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Software · head to head

GitHub vs Lever

GitHub logo

GitHub

Software

Where the world builds software

From
Free
Rated
-
Lever logo

Lever

Software

Talent acquisition suite built for collaboration

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only GitHub has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GitHub acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy; Lever customized pricing requires sales contact, no public pricing
  • They diverge on capability: GitHub covers Git repositories, Lever covers Applicant Tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GitHub and Lever actually diverge.

Attributes where GitHub and Lever differ
AttributeGitHubLever
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb
Founded20082012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GitHub

  • Git repositories
  • Pull requests
  • Code review
  • Issues & projects
  • GitHub Actions CI/CD
  • GitHub Pages
  • Security scanning
  • Dependency management

Only in Lever

  • Applicant Tracking
  • Candidate CRM
  • Sourcing
  • Interview Management
  • Analytics
  • Offer Management
  • LinkedIn
  • Indeed

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GitHub

  • Version controlnot Lever
  • Code collaborationnot Lever
  • CI/CD pipelinesnot Lever
  • Project managementnot Lever
  • Documentation hostingnot Lever

Lever

  • Applicant tracking from sourcing through offernot GitHub
  • Building and nurturing talent pipelines of passive candidatesnot GitHub
  • Automating interview scheduling, follow-ups and offer lettersnot GitHub
  • Reporting on hiring performance across sourcesnot GitHub
  • Screening at volume with AI ranking and recommendationsnot GitHub

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GitHub

  • Acquired by Microsoft in 2018, reducing pure independence despite operational autonomy
  • Primary focus on source control differs from purpose-built project management tools like Jira
  • Pricing for enterprise features and private repositories adds up compared to some self-hosted alternatives

Lever

  • Customized pricing requires sales contact, no public pricing
  • Premium features like advanced CRM functionality require additional fees
  • Implementation requires some technical configuration

Pricing, plan by plan

GitHub

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public/private repos
    • 2,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 500MB package storage
  • Team$4/month
    • Everything in Free
    • 3,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 2GB package storage
  • Enterprise$21/month
    • Everything in Team
    • 50,000 CI/CD minutes/month
    • 50GB package storage

Lever

On request
  • LeverTRM$undefined/month
    • ATS
    • CRM
    • Sourcing
  • LeverTRM for Enterprise$undefined/month
    • All LeverTRM features
    • Advanced Security
    • Dedicated Support

Which should you pick?

Choose GitHub if

  • You need git repositories.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want pull requests.

Choose Lever if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You also want candidate crm.

Questions people ask

Is GitHub or Lever better?
Neither clearly leads. GitHub starts at Free and Lever at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GitHub or Lever?
GitHub has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GitHub and On request for Lever.
Does GitHub or Lever run on more platforms?
GitHub runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Lever runs on Web.
Can I use GitHub for free?
Yes. GitHub has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Lever starts at On request.
What is GitHub best used for?
GitHub is most often used for version control, code collaboration, ci/cd pipelines, project management. Of those, version control and code collaboration are not what Lever is typically brought in for.
What can GitHub do that Lever cannot?
GitHub covers Git repositories, Pull requests, Code review, Issues & projects. Lever covers Applicant Tracking, Candidate CRM, Sourcing, Interview Management. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GitHub: What is a Git repository and how does GitHub use it?

A repository is the centralized database that stores the complete collection of files and folders for a codebase, along with the revision history. GitHub uses Git to provide distributed version control access to repositories with version tracking, branching, and collaboration features.

Source
Lever: What is Lever used for?

Lever is modern recruiting software that centralizes recruiting into a single system for sourcing candidates, managing applications, scheduling interviews, collaborating with hiring managers, automating workflows, and measuring hiring performance.

Source
GitHub: How does GitHub authentication work?

When you connect to a GitHub repository from Git, you need to authenticate with GitHub using either HTTPS or SSH. GitHub supports multiple authentication methods including passwords, personal access tokens, SSH keys, and GitHub Apps.

Source
Lever: Does Lever include both ATS and CRM?

Yes. Lever integrates comprehensive Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) functionalities within a single offering called LeverTRM, with features like AI-powered screening and interview transcripts.

Source
GitHub: How long has GitHub been operating?

GitHub was founded in 2008 and launched publicly on April 10, 2008, making it the dominant git hosting platform for nearly two decades.

Source
Lever: What integrations does Lever support?

Lever integrates with 300+ tools including Slack for notifications, Zoom for interviews, calendar applications for scheduling, background check services, job boards, and leading HRIS platforms for talent management workflows.

Source
GitHub: Who owns GitHub and when did the acquisition occur?

Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion USD, with the deal announced June 4, 2018 and completed October 26, 2018. GitHub operates as an independent subsidiary within Microsoft.

Source

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