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Software · head to head

iCIMS vs Notion

iCIMS logo

iCIMS

Software

Talent cloud for transformative hiring

From
$14500/year
Rated
-
Notion logo

Notion

Software

All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, wikis, and databases

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Notion has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: iCIMS difficult customer support requiring escalation for resolution; Notion free plan limited to 1,000 blocks for 2+ member workspaces, restricting team usage
  • They diverge on capability: iCIMS covers Applicant Tracking, Notion covers Rich text editing with blocks.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iCIMS and Notion actually diverge.

Attributes where iCIMS and Notion differ
AttributeiCIMSNotion
Starting price$14500/yearFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded19992016

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 iCIMS

  • Applicant Tracking
  • CRM
  • Career Sites
  • Text Recruiting
  • Video Interviewing
  • AI Matching
  • Analytics
  • LinkedIn

Only in Notion

  • Rich text editing with blocks
  • Customizable databases
  • Kanban boards and calendars
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Template library
  • File attachments
  • Web clipper
  • API access

What people use each for

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

iCIMS

  • Enterprise applicant tracking with configurable hiring workflowsnot Notion
  • High volume hiring in retail, hospitality and healthcarenot Notion
  • Candidate relationship management and automated campaignsnot Notion
  • Career site and employer branding managementnot Notion
  • Employee onboarding after offer acceptancenot Notion

Notion

  • Project managementnot iCIMS
  • Knowledge base creationnot iCIMS
  • Note-taking and documentationnot iCIMS
  • Team collaborationnot iCIMS
  • Content planningnot iCIMS

Where each one falls short

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

iCIMS

  • Difficult customer support requiring escalation for resolution
  • Complex and dated user interface compared to modern cloud recruiting tools
  • CRM, ATS, and Text engagement systems do not sync well and require separate logins
  • Custom reporting is difficult to create without IT expertise

Notion

  • Free plan limited to 1,000 blocks for 2+ member workspaces, restricting team usage
  • Free tier only includes trial AI capabilities; full Notion AI requires paid plan
  • Page history limited to 7 days on free plan
  • Per-member pricing increases costs for teams compared to flat-rate competitors
  • Limited automation capabilities compared to dedicated workflow platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

iCIMS

$14500/year

No published plan breakdown. See the iCIMS review.

Notion

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1000 block limit (2+ members)
    • 7-day page history
    • 5MB file upload cap
  • Plus$10/month
    • Unlimited blocks
    • 30-day page history
    • Unlimited file uploads
  • Business$20/month
    • All Plus features
    • Notion Agent
    • AI Meeting Notes
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • All Business features
    • Advanced controls
    • Audit logs

Which should you pick?

Choose iCIMS if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want crm.

Choose Notion if

  • You need rich text editing with blocks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want customizable databases.

Questions people ask

Is iCIMS or Notion better?
Neither clearly leads. iCIMS starts at $14500/year and Notion at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iCIMS or Notion?
Notion has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14500/year for iCIMS and Free for Notion.
Does iCIMS or Notion run on more platforms?
iCIMS runs on Web, Ios, Android. Notion runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Notion for free?
Yes. Notion has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. iCIMS starts at $14500/year.
What is iCIMS best used for?
iCIMS is most often used for enterprise applicant tracking with configurable hiring workflows, high volume hiring in retail, hospitality and healthcare, candidate relationship management and automated campaigns, career site and employer branding management. Of those, enterprise applicant tracking with configurable hiring workflows and high volume hiring in retail, hospitality and healthcare are not what Notion is typically brought in for.
What can iCIMS do that Notion cannot?
iCIMS covers Applicant Tracking, CRM, Career Sites, Text Recruiting. Notion covers Rich text editing with blocks, Customizable databases, Kanban boards and calendars, Real-time collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iCIMS: How much does iCIMS cost?

iCIMS pricing varies from $14,500 to $635,000 annually depending on organization size and modules. Mid-market companies typically pay $15,000-$35,000 annually, with larger enterprises exceeding $100,000 plus implementation fees.

Source
Notion: What are Notion's pricing tiers?

Notion offers four plans: Free ($0/member/month), Plus ($10/member/month), Business ($20/member/month recommended), and Enterprise (custom pricing). All paid plans include Notion AI and identical features with no per-feature charges.

Source
iCIMS: What companies use iCIMS?

iCIMS serves more than 4,400 companies across 200 countries, including a quarter of Fortune 500 companies, particularly in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance sectors.

Source
Notion: What is included in Notion's free plan?

The free plan includes databases with limited collaborative blocks, trial AI capabilities, basic forms, basic sites, Notion Calendar, and file uploads. For workspaces with 2+ members, there is a 1,000-block limit.

Source
iCIMS: Does iCIMS integrate with other HR systems?

Yes, iCIMS connects with more than 800 partner technologies including job boards, background check services, HR systems, and social platforms.

Source
Notion: How much does Notion AI cost?

Notion AI is included with Plus ($10/mo), Business ($20/mo), and Enterprise plans. Free and Plus plans include limited AI trial capabilities. Custom Agents cost $10 per 1,000 monthly credits after free trial.

Source
iCIMS: How long does iCIMS implementation take?

iCIMS implementation is typically lengthy and complex, with setup time varying based on workflow complexity, integrations, and organizational requirements. The process requires professional services and can involve extended ramp-up periods for configuration and training.

Source
Notion: Can guests access Notion workspaces without payment?

Yes. Guests are free of charge on all plans including the free tier. Free tier allows 10 guests; paid plans include unlimited guests. Guests can only access individual pages they are invited to.

Source
Notion: Does Notion integrate with other apps?

Yes. Notion integrates with 100+ third-party apps including Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, Google Calendar, Trello, Jira, Zapier, and many others. Native integrations are available plus additional connections via Zapier.

Source

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