Best Recruiter Software in the UK

Hiring great people is one of the most powerful ways to grow your business, but it can also be one of the toughest. According to Employment Hero’s Work that Works Report, 3 in 4 business leaders say that recruitment is a challenge.

The task of sifting through endless CVs, juggling interviews and trying to manage candidate communication is a drain on your time and resources. Relying on spreadsheets and overflowing inboxes isn’t just inefficient; it’s actively holding you back from finding the talent you need to succeed. In fact, the Work that Works report shows that behind business costs, recruitment is the number two reason for productivity declines. 

So, it’s time to stop the admin chaos, the time wasting and start focusing on more efficient solutions. The best recruiter software automates the mundane, streamlines your process and frees you up to focus on what actually matters: connecting with great candidates. 

We’ll cut through the noise to show you what to look for, how to choose the right platform and which tools are leading the pack for UK businesses.

What is recruiting software?

The best recruiter software is a tool designed to manage and automate your entire hiring process. It acts as a central hub for all your recruitment activities, from posting job adverts, to managing interviews and making a final offer.

Modern systems go far beyond simple CV storage. They help you build a seamless and professional candidate experience, ensure you remain compliant with UK hiring laws and provide the data you need to make smarter hiring decisions. By automating repetitive tasks, this software gives you back valuable time, reduces administrative burdens and cuts down your overall recruitment costs.

Best recruiting software: pricing comparison chart

Best recruiting software reviews

With so many options on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. To help you cut through the noise and understand what tools are available, we’ve reviewed the best recruiter software on the market. 

Our selection criteria for recruiting software

To give you a clear and useful comparison, we evaluated each platform against five core pillars:

• User experience: Is the software intuitive for both recruiters and hiring managers? A clunky interface kills adoption.
• Integrations: How well does it connect with your other essential tools, like your HRIS, payroll system and job boards?
• Automation: Does it automate key tasks like job posting, candidate communication and interview scheduling to save you time?
• Compliance support: Does it help you manage compliance obligations, such as right-to-work checks and data protection?
• Scalability: Will the software grow with you? It needs to support your business whether you’re hiring five people or five hundred.

With these criteria in mind, let’s explore how to find the right fit for your specific needs.

How to choose recruiting software

The best software for your business depends on your unique circumstances. Before you start booking demos, consider these factors:

• Company size and hiring volume: A small business hiring a few roles a year has very different needs from a large enterprise in a constant hiring cycle. Be realistic about your current and future hiring volume.
• ATS vs. CRM: Do you need an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage active applications, or a Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) tool to nurture a pipeline of passive talent? Some platforms, like Employment Hero, combine both.
• Budget: Determine what you can realistically invest. Prices can range from affordable monthly subscriptions to significant enterprise contracts.
• Must-have features: What are your non-negotiables? Do you need video interviewing tools, onboarding integrations, or advanced reporting?

How to implement recruiting software

Rolling out new software requires a plan. To ensure a smooth transition and high user adoption, follow these best practices. 

First, plan your data migration carefully. Decide what candidate data from your old system (or spreadsheets) you need to import. Next, invest in training. Ensure every user, from HR to hiring managers, understands how to use the platform effectively. Finally, champion the new system internally. Highlight the benefits—less admin, faster hiring, better candidates—to get everyone on board and excited about the change.

Trends in recruiting software

The hiring landscape is being reshaped by technology. One of the biggest trends is the rise of AI in recruitment, which is being used to source candidates, screen CVs and even conduct initial interviews. This helps to reduce manual work and can help mitigate unconscious bias in recruitment.

There is also a huge focus on optimising the candidate experience. Slow, clunky application processes are a major turn-off for top talent. The best recruiter software makes it easy for candidates to apply on any device in minutes. 

Finally, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) analytics are becoming standard, allowing businesses to track the diversity of their applicant pools and identify potential bias in their hiring process.

Features of recruiting software

While every platform is different, there are several essential features you should look for in any modern recruitment tool:

• Job posting automation: Post to multiple job boards with a single click.
• CV parsing: Automatically extract key information from CVs to create standardised candidate profiles.
• Reporting dashboards: Track key metrics like time-to-hire, cost-per-hire and source effectiveness.
• Candidate communication: Use email templates and automated messages to keep every applicant informed.
• Onboarding integrations: Seamlessly transfer candidate data to your HR system to kickstart the onboarding process once an offer is accepted.

Benefits of recruiting software

Implementing the right system delivers tangible benefits. The most immediate is the time saved on administrative tasks. Instead of manually posting jobs and screening CVs, your team can focus on high-value activities like interviewing and building relationships with candidates.

This efficiency leads to a better hiring process overall. It helps you build a strong talent pipeline, improve the quality of your hires and create a positive brand reputation through a slick candidate experience. It’s a core component of effective recruitment marketing strategies.

Costs and pricing for recruiting software

The best recruiter software pricing typically falls into a few common models. Some providers charge per seat, meaning you pay for each user who needs access. Others charge per job post, which can be cost-effective for businesses with low hiring volumes.

For larger organisations, enterprise plans offer custom pricing based on company size and feature requirements. Always ask about implementation fees, support costs and any other hidden charges to understand the total cost of ownership.

3 Best recruitment platforms

Here we spotlight three of the best options for UK employers, each with a different strength.

Employment Hero

Employment Hero offers an Employment Operating System (OS) that integrates hiring directly with HR, payroll, employee engagement, compliance and more. It’s more than just the best recruiter software, it’s a complete employment management platform.

Skip outdated job ads and get access to top talent, without the hassle. Employment Hero’s intelligent platform allows you to manage the entire hiring funnel in one place. From finding top talent with Smart Match, our AI powered talent matching shortlist that removes the need for time consuming job ads, to moving candidates through the hiring process with our ATS. 

And the best part? Due to the fully integrated nature of the platform, successful candidate data flows seamlessly into HR, empowering you to onboard, manage compliance documents and pay your new team member, ensuring a smooth transition from applicant to employee.

 It’s the perfect foundation for a strong recruitment process. 

Best free recruiting software

For businesses on a tight budget or those just starting, some platforms offer a free entry point.

Zoho Recruit

Zoho Recruit provides a free tier that is surprisingly robust for a no-cost option. It includes features for tracking candidates, scheduling interviews and posting to job boards, making it a great starting point for small businesses. 

It’s part of the wider Zoho ecosystem, so it offers a clear upgrade path as your needs grow. The limitations of the free version are in customisation and automation, but it covers the essentials well.

Best budget recruiting software

If you have a small budget but need more power than a free tool can offer, there are several affordable options.

Recruitee

Recruitee is known for its user-friendly interface and collaborative hiring features, with pricing that is accessible for SMEs. It encourages teamwork by making it easy for hiring managers and HR teams to share feedback and evaluate candidates together. 

Its ‘Launch’ plan offers essential ATS features at a competitive price point, making it a strong contender for growing businesses looking to professionalise their hiring without a huge financial commitment. 

Key features of recruitment platforms

The best recruiter software simplifies hiring, boosts efficiency and delivers a great candidate experience. Here are the core features to look for:

Centralised applicant tracking: An ATS keeps every candidate and hiring stage in one place, eliminating messy spreadsheets and helping you spot bottlenecks fast.

Automated job posting: Post to multiple job boards and social channels with a single click, saving time and widening your reach.

Smart sourcing tools: AI-powered search helps you find and recommend the right candidates faster, using data from your database and external networks.

Collaborative hiring: Shared notes, scorecards and feedback tools make it easy for hiring teams to work together and make confident decisions.

Interview scheduling and communication: Automated messages, calendar integrations and reminders streamline interview coordination and keep candidates engaged.

Reporting and analytics: Dashboards track key metrics like time-to-hire and cost-per-hire, giving you insights to refine your process.

Compliance and integrations: Built-in compliance tools support GDPR and right-to-work checks, while integrations with HR and payroll systems ensure a smooth transition from hire to employee.

Try Employment Hero’s Recruitment Software

Finding and hiring great people shouldn’t be a struggle. The best recruiter software helps you cut through admin, connect with quality candidates and make faster, smarter hiring decisions.

With Employment Hero’s all-in-one Employment OS, you can manage every step of the employee journey, from hiring to onboarding, managing complex payroll, supporting compliance and more – all in one place. Our integrated platform eliminates manual work, reduces hiring costs and helps you deliver a seamless employee experience that strengthens your employer brand.

One system, everything employment.