Top Echelon vs Crelate
Choose Top Echelon if your agency wants an ATS and CRM with a separately available split-placement network; choose Crelate if mobile recruiting, client portals, or onboarding are more important to your workflow. Both vendors currently offer recruiting software for agencies, so this is a comparison worth publishing. The key distinction is which capabilities you need alongside applicant tracking and relationship management.
Last updated October 31, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Top Echelon | Crelate |
|---|---|---|
| Distinctive option | Separate TE Network split-placement membership | Separately priced Crelate Hire onboarding |
| Starting published price | Standard: $79/month billed annually | Essentials: $85/user/month paid annually |
| Monthly billing | Standard: $95/month; Professional: $115/month | Business: $119/user/month, annual or monthly billing |
| Plans | TE Recruit Standard and Professional | Essentials, Business, Business Plus and Platform |
| Mobile platforms | Not published | iOS and Android apps |
| Client collaboration | TE Network membership for recruiter collaboration | Client portals on Business and above |
| Integrations | Marketplace; Google, Microsoft and job boards | Marketplace with 80+ integration partners |
| API access | TE Recruit Professional | Full API and integrations on Business Plus |
| Entry-plan limits | Standard: 5,000 emails/month; 10 GB storage | Essentials: up to 2 users and 20,000 contacts |
| Support | No-cost TE Recruit support and training | Essentials: self-service and AI; Business: technical support |
| Trial | Free trial | Free trial |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Top Echelon if
- Agencies considering recruiter-to-recruiter split placements
- Teams that want published email and storage allowances
- Firms seeking included TE Recruit support and training
Choose Crelate if
- Recruiters who need iOS and Android apps
- Teams that collaborate through client portals
- Staffing firms evaluating onboarding and compliance tools
- Small teams that fit Essentials’ two-user limit
The verdict
Pick Top Echelon for TE Recruit’s published Standard and Professional plans, especially if your firm also wants the option to join TE Network to collaborate on split placements. Pick Crelate if your decision hinges on its iOS and Android apps, client portals, or separately priced onboarding and data-sync services. TE Network is a separate membership, not a feature included with TE Recruit.
Top Echelon vs Crelate: common questions
- Are Top Echelon and Crelate close competitors?
- Yes. Top Echelon’s TE Recruit and Crelate both offer applicant tracking and recruiting CRM software for recruiting firms.
- How do Top Echelon and Crelate starting prices compare?
- Top Echelon lists TE Recruit Standard at $79 per month billed annually or $95 per month billed monthly. Crelate lists Essentials at $85 per user per month paid annually, with a limit of two users and 20,000 contacts.
- Does a TE Recruit subscription include TE Network?
- No. Top Echelon describes TE Recruit and TE Network as separate products. TE Network is a separately priced membership for agencies collaborating on split placements.
- Which product has published mobile apps?
- Crelate publishes iOS and Android recruiting apps. Top Echelon does not publish a TE Recruit mobile-app offering on the product and pricing pages checked for this comparison.
- Which plans provide API access?
- Top Echelon lists TE Recruit API access on Professional. Crelate lists full API access and integrations on Business Plus.
- Can either product help with onboarding after a hire?
- Crelate offers Crelate Hire as a separately priced, per-hire onboarding and compliance option. Top Echelon’s published TE Recruit pricing focuses on recruiting workflows rather than a comparable onboarding module.
- What limits should a small team check?
- Top Echelon publishes 5,000 emails per month and 10 GB of storage for TE Recruit Standard. Crelate limits Essentials to two users and 20,000 contacts; its Essentials listing includes unlimited jobs and companies.
- Do Top Echelon and Crelate offer free trials?
- Yes. Both Top Echelon and Crelate advertise free trials for their recruiting software.