Compare/Head to head

LinkedIn Recruiter vs Nova Recruiter

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

Starting price

LinkedIn Recruiter

Quote-based

The default sourced candidate database, with InMail and projects. LinkedIn does not publish a price: Recruiter Lite is priced at checkout and full Recruiter by quote.

Where LinkedIn Recruiter fits

  • Almost every in-house talent team
  • Agency desks running InMail projects
  • Sourcers who work the graph daily
  • Buyers weighing Recruiter against job ads alone

Nova Recruiter

€49/mo Free tier

AI sourcing and outreach across 800M+ profiles, with MCP on paid plans. Free plan available; Starter is €49/mo. Prices are published in euros.

Where Nova Recruiter fits

  • Solo headhunters starting on the €49 Starter
  • Small agency desks of up to 3 on Growth
  • Recruiters who want to source from Claude via MCP
  • Teams that pay per contacted candidate, not per seat

At a glance

DetailLinkedIn RecruiterNova Recruiter
Starting priceQuote-based€49/mo
Free tier–No✓Yes
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API–No–No
Listed underJob boards, LinkedIn, SourcingATS, Outreach, CRM, AI sourcing, Sourcing
Capterra4.5 from 150 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

LinkedIn Recruiter

Stands out: It is the graph every other sourcing tool enriches from.

Watch out: It is supply, not a system of record, so you still need an ATS.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams that only need to post a job
  • Buyers unwilling to pay per seat

Nova Recruiter

Stands out: MCP is on Starter, so you can run searches and outreach from Claude or ChatGPT without a Growth bill.

Watch out: Prices are in euros, with VAT extra. One credit is one candidate contacted or exported, and Free is 2 searches a month.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need a USD price
  • In-house TA teams that will not manage credits

Pros and cons

LinkedIn Recruiter

  • The default graph for most talent teams
  • InMail and projects included
  • Connects to the major enterprise trackers
  • Per-seat cost across a team
  • Not an ATS
  • No API or MCP

Nova Recruiter

  • Free plan at €0/month
  • Starter €49/mo includes MCP
  • Credits follow contacted candidates, not seats
  • Prices in euros, VAT extra
  • Free is 2 searches and 10 credits
  • Starter is limited to one user

What each one costs

LinkedIn Recruiter

Quote-based

LinkedIn does not publish Recruiter prices. Recruiter Lite shows its price at checkout, and Recruiter (the full product) is sold through LinkedIn sales on an annual contract. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Nova Recruiter

€49/mo

Free is €0 with 2 searches and 10 credits a month. Starter is €49/mo and Growth €199/mo, billed monthly by card with VAT extra; extra credits cost €1 on Starter and €0.50 on Growth. Agency licences and Enterprise plans are quoted on annual contracts. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try LinkedIn Recruiter or Nova Recruiter for free?
Nova Recruiter carries a free tier on our listing.
Does LinkedIn Recruiter or Nova Recruiter have an MCP server?
Nova Recruiter ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All LinkedIn Recruiter alternatives All Nova Recruiter alternatives Every Job boards tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?