As someone who’s spent years neck-deep in SEO, traffic generation, and digital strategy, I’ve seen my fair share of SaaS platforms. They all promise to revolutionize your workflow, save you a million hours, and probably make you coffee in the morning. Recruitment software is no exception. It's a crowded space, filled with tools that often feel like glorified spreadsheets with a prettier UI.
We’ve all been there, right? You spend weeks finding the perfect candidate, only for them to ghost you because your application process felt like a trip to the DMV. Or you’re trying to coordinate interviews between three different managers, and it turns into a chaotic mess of email chains and outdated calendar invites. It’s exhausting.
So, when I came across Hollo, a platform that claims it was “created by recruiters, for recruiters,” my interest was piqued. But so was my skepticism. I decided to take a proper look, peel back the marketing layers, and see if it really lives up to the hype. Is this the all-in-one solution we’ve been waiting for?
So, What Exactly is Hollo Anyway?
At its core, Hollo is a comprehensive recruitment platform. Think of it less as a simple Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and more as a central command center for your entire hiring process. It’s designed to handle everything from sourcing candidates and posting on multiple job boards to managing your talent pool and strengthening your employer brand.
The whole philosophy seems to be built on three main pillars: saving time through smart automation, dramatically improving the candidate experience, and reinforcing your company's image. It’s not just about filling a role; it’s about building a pipeline of talent that wants to work for you. A subtle but massive difference.
It’s the kind of tool that seems to understand that recruiting isn't a linear, check-the-boxes process. It's messy, it's human, and it requires collaboration. Hollo tries to build a framework around that chaos to make it manageable, and dare I say, enjoyable.

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The Hollo Features That Actually Matter
A feature list is just a list. What I care about is how those features solve actual, hair-pulling-out problems. Here’s my breakdown of what stands out.
Taming the Application Chaos with Collaborative Management
One of the biggest bottlenecks in hiring is the disconnect between HR and the actual hiring managers. Hollo tackles this head-on with a collaborative platform. Everyone involved in a hire—from the recruiter to the department head—can log in, see the same candidate pipeline, leave comments, and track progress. This breaks down those frustrating communication silos. No more “Did you see my email?” or “What was the feedback on Jane Doe?” It's all there, in one place. Its a simple concept, but so few platforms get it right.
Stop Losing Good People: The Talent Pool Goldmine
This is a big one for me. How many times have you had an amazing silver-medalist candidate that you just didn't have a role for at the time? Most companies let these valuable contacts disappear into a black hole. Hollo puts a huge emphasis on building and reactivating your talent pool. It helps you tag and organize past applicants so when a new role opens up, your first step isn't posting a new ad—it's searching your own pre-qualified, warm database. This feature alone could save companies a small fortune in sourcing fees and ad spend over time. It’s about turning your past efforts into a future asset.
Putting the "Human" Back in HR Through Smart Automation
The term "automation" can sound cold and robotic, especially in a field like HR. But Hollo seems to get the balance right. It automates the tedious stuff—like pre-qualifying candidates with a chatbot or sending status updates—so that you, the human, can spend more time on meaningful interactions. This is directly linked to their claim of 93% candidate satisfaction. When candidates are kept in the loop and treated with respect (even by an automated system), it reflects incredibly well on your employer brand. It prevents your company from being the one that applicants complain about on Glassdoor.
How Much Does Hollo Cost? A Look at the Pricing
Alright, let's talk money. No review is complete without digging into the price tag. Hollo is a premium tool, and its pricing reflects that. It's not for the company that hires one person a year on a shoestring budget. It's an investment in streamlining a core business function. They offer a pretty clear tiered structure, which I appreciate.
Here’s a quick breakdown of their plans:
Plan | Price | Key Feature |
---|---|---|
Starter | €249 HT/month | Up to 10 online campaigns per month. |
Pro | €399 HT/month | Up to 20 online campaigns per month. |
Corporate | Sur Mesure (Custom) | Unlimited campaigns and tailored features. |
An important detail across all plans is the €5 / user fee, and the fact that they all offer a free trial. I always recommend taking full advantage of a trial period to see if the workflow actually fits your team. The "Sur Mesure" for Corporate is standard for enterprise software, but I always wish companies were a bit more transparent. That said, for a custom solution, a custom price makes sense.
In my opinion, the price is justifiable if you're a small to medium-sized business whose growth is hampered by hiring inefficiencies. Think about the cost of a single bad hire or the countless hours your team wastes on admin. If Hollo solves that, it pays for itself pretty quick.
The Good, The Bad, and The Honest Truth
No tool is perfect. Let's weigh the pros and cons.
What I Love About Hollo
The all-in-one approach is genuinely refreshing. Not having to stitch together five different tools is a huge win. The focus on collaboration and candidate experience feels modern and necessary. Too many platforms are just databases; Hollo feels more like a communication hub. And the potential of the talent pool reactivation feature is just fantastic from a long-term strategy and ROI perspective.
A Few Caveats
On the flip side, the pricing is going to be a barrier for very small companies or startups just finding their feet. That's just the reality. Secondly, this isn't a magical plug-and-play solution. Like any powerful tool, it requires some initial setup and configuration to really tailor it to your company's specific needs. You have to be willing to put in a little work upfront to reap the rewards.
So, Who is Hollo Really For?
After looking through everything, I have a pretty clear idea of Hollo's ideal customer.
This platform is a fantastic fit for scaling SMEs who have outgrown their spreadsheets and email-based hiring process. It's also perfect for HR departments and in-house recruiters who are bogged down by administrative tasks and want to shift their focus to more strategic work. Finally, any company that understands that employer branding isn't just a buzzword but a critical business asset will find a lot to love here.
It might not be the best choice for a solo founder hiring their first employee, or a massive corporation with a deeply entrenched, custom-built HR system that would be too monumental to replace.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hollo
Here are a few questions I anticipate people having.
1. Is Hollo just another Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
Yes and no. It has all the functionality of a top-tier ATS, but it expands on that by integrating talent pool management, employer branding tools, and deep collaboration features. It's an ATS+, if you will.
2. Can I integrate Hollo with other tools I use?
The platform is built with integration in mind. While you'd need to check for specific compatibilities, its design as a SaaS solution suggests it's made to play well with other modern business tools.
3. Is there a free trial for Hollo?
Yes, and you should absolutely use it. The website clearly indicates a free trial is available for the Starter, Pro, and even the Corporate plans, which is a great sign of confidence from the company.
4. How exactly does Hollo improve the candidate experience?
Primarily through communication and automation. It ensures no candidate is left in a "black hole." Automated updates, easy scheduling, and clear pipelines mean applicants feel respected and informed, which is a massive boost for your brand's reputation.
5. Is Hollo a good choice for my small business?
It depends on your hiring volume. If you're hiring several roles a year and feel the pain of disorganization, the Starter plan could be a brilliant investment. If you hire very infrequently, the cost might be hard to justify.
Final Thoughts: Is Hollo Worth It?
So, we come back to the original question. Is Hollo just another pretty face in the crowded recruitment software market? In my experience, no. It feels different. It feels like it was designed by people who have actually felt the pain of recruiting in the modern age.
It’s a robust, well-thought-out platform that correctly identifies the biggest challenges in hiring today: efficiency, collaboration, and the human experience. While the price point means it requires a real commitment, for the right company, I believe it could be a transformative tool. It’s a move from simply processing applicants to actively building a community of talent around your brand. And in today's competitive market, that might just be the edge you need.