Sage People vs SmartRecruiters comparison

Sage and SmartRecruiters are both solutions in the Talent Acquisition category. Sage is ranked #16, while SmartRecruiters is ranked #10. Sage holds a 2.4% mindshare in TA, compared to SmartRecruiters’s 2.6% mindshare. Additionally, 81% of Sage users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of SmartRecruiters users who would recommend it.

Sage People

Read 15 Sage People reviews

2,991 Views
1,166 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

SmartRecruiters

Read 15 SmartRecruiters reviews

2,468 Views
1,481 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Sage People

SmartRecruiters

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 5, 2024

SmartRecruiters and Sage People compete in the recruitment and HR software category. SmartRecruiters has the upper hand with its advanced candidate sourcing and recruitment features.

Features: SmartRecruiters offers strong candidate sourcing capabilities, effective candidate pipeline management, and customization options for recruitment processes. It seamlessly integrates with other systems and supports collaboration among users. Sage People provides comprehensive HR management features including robust reporting, absence management, and payroll integration. It is designed to consolidate various HR processes into a unified system.

Room for Improvement: SmartRecruiters needs to enhance its global accessibility and improve system integration. Users request more advanced onboarding solutions and enhanced customization options. Sage People requires better automation, enhanced reporting capabilities, and increased customization for workflows and interfaces.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SmartRecruiters primarily offers public cloud deployment with responsive customer support through ticket systems, though users want easier access to live help. Sage People provides flexible deployment options including public, private, and on-premises solutions. Its technical support is good, but there are noted delays, and users seek more direct support channels.

Pricing and ROI: SmartRecruiters is priced at the higher end but delivers significant value with comprehensive features that contribute to a positive ROI through streamlined recruitment processes. Discounts for non-profits are appreciated. Sage People's pricing is moderate, ideal for larger SMEs, although potentially costly for startups. Its scalable HR functionalities provide value for extensive usage.

To learn more, read our detailed Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters

June 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 909,701 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

Sage People

Ranking in Talent Acquisition

16th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Benefits Administration (17th), Talent Management (24th), Cloud HCM (19th), HR Analytics Software (8th)

SmartRecruiters

Ranking in Talent Acquisition

10th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Applicant Tracking and Recruiting Software (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Talent Acquisition category, the mindshare of Sage People is 2.4%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SmartRecruiters is 2.6%, up from 2.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Talent Acquisition Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SmartRecruiters	2.6%
Sage People	2.4%
Other	95.0%

Talent Acquisition

Featured Reviews

Spencer Gray

People Advisor at Thomas International

Highly customizable, robust, and access to helpful online community

In my opinion, the performance management module of this system could use improvement as it falls behind compared to other specialized performance management platforms. While I understand that this system is not solely focused on performance management and is more of a generalist solution, it still lacks the capabilities and features that you can find in other specialized platforms. If we were to switch to a provider solely focused on performance management, we would have access to a wider range of features and capabilities that are not currently available in this system. Sage People offers a wide range of functions that meet most requirements. However, there is still room for improvement. One feature that I would like to see added is the ability to detect and address any failures in the custom processes or functions built within the system. I would like to see a tool that can automatically sense and identify any issues in the system. Currently, when something goes wrong, it's not always immediately obvious and requires a lot of manual troubleshooting. It would be helpful if there was an error message that clearly explained why the system is failing. This would speed up the investigation process and make it ten times faster.

Read full review

SUMANTA GHOSH

Regional Recruitment Lead at IQ-EQ

A user-friendly tool that functions without any glitches

With SmartRecruiters, compatibility with other HRIS systems is an area with certain shortcomings that require improvement. SmartRecruiters is a tool that we use as an ATS platform in our company, but we manage the employee lifecycle with the help of SAP, and I don't see the integration of SmartRecruiters with SAP happening quite seamlessly, making it an area where improvements are required.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The technical support is astounding and they are one of the best support teams I have had the pleasure to work with."

"The report builder and dashboard builder are very, very good."

"It is easy to see all the information we have for a person across two screens, and reports are easy to run, view, amend, and add."

"Compared to the other HR systems I have used in the past, I can say that Sage is in my top five when it comes to recommendations."

"The solution's initial setup was straightforward."

"Compared to the other system that we were using, I think Sage is more friendly. As an administrator, Sage's dashboard is visually friendly and many tasks are easier to accomplish. Another feature that we've liked since we started using Sage is the reporting. With the other system, we needed to configure a lot of things manually when it came to reporting, but with Sage the reporting tasks are much simpler."

"The most valuable features of Sage People are the reports that are useful for decision-making and the API that can be integrated well. Additionally, the solution can be accessed from mobile devices onto the cloud."

"The most valuable feature of Sage People is the integration with our payroll system."

More Sage People pros

"The all-encompassing ability to manage the process cohesively out of the SmartRecruiter system was valuable."

"It is a really user-friendly tool, and its implementation is quite wide. It is very easy to manage users and build your workflows. Overall, it works very well for the customization of the workflows for us. The recruitment team has generally found the whole platform useful. We were looking to kind of expand it by using the CRM functions that it has. However, with COVID and recruitment being on the freeze, we weren't really able to make the most of the tool. They are, however, finding it useful to actually build up their talent pools and client candidates to be able to contact them when we kind of have this freeze off."

"The features that were most important for us to have were that it is user friendly and functional, which is definitely the case with SmartRecruiters. Our organization is located in developing countries where the bandwidth and internet stability are not the strongest and SmartRecruiters accommodates this challenge. It was a very big plus that we are able to use the system even in these locations."

"What I really like about it is that it feels minimal, but is also dynamic. There aren't a lot of ways to get lost, which is good."

"If you're a pretty massive company, this is the one that you would want to look into because it has so much functionality built in."

"With just a click of a button, we can manage the process. Even generating offer letters and obtaining electronic signatures through DocSign are integrated into this application."

"It is a reliable system, and you can use it for the full cycle of recruitment, easily configuring and adapting it to your processes while everything is tracked in one place."

"It is a really user-friendly tool, and its implementation is quite wide."

More SmartRecruiters pros

Cons

"The budget module does not work. Sage People need to maybe make it more user-friendly."

"The integration with our payroll system could improve. However, it is managed by another company."

"The automation in Sage People could improve. The solution is the best used for data storage but the automation could be better to have more functionality."

"There is a mash-up of Visualforce and apex triggers which bear down heavily on the system."

"Its stability could be better."

"The product lacks several features available in more mature products."

"If Sage People were to become a fully cloud-based solution, it could lead to significant improvements. With the COVID pandemic highlighting the benefits of remote work, a complete shift to cloud-based functionality would be a welcome development for users."

"Within the absence screens, we have it set up to automatically allow up to five days holiday to carry over. If staff members are allowed to carry over, it’s a bit difficult to add it in easily."

More Sage People cons

"The solution's reporting feature could be improved because it is not very strong."

"One thing that has been a bit of a struggle is getting tech support. It is a little more difficult to get support from SmartRecruiters. They want you to have your own in-house person to help you with any issues, whereas with both Lever and Greenhouse, you can just click a button at the bottom of the screen and chat with someone almost instantly."

"The solution needs to work on a single sign-on."

"Around 2015 and into '17, I worked at a federal contractor. I had to switch to a different applicant system as I didn't know if SmartRecruiters was OFCCP compliant, which is something that, as a US-based federal contractor, you have to ensure. They should work to appeal to the contractor industry and get the product OFCCP compliant."

"One of the areas that we would like them to improve is the self-scheduling feature. They have a self-scheduling feature that can be made a little bit more automated when it comes to scheduling. We are trying to use it, but it doesn't feel very user-friendly. This is something that could be improved. They have launched WhatsApp connections in the system, where instead of sending emails, you can WhatsApp candidates directly from the system, but currently, it mainly works in a few countries. Spain, where I'm based, is not one of them. If we use the system, the phone number for the candidates would be from the UK, and we don't think that would be the best. This feature is good for some countries, but not for all at the moment. It was first launched in the USA and then in a couple of countries in Europe. It is not yet launched fully in Europe. Reporting is always something that can be improved. Even though it is working well for us, its reporting can be better. Currently, it is a little bit complicated when it comes to reporting. It has a few pre-made reports that are easy to access, but if you want more details, you need to build your own reports. In order to do that, it is a bit tricky to learn and understand how it works. Even though you have help agents and support for help, it takes some time to learn, but it is not impossible. We have very recently made some integrations with Tableau. We are building dashboards in Tableau where we can get daily updated reports, and they are definitely helpful. That's something we would recommend. SmartRecruiters has recently implemented an inbox. You can have an inbox where you can see all your conversations, but currently, it is not filtering between the recruiters, so you see everyone's emails in there. They have already announced that they are working on the filtering feature for a specific inbox to make it more personalized per recruiter. This way the recruiters can have an overview of their own work."

"SmartRecruiters' one-click application process could be better."

"A disadvantage of being a SaaS solution is that there aren't many customization options because you are literally buying it out of the box."

"One thing that has been a bit of a struggle is getting tech support."

More SmartRecruiters cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We have to purchase the solution's license to use it."

"Its cost is moderate for a multi-group licensing model."

"From an SME standpoint, I wouldn't necessarily describe it as expensive. However, for the average startup, it may not be affordable since our current annual expenditure on the system, which supports approximately 210-220 users, amounts to approximately £15,000 to £18,000."

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"I believe we pay licensing on a yearly basis, but I can't comment on the total amount that we pay on licensing."

"I think it's reasonably priced. But in comparison to other systems, I would choose them over Sage People, regardless of their prices."

"There is other software on the market that can do similar functions to Sage People that could be better in price. Some solution allows you to do your payroll processes by month or by the process. Small companies could benefit by using another solution."

More Sage People pricing and cost advice

"They are pretty competitive. As the product matures, it has much more functionality and different pricing models. It can relatively cost a lot more if you want to use additional features, but, in general, it is competitive in the industry. We work on a yearly license agreement based on the company size. There are the support costs, which are a part of the additional cost based on the percentage of the licensing fee. So, it has a license plus support cost. Then, of course, there are other add-on options that we can purchase and procure whenever we want to based on certain negotiated arrangements."

"SmartRecruiters is much better than its competitors. Considering the type of features and services it provides, it is probably one of the best solutions in the market. Others may offer a similar price, but their services won't be that good or the user-friendliness won't be that great. The licensing works based on how many users are there in a company. If you are using other functionalities, like CRM and HRS, the price increases."

"Back in 2018, when I engaged with their sales, they wanted to charge around $10,000 for an annual subscription. Depending on your organization, that either could or couldn't be expensive. I personally think it's a fair price. However, I engaged them and negotiated a lower price with them. I think I got closer to $6,000. It came with a commitment of three years."

"SmartRecruiters is an expensive solution."

"I wasn't involved in its acquisition, but I would assume that SmartRecruiters is pretty pricey."

"I haven't been so involved with pricing, so I don't have all details, but I know that we are paying per head when it comes to different countries. There is an additional fee for new features that they release. If it is something that we would like to use, we need to pay some extra for it."

"There were implementation costs in the first year to get everything set up and running, and then they have various modules on top, which are optional and available at an extra charge."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Talent Acquisition solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

909,701 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

15%

Construction Company

15%

Marketing Services Firm

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

10%

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	8

Comparisons

Workday HCM vs Sage People

Compared 10% of the time

SAP SuccessFactors vs Sage People

Compared 8% of the time

PeopleSoft vs Sage People

Compared 5% of the time

ADP Workforce Now vs Sage People

Compared 5% of the time

More Sage People Competitors

SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 12% of the time

Workday HCM vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 11% of the time

Ashby vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 9% of the time

SAP SuccessFactors vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 7% of the time

PeopleStrong vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 3% of the time

More SmartRecruiters Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Sage People

July 2026

Download Sage People product report

Buyer's Guide

SmartRecruiters

July 2026

Download SmartRecruiters product report

Also Known As

Fairsail

No data available

Overview

Sage People offers customizable reporting, system integration, and HR management capabilities tailored to companies managing diverse teams globally through Salesforce technology. It enhances workforce engagement and enables seamless interaction with payroll and financial systems.

Sage People is built for managing HR services, including payroll integration, employee data handling, and talent acquisition. It provides a visually appealing interface powered by Salesforce, enhancing employee processes with functions like time-off management and legally compliant reporting. Implementation supports global operations across APAC, EMEA, and Americas, optimizing workforce engagement and standardizing HR processes.

What are Sage People's key features?

Customizable Reporting: Enables detailed analysis and evaluation of HR metrics
Payroll Integration: Seamlessly connects with payroll systems to streamline financial transactions
Global Team Visualization: Visualizes team structures for better management
Employee Information Management: Centralizes employee data for easy access and updates
Cloud and On-Premise Support: Allows flexibility in deployment and ensures robust performance

What benefits are important to consider in reviews?

Process Standardization: Facilitates consistent HR practices across various regions
Employee Engagement: Enhances workforce interaction and satisfaction
Mobile Access: Provides remote accessibility for team management
Efficient Integration: Connects with existing financial systems for simplified workflows

Sage People is widely used across industries for efficient HR management, especially in talent acquisition and onboarding processes. Its adaptability enables companies to customize according to workforce requirements, whether in the cloud or on-premise, supporting comprehensive payroll management and application oversight.

Sage

SmartRecruiters offers user-friendly recruitment solutions, excelling in diverse candidate sourcing, cost-efficiency, and seamless integration. It simplifies candidate tracking, job publication, and communication while providing valuable data analysis and customizable workflows.

SmartRecruiters is a comprehensive talent acquisition and applicant tracking system that streamlines recruitment from job postings to offer letters. Healthcare organizations utilize SmartRecruiters for its seamless HRS integration and candidate tracking, valuing its capability to source diverse candidates. It facilitates efficient job publication, resume analysis, interview scheduling, and communication, enhancing recruitment through automated notifications and feedback features. However, challenges like regulatory compliance, customization options, and integration with other systems persist. Users cite issues such as complex application processes, language barriers, and inefficiencies in workflow customization.

What are the most important features of SmartRecruiters?

User-Friendliness: Easy to navigate and use, facilitating feedback sharing.
Candidate Tracking: Effective management of the candidate lifecycle.
Job Publication: Efficient posting and advertising of job positions.
Data Analysis: Provides valuable insights through reporting tools.
Customizable Workflows: Tailors processes to meet specific needs.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Reduces expenses in the recruiting process.
Diverse Candidate Sourcing: Supports inclusivity and broadens talent pool.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with HRS for streamlined operations.
Feedback Mechanisms: Enhances communication with candidates.
Communication Efficiency: Allows for effective candidate interaction.

SmartRecruiters is widely adopted in industries focused on talent acquisition, such as healthcare, emphasizing its user-friendly design and adaptability to low-bandwidth environments. It supports end-to-end recruitment processes, enabling improvements in job requisition creation, career page updates, data management, and offer letter generation, promoting consistency and efficiency.

SmartRecruiters

Sample Customers

Rocketship Education, Monitise, u-blox, SolarWinds, Mitsubishi, SmartStream, Canonical, Betfair

Atlassian, Aol, IBM, Napa, Skechers

Buyer's Guide

Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters

June 2026

Free Report: Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters

Find out what your peers are saying about Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

909,701 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters report.

See our list of best Talent Acquisition vendors.

We monitor all Talent Acquisition reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.