Compare/Head to head

Candidately vs Spadework

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

Starting price

Candidately

$99/mo Free tier

Candidately is an AI layer on staffing ATS systems, especially Bullhorn. Client Portal is listed at $99/month for the first user and $49/month per extra user, billed annually. AI Resume Builder is a separate usage line.

Where Candidately fits

  • Bullhorn agencies that submit candidates by email today
  • Account managers who need a white-labeled client portal
  • Desks that want AI-formatted branded CVs
  • Firms that will put a talent marketplace on the agency website

Spadework

€270/mo Free tier

Spadework is an Amsterdam based AI layer for recruitment agency ATS databases that keeps candidate and contact records up to date and alerts recruiters when candidates look ready to move, contacts change jobs or clients post vacancies. It suits staffing, secondment and search agencies with large databases going stale. It is free for 50 profiles, then €270/mo for 1,000 profiles or €890/mo for 10,000, on yearly terms.

Where Spadework fits

  • Agencies with 10,000+ candidate records that are out of date
  • Staffing and secondment firms in the Netherlands and Belgium
  • Recruiters who want warm contacts tracked when they change jobs
  • Teams that want new client vacancies filed in the ATS automatically

At a glance

DetailCandidatelySpadework
Starting price$99/mo€270/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underATS, SourcingEmail finders, Lead generation, Workflow automation

Where they pull apart

Candidately

Stands out: Client Portal replaces email threads with branded candidate profiles, magic links, live client chat, and AI recruiter notes. Pricing is not tied to the agency's Bullhorn seat count.

Watch out: All plans are billed annually. Talent Marketplace and Candidate Search AI are talk-to-sales. Resume Builder is usage-priced (vendor pages also cite $1 per exported resume).

Not the right fit for

  • Corporate TA teams not on a staffing ATS
  • Buyers who need month-to-month billing

Spadework

Stands out: A latent candidate detector reads profile changes, such as a new bio and expanded work history with no job change, as a sign someone may be getting ready to apply. A backdoor hire notifier flags candidates who may have been hired directly by a client after you introduced them.

Watch out: The product and most of the site are built for the Benelux market, with formal ATS partnerships with Dutch systems like OTYS, Carerix, Byner and Mysolution. Paid plans are a one year commitment, pricing is in euros, and US data coverage is unproven.

Not the right fit for

  • US agencies on US specific ATS platforms
  • Small teams that cannot commit to a yearly contract

Pros and cons

Candidately

  • Client Portal $99/month for the first user, not per Bullhorn seat
  • AI resume parsing and recruiter notes in the portal
  • Works as a layer on the ATS rather than a replacement
  • Annual billing only
  • Search AI and marketplace are quoted
  • Capterra listing has no reviews

Spadework

  • Free plan with every core agent on 50 profiles
  • Works inside your existing ATS, no new system to learn
  • Backdoor hire alerts help recover missed fees
  • Paid plans need a one year commitment
  • Euro pricing and a Benelux focused customer base
  • Formal ATS partners are mostly Dutch systems

What each one costs

Candidately

$99/mo

Client Portal is $99/month for 1 user and $49/month per additional user, billed annually. Talent Marketplace and Candidate Search AI are sales-quoted. AI Resume Builder is usage-priced (including a $1 per exported resume line on vendor materials). Discounts exist for enterprise and high volume. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Spadework

€270/mo

Spadework prices by the number of candidate and contact profiles its agents follow. Free covers 50 profiles with no credit card and every agent except the Daily Briefer. Launch is €270/mo for 1,000 profiles and adds the Daily Briefer. Scale is €890/mo for 10,000 profiles, can go up to 50,000, and adds custom agents. Enterprise is priced on request for larger volumes. Paid plans run for a year, paid monthly or up front with a 10% discount. Prices are in euros and no USD price is published. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 15 Oct 2026

Common questions

Can you try Candidately or Spadework for free?
Candidately and Spadework carry a free tier on our listing.

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