--- title: "SmartSearch Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about SmartSearch Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Applicant Tracking products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/78549/SmartSearch/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-10-27" --- # SmartSearch Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on October 27, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) SmartSearch ## What is SmartSearch? SmartSearch is a leading global talent acquisition and staffing management software platform that enables companies to effectively identify, recruit, onboard, and nurture top talent. We consistently drive innovation, providing scalable and configurable software for the unique needs of staffing professionals. SmartSearch is the go-to platform for hiring the right talent at the right time. We design human-centered recruitment solutions that enable organizations to hire better, faster, and smarter. Our all-in-one talent acquisition platform serves thousands of recruiting professionals worldwide, offering comprehensive applicant tracking, CRM, hiring manager collaboration, e-signature, onboarding automation, and more. SmartSearch’s flexible architecture has made the enterprise-grade solution available to organizations across all markets, delivering tailored solutions to meet diverse needs. ## What is SmartSearch used for? [Applicant Tracking](https://www.capterra.com/applicant-tracking-software/)[Recruiting Agency](https://www.capterra.com/recruiting-agency-software/)[Direct Deposit Payroll](https://www.capterra.com/direct-deposit-payroll-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 53 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 87% Neutral 13% Negative 0% ### Starting price Free trial not available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for SmartSearch?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/smartsearch-smartsearch/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### SmartSearch 4.5 (53) VS. [4.6 (1,268)](https://www.capterra.com/p/226634/CEIPAL-ATS/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price $25 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.4 (53) Ease Of Use 4.6 (1,231) Value For Money 4.5 (37) Value For Money 4.6 (1,083) Customer Service 4.6 (50) Customer Service 4.6 (1,099) ## SmartSearch alternatives Highest Rated [4.6 (3,653)](https://www.capterra.com/p/110968/BambooHR/reviews/) Starting price $10.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 95% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.2 (10,961)](https://www.capterra.com/p/130706/ZipRecruiter/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 78% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (1,306)](https://www.capterra.com/p/125768/Zoho-Recruit/reviews/) Starting price $30.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (766)](https://www.capterra.com/p/133100/Greenhouse/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/78549/SmartSearch/alternatives/) ## FAQs about SmartSearch Overview ### What problems does SmartSearch solve? SmartSearch solves slow candidate sourcing, fragmented applicant records, and inconsistent recruiting workflows by combining fast resume searches, configurable fields, candidate and client tracking, and automated approval paths. Staffing agencies, recruiters, talent acquisition teams, and fulfillment managers benefit from centralized communication, repeatable onboarding steps, job-board posting, and dashboards for monitoring open requisitions and activity. Answer based on 35 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from SmartSearch? SmartSearch is most used by recruiters, recruitment managers, and talent acquisition teams that source candidates, manage applicant pipelines, and track placements. Recruiting operations and branch managers use it to oversee team activity and workflows, while agency leaders and operations executives monitor performance, financial operations, and business growth. Answer based on 53 reviews Overview ### What company size and specific industries is SmartSearch built for? SmartSearch is designed for staffing firms, executive search agencies, RPO providers, human resources teams, contingent labor placement companies, PPOs, HROs, and corporate employers. It is suited to organizations of varied sizes in recruiting and workforce management that need tools for hiring, placement, and employee administration. Features and Usability ### What are the key features of SmartSearch? SmartSearch includes core applicant tracking and CRM capabilities for candidate tracking, job requisition management, and client records. Reviewers frequently discuss resume database search with Boolean filters, job board posting, customizable workflows, and reporting. Differentiating features include workflow automation, document management, accounting functions, and configurable fields and templates for staffing processes. Answer based on 36 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does SmartSearch integrate with? SmartSearch integrates with 10 third-party tools, including recruiting platforms LinkedIn Recruiter, LinkedIn Jobs, Dice, ZipRecruiter, and eQuest; CRM and communication systems Dynamics 365, HubSpot CRM, Gmail, and Microsoft Outlook; and payroll providers Paychex and Paycom. Answer based on 10 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on SmartSearch? SmartSearch offers in-person and live online training, webinars, documentation, and videos. Reviewers report that new employees and standard users can often become functional quickly, including after brief orientation. However, administrators and teams working with extensive customization may need more time, and some reviewers describe self-directed learning and a longer learning curve. Answer based on 16 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does SmartSearch offer, and how do users rate the experience? SmartSearch offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, a knowledge base, phone support, 24/7 live representatives, and chat. Users commonly describe support as responsive, knowledgeable, and quick to resolve issues, with staff keeping them informed. Some users report slower response times and delays when requested changes or software updates are pending. Answer based on 36 reviews Features and Usability ### What features does SmartSearch offer for staffing and recruiting? SmartSearch provides a broad ATS and CRM feature set for staffing teams, including recruiting workflows, job-board posting, reporting, candidate search, document handling, and integrations. Recruiters value configurable dashboards and communication tools, but the depth of options can feel complex. New or occasional users may need training to move beyond basic tasks. Answer based on 23 reviews Features and Usability ### How customizable is SmartSearch for recruiting workflows? SmartSearch lets staffing teams tailor fields, workflows, dashboards, templates, and processes to match recruiting, sales, onboarding, and client requirements. Users value the configurable system and support for customization, especially when adopting an ATS. Some advanced reporting or configuration requests may require self-training or assistance from the support team. Answer based on 20 reviews ## Features AI summary Based on 7,834 Applicant Tracking reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of applicant tracking software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Candidate Management** (**50%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Candidate Management** (**50%**) - **Candidate Tracking** (**49%**) SmartSearch supports all three of the features reviewers rate highest: **Candidate Management**, **Candidate Management**, and **Candidate Tracking**. Together, these capabilities help businesses organize applicant information, follow candidates through each stage of the hiring process, and maintain better visibility into recruiting activity, allowing teams to make faster and more informed hiring decisions. Candidate Management 4.3 (4) 75.00% of 4 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Build, track, and maintain relationships with candidates Candidate Tracking 4.5 (4) 100.00% of 4 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Record interactions, notes, and developments with candidates Application Management 4.7 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Track, manage and store the applications of potential future members, customers or candidates Job Posting 4.7 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Post, track, and manage open jobs on multiple channels (e.g. job board, company's career site) Recruitment Management 4.6 (7) 71.43% of 7 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Tools to find, assess, and hire suitable candidates for a job within an organization Employee Database 4.6 (5) 60.00% of 5 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Electronic storage of staff/employee contact information and job status in a centralized repository SmartSearch 64 features ### All Features - Accounting: Built-in accounting to manage ledger, accounts payable/receivable, financial reports, etc. - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Activity Tracking: Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems - Alerts/Notifications: Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Applicant Tracking: Find and manage potential candidates and their applications and resumes through the recruiting life cycle - Application Management: Track, manage and store the applications of potential future members, customers or candidates - Assessment Management: Creation, administration, and evaluation of assessments or tests - Background Screening: Researching and validating a person's criminal, educational, job or financial records - Billing & Invoicing: Create, manage, and send invoices or bills to customers - Calendar Management: Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar - Candidate Management: Build, track, and maintain relationships with candidates - Candidate Profiles: Record candidates' information such as role, professional qualifications, experiences, skills or attributes - Candidate Tracking: Record interactions, notes, and developments with candidates - Careers Page: Web page to host job postings, show role descriptions or receive applications from potential candidates - Collaboration Tools: Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together - Commenting/Notes: Leave comments and notes on documents for others to view - Compliance Tracking: Track and report regulatory data to either internal management or external stakeholders - Contact Database: Centralized database of stakeholders and their contact information such as names, address, phone number etc. - CRM: Built-in customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities or integration with a third-party CRM system - Customizable Branding: Add customized logos and colors to align with company branding - Customizable Forms: Customize contracts and forms to collect specific information - Customizable Reports: Alter the layout and content of reports - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Data Import/Export: Import and export data to and from software applications - Document Management: Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location - Email Management: Manage, store and organize emails within the system or via third-party apps - Email Templates: Pre-made examples and templates for emails - Employee Database: Electronic storage of staff/employee contact information and job status in a centralized repository - For Recruiting Agencies: Designed for the use of recruiting agencies - Full Text Search: Search for specific words or phrases within a document or database - HR Management: Automates core HR functions such as talent management, employee evaluation and learning management - Internal HR: Designed to be used by internal recruiters or HR hiring managers - Interview Management: Create and track interviews with a reminder system - Interview Scheduling: Plan, organize and set up the date, time and location of a candidate's individualized interview - Job Board: Site to advertise jobs openings and letting job seekers search for positions based on skills, experience or preferences - Job Management: Manage and track all job information and associated tasks - Job Posting: Post, track, and manage open jobs on multiple channels (e.g. job board, company's career site) - Job Tracking: Track and visualize the status of an ongoing job and the time spent on tasks or projects - Lead Management: Store information about leads or contacts and track, manage and nurture them throughout the sales process - Onboarding: Process of familiarizing new clients, stakeholders or employees with the company, a new location, or a service - Pipeline Management: Track the progress of long term goals, campaigns, and opportunities, for sales, projects, business ventures etc. - Real-Time Reporting: Active reporting of data and metrics - Recruiting Firms: Designed to be used by external or 3rd party recruiting or staffing firms - Recruitment Management: Tools to find, assess, and hire suitable candidates for a job within an organization - Reference Checking: Process used by hiring managers to get more information about a candidate by contacting previous employers - Reminders: Timed notification for any upcoming task, deadline, appointment, or activity - Reporting & Statistics: Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns - Reporting/Analytics: View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data - Resume Database: A searchable repository of candidate profiles - Resume Parsing: Automates the extraction and analysis of key information from resumes or CVs - Resume Search: Search through the software for stored resumes - Resume Storage: Upload and store resumes - Search/Filter: Search and filter data across systems to locate required information by entering keywords or certain criteria - Self Service Portal: Online portal through which end users can access the system, manage tasks, or obtain information - Social Media Integration: Integrate with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. - Social Recruiting: Process of recruiting candidates through social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and more - Status Tracking: Track the status over time for a request, process, asset, or transaction - Tagging: Attach digital tags to documents and assets for identification, search, or monitoring purposes - Talent Acquisition: Recruiting, tracking, and interviewing candidates and onboarding/training new employees - Task Management: Create, manage and track all task activities and progression - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes - Workflow Automation: Streamlining repetitive tasks and activities through automated and predefined workflows - Workflow Management: Create, design and manage workflows for repetitive tasks --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.4 (41) 4.4 Based on 41 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.5 (37) ### Starting price Free trial not available Value for money 4.5 (37) 4.5 Based on 37 reviews ## Integrations [ ZipRecruiter](https://www.capterra.com/p/130706/ZipRecruiter/)[ LinkedIn Jobs](https://www.capterra.com/p/172060/LinkedIn-Jobs/)[ Dynamics 365](https://www.capterra.com/p/157279/Dynamics-365/)[ HubSpot CRM](https://www.capterra.com/p/152373/HubSpot-CRM/)[ Microsoft Outlook](https://www.capterra.com/p/227138/Microsoft-Outlook/)[ Paylocity](https://www.capterra.com/p/86714/WebPay/)[ Paychex](https://www.capterra.com/p/119841/Paychex-Flex/)[ Paycom](https://www.capterra.com/p/130949/Paycom/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.6 (50) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.6 (50) 4.6 Based on 50 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.5 Based on 53 reviews Filter by rating Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(35) 4(11) 3(7) 2(0) 1(0) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful Dan F. Vice President, Sales ### "I recommend SmartSearch to anyone involved in the recruiting process." 5.0 September 19, 2008 I recommend SmartSearch to anyone involved in the recruiting process. The product supports client, contact, and candidate tracking. It also features an easy to implement job board that integrates with your web site. The licensing is very flexible and cost effective and minimal training is required. Data conversion is straightforward when handled by the SmartSearch support team. Pros SmartSearch is the easiest to use, full featured, and cost effective candidate and client contact tracking system that I have ever used. Cons The product is very good. CE CEO CEO Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "10+ years I have used SmartSearch" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 July 20, 2017 If you need a great applicant tracking system that was built for applicant tracking and candidate rating/search, plus some limited accounting capabilities and online timecards that upload to accounting software, this is a great system. If you need a full GL accounting system and not so much an applicant tracking system, this isn't for you. Pros Highly customize-able, versatile, EEOC compliance built in, job portal, some limited accounting capabilities too. Personable staff, most with long-tenure. Responsive to needs and even suggestions to incorporate into their core product at no cost. One of the largest 2 staffing firms in the world wanted to buy them multiple times. You can easily set up automated tasks at any step of the hiring process, which is awesome to help control how your staff uses the system and to ensure that they don't forget important things for their customers. I've used their system for over 10 years and I've never even thought of leaving due to need for something they don't have. And I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Cons Some reporting needs are difficult to achieve on your own with their built in reports. It's almost like both too many options and some important options aren't there. But they are generally willing to help pull the information for you from the back-end. RE Recruiter Recruiter Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "SmartSearch is Not Smart" 3.0 January 15, 2024 Pros SmartSearch does a good job for housing of resumes, searching candidates and inputting requisitions and managing them. Cons It is not simple to use as it's slightly confusing, the job requisition entries could be easier navigated and overall needs improvement on the TA functions. TA Talent Acquisition Manager Talent Acquisition Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Excellent ATS/CRM and service provided!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 October 21, 2020 Rail Personnel has been using Smartsearch since 2006 and we have always been happy with the system and service provided. Pros Smartsearch as an ATS/CRM has always been a powerful and fast system for conducting candidate searches, managing our recruitment activities and allowing candidates to update their own information via the Candidate Career Centre. The Smartsearch Support Team make every endeavor to assist their customers by responding promptly to any emails sent to support@aps2k.com to confirm receipt of the request, ask any follow up questions and ultimately resolve the issues. Also, for urgent requests, they make every effort to assist after hours and have been available to conduct Skype Calls and Goto Meetings to resolve any issues. Cons We have been using Smartsearch for 10+ years and we cannot list any cons at this time. OA Office Administrator Office Administrator Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "20 Years With SmartSearch" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 October 25, 2020 We have been SmartSearch customers for 20 years. We have built our business around this software and we use it to manage almost everything. Approximately a year ago, we decided to leave and try another ATS. We were back with SmartSearch in less than a month! This product does everything you need to manage candidates, clients, job orders, and marketing. We highly recommend it! Pros It is very user friendly. It does everything we need it to do and then some. The SmartSearch support team is fantastic! They have met almost every need we have ever had. Cons I don't have complaints about the software. It is capable of doing so much, that the only downside is I don't know how to fully use everything it offers. RA Recruitment Advisor Recruitment Advisor Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "SS Review 2024" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 2/10 April 15, 2024 Pros It is a good way to keep track of candidates and job statuses. The way it organizes things by client, manager, job, and contractor. Cons It is not very user-friendly. If you are not an expert user at it, you will only use surface level tasks. EV EVP EVP Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "The Daily User" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 January 9, 2020 Applicant tracking, job order entry and tracking, client management, CRM functionality, database management of the business. Pros SmartSearch enables us to track all applicants and clients for daily use. We use the fax and document signing functions as well. Has CRM functionality and VMS/RPO functionality as well. Cons User interface is old and when presenting on a screen the user interface is so small it is difficult to see without navigating to a particular place in the user interface and manually enlarge the screen. VP Vice President Vice President Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Solid ATS Package" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 December 7, 2018 We have used SmartSearch since 1996, and have used some form of the product ever since. Technical support has always been outstanding. Training has been great. We really could not have asked for a better business partner. We have been approached by numerous vendors for years with different ATS packages and none made us consider moving away from SmartSearch. Pros Solid reliable product. Company is always working to add features and update the product to keep up with the changing requirements of the staffing world. Like the overall interface. The dashboard is customizable and really let's you look at the key indicators you want to see. The search capabilities are second to none. The basic system is fairly intuitive so bringing on new recruiters and getting them up to speed is not a big issue. Cons Some of the features and reporting are not what we need and the report designer is not user friendly. DO Director of Client Services Director of Client Services Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Great overall applicant tracking system" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 October 22, 2020 Overall it has been a pleasure working with this product and the team behind it. Pros Easy to customize and use with tons of options. Really love the drag and drop features in the main tool. The onboarding and hire tracks help drive consistency and quality without our teams, and make it easy to never miss a step. Plus the customer support team is always willing to help! Cons Creating reports from scratch - would love easier functionality like drag and drop. OA Owner and Managing Director Owner and Managing Director Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Owner ITech Recruiting LLC" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 July 14, 2017 I've used several other talent/recruiting systems, both vendor supplied and custom built and this is the best one I've seen. Pros Very easy to learn; functions are intuitive; excellent support; easy to get tech support people on the phone, including the CTO; very responsive to suggestions for enhancements and tweaks; good problem tracking capability; always enhancing and improving. Cons Could do a better job of communicating functional changes. Also, I use a very small percentage of the functionality so a mini version with less on the screens would probably work for me. And since it has a lot of formatting and customizing features, perhaps that is even currently possible but I haven't brought up the issue, but now that I thought of it i will do so. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/78549/SmartSearch/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Popular comparisons [100Hires vs SmartSearch](https://www.capterra.com/compare/78549-206957/SmartSearch-vs-100Hires)