ATS Comparison
A side-by-side comparison of two applicant tracking systems, one built for CRM-driven mid-market recruiting, one built for startups. Updated March 2026.
| Feature | Curriculo ATS | Lever |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Startups (5–200 employees) | Mid-market (100–500+) |
| Starting Price | Free (unlimited jobs) | ~$3,500+/year (custom) |
| Per-Seat Fees | ✓ No, flat $100/mo (early bird: $50/mo, 50% off) Pro | ✗ Yes |
| AI Screening | Signal-based impact scoring | Keyword + basic AI matching |
| Candidate Network | 10,000+ built-in | ✗ No |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes (unlimited job listings) | ✗ No |
| CRM Features | Basic pipeline | Full CRM + nurture campaigns |
| Setup Time | 15 minutes | 1–2 weeks |
| DEI Features | Basic | Advanced DEI dashboards |
| Integrations | Google, Slack, API | 200+ integrations |
What is Lever?
Lever (now part of Employ Inc.) combines an applicant tracking system with a CRM (candidate relationship management), allowing teams to build talent pools and run nurture campaigns. Known for its diversity and inclusion features, Lever targets mid-market companies with 100–500+ employees.
Custom pricing typically starts at ~$3,500/year with per-seat costs. Lever is strong in candidate nurturing and relationship-building, making it a popular choice for teams with dedicated recruiters who want to proactively source and engage passive candidates. No free plan is available.
What is CurriculoATS?
Curriculo ATS is an AI-native applicant tracking system built specifically for startups with 5–200 employees. Founded by Dev Rishi Khare, an ex-Amazon ML engineer, it uses signal-based scoring instead of keyword matching, evaluating candidates on measurable impact (revenue generated, teams scaled, systems built) rather than buzzword frequency.
Curriculo ATS is the only ATS with a built-in candidate network of 10,000+ professionals whose resumes are already structured for clarity through the Curriculo resume builder. This dual-sided approach means cleaner data entering the system and faster, more accurate screening. Pricing starts at $0 (free Starter plan with unlimited job listings) and scales to $100/month for Pro (early bird: $50/month, 50% off) with no per-seat fees.
Deep Dive
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
AI Screening
LeverUses keyword matching combined with basic AI suggestions. Candidates are surfaced based on keyword relevance and simple pattern matching. Lever’s strength lies more in its CRM-driven nurture workflows than in AI-powered screening.
Curriculo ATSUses signal-based scoring across five dimensions, quantified achievements, scope of responsibility, career trajectory, skills-to-role alignment, and narrative clarity. Each candidate receives a composite Impact Score (0–100).
Winner: CurriculoATS for scoring accuracy; Lever for nurture-driven workflows.Pricing & Cost
LeverCustom pricing starting at ~$3,500+/year with per-seat fees. Adding team members increases cost. No free tier or self-serve pricing available.
Curriculo ATSFree Starter plan (unlimited jobs). Pro plan is $100/month flat (early bird: $50/month, 50% off), no per-seat fees. Adding 10 team members costs nothing extra.
Winner: CurriculoATS for startups; Lever for mid-market teams with allocated recruiting budgets.CRM & Nurturing
LeverFull CRM with nurture campaigns, talent pools, and drip sequences. Teams can build long-term candidate relationships and proactively engage passive talent over time.
Curriculo ATSBasic pipeline management focused on active hiring. The built-in Candidate Network of 10,000+ professionals provides instant access to pre-structured talent without requiring manual outreach sequences.
Winner: Lever for CRM and nurturing; CurriculoATS for instant network access.DEI & Compliance
LeverAdvanced DEI dashboards, EEO reporting, and bias reduction tools. Lever provides detailed diversity analytics across the hiring funnel and helps teams track representation goals.
Curriculo ATSSignal-based scoring inherently reduces keyword bias by evaluating measurable outcomes rather than demographics or keyword patterns. Basic compliance features included, but no dedicated DEI dashboards.
Winner: Lever for DEI tooling; CurriculoATS for bias-reduced scoring methodology.Ease of Setup
LeverRequires 1–2 week implementation with training for hiring managers. CRM features and nurture workflows need configuration to match team processes.
Curriculo ATSSelf-serve setup. Most teams are fully operational in 15 minutes. No implementation manager needed. UI designed for founders with no HR background.
Winner: CurriculoATS for speed; Lever for teams that need CRM onboarding support.Who Should Choose Lever?
- Mid-market companies with 100–500+ employees and dedicated recruiting teams
- Organizations that need full CRM with nurture campaigns and talent pools
- Teams that require advanced DEI dashboards and EEO reporting
- Companies with recruiting budgets of $3,500+/year for ATS tools
- Teams that prioritize long-term candidate relationship management
Who Should Choose CurriculoATS?
- Startups with 5–200 employees making their first hires or scaling
- Teams that want AI resume screening without enterprise pricing ($0–$100/mo)
- Founders who need to start hiring today (15-minute setup, no implementation)
- Companies that want signal-based candidate scoring, not keyword matching
- Teams without dedicated recruiters who need to hire fast
- Budget-conscious teams that refuse to pay per-seat fees
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate from Lever to Curriculo ATS?
Yes. Curriculo ATS supports data import from Lever including candidate records, job postings, and pipeline stages. Most teams complete migration in under a day.
Does CurriculoATS have CRM features like Lever?
Curriculo ATS focuses on pipeline management and AI scoring rather than CRM nurture sequences. However, the built-in Candidate Network provides instant access to 10,000+ professionals without needing nurture campaigns.
How does signal-based scoring compare to Lever’s matching?
Signal-based scoring evaluates measurable impact (revenue generated, teams scaled, project outcomes) while Lever’s matching focuses on keyword relevance and basic AI suggestions. Signal-based scoring better identifies high-performers regardless of resume formatting.
Is Lever better for diversity hiring?
Lever has more advanced DEI dashboards and EEO reporting tools. CurriculoATS reduces bias through signal-based scoring (evaluating outcomes, not demographics or keyword patterns), but lacks dedicated DEI dashboards.
Which is better for a 30-person startup?
CurriculoATS. It’s free to start, requires no implementation, and is designed for teams without dedicated recruiters. Lever targets mid-market companies with established recruiting teams.
Does CurriculoATS have nurture campaigns?
Not currently. Curriculo ATS focuses on AI-powered screening and pipeline management. For candidate nurturing, the built-in Candidate Network provides pre-structured access to talent without manual outreach sequences.