ApplicantPro vs IBM Kenexa comparison

ApplicantPro and IBM are both solutions in the Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software category. ApplicantPro is ranked #24, while IBM is ranked #9. ApplicantPro holds a 1.3% mindshare in ATRS, compared to IBM’s 2.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of ApplicantPro users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of IBM users who would recommend it.

ApplicantPro

Read 2 ApplicantPro reviews

560 Views
454 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Kenexa

Read 30 IBM Kenexa reviews

3,390 Views
949 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

ApplicantPro

IBM Kenexa

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between ApplicantPro and IBM Kenexa based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed ApplicantPro vs. IBM Kenexa Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

ApplicantPro vs. IBM Kenexa

June 2026

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Helped 902,894 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

ApplicantPro

Ranking in Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software

24th

Average Rating

9.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Video Interviewing Software (11th)

IBM Kenexa

Ranking in Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software

9th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Benefits Administration (16th), Talent Management (17th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2026, in the Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software category, the mindshare of ApplicantPro is 1.3%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Kenexa is 2.3%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
IBM Kenexa	2.3%
ApplicantPro	1.3%
Other	96.4%

Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software

Featured Reviews

Rachel

Human Resources Recruiter at a wholesaler/distributor with 201-500 employees

User friendly with good features and offers very flexible packages for small to medium-sized companies

The job listings are the most valuable aspect of the solution. We don't do much reporting out of it, however, we do do it mainly for the source data to understand where our applicants are coming from. Applicants list the source when they apply for the job. That's really the only thing that we use for reporting - the source data. We pull that on a quarterly basis. Otherwise, it's really just the job postings and then viewing the application, screening them out, moving them throughout the hiring process with the different statuses, and then the pre-employment screening, which is done through ProScreening. The product has a very good flow. The solution is really user-friendly and is just super easy. The application takes five minutes or less than 10 minutes. The process is super smooth. The product has a good set of features. Everything you expect to need, they seem to have.

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Karan Grover

Senior Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Suitable for larger-scale companies aiming to streamline and automate their processes digitally

The deployment of the solution took between six to eight months. When we introduced BrassRing at my company, we encountered several challenges. First, moving data from our old system to BrassRing was tough because it needed reformatting. Second, connecting BrassRing with our HR data was tricky due to manual processes for roles and departments. Third, setting up the workflow in BrassRing was complex. Fourth, configuring user access and approval levels was a detailed task. We also had to manage the change process, including running both old and new systems in parallel, communicating changes, and training users. Lastly, monitoring and reporting were needed to ensure data accuracy and proper system usage once everything was in place. We had a team of six to eight people managing the project from our side during the BrassRing deployment. I'm not sure about the size of the BrassRing team, and we also had our own technical team, which had three to four members. The solution required maintenance, particularly from my side as the administrator. Maintenance responsibilities were divided into two parts: some tasks we, as end-users, could control, while others were the responsibility of the BrassRing team. Payment-related tasks were a regular part of our responsibilities. I wasn't the only person maintaining the solution. There were three power users from Infosys, each responsible for a specific geography. My counterpart managed it in the US, and I, along with my colleague in India, managed it for other geographies.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"With ApplicantPro, we got a lot of applications from interesting candidates and I enjoyed reading through all of them, whether they were qualified for that particular position or not."

"To be honest, I enjoyed all of the features provided by ApplicantPro. But most of all, I really enjoyed using it to post applications and job descriptions and to mark the statuses of applicants. Those are the things I found most useful."

"The product has a good set of features. Everything you expect to need, they seem to have."

"The solution is really user-friendly and is just super easy, with a super smooth process and an application that takes five minutes or less than 10 minutes."

"Kenexa’s scalability has been great, as we can grow and expand our use no matter what and seamlessly incorporate our business process for new launches."

"We felt like Kenexa was robust enough and dynamic enough that it met our needs, so it didn't make sense for us to disrupt 700 locations and reteach them something."

"The ease of scaling is one of BrassRing's biggest strengths, making it a trusted choice for large companies."

"I would definitely and highly recommend the applicant tracking system."

"I would say the support that we get from the CSMs is the most valuable for me right now, because I'm still leaning on them pretty heavily to understand everything that I'm doing within the system."

"From everything I’ve seen and heard, I would think Kenxea is probably one of the top three, if not the best, in the business that they do and the things that we use them for."

"We like IBM; IBM has been great partners for us, they're really invested in our success, and they see us as a valuable client."

"We acquired a pharmacy retailer three years ago, and Kenexa enabled us to actually standardize our employee engagement across both of those organizations, helping us understand at an enterprise level what was going on and, most importantly, how people were starting to feel about being acquired and joining the broader company space."

More IBM Kenexa pros

Cons

"There were times when we wanted to post confidential positions. For that, I had to contact ApplicantPro to ask about how to do that."

"In terms of extra features, I would suggest a general human resources information system where I could actually enter information about those we hired, including the benefits information, and have the benefits information linked to the benefit vendor websites, like for medical, dental, and vision."

"It could be easier to remove applicants in bulk."

"Once-a-year engagement kind of seems to be a little bit lagging in terms of how we can actually shape and improve organizations, so I was looking forward to understanding a bit more where IBM Kenexa's thinking is going in terms of pulsing with the employee voice and how that kind of integrates and works with tell-it-as-it-is, and the other two applications we have; it's just too early to know."

"I think there is some administrative things that could be easier in terms of Workbench and streamlining that process; configuration of different things."

"It needs to update its reporting and analytics tools."

"If you happen to be an early adopter of enhancements, it can be a frustrating process, as it is hard to decipher together with their support whether an issue is a bug or working as intended (a change in the way something works)."

"It was a little rocky, as they always are, but we went live on time and that's all that matters."

"The reporting feature currently is our biggest struggle point; getting the data we need and in the fashion that we need it is a current struggle point for us."

"We have about 50 requests for enhancements in the system right now."

"The user interface could do with an overhaul."

More IBM Kenexa cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We had to pay an annual fee to use ApplicantPro, and the license fee included everything we needed except for the ability to post confidential positions, which was something we had to pay extra for."

"Kenexa was fairly priced. However, in 2019, before I left my previous organization, they significantly increased their pricing. It can be affordable, but their pricing is going up. It is not just licensing; it is how many applicants you have in your system on the database side."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Construction Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	28

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Compared 62% of the time

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Compared 38% of the time

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Compared 9% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

Saviom Enterprise Workforce Planning vs IBM Kenexa

Compared 5% of the time

Avature vs IBM Kenexa

Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software

June 2026

Download ApplicantPro product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Kenexa

June 2026

Download IBM Kenexa product report

Also Known As

No data available

IBM Smarter Workforce, Outstart

Overview

ApplicantPro offers an efficient and user-friendly software designed to streamline recruitment processes. It empowers organizations by simplifying hiring, improving candidate outreach, and enhancing applicant tracking capabilities.

For businesses seeking to optimize recruitment efforts, ApplicantPro provides a comprehensive platform that integrates into existing HR workflows. It supports every stage of hiring from job posting to onboarding, enhancing communication between HR teams and candidates. Its intuitive design enables better decision-making with robust analytics and reporting tools.

What are the key features of ApplicantPro?

Job Posting: Distribute job listings across multiple platforms effortlessly.
Applicant Tracking: Manage applicants efficiently with easy-to-use tracking tools.
Reporting & Analytics: Access detailed reports to track hiring metrics.
Onboarding Tools: Simplify new hire processes with integrated onboarding modules.

What benefits should users expect?

Improved Efficiency: Save time with automated workflows and centralized data management.
Scalability: Adaptable system suitable for organizations of different sizes.
Cost-effectiveness: Minimized hiring costs through streamlined processes.
Better Candidate Experience: Enhance engagement with personalized communication.

ApplicantPro finds applications in industries ranging from retail to healthcare, catering to specific hiring challenges by offering customizable templates and industry-specific compliance tools. It is particularly beneficial in sectors with high-volume recruitment by reducing the time-to-hire and ensuring quality candidate selection.

ApplicantPro

IBM Kenexa offers comprehensive talent management solutions designed for businesses to streamline and enhance hiring processes.

It is a robust platform facilitating talent acquisition and workforce management. With powerful analytics and recruitment tools, IBM Kenexa aids organizations in matching skilled professionals to job roles efficiently, optimizing recruitment strategies, and improving employee engagement.

What are the prominent features of IBM Kenexa?

Recruitment: Simplifies the hiring process with customized workflows and efficient applicant tracking.
Talent Management: Enhances workforce performance through strategic talent development programs.
Analytics: Provides in-depth data insights for better decision-making in hiring and employee management.
Onboarding: Streamlines new hire integration with comprehensive orientation and training tools.

What benefits and ROI can IBM Kenexa users expect?

Improved Hiring Efficiency: Reduces time-to-fill by automating and redefining recruitment workflows.
Enhanced Employee Engagement: Increases retention rates through targeted engagement initiatives.
Data-Driven Decisions: Empowers companies with actionable insights for strategic planning.
Cost Savings: Minimizes hiring costs by optimizing human resources functions.

IBM Kenexa finds applications in healthcare, finance, retail, and tech industries where effective recruitment and engagement are crucial for success. Businesses gain a competitive advantage by leveraging its comprehensive tools for attracting and retaining top talent in these sectors.

IBM

Sample Customers

Welch's, Blender Bottle, Costa Vida, Skullcandy, Sundance Institute

Sweet Spot International (SSI), Leo Burnett Worldwide (LBW), Sika AG, Legacy Health, Apollo Group Inc., Regeneron, Transurban Group, National Health Service, New Zealand Police, Overland Footwear, Yealands, Johnson Controls, Allscripts, Kerry Foods, Masterpet, AMD, Balfour Beatty

Buyer's Guide

ApplicantPro vs. IBM Kenexa

June 2026

Free Report: ApplicantPro vs. IBM Kenexa

Find out what your peers are saying about ApplicantPro vs. IBM Kenexa and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.

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