5 of the Top GEM alternatives for recruiters

Gem does a lot of things well: it tracks candidate engagement, enriches contact data, and plugs into your ATS. But if you have hit its credit limits, struggled with the lack of LinkedIn message automation, or found the pricing hard to justify for a smaller team, you are not alone. These are the three most common reasons recruiters start looking for alternatives.

We compared five platforms that solve the problems Gem leaves open. Each one takes a different approach to sourcing, outreach, and candidate management. This guide breaks down what each tool does best, what it costs, and where it falls short so you can pick the right fit without a month of free trials.

What you’ll find in this comparison:

• What GEM does well (and where it falls short)
• Leonar: AI sourcing + multi-channel outreach
• HireEZ: multi-platform sourcing
• GetRocket: smart hiring platform
• LinkedIn Recruiter: the network standard
• Bullhorn: end-to-end for agencies
• Which alternative fits your team best

What is GEM?

Recruiters love GEM because it streamlines finding and communicating with candidates. Basically, this software updates your Applicant Tracking System (ATS) data, provides analytics, helps manage outreach across multiple channels, and finds emails for initial contact. All of these features are designed to save you time and boost your recruitment campaign’s efficiency. If you’re exploring the broader CRM landscape, our roundup of the best recruitment CRM tools is a great starting point.

The easy-to-use interface makes getting through tasks a breeze for recruiters. GEM has tools to help you track a candidate’s journey through the hiring process or automate follow-up emails. The software integrates well with LinkedIn, Gmail, and Outlook, which is a big plus.

No tool is perfect, and GEM is no exception. Although it excels in many areas, recruiters might miss some features:

• GEM doesn’t automate LinkedIn messages and in-mails, so recruiters have to do more work manually. 
• The inbox isn’t centralized, so it’s hard to stay on top of everything. 
• It’s also hard to import candidates in bulk, which can be a setback for larger recruitment drives.
• Last but not least, its pricing can be a barrier for smaller companies or recruiters.

For those who find its limitations a deal-breaker, there are alternatives. 👇

The best GEM alternatives on the market right now

Recruiters are always looking for optimal tools as they navigate the complexities of talent acquisition. From enhancing candidate engagement to streamlining the hiring process, these alternatives have it all. Now let’s look at what makes each of these alternatives unique.

1. Leonar

Leonar is a GEM alternative that addresses the challenges of recruiting by providing a platform that connects businesses with top talent efficiently. 

Recruiters often spend lots of time looking for the right candidates, and wrong info makes this even longer. Leonar helps out by making it easier to find and talk to candidates, cutting down on the time wasted and making sure recruiters have accurate info to work with. Its AI-powered sourcing engine pulls from a database of over 870 million profiles to surface the best matches for any role.

How is Leonar different from GEM?

While Gem focuses more on credit-based access, Leonar emphasizes automation in sourcing and engagement, saving recruiters a lot of time otherwise spent on manual work. 

It integrates seamlessly with CRMs and ATSs for a streamlined process. With Leonar, you get better recruiting workflows without restrictive pricing models, so users get the tools they need without worrying about credits. 

The strategy supports a wide range of recruiting needs, from dial-heavy users to those who need in-depth candidate insights, prioritizing ease of use and quality data.

Top Features:

• AI-driven sourcing to quickly find the best candidates.
• Multi-channel engagement, reaching out via LinkedIn, email, WhatsApp.
• Integration with popular CRMs and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
• User-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate.
• Competitive pricing with flexible packages.
• Global reach, suitable for international recruiting.
• High-quality, GDPR-compliant candidate data.
• Automated workflows to save time on manual tasks.
• Detailed analytics to improve recruiting strategies.
• Responsive customer support team for any queries.

What customers say: 

“Leonar is a real time-saver for my recruiting activity: I’ve gone from 5 days of sourcing to just 2 per week. Having a tool that systematically takes care of follow-ups and centralizes my conversations allows me to have peace of mind and focus on high-value tasks.” - Gymlib

“All our hiring managers are using Leonar. Before using Leonar, we were highly dependent on external recruiting agencies. Since then, we have made amazing hires and divided our hiring costs by 2.” - Diduenjoy

Pricing: 

Pricing is important, but Leonar prefers to chat about what you and your business need first. That way, they can give you a deal that really fits.

Here’s a link to schedule a free demo**.** 

2. HireEZ

HireEZ (formerly Hiretual) enables recruiters to find and connect with the right candidates in a fraction of the time. Recruiters can search through 30 platforms with the tools’ AI sourcing assistant. 

AI prioritization helps recruiters quickly connect with top candidates and provides instant contact info. But, HireEZ, like SeekOut, relies on monthly snapshots of candidate data to keep track of candidates.

Top features: 

• AI sourcing assistant
• Extensive candidate database
• AI prioritization
• Instant contact information
• Analytics and reporting suite
• Integrations with various ATS and CRM systems

Pricing:

You can try HireEZ for free and download a free version.

Pricing is based on a pay-per-user model. The Startups package starts at $169 per user, while the Professional package starts at $199.

3. GetRocket

GetRocket is all about making hiring easy and smart. With their tech, teams can quickly find the right people for their jobs. 

It’s designed to cut down on the hassle and make the whole hiring process smoother for businesses big and small. If you’re comparing sourcing-focused platforms, our guide to candidate sourcing software covers a wider range of tools and use cases.

Top features: 

• AI-driven candidate sourcing
• Automated outreach and follow-ups
• Deep integration with ATS and CRM systems
• User-friendly interface for efficient workflow
• Advanced analytics for recruitment optimization

4. LinkedIn Recruiter

LinkedIn Recruiter helps hiring professionals find and engage with candidates through LinkedIn’s vast network. You can organize and manage candidate profiles, save notes, and track interactions, all within a user-friendly interface. 

However, it relies on InMails to contact you, which may have a lower open rate since notifications are often marked spam. A few things to keep in mind are its limitations, like its reliance on a single communication channel, limited automated outreach sequences, and difficulties maintaining connections with previously approached candidates.

With tools like Leonar, you can address these limitations by enhancing the functionality of LinkedIn Recruiter with broader outreach capabilities, more sophisticated sequence options, and better relationship management.

Top features: 

• Filters for advanced searches
• Messaging automation
• Management of candidate relationships
• Automated talent acquisition
• Talent management
• Analytics and insights
• Collaborative hiring

Pricing:

Pricing for LinkedIn Recruiter starts at $10,800 for an annual subscription or $1,080 per month.

A more budget-friendly option is Recruiter Lite, which costs $1,680 per year or $170 per month.

👉 Unsure about LinkedIn Recruiter Corporate vs. Recruiter Lite? Find your fit with our detailed comparison

5. Bullhorn

Bullhorn is an end-to-end recruiting software designed for staffing and recruiting agencies. It has ATS, CRM, and automation capabilities for various recruitment processes. A big advantage of Bullhorn is its extensive integration options and customizable workflows, making it perfect for agencies who want to streamline operations and engage candidates better. 

For smaller teams or individual recruiters, its complexity and pricing may be a concern. If Bullhorn isn’t quite the right fit, you might also want to compare Loxo alternatives for another angle on talent intelligence platforms. 

Top Features:

• Automated workflow for increased efficiency
• Seamless integration with various software tools
• Advanced candidate management system
• User-friendly and intuitive interface
• Global reach and support for international staffing

Pricing:

Bullhorn offers four main packages tailored for different business sizes and needs:

• Team: Focuses on candidate, contact, and job management, with email integration and standard reporting.
• Corporate: Includes everything in Team, plus unlimited storage, API access, custom workflows, LinkedIn integration, and additional tools for productivity and feedback.
• Enterprise: Builds on Corporate with advanced reporting, relationship intelligence, and tools for tracking leads, managing pipelines, and setting goals.
• Enterprise Plus: Expands on Enterprise with even more advanced reporting and visualization features.

You need to request a pricing quote for your specific business needs.

👉 Looking for more alternatives? Check our blog post: Bullhorn alternatives for recruiters.

Need a platform that handles sourcing and outreach in one place?

If your main frustration with Gem is juggling separate tools for sourcing, messaging, and pipeline management, consider a platform that covers the full workflow. Leonar combines AI-powered sourcing from a 870M+ profile database with multi-channel outreach (LinkedIn, email, InMail, WhatsApp) and a built-in CRM. Profile scoring ranks candidates against your job description automatically. For teams that rely on LinkedIn, Leonar’s native Recruiter and Sales Navigator integration means you can search, message, and track candidates without switching tabs.

If you are still evaluating your recruiting stack, our guides on recruiting automation and AI recruiting tools cover the broader landscape. For ATS-specific comparisons, see our roundup of the best applicant tracking systems.

Which GEM alternative is the best?

If you want AI-driven sourcing, multi-channel engagement, seamless ATS and CRM integration, a user-friendly interface, and competitive pricing, then Leonar is the best alternative to GEM.