HiBob vs VIVA HR

HiBob and VIVA HR target completely different corners of the HR technology market. HiBob is a strategic HRIS built for scaling organizations and global complexity. VIVA HR is an affordable, specialized Applicant Tracking System (ATS) focused on efficient hiring flow. The crucial difference is HiBob covers the entire employee lifecycle, and VIVA HR focuses only on recruitment.

HiBob
HiBob

Modern HRIS with excellent UX.

Ciroapp review
4.7
#2 in Human Resources Management System

We find HiBob to be a highly effective Core HR platform designed for scaling, global businesses. Its intuitive UI and strong automation features streamline administration tasks, freeing up HR resources. Overall, we recommend HiBob, especially for companies prioritizing an engaging employee experience.

Pros

  • Outstanding user interface (UI) and engaging employee experience.
  • Powerful automation features significantly reduce administrative overhead.
  • Scalable platform supports global operations and differing regional needs.
  • Comprehensive functionality covering the full employee lifecycle (e.g., performance, analytics, time off).

Cons

  • Pricing requires a custom quote and transparent rates are not published.
  • No published free trial or self-service pricing tiers are available.
  • Some individual modules may require greater configuration effort during initial setup.
Pricing
Not explicitly stated
Free trial
Money-back
Best for
Mid-market companies (50-1000 employees) scaling aggressively and internationally., HR teams needing deep analytics, strategic workforce planning, and DEI tracking metrics., Organizations prioritizing a modern employee experience and high self-service adoption rates.
VIVA HR
VIVA HR

Affordable ATS with Powerful Collaboration Tools.

Ciroapp review
4.1
#5 in Human Resources Management System

We recognize VIVA HR provides exceptional value and strong features, particularly for small businesses needing an accessible ATS. The platform excels at automated actions and team collaboration, which simplifies complex recruiting pipelines. Overall, we see VIVA HR as a powerful and affordable system, but potential users must also be aware of concerning reports related to unauthorized billing and platform-associated spam issues.

Pros

  • Excellent value proposition, especially for small business ATS needs.
  • Recruitment process is routinely described as smooth and stress-free.
  • Automated actions significantly simplify complex HR workflows.
  • Highly praised and responsive customer support team is readily available.

Cons

  • Repeated association with candidate spamming and dubious emails on the platform.
  • Reports cite difficulty canceling service and unauthorized recurring charges.
  • Some high-value candidates are deterred by mandatory application questionnaires.
  • Initial difficulty reported with posting jobs or receiving applicants during the trial stage.
Pricing
$83/mo
Free trialYes
Money-back
Best for
Small businesses and startups focused primarily on streamlining candidate acquisition quickly., Teams needing an affordable Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with published, transparent pricing., Recruiters who rely heavily on text and email communication tools for candidate follow-up.
Quick verdict
Choose HiBob if you are a fast-growing company needing full employee lifecycle management and strategic analytics across complex, global teams
Choose VIVA HR if you need an affordable, effective Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to handle 5-10 job postings monthly with seamless hiring team collaboration

AboutHiBob

HiBob is an exemplary Core HR system of record designed to simplify complex people processes. 💡 The platform manages the entire employee lifecycle, automating crucial flows like onboarding, performance reviews, and offboarding. It’s built for flexibility and ease, ensuring that HR teams can focus on culture and strategic workforce decisions, rather than endless paperwork. Since HiBob integrates seamlessly, it helps IT teams accelerate setup and reduce overall system sprawl.

AboutVIVA HR

VIVA HR is a robust platform designed to help organizations manage their talent acquisition and team engagement efforts. It appears built for internal users responsible for sourcing, hiring, and analyzing workforce metrics. The system provides practical communication tools, including Email and Text capabilities. It effectively helps you manage the full journey, from candidate Sourcing to issuing Offer Letters. VIVA HR aims to improve overall communication and workflow efficiency within your company. ✅

Highlights

Quick winners by category at a glance.
Ease of Use
HiBob excels with a modern, highly praised user interface that encourages high adoption across all employees. VIVA HR is easy but much simpler.
Feature Set
HiBob provides a full HRIS suite covering performance, compensation, and analytics, which VIVA HR fundamentally lacks. HiBob is comprehensive.
Value for Money
VIVA HR provides high value as an extremely affordable specialized ATS for hiring teams. HiBob delivers high value for complex, strategic HR data needs.
Tie
Customer Support
HiBob consistently receives praise for knowledgeable, responsive, and high-touch implementation support teams. VIVA HR support is more mixed.
Scalability
HiBob is designed for multi-national support and unlimited functional growth via its modular package system. VIVA HR is less equipped for enterprise scale.
Hiring Automation
VIVA HR is purpose-built as an ATS, offering superior workflow streamlining, collaboration, and communication tools for recruiting specifically.

Feature Comparison

Compare key features side by side
Core HR System of Record
HiBob:Full lifecycle management
VIVA HR:No (Focused on ATS)
HiBob
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
HiBob:Included capacity
VIVA HR:Core Focus (Streamlined pipelines)
Tie
Performance Management
HiBob:Advanced (Talent Module)
VIVA HR:No integrated features
HiBob
Dedicated AI Helper
HiBob:Yes (Bob, for reviews/analytics)
VIVA HR:Limited (Advanced tier hiring assistance)
HiBob
Compensation Management
HiBob:Advanced (Compensation Module)
VIVA HR:No
HiBob
Strategic People Analytics
HiBob:Real-time dashboards (DEI, Attrition)
VIVA HR:No
HiBob
Time & Attendance/Clocking
HiBob:Advanced (Time & Attendance Module)
VIVA HR:No
HiBob
Pricing Transparency
HiBob:Custom Quote Only
VIVA HR:Published Fixed Tiers
Tie
Free Trial Available
HiBob:
VIVA HR:
VIVA HR
Scalable for Global Operations
HiBob:Yes (Multi-national support)
VIVA HR:Not specified
HiBob
Easy Team Collaboration
HiBob:Yes (Internal tasks/docs)
VIVA HR:High Focus (Hiring workflows)
Tie
E-Signature Capability
HiBob:
VIVA HR:Yes (Growth/Premier plans)
Tie
Feature Comparison Summary
7
HiBob
4
Ties
1
VIVA HR

Features Overview

We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.

Core Function

HiBob manages the full employee lifecycle strategically, but VIVA HR is a dedicated hiring tool.

HiBob

HiBob is a comprehensive HRIS handling onboarding, performance, compensation, and offboarding workflows. It centralizes all your employee data into one modern system of record. HiBob uses a modular approach, allowing you to add specific advanced features as you scale. VIVA HR focuses purely on Applicant Tracking System (ATS) function and candidate flow. It offers clear pipelines and structures specific workflows just for recruitment success. VIVA HR helps coordinate tasks efficiently among all hiring managers. The key difference is scope; VIVA HR handles hiring while HiBob manages everything after acceptance. You need HiBob for true strategic HR management across your organization. VIVA HR is a tactical tool best for small teams struggling mostly with recruiting coordination.

Pricing Model

HiBob requires a high-touch custom quote, but VIVA HR offers highly affordable published pricing.

VIVA HR

HiBob requires users to contact sales for a custom quote based on employee count and needed modules. There is no publicly available pricing or standard free trial available from HiBob. This custom structure suggests a higher investment best suited for mid-market and enterprise firms. VIVA HR offers fixed, affordable plans starting as low as $1/month in introductory tiers. You can also easily access a free trial to test the core features immediately. VIVA HR's clear tiers make budget planning straightforward for small businesses. If financial transparency and a low barrier to entry are your priorities, VIVA HR wins easily. HiBob’s custom pricing reflects its strategic positioning and depth of features. Be aware VIVA HR’s lowest tiers include strict limits on users and job posting volume.

AI Capabilities

HiBob offers a strategic, full-platform AI helper; VIVA HR's AI is tactical for recruitment.

HiBob

HiBob includes the AI helper, 'Bob,' which summarizes reviews and drafts effective feedback for managers. Bob also analyzes messy HR data to provide clear, actionable insights quickly. This advanced AI integration boosts strategic HR productivity across the entire lifecycle. VIVA HR offers limited AI hiring assistance mainly in its higher-end Growth and Premier plans. The VIVA HR AI focuses on optimizing the initial candidate screening process for recruiters. It speeds up filtering but doesn't touch internal performance or analysis. HiBob offers strategic AI analysis across analytics, performance, and communication platforms. VIVA HR focuses its AI purely on optimizing hiring workflows. If you want AI to influence your performance management and feedback cycles, HiBob is the superior integrated option.

Target Audience/Scale

HiBob is built for global growth and complexity; VIVA HR serves the small business hiring market.

HiBob

HiBob is specifically designed for scaling organizations and supporting multi-national operations and compliance. It offers robust modules and tools built to handle complex global compensation and time structures. HiBob’s quick deployment means companies can often go live in weeks, not months. VIVA HR is aimed at HR teams streamlining local hiring processes and collaboration. Its focus addresses the basic pain points of coordination for simpler recruiting needs. VIVA HR serves the small business market best due to its accessibility and low cost. If you operate internationally or plan to, HiBob is the only choice for compliance support. VIVA HR is better for local businesses starting their first structured ATS process.

Performance Management

HiBob has integrated, robust talent modules; VIVA HR has zero dedicated performance features.

HiBob

HiBob provides a comprehensive Talent Package including Goals Management, 1-on-1s, and Review Calibration tools. These integrated modules help managers drive measurable workforce growth and development. HiBob turns performance management into a strategic, data-backed organizational process. VIVA HR is focused exclusively on the pre-hire stage and lacks any performance management functionality. You would absolutely need a secondary system for employee reviews and goal setting after hiring. VIVA HR is therefore only a partial solution for the complete employee lifecycle. HiBob's integrated module saves HR teams time and centralizes data for continuous review cycles. Using VIVA HR requires managing performance reviews manually or via separate, unintegrated tools.

Hiring/ATS Focus

VIVA HR is a core ATS specialist; HiBob integrates ATS into its larger HRIS platform.

VIVA HR

VIVA HR is purpose-built for strong collaborative hiring, offering clear pipelines and structured workflows for candidates. It specifically excels at applicant tracking and ensuring hiring teams are always aligned. VIVA HR is a dedicated Applicant Tracking System optimized for SMB recruiting success. HiBob includes sophisticated onboarding and talent acquisition capabilities but is primarily an overarching HRIS. HiBob handles the transition from applicant to fully engaged employee seamlessly within its holistic platform. If your primary business problem is managing candidate volume and communicating efficiently, VIVA HR is highly focused. HiBob is better if your priority is integrating hiring data with future performance data internally.

Our Verdict

Objective guidance based on features, pricing, and user fit.

The decision between HiBob and VIVA HR is surprisingly simple, as they serve different needs and price points. HiBob is a sophisticated, full HR Information System designed for growing companies. VIVA HR is an affordable, functional Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for smaller teams, not a full HRIS. If you need internal HR features beyond hiring, only HiBob will suffice. HiBob’s superpower is its complete, strategic HR platform for the entire employee lifecycle. Its exceptional UI drives high adoption and strong employee engagement globally. The integrated AI helper, Bob, handles complex tasks like summarizing reviews and analyzing messy HR data quickly. HiBob is the essential choice for serious, fast-scaling global organizations. VIVA HR’s strength lies in making the hiring process simple, collaborative, and incredibly cheap to start. It excels at streamlining the applicant pipeline with clear stages and easy communication via text/email. For its very low introductory fees, VIVA HR provides immediate, focused value to small startups and budget-conscious teams. The deciding factor is scope: Do you need a core HR system, or just a hiring tool? If you need performance reviews, compensation planning, and global compliance, HiBob is the strategic play. If you just need to post jobs and efficiently manage candidates through stages, VIVA HR is highly specialized. Pick HiBob if your headcount exceeds 50 and strategic HR functions matter more than low cost. Choose VIVA HR if you are a small business looking to replace spreadsheets for candidate tracking today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for small teams: HiBob or VIVA HR?

VIVA HR is likely better for small teams focused solely on hiring due to its affordability and straightforward ATS. HiBob is better for small teams planning massive scale or needing immediate strategic HR functions. VIVA HR offers published, low pricing, unlike HiBob’s custom quotes.

Does VIVA HR handle performance reviews like HiBob?

No. VIVA HR is purely an ATS, focusing on applicant acquisition and tracking before a hire is made. HiBob offers a comprehensive Talent Package for managing Goals, 1-on-1s, and Performance Reviews. You must use a separate system for performance if you choose VIVA HR.

Why is HiBob pricing custom while VIVA HR is published?

HiBob scales its pricing based on employee count and the selection of advanced, complex modules needed. VIVA HR targets the SMB market with standardized, fixed pricing tiers. HiBob’s custom pricing reflects its enterprise-grade, personalized service and feature depth.

Can HiBob replace a dedicated ATS like VIVA HR?

Yes, HiBob includes ATS capabilities and manages the transition from candidate to employee seamlessly. VIVA HR is specialized and may offer slightly more focused pipeline tools than HiBob’s integrated solution. HiBob offers the benefit of one centralized system of record.

Which tool is better for managing global compliance?

HiBob is explicitly designed for scale and global operations, supporting multi-national compliance needs and localization. VIVA HR does not specify global features and is focused on local streamlined recruiting. HiBob is the clear strategic choice for any international business.

Does VIVA HR offer an AI helper like HiBob's Bob?

VIVA HR offers AI assistance primarily in its higher tiers for optimizing recruitment screening processes. HiBob’s AI helper, Bob, is integrated across the platform, summarizing reviews and analyzing strategic HR data. The HiBob AI offers deeper functional support for HR administrators.

Ready to Choose?

Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.