Insightly vs SmartRecruiters
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Insightly
Insightly is a CRM and project management platform designed for growing businesses. It uniquely combines sales pipeline management with post-sale project delivery so teams can manage the full customer lifecycle in one place. Insightly is popular with professional services firms and companies that need to track complex projects alongside their sales pipeline.
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
- ✓Unique combination of CRM and project management in one tool
- ✓Good free plan for up to 2 users
- ✓Strong workflow automation on paid plans
- ✓Good fit for professional services businesses
Cons
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern CRM tools
- ✗Customer support can be slow on lower tiers
- ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
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
Insightly vs SmartRecruiters: Side by Side
| Factor | Insightly | SmartRecruiters |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform | Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Insightly Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓project management
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓email marketing
- ✓reporting
- ✓integrations
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 Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Best For
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Best For
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise
Also Consider
If neither Insightly nor SmartRecruiters is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.
Monday.com CRM
Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform
From $12/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Insightly and SmartRecruiters?
Insightly is best for growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. SmartRecruiters is best for companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
Which is better, Insightly or SmartRecruiters?
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose SmartRecruiters if companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ats from free to enterprise.
How much does Insightly cost?
Insightly starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does SmartRecruiters cost?
SmartRecruiters starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Insightly?
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Who should use SmartRecruiters?
Companies of all sizes wanting a scalable ATS from free to enterprise