Exelare Review: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons for Recruiting Agencies

Exelare occupies an unusual spot in the applicant tracking system market. It has been around since the early 2000s, serves recruiting agencies across multiple continents, and earns genuine praise from small staffing firms for its sourcing tools and customer support. But it also carries the weight of an aging interface, limited integrations, and a feature set that has not kept pace with newer competitors. For boutique recruiting agencies that need a combined ATS and CRM without paying Bullhorn prices, Exelare deserves a close look. For teams that expect a modern, polished experience or need extensive third-party integrations, the gaps become harder to ignore.

Our analysis draws on verified user feedback, current vendor documentation, and hands-on evaluation of Exelare’s publicly available materials. The picture that emerges is a product with a loyal but small user base, genuine strengths in core recruiting workflows, and real weaknesses that prospective buyers should understand before committing.

What Is Exelare?

Exelare is a cloud-based applicant tracking system and recruiting CRM built by cBizSoft Inc., a privately held company founded in 1999 and headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company’s founder is Kris Reddy, and its current CEO is Srinivas Karlapudi. cBizSoft’s first product was called cBizOne; the Exelare brand represents the evolution of that original platform. The company claims to have been refining its recruitment software since 2000 and serves customers across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Exelare targets staffing and recruiting agencies of various sizes, with particular traction among small to mid-sized firms in industries like IT, healthcare, finance, legal, and construction. The platform combines ATS functionality (job posting, resume parsing, candidate tracking, pipeline management) with CRM capabilities for managing client relationships from prospect through placement. A newer web-based version called “Exelare Web” has been introduced alongside the legacy Windows desktop application, and the vendor offers mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Exelare Key Features

Resume Parsing and AI-Powered Candidate Matching

Exelare parses incoming resumes and uses AI-driven matching to surface candidates who fit open requisitions. The system can simultaneously search external resume databases from Monster, CareerBuilder, Dice, Indeed, and TechFetch, consolidating results into a single interface. Users report that the parsing works reliably and that searching even large databases (one user cited 500,000+ records) returns results quickly. This multi-source search capability is one of Exelare’s strongest differentiators for agencies that rely heavily on sourcing from job boards rather than inbound applications.

Multi-Board Job Posting

The platform allows recruiters to post jobs to multiple boards simultaneously, including Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, GlassDoor, and niche industry sites. This eliminates the repetitive task of manually entering job details on each board. An online jobs portal also lets candidates apply directly through a self-service interface, feeding applications back into the ATS pipeline automatically.

Recruiting CRM

Beyond applicant tracking, Exelare includes a full CRM module that manages client relationships from the prospect stage through to a won account. Recruiters can track sales activities, log communications, and manage the business development side of a staffing agency within the same platform they use for candidate management. For small agencies that want to avoid paying for a separate CRM tool, this is a meaningful cost saver.

Centralized Communication and Email Campaigns

All candidate and client communications (emails, notes, documents, activities, tasks) are centralized within each record. Exelare also supports automated email campaigns for candidate outreach and nurturing. The platform integrates with Outlook and Gmail for email synchronization and uses SendGrid for bulk email delivery. An SMS messaging feature is also available, which the vendor claims achieves significantly higher read rates than email outreach.

Real-Time Pipeline Management and Reporting

The ATS provides visual pipeline management showing candidates at each stage of the recruitment process. Dashboard-based reporting offers analytics on recruiter performance, time-to-fill, source effectiveness, and other key metrics. Custom reports are available, though only on the Premium plan. For agencies that need to demonstrate ROI to clients or track internal team productivity, this reporting layer covers the basics.

Granular User Permissions

With 60+ configurable user permissions, Exelare allows administrators to control exactly what each team member can access and modify. Multiple users praise this feature, noting that it allows proper data security and role-based access even in small teams. This level of permission granularity is more typically found in enterprise-grade systems.

Mobile Apps

Exelare offers mobile applications for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. However, user feedback on the mobile experience is consistently negative. Reviewers describe the mobile apps as “clunky” and note they do not offer a viable replacement for the desktop experience. If your recruiters need to work extensively from mobile devices, this is a significant limitation to evaluate firsthand during a trial.

Exelare Pricing and Plans

Exelare uses a per-user, per-month subscription model with two tiers: Standard and Premium. The entire company must be on the same plan.

A few important pricing details to note. Dynamic pricing means the per-user cost decreases as you add more users; contact cBizSoft directly for volume pricing. If your database exceeds 25GB and you have three or fewer users, an additional $30/month charge applies. Data migration from CSV, Excel, and Outlook is free. Migration from another ATS is available at low cost through pre-built conversion programs. Support and training are always included at no extra charge on both plans.

Some older third-party sources list lower prices (ranging from $39 to $79 per user per month), but the vendor’s own website currently lists the Standard plan at $89/user/month. Those lower figures appear to be outdated. Implementation costs from third-party estimates range from $500 for small businesses to $5,000+ for enterprise deployments, and customization costs (Premium plan only) range from $1,000 to $5,000+.

Note that switching from Premium to Standard means losing any customizations that were built for you. This creates a meaningful lock-in effect once you invest in the Premium tier.

Integrations

Exelare’s integration ecosystem is functional but notably limited compared to competitors like Bullhorn, Recruiterflow, or Zoho Recruit. The confirmed integrations include:

• Email: Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, SendGrid (for bulk email)
• Job Boards: Indeed, CareerBuilder, Monster, Dice, ZipRecruiter, GlassDoor, TechFetch, LinkedIn
• Social Media: LinkedIn, Meta/Facebook
• Communication: RingCentral Engage Voice (for calling), SMS messaging
• Other: VMS platforms, background check providers (specific vendors not confirmed)

API access is available, but only on the Premium plan. This means Standard plan users have no way to build custom integrations or connect Exelare to tools like Zapier, Make, or other middleware platforms. There is no public app marketplace or integration directory. Users on the Standard plan are essentially limited to the native integrations listed above.

Multiple reviewers cite limited integrations as a frustration point. If your agency relies on a tech stack that includes tools like Slack, specific HRIS platforms, video interviewing software, or assessment tools, verify compatibility with Exelare before committing.

Customer Support

Customer support is one of Exelare’s clearest strengths, and it is consistently praised across user reviews. The vendor offers:

• Phone and email support during business hours (8 AM to 6 PM CST, Monday through Friday)
• 24/7 emergency monitoring for critical system issues
• Unlimited free training for all clients on both Standard and Premium plans
• Knowledge base and feedback forum for self-service help
• Monthly check-in emails from support staff (noted by multiple users as a welcome touch)

The vendor states that the average tenure of its support staff exceeds six years, which means you are unlikely to deal with agents unfamiliar with the product. Users describe response times as “very fast” and note that support is “consistently spot-on.” One user specifically praised the personalized attention that comes from working with a smaller vendor rather than a large corporation.

However, not all experiences are positive. A small number of reviewers report inconsistent availability and at least one described a sales representative as “impatient and condescending.” These appear to be outlier experiences, but they are worth noting. There is no live chat support option based on available documentation.

Pros and Cons

Based on our analysis of user feedback, vendor documentation, and competitive positioning, here is where Exelare delivers and where it falls short.

Who Should Use Exelare?

Best fit: Small to mid-sized staffing and recruiting agencies (2 to 25 users) that need a combined ATS and CRM in a single platform. Agencies in IT, healthcare, finance, legal, or construction recruiting will find the industry fit natural. If your firm relies heavily on sourcing from multiple resume databases (Monster, CareerBuilder, Dice, Indeed, TechFetch), Exelare’s simultaneous multi-board search is a genuine time saver. Boutique agencies that have outgrown spreadsheets but find Bullhorn too expensive or complex are Exelare’s sweet spot.

Also worth considering if: You value responsive, personalized customer support and are willing to trade some feature depth for a vendor that knows your name. Agencies that have been using Exelare’s legacy Windows application and are comfortable transitioning to the web version will find the migration straightforward.

Not a good fit for: Large enterprises or agencies with 50+ recruiters who need extensive integrations, advanced automation workflows, or a modern user interface. Companies that require background screening, candidate portals, or pre-hire assessments built into their ATS will find Exelare lacking. Teams that work primarily from mobile devices should look elsewhere, as the mobile apps are not reliable enough for primary use. Organizations that need API access but cannot justify the Premium plan pricing will be frustrated by the Standard plan’s integration limitations.

Exelare Alternatives

Bullhorn

Bullhorn is the dominant ATS/CRM for staffing agencies and offers a significantly deeper feature set, a larger integration ecosystem, and a more modern interface. It handles enterprise-scale operations that Exelare cannot match. However, Bullhorn is considerably more expensive, and multiple Exelare users specifically note they chose Exelare because Bullhorn’s pricing was prohibitive for small teams. If budget is not a primary constraint and you need enterprise-grade capabilities, Bullhorn is the safer choice.

Recruiterflow

Recruiterflow is a newer ATS/CRM that earns higher user satisfaction ratings (approximately 4.7/5) and offers a cleaner, more modern interface with stronger automation features. It is well-suited for small to mid-sized recruiting agencies that want a polished user experience. Recruiterflow’s integration options are broader, including native Zapier support. It may lack some of Exelare’s deep resume database searching capabilities, but it compensates with better workflow automation and a more intuitive design.

Zoho Recruit

Zoho Recruit offers a free tier for single users and paid plans starting lower than Exelare’s $89/month. It benefits from tight integration with the broader Zoho ecosystem (Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, Zoho Analytics). For agencies already using Zoho products, this is a natural choice. Zoho Recruit’s feature set is comparable to Exelare’s, with the added advantage of a more modern interface and a larger integration marketplace. However, Zoho’s customer support is less personalized than what Exelare users report.

JobAdder

JobAdder is a cloud-based ATS and CRM built specifically for recruitment agencies, with a strong presence in Australia and growing adoption in North America. It offers a more modern UI, better mobile experience, and a broader integration marketplace than Exelare. Pricing is in a similar range. JobAdder is a strong alternative for agencies that prioritize user experience and need solid mobile functionality.

Tracker (by TrackerRMS)

Tracker is another ATS/CRM built for staffing firms that earns high user ratings (approximately 4.7/5). It offers sales pipeline management, robust reporting, and VMS integrations at a competitive price point. For agencies focused on contract staffing and back-office operations, Tracker may offer better depth than Exelare. It is particularly strong in temp staffing workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Exelare offer a free trial?

Yes. Exelare offers a free 30-day trial of its Standard plan with no credit card required. This gives you enough time to import candidate data, test the core ATS and CRM features, and evaluate whether the platform fits your workflow before committing.

What is the difference between Exelare Standard and Premium?

The Standard plan ($89/user/month) includes the core ATS and CRM features. The Premium plan adds self-hosting options, full customizations, custom reports, and API access for integrations. The entire company must be on the same plan. Premium requires a minimum of two users, and pricing is available only by contacting the vendor directly.

Can Exelare import data from another ATS?

Yes. Data migration from CSV files, Excel spreadsheets, and Outlook is free. Migration from another ATS system is available at additional cost through pre-built conversion programs. Contact cBizSoft for a migration estimate specific to your current system.

Does Exelare have an API?

API access is available only on the Premium plan. Standard plan users do not have access to the API, which limits the ability to connect Exelare with other tools in your tech stack. If API access is important to your workflow, factor Premium plan pricing into your evaluation.

What job boards does Exelare integrate with?

Exelare integrates with Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, Monster, Dice, GlassDoor, and TechFetch. The platform allows simultaneous job posting to multiple boards and can search resume databases across these sources in a single query.

Is Exelare suitable for large recruiting agencies?

Exelare can technically serve larger teams, and its dynamic pricing reduces per-user costs at higher volumes. However, user feedback suggests the platform is best suited for small to mid-sized agencies (roughly 2 to 25 users). Larger agencies frequently cite the need for more integrations, a more modern interface, and deeper feature sets that competitors like Bullhorn provide.

Does Exelare support languages other than English?

No. Exelare currently supports English only. Agencies that operate in multilingual environments or recruit internationally in non-English-speaking markets should consider this limitation.

The Bottom Line

Exelare is a competent ATS and CRM for small staffing agencies that need core recruiting functionality without enterprise-level complexity or cost. Its multi-board resume database searching, combined ATS/CRM approach, and genuinely excellent customer support set it apart from budget alternatives. At $89/user/month for the Standard plan, it is priced affordably relative to market leaders like Bullhorn, and the free 30-day trial makes it low-risk to evaluate.

The concerns are real, though. The user interface feels dated compared to newer competitors like Recruiterflow and JobAdder. The integration ecosystem is thin, especially on the Standard plan where API access is not available. The mobile apps are not reliable enough for recruiters who work away from their desks. And the fact that Exelare’s G2 profile has been unclaimed for over a year raises questions about the vendor’s investment in market visibility and growth.

We rate Exelare 3.5 out of 5. It is a solid, unpretentious tool for boutique recruiting agencies that prioritize function over form and value personal support over a sprawling feature list. If that describes your firm, take the free trial. If you need modern UX, deep integrations, or enterprise scalability, your money is better spent on Bullhorn, Recruiterflow, or Zoho Recruit.