Best software · Careers
10 Best Recruiting Agencies of 2026
This list is for US professionals looking for a permanent job through a recruiter, and for employers choosing a firm to fill permanent roles. We compared documented services, specialties, guarantees and candidate fee policies on each firm's own pages for ten recruiting and executive search firms. Recruiters are paid by employers and almost never publish fees, so scores weigh features at 40%, ease of use at 30% and value at 30%, where value reflects fee transparency, guarantees and cost to candidates.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 11, 2026 · 10 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 11, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Robert Half is our top pick: it covers full-time hiring in finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative roles, adds a retained search team for executives, and never charges candidates. Michael Page is the strongest alternative for senior professionals, Korn Ferry is the pick for assessment-led manager and executive hiring, and Kforce is the specialist for tech and finance. Heidrick & Struggles and Spencer Stuart are for board and C-suite searches only.
Top picks
Best overall
Robert Half
9.0 / 10
Office and professional hires from early career to the C-suite
Read the review →Runner-up
Michael Page
8.8 / 10
Mid-level and senior professionals in finance, tech, engineering and sales
Read the review →Also great
Korn Ferry
8.6 / 10
Companies hiring managers and executives with formal assessments
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Half | Office and professional hires from early career to the C-suite | Free for job seekers; employers get a fee quote through a consultation | 9.0 |
| 2 | Michael Page | Mid-level and senior professionals in finance, tech, engineering and sales | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.8 |
| 3 | Korn Ferry | Companies hiring managers and executives with formal assessments | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.6 |
| 4 |  Insight Global | Employers filling permanent roles confidentially, from staff to C-suite | Fees quoted per placement; guarantee period tailored to each client | 8.5 |
| 5 |  Kforce | Technology and finance professionals seeking direct hire roles | Free for job seekers; employer fees quoted per engagement | 8.5 |
| 6 |  Hays | Specialists in technology, engineering, life sciences and finance | Free for candidates; employer fees quoted per search | 8.4 |
| 7 |  Randstad | Employers hiring across many role types who want a replacement guarantee | Free for job seekers; employer fees based on scope with a tailored proposal | 8.3 |
| 8 |  Heidrick & Struggles | Boards and companies hiring C-suite leaders on a retained search | Retained search; fee agreed per engagement, never charged to candidates | 8.2 |
| 9 |  Spencer Stuart | Board director and CEO searches with succession planning | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.2 |
| 10 |  Hirewell | Startups and mid-size companies hiring tech, sales and finance staff | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.1 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Robert Half
A US specialized recruiting firm that places full-time, contract and executive talent in finance, technology, marketing, legal and administrative roles.
roberthalf.com9.0
out of 10
Best for: Office and professional hires from early career to the C-suite
Robert Half splits its full-time hiring into five specialties: finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support. Employers book a consultation, then a local recruiter promotes the job, uses Robert Half's own AI matching to shortlist candidates and runs a virtual interview process meant to fill critical roles in days. For senior leaders there is a separate retained search team that recruits from Robert Half's executive network. Job seekers upload one resume and can filter openings by full-time, contract or contract to hire, on site, hybrid or remote. Its fraud alert page states that it never asks candidates to pay a fee. The 2027 Salary Guide is free and useful for both sides of a salary talk. The main limits: fees are quoted privately, and blue-collar roles sit outside its specialties.
Standout feature
Robert Half is the best choice for office and professional permanent hires because it recruits in five specialties from early career to C-suite and charges candidates nothing.
Use cases
A growing company's controller
Hire a senior accountant on a permanent basis
Outcome: A shortlist from a local finance and accounting recruiter, with offer advice
A marketing manager changing jobs
Upload a resume and filter full-time hybrid roles
Outcome: Matches to open roles without paying any fee
Key features
- Full-time placement in finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support
- Retained search team for C-suite and senior leadership roles
- AI-based matching plus a local specialized recruiter for each search
- Virtual interview process aimed at filling critical roles in days
- Free 2027 Salary Guide with salary ranges, perks and benefits data
Pros
- Covers entry-level to C-suite permanent hires under one firm
- Job seekers can upload a resume once and get matched to open roles
- Recruiters help employers shape a competitive offer for the role and market
Cons
- Specialties are office and professional roles, not industrial or trades work
- Employer fees are not published and need a consultation
- Executive search is a separate retained service from regular full-time hiring
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Michael Page
The US arm of PageGroup, recruiting permanent and contract professionals and running executive search with 18 sector teams.
michaelpage.com8.8
out of 10
Best for: Mid-level and senior professionals in finance, tech, engineering and sales
Michael Page says it has connected companies with talent for over 50 years and runs more than 100 offices across 34 countries. In the US it offers permanent and contract hiring, executive search and outsourcing, with named industry focus on construction, manufacturing, financial services and technology. For candidates, the job search is one of the more practical in this list: you can filter by minimum and maximum base salary up to $500k+, browse by sector or job title, and set job alerts. Sector teams span accounting, audit and advisory, engineering, human resources, IT, legal, life sciences, procurement, real estate, sales and tax. The Job Match and Talent Trends tools and the 2026 Salary Guides help set expectations. We could not find a candidate fee statement or employer pricing on its US pages, so ask both questions upfront.
Standout feature
Michael Page is the best choice for salary-led job hunting because its job search filters by base salary up to $500k+.
Use cases
A finance manager aiming for a director title
Filter permanent roles by base salary and sector
Outcome: A focused list of senior openings to apply for
A manufacturer opening a new plant
Hire a plant manager through the engineering and manufacturing team
Outcome: A permanent hire sourced by a sector specialist
Key features
- Permanent and contract hiring, executive search and outsourcing solutions in the US
- Job search filters by minimum and maximum base salary, up to $500k+
- Sector teams including accounting, engineering and manufacturing, legal, sales, tax and life sciences
- Job Match tool and Talent Trends interactive tool for candidates
- 2026 Salary Guides
Pros
- Over 100 offices across 34 countries for cross-border hires
- Salary filters make it easy to target senior roles
- US offices in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, California and other states
Cons
- Employer fees are not published
- US coverage is concentrated in listed metro areas
- Candidate fee policy is not stated on the pages we checked
Rank 3 · Also great
Korn Ferry
A global search and consulting firm with executive search, professional search for managers, interim talent and RPO.
kornferry.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: Companies hiring managers and executives with formal assessments
Korn Ferry runs two permanent hiring services: executive search for C-level roles and professional search for middle to upper level managers. Both lean on its assessment work. Each search starts from a Success Profile that describes the skills and mindset the role needs, candidates go through a blind screen, and executive searches include an Executive Snapshot with job grade and salary benchmarking. Korn Ferry says people hired with its assessments are eight times more likely to be promoted within three years. Professional search adds AI sourcing and can hire one manager or whole teams, and the firm also offers interim leaders, RPO and project recruitment. Korn Ferry acquired Lucas Group in 2021, so Lucas Group's former professional search work now sits here. Individuals can use the Korn Ferry Advance career tools with a free account. Fees are quoted per engagement.
Standout feature
Korn Ferry is the best choice for assessment-led hiring because it builds a Success Profile and salary benchmark into each search.
Use cases
A PE-backed company
Replace a CFO with a benchmarked pay package
Outcome: A shortlist screened against a Success Profile, plus compensation advice
A company opening a regional hub
Hire a team of middle managers through professional search
Outcome: Several managers sourced in one project
Key features
- Executive search with Success Profiles and blind screening of candidates
- Professional search for middle to upper level managers using AI sourcing
- Executive Snapshot salary benchmarking built into executive searches
- Interim executives, RPO and project recruitment for large hiring waves
- Korn Ferry Advance career tools for individuals, free with an account
Pros
- Korn Ferry says candidates hired using its assessments are eight times more likely to be promoted within three years
- Consultants have recruiting experience in 130 countries
- Lucas Group's professional search practice joined Korn Ferry in 2021
Cons
- Built for corporate clients rather than individual job seekers
- Fees are not published
- The process includes assessments, which adds steps for candidates
Rank 4
Insight Global
A large US staffing firm with a direct placement service, executive search and RPO for industries from accounting to telecom.
insightglobal.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: Employers filling permanent roles confidentially, from staff to C-suite
Insight Global is best known for contract staffing, but its direct placement service is large: the firm says it hires 7,000+ direct placements each year and lists itself among the Top 5 in SIA's Largest US Staffing Firms 2025. The process is curated rather than resume volume. Recruiters screen on compensation, geography, skill set and culture fit, schedule interviews, and send market data during the search. A useful detail for employers is confidential search: Insight Global targets people who are employed at competitors and not active on the market. Every client gets a guarantee period tailored to the deal, though the length is set in the meeting. Its executive search arm hires full-time, interim and fractional leaders at C-suite, VP and director levels. Pricing is discussed on a demo call, so you cannot compare costs before talking to sales.
Standout feature
Insight Global is the best choice for confidential permanent searches because it targets employed candidates and offers a guarantee period tailored to each client.
Use cases
A tech company replacing a VP quietly
Run a confidential executive search
Outcome: A shortlist of employed leaders without a public posting
A healthcare system
Fill several permanent IT roles
Outcome: Direct hires covered by a guarantee period
Key features
- Direct placement with curated candidates matched on pay, location, skills and fit
- Confidential searches that target employed candidates at competitors
- Guarantee period tailored to each client
- Executive search for full-time, interim and fractional C-suite, VP and director roles
- Responds to staffing requests within one business day
Pros
- Says it makes 7,000+ direct placements each year
- Listed as a Top 5 firm in SIA's Largest US Staffing Firms 2025
- Executive search covers markets such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, LA, Seattle and Austin
Cons
- Fees and guarantee length are only shared in a meeting
- Executive search lists seven specialty industries, so other sectors may get less depth
- Pricing is explained only on a demo call
Rank 5
Kforce
A US staffing and solutions firm placing technology and finance and accounting professionals in contract, contract-to-hire and direct hire roles.
kforce.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: Technology and finance professionals seeking direct hire roles
Kforce keeps its scope narrow: technology and finance and accounting. Its Talent Solutions service covers short-term contracts, contract-to-hire and direct hire, so an employer can test a hire first or go straight to a permanent offer. Technology recruiters cover full stack development, enterprise data, UX/UI, project management, infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking and BI/AI. Finance teams cover FP&A, data and analytics, regulatory and compliance, and transactional accounting. Kforce says it has helped clients and candidates for 60 years, and it cites a Forbes ranking in the top 5% of Best Professional Recruiting Firms. Candidates get a referral app called KFORCEconnect, and the fraud alert page says Kforce will never ask candidates to pay recruitment fees. The trade-off is reach: if your role is outside tech or finance, Kforce is not the right firm.
Standout feature
Kforce is the best choice for tech and finance hires because it recruits only in those two fields, with direct hire and contract-to-hire options.
Use cases
A data engineer
Find a direct hire role through a technology recruiter
Outcome: Permanent offers at no fee to the candidate
A bank's finance team
Try a contract-to-hire FP&A analyst before a permanent offer
Outcome: A permanent hire after a trial period
Key features
- Direct hire, contract and contract-to-hire placements
- Technology teams for full stack, data, cybersecurity, infrastructure, UX/UI and BI/AI roles
- Finance and accounting teams for FP&A, compliance and operational accounting
- KFORCEconnect referral app
- Visa sponsorship solutions for international consultants
Pros
- Two focused specialties mean recruiters know the roles well
- Kforce says it has served clients and candidates for 60 years
- Fraud alert page lists recruitment fees among things it will never ask candidates to pay
Cons
- Only technology and finance and accounting roles
- Employer fees are not published
- Its site does not describe a separate executive search service
Rank 6
Hays
A UK-headquartered specialist recruiter with a US practice for permanent, temporary and contract hiring in six professions.
hays.com8.4
out of 10
Best for: Specialists in technology, engineering, life sciences and finance
Hays works in defined talent markets, and in the US those are technology, engineering, life sciences, accounting and finance, construction and property, and human resources. Its permanent recruitment service starts with a brief, then consultants source, assess and introduce candidates and support the hire after the offer. Hays leans on market data: the Salary Checker, salary guides and its Global Talent Tracker help employers set pay before they post a role. Candidates can open a My Hays account to save searches, track applications and set job alerts, and Hays states that it will never ask candidates to pay to secure a job. Larger employers can add RPO, MSP or direct sourcing. The narrow scope is the main limit, and fees are quoted per search rather than published.
Standout feature
Hays is the best choice for specialist professions because it recruits in six defined US talent markets and states that candidates never pay.
Use cases
A life sciences startup
Hire a permanent quality manager
Outcome: A shortlist from a sector consultant with salary benchmarks
A construction project engineer
Set alerts for permanent roles in My Hays
Outcome: New matching roles sent by email
Key features
- Permanent recruitment in technology, engineering, life sciences, accounting and finance, construction and property, and HR
- Salary Checker and salary guides for pay benchmarks
- My Hays account with saved searches, application tracking and job alerts
- RPO, MSP and direct sourcing for larger hiring programs
- Free Jobseeker Toolkit and Interview Guide
Pros
- Clear statement that candidates never pay to secure a job
- Consultants work in defined talent markets for each profession
- Salary Checker is free to use
Cons
- Six professions only in the US
- Employer fees are not published
- No replacement guarantee is described on its US permanent recruitment page
Rank 7
Randstad
A global staffing firm whose US permanent recruitment service covers operational and professional roles, with replacement guarantees.
randstadusa.com8.3
out of 10
Best for: Employers hiring across many role types who want a replacement guarantee
Randstad's permanent recruitment service is broad. Operational teams cover industrial management, manufacturing and logistics, skilled trades and high-volume hiring, while professional teams cover business administration, customer care, engineering and design, finance and accounting, healthcare, HR, sales and executive search. Its FAQ answers questions most firms avoid: it often presents qualified candidates within days, it acts as intermediary in salary talks, it offers replacement guarantees if a hire does not work out, and its fees include sourcing, screening, candidate presentation, interview coordination and post-hire support. Exact pricing comes in a tailored proposal. Job seekers never pay to use Randstad, and the app is free. If you need one firm for both a warehouse supervisor and a finance manager, Randstad covers both.
Standout feature
Randstad is the best choice for mixed permanent hiring because it covers trades and professional roles and backs placements with replacement guarantees.
Use cases
A logistics company
Hire a permanent operations manager and an accountant
Outcome: Both roles handled by one firm with a replacement guarantee
A customer service lead
Apply for permanent roles through the Randstad app
Outcome: Applications at no cost
Key features
- Permanent recruitment for operational and professional roles
- Replacement guarantees and post-placement follow-up
- Recruiters guide salary talks as an intermediary
- Executive search and consulting practice
- Free Randstad app and 2027 salary guide
Pros
- Says it often presents qualified candidates within days
- Covers both skilled trades and professional roles
- Fees include sourcing, screening, interviews and post-hire support
Cons
- Pricing is a tailored proposal, not a published rate
- Its FAQ does not state how long the replacement guarantee lasts
- Executive search is less prominent than at dedicated search firms
Rank 8
Heidrick & Struggles
A Chicago-founded retained executive search firm that recruits CEOs, board members and senior officers.
heidrick.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: Boards and companies hiring C-suite leaders on a retained search
Heidrick & Struggles was founded in Chicago in 1953 and was among the first executive search firms. It works on a retained, exclusive basis, so one team owns your search from brief to onboarding. The method starts with your culture and business problems, sources both active and passive candidates through its network, and assesses them for technical ability, leadership potential and cultural fit with tech-enabled tools. After the offer, consultants support interviews, reference checks, negotiation and onboarding. Practice areas include CEO and board, financial officers, HR officers, legal and risk, marketing and strategy, supply chain and AI and technology officers. Heidrick also places interim leaders through On-Demand Talent. Candidates can create a profile, and the firm says it never asks candidates for payment. This is not a firm for staff or manager roles.
Standout feature
Heidrick & Struggles is the best choice for C-suite searches because it works on an exclusive retained basis and has done executive search since 1953.
Use cases
A public company board
Run a CEO succession search
Outcome: An assessed shortlist and onboarding support for the new CEO
A senior finance executive
Create a profile to be considered for CFO searches
Outcome: Visibility to the firm's financial officers practice
Key features
- Retained executive search on an exclusive basis
- Focus areas from CEO and board to CFO, CHRO, legal, supply chain and AI and technology officers
- Tech-enabled assessments of capability, leadership potential and fit
- Support through interviews, reference checks, negotiation and onboarding
- Interim executives through its On-Demand Talent service
Pros
- Founded in 1953 and among the first firms in executive search
- Exclusive retained model means a dedicated team on your search
- Candidates can create a profile with the firm
Cons
- Senior leadership roles only
- Retained fees are agreed per engagement and not published
- Exclusive engagement means you commit to one firm for the search
Rank 9
Spencer Stuart
A privately held leadership consulting and executive search firm focused on boards, CEOs and senior functional leaders.
spencerstuart.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: Board director and CEO searches with succession planning
Spencer Stuart says it has 70 years of leadership consulting experience, 60+ offices and 500+ consultants. Executive search sits next to CEO succession planning, executive assessment and leadership consulting, so a board can use the same firm to plan a succession, assess internal candidates and run the external search. Its assessments look at capability, culture fit and what it calls Executive Intelligence. Functional practices cover board and CEO, HR, finance, marketing and sales, sustainability, technology, legal and supply chain, across industries such as technology, consumer, financial services, healthcare, industrial and private equity. Its annual board indexes, including the US Board Index, are free reading for directors. Spencer Stuart says executives trust it to bring assignments to them, so candidates usually hear from a consultant rather than apply. Fees are agreed privately.
Standout feature
Spencer Stuart is the best choice for CEO succession because it combines succession planning, executive assessment and search in one firm.
Use cases
A board nominating committee
Add an independent director with audit experience
Outcome: A board search informed by Board Index benchmarks
A family business
Plan the next CEO transition
Outcome: A succession plan with internal assessment and an external search
Key features
- Executive search for board, CEO and functional officer roles
- CEO succession planning
- Executive assessment of capabilities, culture fit and Executive Intelligence
- Leadership consulting for onboarding, top team effectiveness and M&A
- Published research including the US Spencer Stuart Board Index
Pros
- 60+ offices and 500+ consultants worldwide
- 70 years of leadership consulting experience
- Board Index research helps boards benchmark composition
Cons
- Senior leadership roles only
- Fees are not published
- Search timelines are not published
Rank 10
Hirewell
A Chicago-based recruiting firm offering search, embedded recruiters and RPO, with its own self-serve recruiting tech.
hirewell.com8.1
out of 10
Best for: Startups and mid-size companies hiring tech, sales and finance staff
Hirewell is a Chicago recruiting firm that sells three ways of working: search for single hires, volume hiring and executives; RPO with full-time or fractional recruiters; and interim help through embedded recruiters, function specialists and employer of record payrolling. It also built its own recruiting software and lets clients use the self-serve tools. Its executive search page publishes three numbers: under 2 weeks to a shortlist of qualified candidates, under 100 days average time to hire, and a 92% retention rate two or more years after placement. Function teams cover software engineering, product, cloud, data and AI, cybersecurity, HR, finance and accounting, legal, sales, marketing and creative, with industry focus on SaaS, manufacturing, private equity and professional services. It is a smaller firm than the others here, and pricing is set per engagement.
Standout feature
Hirewell is the best choice for growing tech and sales teams because it combines search with fractional RPO and reports 92% retention at two years.
Use cases
A Series B SaaS startup
Hire a VP of Sales and three account executives
Outcome: An executive search plus single hires from one firm
A PE portfolio company
Add a fractional recruiter during a growth push
Outcome: Embedded recruiting capacity without a full-time hire
Key features
- Search for single hires, volume hiring and executive roles
- Recruitment process outsourcing, full-time or fractional
- Embedded interim recruiters and employer of record payrolling
- Self-serve recruiting software built in-house
- Function teams for tech, HR, marketing, sales, finance and accounting
Pros
- Executive search page cites under 2 weeks to a qualified shortlist
- Reports a 92% retention rate two or more years after placement
- Mix of search and embedded recruiters suits fast-growing teams
Cons
- Smaller firm with a single listed office in Chicago
- Fees are not published
- Fewer executive search resources than the large global firms
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best recruiting agency in the US?
Robert Half is the best recruiting agency in the US for most permanent hires. It recruits full-time staff in finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative roles from early career to the C-suite, and its fraud alert page states that it never asks candidates to pay a fee.
+What are the best recruiting agencies?
The best recruiting agencies in 2026 are Robert Half, Michael Page, Korn Ferry, Kforce and Insight Global for most roles, with Heidrick & Struggles and Spencer Stuart for C-suite searches. Hays, Randstad and Hirewell round out our top ten; Insight Global says it makes 7,000+ direct placements each year.
+Do recruiting agencies charge job seekers?
No, legitimate recruiting agencies are paid by employers, not candidates. Robert Half, Randstad, Hays, Kforce and Heidrick & Struggles each state on their own sites that they never ask candidates for payment.
+How much do recruiting agencies charge employers?
None of the ten firms on this list publishes a fee. Randstad says its pricing depends on the scope of the hire and comes as a tailored proposal that includes sourcing, screening, interviews and post-hire support, so ask each firm for a written quote.
+Which recruiting agency is best for tech jobs?
Kforce is the best recruiting agency for tech jobs on this list because it works only in technology and finance and accounting. Its technology recruiters cover full stack, data, cybersecurity, infrastructure, UX/UI and BI/AI roles in direct hire and contract-to-hire positions.
+What is the best executive search firm?
Heidrick & Struggles is the best pick for C-suite searches because it runs exclusive retained searches and has worked in executive search since 1953. Spencer Stuart is the alternative when a board also wants CEO succession planning, and Korn Ferry fits companies that want formal assessments.
+Do recruiting agencies guarantee their placements?
Some do. Randstad offers replacement guarantees on permanent placements, and Insight Global sets a guarantee period tailored to each client, so confirm the length and terms before you sign.
About this list
Updated November 11, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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