfirmed: one directory lists US and EU on AWS, others list US only. |
| Contract | Annual contract assumed typical but not published; plans can be upgraded at any time per FAQ. | Not published |
Differences most comparisons miss
Worth knowing about Greenhouse
- No prices are published: pricing page tells buyers to request a demo.
- SSO appears in every tier's plan table, but audit log, configurable session time-outs and developer sandbox are Pro only.
- Automated user management is Plus and Pro only, so Core buyers cannot automate account provisioning.
- Majority-owned by TPG Growth since January 2021.
Worth knowing about Lever
- Owned by Employ Inc. (with Jobvite and JazzHR) since 2022; G2 lists Employ as the vendor.
- Third-party guide says SAML SSO is Enterprise only and must be enabled via Lever Support; treat as unconfirmed.
- No native SCIM on any plan per the same third-party guide (a connector from Aquera is the described route).
- Vendor says most customers are fully implemented within weeks.
Greenhouse vs Lever: frequently asked questions
Which is better, Greenhouse or Lever?
It depends on the team. Greenhouse is the stronger pick for mid-size and enterprise teams that want structured interviews, scorecards and deep integrations, while Lever suits teams that want ATS and sourcing CRM in one tool. Compare the feature rows above against your must-haves before you look at price.
Do Greenhouse and Lever support SAML single sign-on?
Greenhouse: all three tiers (Core, Plus, Pro) per the vendor plan table. Lever: enterprise only (third-party source, unconfirmed). Confirm the plan in writing before you compare prices.
Sources
Both columns use the same sources: vendor pricing and product pages, documentation, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Full source lists are on the Greenhouse and Lever reviews.