Happlicant vs Bullhorn: Which software is best?
Is Happlicant a good alternative to Bullhorn? We've compared both platforms to help you decide which is right for you.
CRM overall score
95%
ATS overall score
98%
Candidate sourcing score
90%
Bullhorn: A powerful ATS & CRM for firms with big budgets—but is it practical for solo recruiters and small agencies?
-Overview
What is Bullhorn and is Happlicant a good alternative?
Bullhorn is a cloud-based ATS and CRM platform that’s been a powerhouse in the staffing world for over 25 years, serving more than 10,000 recruitment agencies globally.
It offers end-to-end functionality—job posting, resume parsing, candidate sourcing, client relationship management, reporting, and a suite of integrations and automation tools.
Designed to scale from small teams to large enterprises, Bullhorn boasts advanced features like AI‑powered search and customizable pipelines.
Its depth and flexibility make it a go-to choice for mid‑size and enterprise teams, but solo recruiters and smaller firms often find the platform more complex, slower, and pricier than necessary.
Quirks like slow loading, a steep learning curve, inconsistent parsing results, and limited support loom large in user feedback.
Happlicant might be a better alternative because it delivers powerful features you'd expect in a modern recruiter CRM, but without the complexity, slow performance, or high costs Bullhorn users often face.
-Look & feel
What is Bullhorn's user interface like?
How does Bullhorn platform look and feel compared to Happlicant's?
-Who's it for?
Who are Happlicant and Bullhorn designed for?
What type of recruiters typically uses each software?
Bullhorn primarily targets staffing agencies and internal recruiting teams sized from small to enterprise.
While it supports solo recruiters and small agencies, many users note it’s optimized for operations with multiple users and high volume.
Independent recruiters may find Bullhorn’s power—with its heavy customization options, multiple modules, and deep CRM features—overkill and less cost-effective compared to lighter-weight solutions.
Many reviewers claim there's a steep learning curve, which might suit larger teams more than solo recruiters looking to get up and running in no time.
Happlicant is purpose-built for solo recruiters and small recruitment agencies who want powerful tools without the overhead of bloated enterprise software.
Unlike traditional platforms designed for large teams, Happlicant strips away the complexity and clutter to focus on the workflows that actually matter to independent recruiters—fast sourcing, client collaboration, candidate tracking, and easy automation.
With modern UX, lightweight setup, and relevant features, Happlicant offers the perfect balance of power and simplicity for recruiters who need tools that work with them, not against them.
-Why Happlicant?
3 key reasons to choose Happlicant over Bullhorn
What are the most common reasons Happlicant's customers switch from Bullhorn to Happlicant?
Designed for solo & small teams:
Happlicant delivers CRM + ATS simplicity and speed with zero excess complexity. The platform is perfect for one-person recruiters and lean staffing firms who have no time to waste.
Customer support & onboarding
Many describe Bullhorn's customer service as poor. As Bullhorn focuses on larger agencies, solo recruiters often find it hard to get support they need, which is not the case at Happlicant.
Happlicant is more affordable
While Bullhorn can cost between $110 and $330 per user each month—plus setup fees—Happlicant is a fraction of the cost. Even better, we have a fixed total price that doesn't increase as you grow.
-Feature-by-feature comparison
Full comparison between Happlicant and Bullhorn
Analyzing features side by side, which is the best CRM for independent recruiters?
Feature | Happlicant | Bullhorn |
|---|---|---|
CRM + ATS in one | ✅ | ✅ |
Chrome sourcing extension | ✅ | ✅ |
Fast, accurate & well structured resume parsing | ✅ | ❌ |
Advanced filtering & intuitive search | ✅ | ✅ |
Modern user interface | ✅ | ❌ |
Custom fields & workflows | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting & analytics dashboards | ✅ | ✅ |
Integrated client portals | ✅ | ✅ |
Email sync + mass outreach | ❌ (Coming soon!) | ✅ |
Affordable, group-bundled pricing | ✅ | ❌ |
Tailor the software to your needs | ✅ | ❌ |
Free data migration | ✅ | ❌ |
Bullhorn’s breadth of features can be compelling—especially for larger agencies with dedicated IT and support resources.
But for solo recruiters or small teams that need speed, clarity, reliability, and value, it often leads to unnecessary complexity, slowdown, and budget strain.
Happlicant is purpose-built for your growth stage: it gives you the power of CRM+ATS without the heavy lifting, slow load times, parsing headaches, or surprise bills.
👉 See the difference for yourself with a free Happlicant demo—discover how modern automation and razor-sharp parsing can supercharge your workflow without wasting time or money.
Get a demo with Chris Allen our Co-founder
-Pricing breakdown
Pricing comparison: Bullhorn vs. Happlicant
How does Bullhorn's pricing compare to Happlicant's pricing?
Per-user licensing:
Team (startup): starts at ~$99/user/month
Mid-tier (Team/Corporate): typically $150–250/user/month
Enterprise: can reach ~$315/user/month depending on add-ons
Setup & implementation fees: Commonly $5k–$25k; one Reddit user reported a quote of $25,000 reddit.com
Add-on costs: Advanced integrations, LinkedIn sync, reporting extensions, etc., often require higher-tier plans or extra fees.
Free trial: No free trial found
Estimated Price: ~$99–315+/user/month + 1-time onboarding fees.
Last updated 21st June 2025
Estimated Bullhorn pricing:
$99-315+/user/month
Consult Bullhorn's website for more info.
2 tiers:
1-3 users: $45/month per month for up to 3 users (total price, not per user)
4+ users: $150/month (total price, not per user)
Prices reduced offering a 55% launch discount!
Flexibility perks: No long-term contracts, pausable/cancelable anytime, and free credit-card-free trial
Free trial: 14-day free trial
Happlicant pricing:
1-3 users: $45/mo (total)
4+ users $150/mo. (unlimited users)
Why pay for extra seats?!
At Happlicant, we understand that sometimes independent recruiters need to take on contractors for time to time. You should have to pay more for your software!
We don't charge you more for an extra pair of hands.
"Happlicant has been a breath of fresh air, it's easy to navigate and flexible enough to adapt certain features that best represent my recruitment style and workflow. Everything feels intentional and recruiter-focused. The support team is responsive, they schedule regular check-ins and are genuinely open to feedback, which makes a huge difference. It feels like it’s built with us, not just for us."
-Leigh W.
-Customer support
Review of Bullhorn's customer support
What do people say about the customer support & onboarding of Bullhorn vs. Happlicant?
Experiences vary. Some long-term customers praise Bullhorn’s dedicated support and account management g2.com, but others describe poor service.
Multiple reviews mention slow response, billing errors, and being bounced to forums instead of getting direct help softwareadvice.com & capterra.com.
One angry user said Bullhorn’s onboarding “failed… we raised over 20 complaints” and was “extremely dissatisfied” capterra.com.
Another simply wrote, “The customer service is horrible – honestly the worst I’ve ever seen.” softwareadvice.com.
Happlicant doesn’t just give you software—we give you real support and real results. Whether you need us to handle the data migration, you're stuck on setup, or just want a second opinion on how to do something, you’ll get fast, thoughtful help.
Because we specialize in solo recruiters and small agencies, you really matter to us. There’s no generic ticketing abyss or outsourced chatbot loop—support is led by people who care deeply about your experience.
Most questions are answered the same day, and customers regularly mention how the team goes above and beyond with proactive ideas, hands-on help, and zero ego.
We want you to feel like you have a partner, not just a vendor.
-Customer reviews
Bullhorn customers' feedback & online reviews
See what Bullhorn customers are saying about its strengths & gaps:
Performance:
Slow loading and lag are frequently mentioned cons. G2 aggregate data shows “Slow Loading” and “Slow Performance” as top complaints g2.com. One startup founder warned Bullhorn is “nightmarishly slow…an absolute dumpster fire” on multiple machines reddit.com. (Some later reviewers report improvements, but speed remains a concern.)
Usability & UI:
The interface is modern, but the rich feature set makes it complex. Beginners often face a steep learning curve capterra.com. Many users find certain processes non-intuitive or multi-stepped, requiring clicks through several screens or even support help capterra.com. Some praise the clean design, but others say the abundance of options can be cumbersome capterra.com.
Search & Data Access:
Search functions are criticized as rigid. Several reviewers note you must often enter full first+last names exactly to find records, and keyword search may not be global g2.com & capterra.com. One user complained they “often have to search by the full name” because partial name or keyword searches fail g2.com. Likewise, filtering reports and building custom queries can be limited g2.com.
Resume Parsing:
Although parsing is built-in, feedback is mixed. Some say it “quickly” extracts candidate info, but others report very poor results. One recruiter said Bullhorn’s parser turned resumes into “one giant wall of text” with lost formatting reddit.com. Inaccuracy here may require manual cleanup.
Customization Limits:
Bullhorn offers custom fields and layouts, but some users hit walls. A healthcare recruiter noted “limitations of using customizations…when it comes to predefined or limited tasks,” hindering flexibility g2.com. G2 data also lists “Limited Customization” among common cons g2.com.
Reporting & Analytics:
Basic reporting (lists, exports) works adequately, but advanced analytics have issues. One user reported Bullhorn implemented the wrong version of its analytics tool, calling it “non-functional” for their team capterra.com. Others mention that custom reports can be tricky to set up. Workarounds are often needed for highly specialized reports.
Integrations & Tools:
Bullhorn integrates with many tools, but there are gaps. As noted, basic plans exclude LinkedIn integration smbguide.com. Some connectors have been unreliable: reviewers report Indeed and custom job-board links frequently break or bill wrongly reddit.com & capterra.com. Similarly, the free Chrome extension itself has mixed reviews (Chrome Store rating ~2.5/5) which may reflect occasional parsing failures.
Mobile & Access:
Bullhorn has a mobile app, but the main UI was not originally optimized for tablets. Some users explicitly mention the interface feels “slow, outdated, and not optimized” on modern devices capterra.com. A few recruiters wish for better on-the-road access.
-Happlicant's customers
What are recruiters saying about Happlicant?
-Overview
FAQs: Happlicant vs. Bullhorn
At Happlicant, we understand that sometimes independent recruiters need to take on contractors for time to time. You should have to pay more for your software!
We don't charge you more for an extra pair of hands.
How does Happlicant charge users?
Unlike Bullhorn’s per-user pricing, Happlicant uses a flat rate—$45 total for up to 3 users, and $150 for 4+.
Is there a long contract?
Nope. Happlicant is month-to-month. Cancel or pause anytime—no lock-in, no surprises.
Can I easily extract my data if I decide to leave?
Unlike other software vendors, we make it very easily to download your data. You can export your data anytime, just let us know and we’ll export it all for you in a clean and structured format.
How easy is it to get started with Happlicant compared to Bullhorn?
Happlicant takes minutes to get going—no sales hoops or weeks-long onboarding required. Our team is always on hand to help you. We can have as many calls as you need.
Can I migrate from Bullhorn to Happlicant?
Yes! We offer free white-glove migration from Bullhorn, including candidates, jobs, and notes.
Can I migrate from Bullhorn to Happlicant?
Yes! We offer free white-glove migration from Bullhorn, including candidates, jobs, and notes.
-Features
