15Five vs SmartRecruiters
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
15Five
15Five is a continuous performance management platform focused on weekly check-ins, OKRs, and employee engagement. It helps managers stay connected with their teams through structured feedback and recognition tools. 15Five is popular with remote and distributed teams that need async communication tools.
SmartRecruiters
SmartRecruiters is an enterprise talent acquisition platform that offers a genuinely free plan alongside paid enterprise tiers. Its free plan includes unlimited job postings, candidate tracking, and team collaboration — making it one of the most generous free ATS options available. SmartRecruiters is used by global enterprises including Visa, Bosch, and LinkedIn.
Pros
- ✓Simple and intuitive weekly check-in format that drives adoption
- ✓Strong OKR and goal-setting tools
- ✓Excellent manager training and coaching resources
- ✓Good engagement survey tools with benchmarking
Cons
- ✗Limited HR functionality beyond performance and engagement
- ✗No payroll or benefits administration
- ✗Reporting could be more advanced for data-driven HR teams
Pros
- ✓Genuinely useful free plan with unlimited jobs and users
- ✓Enterprise-grade features available as you scale
- ✓Strong AI candidate screening on paid plans
- ✓Used by large global enterprises giving it credibility with candidates
Cons
- ✗Free plan has limited analytics and automation
- ✗Enterprise pricing can be expensive
- ✗Interface can feel complex for small teams
- ✗Implementation requires dedicated time for enterprise features
15Five vs SmartRecruiters: Side by Side
| Factor | 15Five | SmartRecruiters |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $4/user/mo | Free |
| Best For | Companies focused on employee engagement and performance | Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise |
| Our Pick | — | — |
15Five Features
- ✓Weekly check-ins
- ✓OKRs
- ✓performance reviews
- ✓engagement surveys
- ✓manager training
SmartRecruiters Features
- ✓Unlimited job postings
- ✓candidate tracking
- ✓collaborative hiring
- ✓AI screening
- ✓interview scheduling
- ✓offer management
- ✓analytics
- ✓career page
- ✓mobile app
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose 15Five if companies focused on employee engagement and performance. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Best For
Companies focused on employee engagement and performance
Best For
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise
Also Consider
If neither 15Five nor SmartRecruiters is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 15Five and SmartRecruiters?
15Five is best for companies focused on employee engagement and performance. SmartRecruiters is best for companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Which is better, 15Five or SmartRecruiters?
Choose 15Five if companies focused on employee engagement and performance. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
How much does 15Five cost?
15Five starts at $4/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does SmartRecruiters cost?
SmartRecruiters starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use 15Five?
Companies focused on employee engagement and performance
Who should use SmartRecruiters?
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise