Head to head

Gem vs Rocket

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

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

Rocket

Sales-quoted

Startup recruiting firm for contingency, executive search, and embedded desks. Fees are a quote on first-year compensation.

Where Rocket fits

Seed and growth startups hiring IC and GTM roles
Founders who need a VP or first finance hire
Companies that want an embedded recruiter, not an ATS
Teams willing to pay a retained or contingency fee

At a glance

Detail	Gem	Rocket
Starting price	130	Sales-quoted
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	✓Yes	–No
Public API	✓Yes	–No
Listed under	Outreach, CRM, Sourcing	Sourcing
Capterra	4.7 from 124 reviews	Not enough reviews

Where they pull apart

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

Rocket

Stands out: Operator-led recruiters plus an internal AI sourcing model, sold as a service, not a self-serve login.

Watch out: This is an agency, not recruiting software. Contingency still takes a retainer. You pay a percent of first-year pay.

Not the right fit for

Buyers shopping for recruiting software
Teams that will not pay a percent of salary

Pros and cons

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

Rocket

Contingency, search, and embedded models
Built for startup IC and exec hires
Internal AI used by human recruiters

Not software. You buy a recruiting firm
Fees are a quote on compensation
Contingency still has an upfront retainer

What each one costs

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

Rocket

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. Fees are a percentage of first-year compensation with an upfront retainer. Contingency: retainer plus remainder on hire. Executive search: retained milestones. Embedded: monthly retainer by scope. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try Gem or Rocket for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Does Gem or Rocket have an MCP server?

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

Not the pair you wanted?

All Gem alternatives All Rocket alternatives Every Outreach tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 15 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?