Recruiting is not an easy process, but also not without Candidate Relationship Management software.
In the year 2025, there will be loads of CRM software out there, each with its own different features that allow organizations to find out, connect with, and manage job candidates.
But which ones are worthy of standing out from the crowd?
Let’s explore the top 10 CRM software choices for 2025, including popular picks like Cornerstone and PeopleHR.
Best Candidate Relationship Management Softwares
1.Cornerstone – Best Overall
2. PeoplesHR – Best for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses
3. UKG – Best for Employee Communication
4. Greenhouse CRM – Best for Advanced Analytics
5. Beamery – Best for Talent Engagement
6. SmashFly – Best for Employer Branding
7. Avature CRM – Best for Customization
8. Talemetry – Best for Large Enterprises
9. Lever – Best for Collaboration
10. Yello CRM – Best for Campus Recruiting
Table of contents
- Best Candidate Relationship Management Softwares
- Why is CRM Important for Recruitment in 2025?
- Key Features of Candidate Relationship Management Software
- Top 10 Candidate Relationship Management Software in 2025
- 1. Cornerstone – Best Overall :
- 2. PeopleHR – Best for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses :
- 3. UKG: Best for Employee Communication :
- 4. Greenhouse CRM – Best for Advanced Analytics :
- 5. Beamery – Best for Talent Engagement :
- 6. SmashFly – Best for Employer Branding :
- 7. Avature CRM – Best for Customization :
- 8. Talemetry – Best for Large Enterprises :
- 9. Workday :
- 10. Yello CRM – Best for Campus Recruiting :
- Conclusion:
- FAQ
The concept of Candidate Relationship Management, or CRM in short, is the tools and processes that are applied at any organization to enrich and improve how companies engage their relationships with potential candidates.
To be thought of more precisely, it is like customer relationship management but tailored to recruitment.
A good CRM will help you build good relations with your candidates, track the progress of each one of them, and keep them engaged throughout the process of hiring.
Why is CRM Important for Recruitment in 2025?
The job market is very competitive, and companies must have something different to attract good talent.
And that is where CRM software fits in: helping you build a relationship with your candidates, keeping track of past applicants, and making communication easier.
In simple terms, it’s a tool that helps you find the right people faster.
For the year 2025 alone, the right CRM software for your company will not be a necessity but an absolute necessity.
Key Features of Candidate Relationship Management Software
Before we jump into the top software, it’s important to understand what key features you should be looking for in a CRM tool.
1. Candidate Tracking :
One of the major concepts of CRM software is that it tracks candidates from beginning to end through their process in recruitment.
This helps make sure that no one falls through the cracks, and you can always know where each candidate stands.
2. Communication Tools :
Engagement is key in recruiting. Whether it be for scheduling interviews, sending SMS messages, or even creating email templates, a CRM makes communicating with candidates easier.
3. Analytics and Reporting :
A good CRM will provide insights into the hiring you’re doing.
Your strategy will likely be enhanced by these insights, which range from the volume of applications to time-to-hire analysis.
Top 10 Candidate Relationship Management Software in 2025
Now that we understand which features to look for when purchasing CRM software in 2025, let’s explore which systems offer the highest value solutions.
1. Cornerstone – Best Overall :
Cornerstone is one of the most comprehensive HR and candidate-managing solutions available to date, and it holds an overall excellent rating on many counts, especially for much larger and more complex organizations.
A look into what makes it the best overall CRM software in 2025 includes:
Pros of Cornerstone
- Powerful integration with other HR tools.
- Strong focus on learning and development for employee growth.
- This makes Cornerstone scalable for use by companies of any size.
Cons of Cornerstone
- It can be quite expensive, especially for smaller businesses.
- The implementation of the system may take some time because it is complex.
2. PeopleHR – Best for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses :
PeopleHR targets small to medium-sized businesses that need a simple yet powerful candidate relationship management tool.
Here are the reasons why PeopleHR can be regarded as the go-to choice in businesses which have no need for the complexity provided by enterprise software but still want something solid in recruitment.
Pros of PeopleHR
- More budget-friendly, pricewise, for smaller companies.
- The interface is very intuitive, clean, and easy to use.
- It is great in tracking candidate progress and also in engagement.
Cons of PeopleHR
- Smaller set of advanced features compared to big players such as Cornerstone.
- Less customized toward complex recruitment needs.
3. UKG: Best for Employee Communication :
UKG Pro is a cloud-based people management software that is going to help human resources personnel in managing payroll, employee skill management, employee training, onboarding of employees, work planning, future labor demand projections, and data analysis among other key features.
Generally, it is recommended for all those medium to large companies in search of a full solution to their human resources.
UKG Pro: Previously known as UltiPro, the name was changed after the merger between Kronos with Ultimate Software, the leading two companies in the HR industry.
UKG Pro focuses on simplification in carrying out HR tasks while managing the entire employee experience, starting from the time of hiring, training, and reviews to employee engagement.
Pros of UKG
- Custom setup
- User-friendly platform
- Employee self-service
- Advanced automated reporting
- Sandbox for new trials
Cons of UKG
- Lack of transparent pricing
- Overkill for companies needing few features
- Onboarding may be somewhat time-consuming
4. Greenhouse CRM – Best for Advanced Analytics :
Greenhouse CRM is all about data. If you want deep analytics and reporting, Greenhouse has got you covered.
That would be ideal for those companies basing their recruitment strategies on metrics.
Pros of Greenhouse CRM
- Advanced analytics to make data-driven decisions around recruitment. The system will seamlessly integrate with other recruiting and HR platforms.
- Seamless integration with other recruiting and HR platforms.
Cons of Greenhouse CRM
- It can overwhelm the smaller business with less resources.
- More expensive than some other more stripped-down CRM offerings.
5. Beamery – Best for Talent Engagement :
Beamery is known for having a strong focus on talent engagement and employer branding. It’s ideal for companies wanting to form relationships with passive candidates.
Pros of Beamery
- Goes all in on the passive candidate engagement.
- Excellent employer branding tools.
Cons of Beamery
- Lacks some of the more traditional candidate tracking features.
- It can be very expensive for small businesses to operate.
6. SmashFly – Best for Employer Branding :
SmashFly approaches candidate tracking from a different vantage point, mostly core skills in employer branding and recruitment marketing.
Ideal for companies that want to make an enduring mark on would-be candidates.
Pros of SmashFly
- Incredible tools for employer branding and recruitment marketing.
- Powerful analytics to measure engagement with candidates.
Cons of SmashFly
- Lacks some of the features for day-to-day candidate management.
- A bit more expensive for smaller companies.
7. Avature CRM – Best for Customization :
Avature CRM boasts flexibility and customization. If your business has needs when it comes to recruiting, then Avature allows customization of the platform according to your processes.
Pros of Avature CRM
- Very customizable to suit unique business requirements.
- Excellent support for complex recruitment strategies.
Cons of Avature CRM
- More challenging to learn for new users.
- May take some time for implementation.
8. Talemetry – Best for Large Enterprises :
Talemetry is built for big enterprises wanting an all-rounded recruitment marketing suite. The platform covers anything from sourcing candidates down to engaging them.
Pros of Talemetry
- Ideal for large companies with deep recruiting needs.
- Full suite of marketing and sourcing tools on offer.
Cons of Talemetry
- Can be overkill for smaller companies.
- Expensive pricing for small teams.
9. Workday :
Workday is cloud-based software designed for managing the workforce resources of an organization or company
Workday is cloud-based software designed for managing the workforce resources of an organization or company. It connects other business applications, starting from hiring and onboarding to maintaining employee performance and salary details on one single platform.
Workday is broadly used by medium to large-sized companies, founded in 2005, and its headquarters is in Pleasanton, California.
Whether one needs a simple platform, which opens the way to basic tools like time tracking and payroll, or advanced ones like analytics, human resource management, or even data reports, Workday can be a person’s best bet.
Pros
- Known for its ease of use and intuitive user interface
- Customizable options
- Offers adequate integration to other third-party apps
- Customer support via phone and online
Cons
- Lacks transparent pricing
- No free version
- Users must request free trials (for the Workday Adaptive Planning platform)
10. Yello CRM – Best for Campus Recruiting :
Yello CRM is actually designed for those businesses that give importance to campus recruitment and managing early-career candidates.
Its tools let the processing of engaging, tracking, and managing of talent be smooth right from universities and colleges. Let’s explore its pros and cons:
Pros Yello CRM:
- Great for campus recruitment and early-career candidates.
- Automates scheduling and communication.
- Custom branding for candidate engagement.
- Mobile-friendly for recruiting on the go.
Cons Yello CRM:
- Only limited use outside campus hiring.
- Niche features are more expensive.
- Steeper learning curve.
Conclusion:
In the year 2025, Candidate Relationship Management software is what all businesses want in order to be at the top in the job market.
Be it easy candidate communication, complex recruitment pipelines, or employer branding-the right type of CRM software can be found for each specific need.
From the feature-heavy Cornerstone to campus recruiting experts at Yello, we have provided you with the top 10 CRM systems that offer something to each business.
FAQ
CRM in recruitment is a tool that helps companies manage and engage with job candidates, tracking their progress through the process.
CRM software enhances communication, manages candidates’ overtime, and cultivates relationships that will help organizations find the right talent more quickly.
PeopleHR is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses because it is very affordable and user-friendly.
Yello CRM is ideal for those businesses who focus their efforts in bringing in early-career candidates from universities and colleges.
The price of CRM software can be all over the map. Ones with more advanced features, such as Cornerstone, will naturally be pricier. Ones for smaller companies, like PeopleHR, are much less expensive.
