5 ZipRecruiter Alternatives for Hiring Software Engineers

Founded in 2010, ZipRecruiter is an AI-powered online job marketplace that leverages smart technology to connect job seekers with employers across industries, primarily in the US and Canada. The platform allows employers to post jobs across more than 100 job boards. AI matching tools scan resumes and invite potential good fits to apply.

ZipRecruiter claims that four out of five employers who post on the platform receive a quality candidate within the first day. It also says that it is used by millions of job seekers and more than 1 million businesses.

In addition to distributing your job posting, ZipRecruiter performs a market analysis to help employers create a hiring strategy. Specialists also assist with developing methods to track and evaluate progress. Employers can use analytics and reporting tools to monitor important metrics.

ZipRecruiter Pricing

ZipRecruiter offers a free four-day trial. Pricing information isn’t available on the website, but reviews say that the Standard plan starts at $399 per month and varies by plan type. The Pro plan starts at $899 per month.

According to the website, plans can be tailored “depending on your hiring goals. There are also options for daily per-job pricing, beginning at $24 per day for a basic post. You are required to purchase a subscription plan as opposed to posting individual jobs.

ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers.

Why Look for ZipRecruiter Alternatives?

Lack of Specialization

ZipRecruiter doesn’t specialize in tech hiring. Employers across industries use the platform. It’s also not ideal for specialized roles. Industry-specific platforms like Terminal are much better alternatives for finding professionals with niche skills.

High Pricing

ZipRecruiter is not transparent about its pricing on the website. However, reviews say it is expensive to use the platform and that costs rise even further when you renew your contract. Many ZipRecruiter alternatives are far more open about pricing.

No Human-Driven Screening or Vetting

ZipRecruiter is primarily a self-service platform. It uses AI-powered matching to find candidates and invite them to apply, without human vetting or screening. The lack of human intervention can mean poor fits and candidates without the right skills (soft and technical) for the role.

Lack of Specialized Focus

ZipRecruiter casts a wide net, with job listings across myriad industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and government roles. While this may work for non-specialized employers, those filling niche roles in tech and beyond will want to look for ZipRecruiter alternatives.

Low Quality Candidates

Many reviews complain of poor-quality candidates. Some employers say they receive irrelevant or spammy matches. The high volume of applicants means quantity over quality, which leads to even more work for employers.

5 ZipRecruiter Alternatives

1. Terminal

Terminal is a specialized marketplace for hiring contract and full-time software engineers and other tech professionals, including data scientists, DevOps engineers, and QA engineers, around the world.

Unlike ZipRecruiter, which relies solely on AI technology for matching, Terminal leverages a combination of artificial intelligence and human experts to find mutually good fits. Terminal also performs thorough vetting and recruits only the top 7% of candidates.

Another contrast to ZipRecruiter is the global reach of Terminal’s platform: The company sources developers in Latin America, Europe, and Canada, regions that have high-quality talent at a lower price.  It also serves as an employer of record (EOR), handling the admin and HR burden for businesses and helping you onboard new hires.

Terminal is cost-effective: hires typically cost between $4,000 and $12,000, depending on individuals’ rates. There is also a 14-day risk-free trial period.

Key benefits of Terminal are the platform’s deep regional expertise, thorough vetting process, breadth of talent, and EOR option. If high-quality, pre-vetted tech talent is a priority, Terminal is a much better platform.

2. Indeed

One of the most well-known job search engines, Indeed’s claim to fame is the massive volume of candidates it offers. Like ZipRecruiter, it doesn’t specialize in particular industries; however, it does extend its reach globally. 

Indeed distributes listings to millions of candidates, ensuring a wide reach. Sponsored listings are even more visible. Employers can search the large database of resumes to find and contact candidates who meet their criteria directly. 

The platform offers a 14-day free trial, as well as free options, although they are a bit limited; free posts often get buried under sponsored listings. Indeed has dynamic pricing, which can be a bit confusing for employers looking to plan their budgets. Costs are based on factors like location, role, results, and market competitiveness.

Another potential drawback for employers is Indeed’s “easy apply” feature, which allows candidates to apply with the click of a button. That could mean that you’ll get poor-fit and unqualified applicants.

Another drawback is the platform’s lack of vetting. Employers can use Indeed’s tools, such as background checks, automatic screener questions, candidate management, and automated recommendations, but ultimately, the employers must perform the legwork themselves. Given the platform’s huge volume of candidates, the lack of vetting can make it very difficult for employers to find the right fit.

3. LinkedIn Recruiter

LinkedIn is a household name. And LinkedIn Recruiter is emerging as a well-known solution for businesses of all types.

While the platform isn’t unique to tech, it does provide access to a large pool of niche and specialized engineers. Users praise the platform’s functionality, which allows you to filter candidates for specific roles, and the in-mail feature, which allows you to reach candidates directly in their inbox. The platform also allows you to access passive job seekers, unlike many other competitors, and provides AI recommendations.

One major drawback is the price. LinkedIn Recruiter primarily uses custom pricing, but reviews note that the prices are quite high and often prohibitive for SMBs. Even the “Lite” version, geared toward smaller businesses, can cost thousands of dollars per year per single subscription. Moreover, the platform doesn’t perform vetting or screening; employers have to do it themselves.

Another factor to consider is that fewer non-US software developers are on LinkedIn, which is not ideal for employers looking for international developers.

4. Dice

Launched in 1990, Dice was originally a career site focused on tech hiring. Now, the platform also provides Talent Solutions, which provides candidate sourcing, screening, and matching.

A major benefit of Dice compared with ZipRecruiter is that it is specialized to tech roles. It also leverages both AI and human professionals to source, screen, and vet candidates, presenting a shortlist to employers.

Dice is expensive to use. To post a single job slot that’s active for 30 days, it costs $399. The Standard plan costs $899 and comes with 5 job slots/month plus jobs promoted across other channels, onboarding, a dedicated silent success partner, branded jobs, and additional features. There are also custom plans available.

Another drawback is that Dice is mainly limited to the US, although there are some international postings. There are also some complaints of inactive or outdated profiles remaining in the database, and some data inaccuracies in profiles. 

5. Monster

Among the earliest job search platforms, Monster connects employers with job seekers across industries. 

One benefit Monster has over ZipRecruiter is its global presence. The platform operates in more than 40 countries and offers services in different languages. It also has a large network of job boards and partners and will share job postings across many platforms.

The solution is flexible, allowing you to promote jobs to potential fits and reach out to candidates who might be the best ones for your team.

A major complaint about Monster is the cost.  The Monster+ Standard plan starts at $8/day and is pay-as-you-go. The Pro Plan is billed annually at $299/month with two months free. The costs can add up, particularly for smaller businesses with limited budgets.

Employers should also keep in mind that Monster does not perform candidate vetting; the hiring company will have to verify skills on its own. Plus, some users complain that the database includes inactive resumes, creating lags for your recruitment efforts.

The Bottom Line: Top ZipRecruiter Alternatives

For a generalized approach to hiring, ZipRecruiter offers some advantages. The platform affords you a massive reach and access to talent across industries.

But if you want top, vetted software developers, ZipRecruiter alternatives have more to offer.

So, which is the best alternative to consider?

Terminal is the clear winner. The platform performs thorough vetting, matches you to only the top 7% of tech talent, and even acts as your EOR, taking the admin/HR burden off your plate.
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