COMPARE PARSLEYHR
ParsleyHR vs Workable
Workable is a full HR suite for mid-market teams hiring constantly. ParsleyHR is a focused ATS for small businesses that want every feature on every plan without a $299 floor or annual contract.
vsWhat Workable is
Workable is an all-in-one HR platform built around an ATS, with sourcing tools, AI screening, onboarding, time off, performance, and payroll prep. It launched in 2012 and is used by more than 30,000 companies across 100+ countries.
Its sourcing engine pulls from a 400M+ candidate profile database and posts to 200+ job boards in one click. Workable has matured into a mid-market and upper-SMB platform: positioned for teams that hire continuously and want one vendor for recruiting plus core HRIS workflows.
Workable's three published plans are Standard, Premier, and Enterprise. Recruiting premium tools (video interviews, texting, assessments, performance reviews, referrals) are add-ons on Standard and bundled into Premier and above.
Workable's Standard plan is $299/mo ($3,588/yr with the 20% annual discount), with Premier at $599/mo and Enterprise at $719/mo, all priced for 1-20 employees. Premium recruiting tools on Standard are billed separately: Video interviews $109/mo, Texting $89/mo, Assessments $59/mo, Performance reviews $39/mo - so a Standard plan with the common add-ons can land closer to $500+/mo.
Mid-market teams (roughly 50-1,000 employees) that hire continuously, need sourcing from a large candidate database, and want one vendor for ATS plus lightweight HRIS, onboarding, time off, and performance.
Where each one wins
Where Workable wins
- Sourcing depth - 400M+ candidate profile database and one-click syndication to 200+ job boards is well beyond what a small-business ATS offers.
- All-in-one HR scope - employee records, onboarding, time off, performance reviews, and payroll prep live in the same platform, useful if you want to consolidate vendors.
- Mature integrations - native ADP, Xero, calendar, and background check connections, plus a documented API.
- AI tooling - AI candidate matching, summaries, JD drafting, and one-way video interviews are built in rather than bolted on.
- Brand and trust at the mid-market - 30,000+ customers, G2 leader badges, and a 4.4 Capterra rating give procurement teams confidence.
Where ParsleyHR wins
- Price floor - ParsleyHR starts at $0 forever for one active position. Workable's lowest published plan is $299/mo.
- No contract - ParsleyHR is month-to-month. Workable's pricing is structured around the 20% annual discount, which means most accounts sign up for a 12-month commitment.
- Every feature on every plan - ParsleyHR doesn't gate video, texting, assessments, or performance behind add-ons. Workable charges $39-$109/mo each for those on the Standard plan.
- Right-sized scope - we don't try to be your HRIS or payroll prep tool, so the product is simpler to learn and the price reflects that.
Side-by-side
| Axis | Workable | ParsleyHR |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | Annual contract for the published 20% discount | Month-to-month, cancel anytime |
| Starting price | $299/mo Standard plan (1-20 employees) | $0/mo Bootstrap, $49/mo Team, $99/mo Unlimited |
| Active jobs | Unlimited (subject to fair-use limits) | 1 (Bootstrap), 10 (Team), unlimited (Unlimited) |
| Users | Tied to employee count tier | 1 (Bootstrap), 10 (Team), unlimited (Unlimited) |
| Video interviews | $109/mo add-on on Standard; included in Premier ($599/mo) | Included on every paid plan |
| Texting / SMS | $89/mo add-on on Standard; included in Premier | Included on every paid plan |
| Assessments | $59/mo add-on on Standard; included in Premier | Included on every paid plan |
| HRIS / onboarding / payroll prep | Included - one of Workable's core differentiators | Not in scope - ATS-only by design |
| Sourcing database | 400M+ candidate profiles, 200+ job boards | Free job board syndication; no proprietary sourcing DB |
What real Workable reviewers say
Sourced from G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot - quotes are verbatim or near-verbatim with attribution.
“many of our requests have not been solved, and some of them have been flat-out denied”
Capterra reviewer Alexandre R, Data Scientist
Small businesses don't have an internal HRIS admin to escalate to. If support won't ship the fix, you're stuck.
“The reports feature doesn't always work as needed and sometimes presents incorrect data”
Capterra reviewer Tanja A, HR Manager
Hiring reporting is a primary reason to leave spreadsheets. Inaccurate numbers undermine the whole point of an ATS.
“Workable has introduced many new features, none of which have had any utility for the work we do”
Capterra reviewer Alexandre R, Data Scientist
Workable's roadmap is pointed at the mid-market HRIS buyer. Small business hiring teams pay for surface area they never use.
“they recently removed their starter plan so the price of entry is double of what it used to be”
G2 small-business reviewer sentiment, summarized in published Workable pricing roundups
Workable has explicitly moved upmarket. Small businesses that joined for the old starter tier got priced out.
When to pick which
Choose Workable if you have 50+ employees, hire continuously across multiple roles, want a single vendor for ATS plus light HRIS / onboarding / time off, and need a large sourcing database and 200+ board syndication.
Choose ParsleyHR if you're a small business hiring a handful of roles a year, you want every feature on every plan with no add-ons, and you don't want to sign an annual contract to get a fair price.
FAQ
Is ParsleyHR cheaper than Workable?
Yes. Workable's lowest published plan is $299/mo Standard, and common add-ons (video, texting, assessments) push that toward $500+/mo. ParsleyHR is free forever for one active position, $49/mo for up to 10, and $99/mo for unlimited - with every feature included.
Does Workable require an annual contract?
Workable advertises a 20% saving on annual billing, which means the public pricing assumes you commit for the year. ParsleyHR is month-to-month on every paid plan.
Does Workable charge per user?
Workable's plans are priced by employee count band (e.g. 1-20 employees on the published tiers), and recruiting premium tools like video interviews, texting, and assessments are billed separately on the Standard plan. ParsleyHR has flat pricing per tier with no per-user fees - each plan has a user cap (1 on Bootstrap, up to 10 on Team, unlimited on Unlimited) but every feature is included on every plan.
What does Workable include that ParsleyHR doesn't?
Workable includes HRIS features (employee records, onboarding, time off, performance, payroll prep) and a 400M+ candidate sourcing database. ParsleyHR is ATS-only by design - we stay focused on hiring so the price and the product stay simple.
Is Workable good for small businesses?
Workable's own pricing and roadmap have moved upmarket. Several G2 reviewers note that after Workable removed its lower-cost starter plan, the price of entry roughly doubled. It still works for small businesses that hire constantly, but is heavy for teams hiring a few roles a year.
Why is Workable more expensive than alternatives like JazzHR or ParsleyHR?
Workable is now positioned as an all-in-one HR platform for mid-market companies, not just an ATS. You're paying for HRIS, onboarding, performance, and a large sourcing database in the base price - whether or not you use them.
Try ParsleyHR. Free forever.
Bootstrap plan is free forever for your first active role. No credit card, no contract, no sales call.
