Software · head to head
iCIMS vs Pilot
The short version
- Each has a real cost: iCIMS difficult customer support requiring escalation for resolution; Pilot the Essentials bookkeeping plan at $99 per month covers up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, and is cash-basis only using bank and credit card data
- They diverge on capability: iCIMS covers Applicant Tracking, Pilot covers Bookkeeping.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which iCIMS and Pilot actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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
Only in Pilot
- Bookkeeping
- CFO services
- Tax preparation
- R&D tax credits
- Financial reporting
- QuickBooks
- Stripe
- Brex
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
iCIMS
- Enterprise applicant tracking with configurable hiring workflowsnot Pilot
- High volume hiring in retail, hospitality and healthcarenot Pilot
- Candidate relationship management and automated campaignsnot Pilot
- Career site and employer branding managementnot Pilot
- Employee onboarding after offer acceptancenot Pilot
Pilot
- Outsourced monthly bookkeeping for startups and small businessesnot iCIMS
- Federal, state and Delaware franchise tax filing for US companiesnot iCIMS
- Fractional CFO support for financial planning and fundraisingnot 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
Pilot
- The Essentials bookkeeping plan at $99 per month covers up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, and is cash-basis only using bank and credit card data
- A dedicated US-based bookkeeper, accrual-basis books and phone support require the Core plan, which is contact sales and billed annually
- Core caps bill management at 10 vendor bills per month
- Keeping an existing QuickBooks account with historical data requires the Custom plan
- Accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll administration and CFO advisory are Custom plan only
- Monthly reports arrive on the 10th business day on Core and the 6th business day only on Custom
- Tax filing is sold separately, starting at $1,000 per year for single member LLCs and $2,000 per year for partnerships and S-Corps, billed annually
- The tax service must be purchased together with Pilot Bookkeeping
- Partnership and S-Corp tax filing includes up to 25 1099-NEC filings
Pricing, plan by plan
iCIMS
$14500/yearNo published plan breakdown. See the iCIMS review.
Pilot
$29/month- Core$599/month
- Bookkeeping
- Accrual basis
- Monthly close
- Plus$849/month
- CFO support
- Custom reporting
- Board deck
Which should you pick?
Choose iCIMS if
- You need applicant tracking.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want crm.
Questions people ask
- Is iCIMS or Pilot better?
- Neither clearly leads. iCIMS starts at $14500/year and Pilot at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, iCIMS or Pilot?
- iCIMS starts at $14500/year and Pilot at $29/month.
- Does iCIMS or Pilot run on more platforms?
- iCIMS runs on Web, Ios, Android. Pilot runs on Web.
- 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 Pilot is typically brought in for.
- What can iCIMS do that Pilot cannot?
- iCIMS covers Applicant Tracking, CRM, Career Sites, Text Recruiting. Pilot covers Bookkeeping, CFO services, Tax preparation, R&D tax credits. Both handle Web support.
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.
SourceiCIMS: 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.
SourceiCIMS: 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.
SourceiCIMS: 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.
SourceRelated pages
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