Top Echelon vs Gem

ZipRecruiter

Bullhorn ATS & CRM

Crelate

PCRecruiter

SeekOut

Entelo

Compare Top Echelon and Gem based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

100Hires

100Hires is an applicant tracking system that helps simplify recruitment. With resume parsing, customization, integrations, and a sourcing tool, it's a user-friendly, all-in-one platform for hiring top candidates. With the ATS, users will be able to attract, interview, and hire top talent faster than ever before.

CEIPAL ATS

CEIPAL ATS is an AI-based unified talent platform designed for staffing firms, corporate teams, healthcare organizations, and GCCs. The system combines applicant tracking system (ATS), vendor management system (VMS), and workforce management capabilities in a comprehensive solution. CEIPAL ATS lets stakeholders streamline the entire recruitment process through AI-driven candidate matching, automated workflows, and integration with major job boards and HR tools.

Recruit CRM

Recruit CRM is a cloud-based recruitment agency software which helps small to midsize firms manage recruitment operations, daily activities, candidates, clients, contacts, & more. The platform enables recruiters to view & track applicant information, job vacancies, hiring status, & notifications.

TE Recruit™ by Top Echelon is an ATS and CRM built to streamline workflows, save time, and grow with your recruiting/staffing agency.

Accounting

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Notifications

Applicant Tracking

Application Management

Background Screening

Boolean Search

Calendar Management

Candidate Management

Collaboration Tools

Communication Management

Configurable Workflow

Contact Database

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Email Management

Email Marketing

Email Templates

For PEO/ASO

For Recruiting Agencies

For Staffing Agencies

Full Text Search

GDPR Compliance

Generative AI

HR Management

Internal HR

Interview Management

Interview Scheduling

Job Application Management

Job Board

Job Management

Job Posting

Job Requisition

Job Tracking

Lead Management

Mobile Access

Onboarding

Pipeline Management

Pipeline Reports

Process/Workflow Automation

Real-Time Reporting

Recruiting Firms

Recruitment Management

Reference Checking

Referral Management

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Resume Database

Resume Parsing

Resume Search

Self Service Portal

SMS Messaging

Social Media Integration

Social Recruiting

Status Tracking

Talent Acquisition

Talent Pool

Task Management

Third-Party Integrations

Workflow Management

Workforce Management

By industry, Top Echelon reviewers are most commonly professionals in staffing and recruiting (53%). The most frequent use case for Top Echelon cited by reviewers is recruiting (59%).

Users and use cases

Most users consider Top Echelon to offer excellent value for money, with reviewers appreciating its affordability, comprehensive features, and low start-up costs. However, some users report rising costs with additional users or annual price increases, impacting long-term affordability.

Value for money

Top Echelon is a recruiting tool with key features that include candidate management, resume parsing, job management, applicant tracking, and more.

Top Echelon

Web-based

Windows

Linux

Chromebook

Standard

Professional

The customer service is wonderful, you can customize fields, and they offer a split network program that allows you to collaborate with trusted partners.

President

The platform's intuitive interface and robust features have streamlined our workflow, allowing us to source and engage top talent more efficiently than ever before.

I absolutely love that I can manage my full desk, job postings, candidate tracking, client tracking all in one place.  

Executive Recruiter

Excellent resource for recruiting teams, love the browser extension for all recruiting platforms including Linkedin, Indeed, and Ziprecruiter.

Owner

The ability to send messages to many candidates via a single email message saves time and enable quick response times.

It's ability to track and save past emails / resume submissions with clients and candidates is really important as well.

Office Manager

Top Echelon is the best application for tracking placements.

I can access this database from a wide variety of devices allowing me to always have my database with me.  

My only negative (if you can call it that) is that there are really no features to help enter clients into the databse.   

We have found that Top Echelon not only supports our current size but also has incredible capability to grow with us.

Principal

During a bulk email process, transferring search lists to a hotsheet and having to hold a button down and go from page to page to ensure the transfer of data to a hotsheet.

Top Echelon has revolutionized the way we approach candidate sourcing, recruitment, and placement.

The other big plus is having the Network (Forum) which allows you to collaborate with other recruiters and agencies and work on split deals.

Sales

Also TE keeps me well organized, the "PIN" feature as well as job order pipeline help me keep track of a lot searches going on at once.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend Top Echelon to any recruiting firm or organization looking to streamline their processes, enhance their productivity, and achieve greater success in their recruitment efforts.

Headhunter

interchangeability with the ATS and the split network!  

CEO and Founder

Excellent - access to real people that live in the US and are responsive is #1

Excellent experience so far, they provide weekly ongoing trainings on new features as well as industry secrets and tips.

The sourcing functions provided by Top Echelon have been particularly beneficial to our recruitment efforts.

since 2017 we've been using both the ats and the split network.  

I don't like the way contacts tht are hiring authorities appear to show up as candidates as well.

The software has exceeded our expectations in terms of functionality, reliability, and customer support.

Founder CEO

Key skills searches are easy to perform to create an initial prospect list for client requirements.  

Their product was the most cost effective, customizable, multi function product then and now.  

Ease of use, everything you need in a database for tracking candidates, jobs, and companies.

My overall experience is very positive, user friendly and makes texting directly to candidate quick and easy

The interface is a bit dated however I believe it's being updated

Recruiter

When entering a new employee it does not match the candidate to jobs automatically based on 1. job title and 2. keywords and/or education.

Great support, multiple options for training, start up and on-going.

Founder

I'm a huge fan of the ability to automatically upload applicants as new candidates in the ATS by forwarding an email with their resume.

The thing I like least is the inability to search a person with short cut names. if there is even one letter off or missing it won't search them.

Founder 

My overall experience has been wonderful and has made my job of quickly locating candidates in the system very timely and with ease because of how their software is structured.

What I like most about their software is how easy it is to search for candidates, input candidates, communicate with them and clients and how all the information is stored in the system.

The price - although it is more than fair for the quality of the software & service provided, being in Canada, I am paying an additional premium to cover the conversation rates from USD to CAD.

Search Consultant

From being able to send texts from the candidates record to logging Outlook emails through the Top Echolon API.

It is organized around Jobs, Candidates and Companies and included planning/scheduling and email capabilities.  

Director of Sales and Recruiting

Recruiting Coordinator

The ease of use and functionality as well as powerful query and reporting functions.

Great Sourcing Tools and Job Posting abilities

Director

The fact that stored records may be very out of date

An excellent database for candidate information

The ease of use and features that directly tie-in to my business are the most important to me.

Managing Director

I can't think of any major negatives for the Top Echelon database

In my industry (specifically) new companies are popping up all the time.

Recruiting Manager

The resume parsing via email can be a bit of a pain sometimes, I would really like just a drag and drop option as well.

The reports need a little improvement and they are working on that.  

Network and Sharing

Candidate Tracking

Recruiting Process

Database Management

Reviewers indicate Top Echelon's Candidate Management capabilities are intuitive and robust, allowing them to track, sort, and evaluate candidates efficiently. Users report they can easily input candidates via resume parsing or directly from LinkedIn, and appreciate the customizable pipelines and dashboards for tracking status. They say Top Echelon keeps all candidate information organized and accessible, supporting activities like emailing, note-taking, and scheduling. Users feel the system’s multiple entry and search options streamline managing large candidate pools. Of the 56 Top Echelon users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Candidate Management, 100% rated this feature as important or highly important.

Training and Learning Curve

Features

Email Integration

Data Entry and Management

Customer Support

Cumbersome email integration

Out going messages from my outlook do not or are not integrated into Big Biller which does not give me the ability to track all my conversations with a client or a candidate.

Email integration for tracking and notes and completed history is a little cumbersome...too many steps to integrate.

47% of reviewers feel negative about Email Integration. Reviewers indicate that integrating email accounts, especially with Outlook and Gmail, is often problematic and unreliable. They say sending and tracking emails directly from the system can be confusing or requires too many steps, which disrupts their workflow. Some users report issues with emails being marked as spam, difficulties capturing inbound and outbound messages, and a lack of seamless syncing with external email providers. Reviewers feel these limitations hinder their ability to maintain complete communication records and add unnecessary complexity to daily tasks.

Comprehensive candidate management

Big Biller's combination of quick delivery of essential information to the screen PLUS providing history made parsing candidate lists much less effort than other tracking systems, and more than once saved us from making a costly candidate proposal error of candidate and employer.  

Overall it is a consistent, efficient way to track candidates and help manage my day to day recruiting.  

98% of reviewers feel positive about Candidate Tracking. Reviewers appreciate being able to monitor candidates throughout the entire hiring process, from initial contact to placement, all within a single platform. They indicate that having access to candidate history, activity calendars, and customizable pipelines helps them stay organized and avoid errors. Some users say the system’s ability to track both candidates and clients streamlines their workflow and reduces administrative burden. Reviewers find that tracking features such as progress monitoring, reporting, and centralized information are essential for maintaining visibility and efficiency in their recruiting operations.

Intuitive and adaptable interface

Senior Principal 

Intuitive and easy to understand and train new users.

99% of reviewers feel positive about Ease of Use. Reviewers appreciate that the software is intuitive, allowing users of all technical backgrounds to navigate and perform tasks with minimal training. They say the platform is easy to adapt to specific business needs and workflows, making daily operations more efficient. Some users report that onboarding new team members is straightforward due to the system’s simplicity. Reviewers find that the interface allows them to quickly access information and complete tasks without unnecessary complexity, which they feel saves time and reduces frustration.

Freelancers

Small Business

Mid-size Business

Most users consider Top Echelon to offer excellent value for money, frequently highlighting its affordability compared to other ATS/CRM solutions with similar features. They indicate that the platform provides a comprehensive set of functionalities—including job posting, website integration, CRM, and ATS—at a price point that suits smaller firms and businesses with limited budgets. Reviewers appreciate that there are no high start-up costs and that the monthly fees are low, making it easy for small companies to get started and add multiple users affordably. Some users say they benefit from features like job advertising without extra fees or only a small additional charge, and they find the free trial easy to access and set up. Most reviewers indicate that the cost-benefit ratio is quickly apparent, with many stating they receive all the necessary tools and performance at a fraction of the price of larger competitors. However, some users report that costs can increase with additional users or services, and a few feel that the price can be high for startups or when bundling all services. Some reviewers feel the price rises annually, which can be a concern for long-term affordability.

ZipRecruiter enables companies to post to multiple free job boards with a single submission and vet all applicants through simple-to-setup online interviews

Gem is the only AI-first all-in-one recruiting platform. Save time, money, and the headaches of juggling multiple tools.

Campaign Analytics

Campaign Management

Candidate Profiles

Candidate Sourcing

Customizable Branding

Demand Forecasting

Employee Referral Management

Multi-Channel Marketing

The Gem integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: Greenhouse (a recruiting product rated 4.7 out of 5 for its integration with Gem), LinkedIn Recruiter (a recruiting product, 4.6), and Lever (a recruiting product, 4.5).

Integrations

By industry, Gem reviewers are most commonly professionals in computer software (28%). The most frequent use case for Gem cited by reviewers is recruiting (94% of reviewers).

Startups

Growth

Enterprise

Customer Manager

Gem has provided us with improved reporting capabilities and enabled us to effectively manage recruiting campaigns.

Talent Acquisition Team Lead

Gem is a great tool both for day-to-day recruiting productivity and for leadership visibility.

Top Echelon vs Gem Comparison (2026)

Top Echelon

Gem

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives