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Technology · head to head

Greenhouse vs Postgres

Greenhouse logo

Greenhouse

Technology

Hiring software for growing companies

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Postgres logo

Postgres

Technology

The world's most advanced open source database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Postgres has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Greenhouse core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups; Postgres each major version is supported for only 5 years after its initial release, after which it is end-of-life
  • They diverge on capability: Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking, Postgres covers ACID compliance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Greenhouse and Postgres actually diverge.

Attributes where Greenhouse and Postgres differ
AttributeGreenhousePostgres
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiLinux, Windows, Macos, Docker
Founded20121996

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

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 Greenhouse

  • Applicant tracking
  • Interview scheduling
  • Scorecard system
  • Job board posting
  • Candidate CRM
  • Reporting & analytics
  • Offer management
  • EEO compliance

Only in Postgres

  • ACID compliance
  • Complex queries
  • Foreign keys
  • Triggers
  • Views
  • Stored procedures
  • JSON/JSONB support
  • Full-text search

What people use each for

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

Greenhouse

  • Enterprise hiring and recruiting automationnot Postgres
  • Multi-location and multi-team talent acquisitionnot Postgres
  • Structured interview process managementnot Postgres

Postgres

  • Running a general purpose relational database for applicationsnot Greenhouse
  • Self-hosting an open source SQL database with no licence feenot Greenhouse
  • Workloads needing extensions, JSON and full text search in one enginenot Greenhouse

Where each one falls short

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

Greenhouse

  • Core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups
  • Core plan lacks email automation and applicant texting
  • Plus plan lacks resume anonymisation and application limits
  • Plus plan lacks audit logging and developer tools
  • Pricing customised by hiring volume and company size, not published
  • Only Pro tier offers audit logs and developer sandbox

Postgres

  • Each major version is supported for only 5 years after its initial release, after which it is end-of-life
  • Major version upgrades break on-disk compatibility and require a full dump and reload or the pg_upgrade tool
  • New major versions ship about once a year, so staying supported means a disruptive upgrade cycle
  • Minor releases contain only frequently-encountered bug fixes, low-risk fixes, security issues and data corruption fixes, so feature gaps are not addressed within a major version
  • There is no vendor SLA; commercial support must be bought separately from third party professional services listed by the project

Pricing, plan by plan

Greenhouse

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Greenhouse review.

Postgres

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Full database features
    • No limitations
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Greenhouse if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want interview scheduling.
Greenhouse review

Choose Postgres if

  • You need acid compliance.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker.
  • You also want complex queries.
Postgres review

Questions people ask

Is Greenhouse or Postgres better?
Neither clearly leads. Greenhouse starts at On request and Postgres at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Greenhouse or Postgres?
Postgres has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Greenhouse and Free for Postgres.
Does Greenhouse or Postgres run on more platforms?
Greenhouse runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Postgres runs on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker.
Can I use Postgres for free?
Yes. Postgres has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Greenhouse starts at On request.
What is Greenhouse best used for?
Greenhouse is most often used for enterprise hiring and recruiting automation, multi-location and multi-team talent acquisition, structured interview process management. Of those, enterprise hiring and recruiting automation and multi-location and multi-team talent acquisition are not what Postgres is typically brought in for.
What can Greenhouse do that Postgres cannot?
Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking, Interview scheduling, Scorecard system, Job board posting. Postgres covers ACID compliance, Complex queries, Foreign keys, Triggers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Greenhouse: How much does Greenhouse cost?

Greenhouse does not publish specific pricing. The company states that pricing is customized based on your hiring needs, hiring volume, organizational complexity, and required features.

Source
Postgres: How much does PostgreSQL cost to use?

PostgreSQL is completely free to download, install, and use. No licensing fees, subscription costs, or per-seat charges apply. The database is open source under the PostgreSQL License. Source: https://www.postgresql.org

Source
Greenhouse: What are the Greenhouse pricing tiers?

Greenhouse offers three plan levels: Core (basic hiring structure), Plus (multi-location optimization), and Pro (complex enterprise hiring). Exact pricing requires contacting Greenhouse for a custom quote.

Source
Postgres: Are there commercial PostgreSQL support options available?

Official PostgreSQL (the project) is free. Commercial PostgreSQL services such as hosting, professional support, training, and managed database services are offered by third-party vendors, not the PostgreSQL project itself. Source: https://www.postgresql.org

Source
Greenhouse: Do all Greenhouse tiers include the same features?

No. Core includes sourcing and scheduling, Plus adds automation and texting, and Pro adds enterprise data configuration and audit logs. All tiers can be customized.

Source
Postgres: Do I need a license to use PostgreSQL commercially?

No. PostgreSQL is open source under the PostgreSQL License, which permits free commercial use without royalties, licensing fees, or support obligations. Source: https://www.postgresql.org

Source
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