Calculating the True Cost ofGreenhouse vs Custom.
Calculate the true 5-year cost of Greenhouse ATS vs building a custom applicant tracking system. Mid-market companies pay $50K–$150K/year.
Why Companies Outgrow Greenhouse
Per-employee pricing model means hiring more recruiters costs more in software before ROI
Job board posting fees are additional on top of platform licensing
Candidate data is locked in Greenhouse — migration costs $10K+ in professional services
Reporting is limited without expensive add-on analytics modules
Feature Matrix: Custom vs Greenhouse
Platform Cost
Workflow Customization
Job Board Integrations
Candidate Data
AI Screening
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Greenhouse cost per year?
Greenhouse pricing is custom-quoted based on company size and modules. Mid-market companies with 500–2,000 employees typically pay $50,000–$150,000/year. This includes the core ATS, onboarding modules, and DEI analytics.
Should I build a custom ATS instead of using Greenhouse?
If you hire 50+ people per year and have specific workflow requirements, yes. A custom ATS costs $35,000 to build with $3,000/year maintenance. Over 5 years that is $47,000 versus $250,000–$750,000 for Greenhouse.
What features does a custom ATS include?
A custom ATS includes applicant tracking, interview scheduling, custom scorecards, AI-powered resume screening, automated reference checks, offer letter generation, and onboarding workflows — all built for your exact hiring process.
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