Binary vs Ashby
Binary is fast, affordable and AI-first while Ashby adds deeper configuration, outreach features and compliance that larger teams often need.
Last updated July 2026
Side-by-side comparison
Primary target market
Startups and small-to-mid-sized teams that want to start hiring fast without heavy setup.
Scaling and later-stage companies that want a deep, all-in-one platform and have the team to configure and maintain it.
Onboarding & setup
Self-serve and instant, so most teams are live and hiring within minutes.
More configuration up front to unlock its depth, with guided onboarding that typically takes longer to roll out.
AI features
AI is native across the workflow, covering candidate review, job and form creation, custom analytics, daily briefs and a Slack AI agent.
A growing set of AI features, but several are sold as paid add-ons rather than included, which adds to the overall cost.
Pricing
Flat, transparent pricing with a generous free plan; the paid plan typically costs about $100 a month for unlimited users, jobs and candidates, with AI credits included.
Mostly quote-based, priced on headcount and billed annually; from about $400 a month (Foundations) and up, with AI features like the notetaker and advanced scheduling as add-ons.
User experience
Fast, modern and minimal, built for speed with keyboard-driven workflows.
Powerful and data-dense, with deep configurability and controls suited to larger teams that want fine-grained control.
Hiring forms
Highly customisable, interactive forms with live widgets (like response rate) and built-in video questions.
Structured, configurable application forms within a broader recruiting suite.
Candidate screening
Screen faster with keyboard shortcuts and an AI agent that pre-screens candidates.
Highly structured screening with deeply configurable stages and advanced scorecards for consistent evaluation at scale.
Analytics
AI-powered analytics that let you ask questions of your data and build custom reports.
Very deep, highly customisable analytics and reporting, with advanced dashboards aimed at data-driven hiring teams.
Interview scheduling & feedback
Manual and candidate self-scheduling on Google Calendar, with built-in interview kits and feedback.
Advanced scheduling with options beyond self-scheduling, such as complex panel and multi-stage coordination, across Google and Microsoft calendars.
Integrations
Integrations with common tools like LinkedIn and Google Calendar, including a Slack AI agent that works like an added teammate.
Broad integration ecosystem with an open API, granular permissions and access controls, including Slack notifications.
Job boards
Share jobs to LinkedIn through a built-in integration, with more platforms coming soon.
Post to a wide range of job boards directly, including LinkedIn and Indeed.
Sourcing
Sourcing via a Chrome extension that works on LinkedIn and other common websites.
Built-in sourcing and a candidate CRM with prospecting and nurture campaigns for higher-volume outbound.
Mobile support
A polished, mobile-optimised experience that includes full access to the AI agent on the go.
Mobile-friendly access for reviewing and moving candidates on the go.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Binary if…
- You're a startup or small-to-mid-sized team that wants to start hiring today.
- You prefer a more AI-first product with transparent pricing and a free forever plan.
- You want interactive forms with live widgets and video questions.
- You'd rather self-serve than sit through demos and annual contracts.
Choose Ashby if…
- You're a scaling or later-stage company that needs deeper configuration and is ready to invest in setup.
- You need advanced compliance, granular permissions and access controls across a larger org.
- You're comfortable with annual contracts and paying for AI and advanced features as add-ons.
Both are capable applicant tracking systems. The best fit comes down to your team size, budget and how much configuration you need.
Frequently asked questions
Binary is a popular Ashby alternative for startups and small-to-mid-sized teams that want an all-in-one, AI-native ATS without enterprise-level cost or setup. Binary covers the core hiring workflow, interview scheduling, a candidate database and AI-powered analytics out of the box, with AI included rather than sold as add-ons, transparent pricing and a generous free plan. Teams can start hiring in minutes rather than configuring a deeper platform and signing an annual contract.
Ashby is a deep, all-in-one platform built for scale. It offers more advanced configuration, compliance and access controls, additional scheduling options beyond self-scheduling, and very granular analytics. Later-stage companies with larger teams and more complex processes often need that depth, and Ashby is built to support it, though much of it comes with a higher price point and annual contracts.
Yes. You can recreate your jobs and hiring forms in Binary in minutes and import candidate data. Because Binary is designed for fast self-serve setup, most teams can be up and running the same day. Reach out to our support team if you need help moving existing data over.
Binary uses AI across the entire hiring workflow. It can review and pre-screen candidates, generate jobs and hiring forms, power analytics with custom reporting, and send proactive daily briefs of what needs your attention. There is also a Slack AI agent that works alongside your team like an added teammate. These capabilities are built into the product rather than sold as paid add-ons, so you can automate many everyday hiring tasks with AI.
Binary has flat, public pricing with a generous free plan, and its paid plan typically costs about $100 a month for unlimited users, jobs and candidates with AI credits included. Ashby is mostly quote-based, priced on headcount and billed annually, from about $400 a month on its Foundations plan and up, with AI features such as the notetaker and advanced scheduling priced as add-ons. For most teams, Binary is the more transparent and cost-predictable option.
Try Binary today.
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