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 2.8% 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

2,599 Views
1,014 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

SmartRecruiters

Read 15 SmartRecruiters reviews

2,228 Views
1,337 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Sage People

SmartRecruiters

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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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: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters

April 2026

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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 (25th), Cloud HCM (21st), 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 (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of June 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 2.8%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Talent Acquisition Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SmartRecruiters	2.8%
Sage People	2.4%
Other	94.8%

Talent Acquisition

Featured Reviews

Anastacia Mahachi

Senior HR and Payroll Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Allows for storing comprehensive employee information

The most valuable features are employee historical information and reporting capabilities. Sage People is a comprehensive system that allows for storing a lot of employee information. Apart from basic details like name and surname, you can add links to other employee information such as cloud or team accounts, medical aids, and pension funds. You can also store historical data like position changes and salary increases. This information is valuable even for inactive employees. The reporting features are also very valuable because, on top of 300+ reports available on the system, you can also customize quite a number of reports. So you can even build your own reports on top of the internal reports out of there. And on the reports, you have legally compliant reports available. So you won't even have to copy it. The auditors will give you a sample for reports. Those reports are already available in stage three and video group modules.

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Anudeep Kamuni

Global Lead - TA ops & Analytics | Strategy Growth & Leadership at a recreational facilities/services company with 10,001+ employees

Efficiently automates tasks but lacks certain features in terms of usability

There are a couple of areas of improvement. SmartRecruiter lacks certain features in terms of usability. For instance, we cannot move candidate profiles, interview feedback, notes, and activities related to one candidate when transitioning from one job to another. We have to manually copy and paste everything for that specific candidate. This is a significant drawback. Additionally, the filters are not accurate. The results are inaccurate when filtering multiple criteria, such as country and hiring manager. This level of inaccuracy is unexpected for an application, especially for smaller organizations. It should have been corrected easily. Moreover, the CRM module lacks video reporting capabilities. These are some the biggest improvement I would like to see.

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

"Sage makes all the information accessible, like pulling a file because an employee needs something ASAP. It's all in the system. It's easy to find old reports if I need them for payroll purposes. It might take days to do some of this work by hand."

"The product is really easy to customise and configure, and the automation has enabled us to manage several HR processes at the right time in the correct manner."

"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."

"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."

"The solution is beneficial overall."

"We are now able to visualize global team structures, and as we rollout other features, the organization will benefit from an easy to use system and standard processes."

"The solution provides the ability to trace back records, is reliable, makes life easy, and is secure."

More Sage People pros

"SmartRecruiters is a candidate management system or ATS system that we use for recruitment purposes."

"Once we implemented SmartRecruiters, it meant that we were able to have a consolidated global overview of all the recruitment activities."

"SmartRecruiters is much more user-friendly; it's much easier for both candidates and recruiters."

"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."

"I used the free version, which I found valuable."

"With this solution, I was able to add diversity to my recruiting. I was able to source from multiple locations, and I could show where applicants came from. The reporting tools that are on offer, allowed us to expand our reach. We were able to add meaningful diversity into recruiting."

"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."

"I found the core product quite useful. It is easy to use and quite user-friendly. They have also got other options, such as CRM and HRS. They have other versions such as smart distribute, which is an HRS type of system to analyze and get permissions needed from the applicants. In terms of pricing, SmartRecruiters is much better than its competitors."

More SmartRecruiters pros

Cons

"There were a couple of things that we wanted to customize, but we couldn’t do it ourselves."

"In my opinion, the performance management module of this system could use improvement as it falls behind compared to other specialized performance management platforms."

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

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

"The user interface is not great."

"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."

"Right now, Sage doesn't seem to have what we are looking for when it comes to managing HR tickets. In my previous experiences with other HR software, we had to buy another solution to obtain this functionality, and it would be a great feature for Sage to consider adding. For an HR system, Sage would do very well to include it."

"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

"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."

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

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

"We require greater flexibility for customization with our employer branding. Currently, it is very much driven by the SmartRecruiters design. We are using a SaaS solution, so we are powered by what is in the core product itself. 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. You use whatever is offered to you in a box as much as you can, and that might be a problem sometimes because customizations are not achievable. They should definitely improve and provide more flexibility for customizations. For a large organization like ours, they can provide more flexibility on the authorization side of things. They could create a much more flexible way of access and separate the IT or help desk access when they need to go into the system and do some fixes. Currently, it is set up in a way that that you have access for everything or nothing, which is not useful in terms of the separation of duty that we have. There are also other things like matrix, where we can have a better and deeper kind of analysis."

"Reporting is always something that can be improved. Currently, it is a little bit complicated when it comes to reporting."

"The major improvement area is how it integrates with other systems; that's where we've had some sort of pain points."

"Sometimes, there is this language or communication barrier in terms of what the applicants mentioned. SmartRecruiters sometimes has trouble understanding certain types of keywords or has certain types of language, translation, or grammar issues."

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

More SmartRecruiters cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The pricing is reasonable."

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

"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."

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

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"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."

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

More Sage People pricing and cost advice

"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."

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

"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."

"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."

"SmartRecruiters is an expensive solution."

"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."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

15%

Marketing Services Firm

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

10%

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

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

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Compared 6% of the time

ADP Workforce Now vs Sage People

Compared 5% of the time

DarwinBox vs Sage People

Compared 4% of the time

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SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 11% of the time

Workday vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 11% of the time

Ashby vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 9% of the time

SAP SuccessFactors vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 8% of the time

Oracle HCM Cloud vs SmartRecruiters

Compared 3% of the time

More SmartRecruiters Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Sage People

May 2026

Download Sage People product report

Buyer's Guide

SmartRecruiters

May 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

April 2026

Free Report: Sage People vs. SmartRecruiters

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

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