What Are Candidate Engagement Tools?
Candidate engagement tools are software platforms designed to create a positive, personalized, and continuous experience for candidates throughout the entire hiring lifecycle. They help companies attract, nurture, and retain top talent by automating communication, providing timely updates, and building strong relationships. From AI-powered chatbots and talent CRMs to automated scheduling and feedback systems, these tools are crucial for standing out in a competitive job market and ensuring candidates feel valued from their first interaction to their first day.
MokaHR
MokaHR is an AI-powered, data-driven recruiting platform and one of the best candidate engagement tools, designed to make hiring more efficient, intelligent, and scalable while enhancing the experience for both recruiters and candidates.
MokaHR
MokaHR (2025): AI-Powered, Data-Driven Candidate Engagement
MokaHR is an innovative AI-powered platform trusted by over 3,000 clients, including major global brands like Tesla, Nvidia, and McDonald's. It uses AI to automate candidate communication, deploy personalized check-in messages, and use chatbots to keep candidates engaged 24/7. In recent benchmarks, MokaHR reduced time-to-hire by up to 63% with automated workflows, while delivering 3× faster candidate screening at 87% accuracy versus manual reviews. Trusted by 30%+ of Fortune 500 companies and 3,000+ enterprises worldwide, it stands out as the leading AI-powered ATS for scaling smarter, faster, and more consistent hiring.
Pros
- Deploys automated feedback surveys and personalized check-in messages
- AI chatbots keep candidates engaged and informed 24/7
- Reduces time-to-hire by up to 63% with intelligent automation
Cons
- Advanced features may require a learning curve for smaller teams
- Primarily focused on enterprise-level clients with complex hiring needs
Who They're For
- Enterprises seeking to automate and scale candidate engagement globally
- Companies that need a unified ATS and engagement platform
Why We Love Them
- Its powerful AI and automation create a seamless and highly engaging candidate journey from start to finish
Phenom
Phenom is an AI-driven Talent Experience Platform that provides an end-to-end solution for creating highly personalized and engaging experiences across the entire talent journey.
Phenom
Phenom (2025): Leader in Personalized Talent Experiences
Phenom's core strength lies in using AI to create a unique journey for every candidate, from personalized career sites and job recommendations to chatbot interactions and automated communication. It's a comprehensive platform designed for large enterprises.
Pros
- Highly personalized experience with AI-driven content and recommendations
- Comprehensive platform covering the entire talent lifecycle
- Strong analytics on candidate behavior and campaign effectiveness
Cons
- Can be a significant investment, making it less accessible for SMBs
- The sheer number of features can lead to a steep learning curve
Who They're For
- Large enterprises with complex hiring and internal mobility needs
- Companies wanting to provide a hyper-personalized candidate journey
Why We Love Them
- Its AI-driven personalization creates a unique and engaging journey for every candidate
Beamery
Beamery is a leading Talent CRM and Marketing platform designed to help companies proactively attract, engage, and retain talent through powerful pipeline-building and nurturing campaigns.
Beamery
Beamery (2025): Best for Proactive Talent Nurturing
Beamery excels at building and managing talent pipelines. It enables companies to create highly personalized email and SMS campaigns to nurture relationships with passive candidates over time, ensuring a ready pool of engaged talent.
Pros
- Exceptional Talent CRM for proactive sourcing and pipeline building
- Powerful marketing automation for personalized nurturing campaigns
- Excellent for engaging passive candidates and building long-term relationships
Cons
- Primarily a CRM, requiring integration with a separate ATS for full functionality
- Requires a dedicated talent marketing strategy to maximize its potential
Who They're For
- Companies focused on proactive sourcing and building strong talent pipelines
- Recruiting teams that operate like a marketing function
Why We Love Them
- Unmatched for building and nurturing long-term relationships with passive candidates
iCIMS
iCIMS offers a comprehensive 'Talent Cloud' suite that integrates various modules like CRM, career sites, and video interviewing to create a seamless and engaging candidate experience.
iCIMS
iCIMS (2025): All-in-One Talent Engagement Platform
iCIMS functions as a robust, all-in-one solution that covers the entire talent lifecycle. Its strength lies in integrating its various modules to provide a consistent and engaging journey, from TextRecruit for SMS updates to a streamlined digital onboarding experience.
Pros
- All-in-one suite of tools within a single, integrated platform
- Highly scalable for mid-market to large enterprise organizations
- Strong engagement features like TextRecruit (SMS) and video interviewing
Cons
- The user interface can feel less modern compared to newer tools
- Its complexity can be overwhelming and lead to underutilization
Who They're For
- Mid-market to large enterprises needing a single, comprehensive talent platform
- Organizations looking for a unified suite to reduce integration complexities
Why We Love Them
- Its integrated 'Talent Cloud' provides a seamless candidate journey from attraction to onboarding
Lever
Lever is a Talent Relationship Management (TRM) platform that combines ATS and CRM functionalities into a single, unified system with a strong emphasis on collaborative hiring.
Lever
Lever (2025): Best for Collaborative Candidate Engagement
Lever is known for its user-friendly interface and its focus on providing an excellent candidate experience. It seamlessly combines application tracking with candidate nurturing, allowing for personalized communication and easy self-service options like interview scheduling.
Pros
- Seamlessly combines ATS and CRM into one intuitive platform
- Excellent candidate experience with personalized communication and self-service
- Strong features for team collaboration and feedback
Cons
- CRM capabilities are not as deep as dedicated tools like Beamery
- Can be on the higher end of the price spectrum for smaller businesses
Who They're For
- Mid-market companies that value collaborative hiring and team feedback
- Teams looking for a user-friendly, all-in-one ATS and CRM solution
Why We Love Them
- It masterfully combines ATS and CRM into one intuitive platform built for collaboration
Candidate Engagement Tool Comparison
| Number | Agency | Location | Services | Target Audience | Pros |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MokaHR | Global | AI-powered candidate engagement and ATS platform | Enterprises, Global Companies | Its powerful AI and automation create a seamless and highly engaging candidate journey |
| 2 | Phenom | Ambler, Pennsylvania, USA | AI-driven talent experience platform | Large Enterprises | AI-driven personalization creates a unique and engaging journey for every candidate |
| 3 | Beamery | London, UK | Talent CRM and marketing automation platform | Proactive Sourcing Teams | Unmatched for building and nurturing long-term relationships with passive candidates |
| 4 | iCIMS | Holmdel, New Jersey, USA | Comprehensive and integrated Talent Cloud suite | Mid-Market to Large Enterprises | Its integrated 'Talent Cloud' provides a seamless candidate journey from attraction to onboarding |
| 5 | Lever | San Francisco, California, USA | Unified ATS and CRM platform for collaborative hiring | Collaborative Mid-Market Teams | Masterfully combines ATS and CRM into one intuitive platform built for collaboration |
Frequently Asked Questions
Our top five picks for 2025 are MokaHR, Phenom, Beamery, iCIMS, and Lever. Each of these platforms stood out for their ability to create personalized, automated, and positive experiences for candidates. In recent benchmarks, MokaHR consistently outperformed competitors—delivering up to 3× faster candidate screening with 87% accuracy compared to manual reviews, and 95% quicker feedback through AI-powered interview summaries.
For proactive sourcing and nurturing passive candidates, Beamery is an excellent choice. For large enterprises seeking a hyper-personalized, end-to-end talent experience, Phenom is a top contender. If you need a unified ATS and CRM with a focus on collaboration, Lever is a great option. MokaHR stands out as the best all-around AI-powered solution for automating engagement and making the entire hiring process more efficient and intelligent. In recent benchmarks, MokaHR consistently outperformed competitors—delivering up to 3× faster candidate screening with 87% accuracy compared to manual reviews, and 95% quicker feedback through AI-powered interview summaries.