Head to head

Clockwork vs Gem

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

Clockwork

$149/user/mo

Executive search CRM for retained desks, at $149 per user/month.

Where Clockwork fits

Retained executive search firms
Desks that run on relationships rather than requisition volume
Teams that want a search CRM with a published seat price
Firms working in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365

Gem

130

Recruiting CRM that sits on top of Greenhouse or Ashby, with sequences, rediscovery and analytics. From $130/mo for small teams.

Where Gem fits

Mid-market talent teams already on Greenhouse or Ashby
Sourcing desks that need sequences in the CRM
Teams re-engaging past applicants
Small companies in the published entry band

At a glance

Detail	Clockwork	Gem
Starting price	$149/user/mo	130
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	✓Yes	✓Yes
Public API	–No	✓Yes
Listed under	CRM	Outreach, CRM, Sourcing
Capterra	4.4 from 51 reviews	4.7 from 124 reviews

Where they pull apart

Clockwork

Stands out: A relationship CRM built for search firms rather than a high-volume tracker.

Watch out: Wrong shape for volume hiring, and it is not an ATS.

Not the right fit for

In-house high-volume talent teams
Agencies running hourly hiring

Gem

Stands out: CRM and outreach layered onto the ATS you already have, with a hosted MCP.

Watch out: Pricing scales with company headcount, and anything past a small team is quoted.

Not the right fit for

Agencies that want a staffing CRM
Buyers who need a published enterprise price

Pros and cons

Clockwork

Published per-user price
Built for retained search specifically
Connects to the executive-search toolchain

Wrong tool for high-volume hiring
Not an ATS

Gem

Published entry price for small teams
Hosted MCP
Sequences and rediscovery on one desk

Larger companies are quote-only
Priced on headcount, not recruiter seats
Not a cheap agency CRM

What each one costs

Clockwork

$149/user/mo

One plan with every feature: $149 per user per month when paid annually. Monthly billing is offered at a higher rate. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 20 Sep 2026

Gem

130

Published on gem.com/pricing. Enterprise Gem + ATS and All-in-One are custom by FTE. Startup self-serve shows from $130/mo for 1–10 FTE on yearly (10% off). Under 30 employees: All-in-One free for six months, then 50% off paid; 30–100 FTE get reduced rates from day one.

Checked 15 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Clockwork cheaper than Gem?

Gem starts lower, at 130 against $149/user/mo for Clockwork. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.

Can you try Clockwork or Gem for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Does Clockwork or Gem have an MCP server?

Clockwork and Gem ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?