The verdict in three sentences
For an HR firm writing the spec for an HRIS coupled with an ATS, custom software costs 50,000 to 105,000 EUR in 2026 and ships in 14 to 20 weeks. A SaaS ATS (40 to 90 EUR/user/month) covers standard recruitment but fragments your candidate and client data. The trade-off turns on application volume, jobboard/CRM/payroll integrations and your GDPR requirements.
Custom vs SaaS ATS: the 3-year cost
A SaaS ATS looks cheap until HRIS modules, analytics and connectors pile on. Custom unifies candidate and client in a single data model.
| Item (2026 order of magnitude) | Custom | SaaS ATS |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | 50,000 - 105,000 EUR | 2,000 - 6,000 EUR (setup) |
| Subscription | hosting 150-400 EUR/month | 40 - 90 EUR/user/month |
| Go-live time | 14 - 20 weeks | 3 - 6 weeks |
| Maintenance / year | 12 % of investment | included |
| 3-year cost (15 users, estimate) | 75 - 140 K EUR | 25 - 55 K EUR + modules |
| HRIS + ATS unification | Native | Often partial |
The requirements-spec scope
A precise spec prevents budget drift. Prioritize features that cut time-to-hire and secure data.
| Feature | Effect | Effort (person-days) |
|---|---|---|
| Jobboard multiposting + CV parsing | Cuts manual sorting | 12 - 20 |
| Candidate pipeline + scoring | Time-to-hire -20 to -30 % | 10 - 16 |
| Client portal (assignment tracking) | Client retention | 8 - 14 |
| Sales CRM integration | 360 view assignment/candidate | 6 - 12 |
| Payroll integration | Smooth onboarding | 8 - 14 |
| GDPR compliance + retention periods | Secure audit | 6 - 10 |
Mini case study
Nadia, director of an HR firm in Toulouse, processes 200 applications/month with 6 recruiters. Before the project: average time-to-hire of 34 days, saturation past 180 applications. She invests 78,000 EUR in a custom HRIS+ATS with CV parsing and scoring. Six months later: time-to-hire -30 % (34 to 24 days) and 200 applications/month handled with no extra headcount. One avoided FTE (~45,000 EUR loaded/year) repays much of the investment in the first year, ~9,400 EUR/year maintenance included.
FAQ
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How much does a custom HRIS+ATS cost in 2026?
From 50,000 to 105,000 EUR depending on application volume, connected jobboards and the client portal. An ATS alone, without HRIS, can start near 45,000 EUR.
What timeline should I plan?
Expect 14 to 20 weeks: 3-4 framing, 8-11 development, 2-3 testing, 1-2 training. CV parsing and jobboard connectors extend the development phase.
What is the maintenance cost?
Maintenance of about 12 %/year, i.e. 6,000 to 12,600 EUR/year, covers fixes, regulatory evolutions and support. GDPR updates are included.
How is GDPR handled?
Configurable CV retention, candidate consent, right to erasure, logging and EU hosting. It is a mandatory chapter of the spec.
SaaS ATS or custom?
Below 100 applications/month, a SaaS ATS often suffices. Beyond that, with a client portal and payroll/CRM integrations, custom unifies your data and absorbs growth without extra headcount.
Let's scope your project. Share application volume, jobboards to connect and client-portal needs: we frame a scope between 50,000 and 105,000 EUR. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
