Head to head

Ashby vs Lever

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Ashby

$400/mo

All-in-one ATS plus analytics for growth teams. Foundations starts at $400/month for up to 100 employees, with 10% off annual.

Where Ashby fits

Growth-stage talent teams
Companies that want analytics without a second tool
Desks that want MCP on hiring data
Teams comparing Ashby against Greenhouse

Lever

Quote-based

ATS plus talent CRM that still lands on most mid-market shortlists. Quote-based, with no MCP.

Where Lever fits

Talent teams that want ATS plus CRM in one login
Companies that re-engage past applicants
Desks that run employee referrals inside the ATS
Buyers comparing Lever against Greenhouse and Ashby

At a glance

Detail	Ashby	Lever
Starting price	$400/mo	Quote-based
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	✓Yes	–No
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	ATS, CRM	ATS, Employee referrals, CRM
Capterra	4.4 from 15 reviews	4.6 from 654 reviews

Where they pull apart

Ashby

Stands out: Scheduling, CRM, reporting and analytics in one ATS, with a hosted MCP.

Watch out: The $400/month floor is real, and the higher tiers go back to a sales conversation.

Not the right fit for

Agencies that need a staffing CRM
Buyers who cannot start at $400/month

Lever

Stands out: A talent CRM beside the jobs, with nurture and employee referrals in the hiring flow.

Watch out: No published price, no MCP, and the market's attention has moved toward Ashby and Greenhouse.

Not the right fit for

Teams that need MCP today
Agencies that need a staffing CRM

Pros and cons

Ashby

Analytics inside the ATS rather than a separate product
Hosted MCP plus API
Published entry price

$400/month floor
Higher tiers are quote-only
Priced on headcount, not recruiter seats

Lever

ATS plus CRM in one login
Referrals built into the hiring flow
Public API

No published price
No MCP
Competitors have more momentum

What each one costs

Ashby

$400/mo

Foundations is $400 a month for companies with up to 100 employees, billed monthly, with 10% off for an annual commitment. Plus (101 to 1,000 employees) and Enterprise are custom-priced. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Lever

Quote-based

Quote-based. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try Ashby or Lever for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Does Ashby or Lever have an MCP server?

Ashby ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?