10 Hospitality Online Alternatives for Recruiting and Hiring Employees (Updated)

Hospitality Online is one the largest hospitality job boards not only in the U.S. but also in other parts of the world such as Canada, India and the Middle East. What most employers love about this website is its user-friendly interface and the wide talent pool from across the globe.

Job seekers are also satisfied with the platform’s features. Apart from being available in three languages — English, Spanish and French, users will also find three search options — popular hospitality jobs, jobs by state and categories. For more pros and cons, as well as alternative job platforms, make sure to stick to the very end of the article.

Hospitality Online Alternatives

Platform	Price To Post	Job Descriptions	Specialized for Hospitality	Extra Features
Hospitality Online	$445 per post	❌	✅	Applicant tracking system
OysterLink	FREE	✅	✅	Paycheck calculator
Culinary Agents	$69 per one job post	❌	✅	Mobile app
Poached Jobs	$59 for one job post	❌	✅	Poached Shifts
Hcareers	$249 per one job post	❌	✅	Career advice
Qwick	40% markup on base pay	✅	✅	Blog
LinkedIn	Objective-based pricing	✅	❌	Learning center
FlexJobs	$399 per month	✅	❌	Success stories
ZipRecruiter	Non-transparent plan	✅	❌	AI-powered tools
Glassdoor	Pay-per-click boost	✅	❌	Company reviews
Indeed	Pay-per-click boost	✅	❌	Employer dashboard

What Is Hospitality Online?

When it comes to jobs in hospitality, Hospitality Online is probably one of the few niche places platforms for service professionals. For job seekers, it’s completely free to create a profile, receive mail alerts as well as keep track of submissions and save preferred jobs.

However, there might be better options for employers than Hospitality Online. That’s because they’re one of the most expensive job boards in the marketplace. They charge $445 for a single posting that’s limited to 30 days. However, if you’re looking to post multiple jobs for a fixed price, you’ll have to get a touch with their sales team.

Best Alternatives to Hospitality Online

1. OysterLink

OysterLink is one of the fastest-growing hospitality platforms on the market where you can discover top-paying jobs and salary trends as well as use a bunch of other free resources.

For Employers

Unlike other platforms that charge a fortune for a single job posting, OysterLink won’t charge you a single dollar for a job post. In fact, you can post as many job listings as you like, all free of charge. To help you with crafting a job description, they also have a whole section dedicated to customizing outlines of the most important duties and responsibilities for numerous hospitality roles.

They also offer a bunch of other free tools and resources, such as exclusive industry reports and guides. Here you can read more about developments that are guiding the newest recruitment approach in hospitality as well as how to conduct interviews and increase your hiring success rate.

For Job Seekers

For restaurant and hospitality professionals who’d like to improve their skills and increase their chances of getting hired, OysterLink has a knowledge base that includes career overviews and a whole separate section on career advice.

What’s even better, you can use their paycheck calculator to accurately estimate exactly how much money you will be taking home after state, federal and local taxes. They also have more in-depth guides on salaries in the industry that can be very useful if you’re looking to negotiate, check out the latest trends or find some of the best-paying locations in the U.S.

Pros:

• 100% free to post multiple jobs at the same time
• One of the fastest-growing hospitality platforms
• State-specific and easy-to-use paycheck calculator
• A bunch of free tools and resources for employers and job seekers

Cons:

• Community of 150,000 job seekers that’s constantly growing

2. Culinary Agents 

Culinary Agents is another website that connects hospitality professionals with employers in the field. They’ve helped more than 50,000 businesses in the U.S. source service talents.

For Employers

Even though you can start using Culinary Agents free of charge, you won’t be able to post a single job without additional cost. You also won’t be able to find out just how much it costs because they’ve imposed a paywall. However, other resources say that the website charges $69 per job post, $320 for five job posts and $150 for a monthly subscription.

They also have a handy app. However, it’s important to note that employers are not particularly happy with how it works. Apparently, it’s not as easy to get qualified candidates and some employers end up with only one applicant after an entire month. And to make matters worse, Culinary Agents are not often willing to offer a refund for poor service.

For Job Seekers

When it comes to Culinary Agents jobs, most users complain that it’s nearly impossible to find a job listing in smaller cities. That is because their focus is primarily on major city hubs that hire thousands of staff members on a daily basis. As a result, apart from Culinary Agents NYC, you’ll find plenty of opportunities in other places like Miami and LA. 

Pros:

• Ample job opportunities for job seekers living in major cities
• Helped 50,000 businesses in the U.S. find top talents

Cons:

• Not easy to find qualified applicants
• Not willing to issue refunds
• Non-transparent pricing model

3. Poached Jobs

As one of America’s leading job hiring platforms, Poached Jobs connects job seekers with work opportunities in the hospitality sector. They’ve been on the market for more than a decade.

For Employers

If you’re looking to hire someone permanently, Poached Jobs will charge you $59 for one job post that will remain active for 30 days. Within this price, you’ll have access to the candidate’s information and you’ll be able to schedule an interview with them. And if you’re looking to fill an individual shift, you’ll end up paying $39 excluding the hourly rate.

For Job Seekers

Even though the job board is active in other major cities in the U.S., Poached Jobs Portland is likely one of the most popular in the country due to the fact that this company is, in fact, Portland-based. The good thing about this platform is that, as a job seeker, you don’t need to wait for an employer to post a shift, so you can post that you’re open and available for work.

However, many users report that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to land a shift (or a job) and that despite applying for multiple positions they usually never hear back from the platform or the recruiter. Also, there seems to be a problem with last-minute cancelation which results in more frustration from both sides.

Pros:

• Job seekers and employers can post shifts

Cons:

• Becoming increasingly competitive
• Don’t offer free membership tiers
• Lack of feedback from the platform/employer
• Lenient cancelation policy that leads to frustration

4. Hcareers 

Hcareer is also specifically tailored for service professionals. They offer unique features such as recruitment advertising, as well as hotel/restaurant and retirement industry recruiting.

For Employers

In comparison to other hospitality platforms, Hcareers stands out as one of the most expensive options. However, you won’t be able to find much data on pricing on their website. Even though their design is pretty simple and straightforward, they’re not exactly transparent when it comes to sharing their pricing details.

According to other resources on the web, it seems that they’re charging $249 for one standard 30-day job listing. In addition, you’d also gain access to candidate matching and employer branding features should you decide to post a job. However, if you’d like your post to target more senior roles, such as, for example, an Event Manager, then the price would be set at $489 per post. 

For Job Seekers

Similarly to other major platforms, this one is focused on America’s major tourist hubs. In addition to Hcareers NYC and LA, you’ll also find thousands of hotel, restaurant and travel job listings all across North America. At the time of writing this article, there are more than five million registered members who are browsing through Hcareers jobs.

Pros:

• Wide coverage across North America
• Five million registered job professionals

Cons:

• Non-transparent pricing model
• Different pricing depending on the role seniority
• One of the most expensive hospitality job boards

5. Qwick

Unlike other hospitality job boards that usually offer full-time and part-time jobs, Qwick is known for its distinctive business model where employers get to post a shift and job seekers get to pick up a shift.

For Employers

Before you sign up for their website, you might be wondering “Is Qwick legit and should you use it? Even though the answer is 100% yes, there are some pros and cons you should consider depending on your hiring needs. For starters, you should know that employers have been complaining about the fact that Qwick doesn’t have a standard screening process for candidates. This can then result in inconsistent quality and longer time spent filtering out the applications.

In terms of pricing, unlike other platforms that charge a set rate for posting a job, Qwick operates on an entirely different model. Despite the fact they let you set your own rate, they’ll also charge an additional 40% on top of the freelancer’s pay.

For Job Seekers

Regarding Qwick reviews, users are divided on a couple of issues. It seems that most employers are setting minimum hourly wages but there are other inconsistencies as well such as sharp rises and declines in job offers. Another pain point includes the freelance tax forms that should be provided by the employers. However, as users report, this is not the case with Qwick.

Pros:

• Distinctive business model
• Tailored specifically for hospitality professionals

Cons:

• Don’t have a screening process for applicants applying
• Charge additional 40% on top of freelancers pay
• Employers mostly set minimum hourly wages
• Don’t provide the mandatory freelance tax forms

6. LinkedIn

What is LinkedIn — is it a job board or a professional networking site? The answer is — LinkedIn is a bit of both but it’s also much more; they’re a content-sharing and learning platform for employees and employers alike (among other things). 

For Employers

Given that LinkedIn has about one billion members, as an employer, you’ll have access to the widest pool of talent there is. However, this doesn’t come without its drawbacks. Even though you can post one job on LinkedIn for free, this will probably get pushed back in the search results. That’s probably why you should consider sponsoring your post to reach a wider audience.

To do that, LinkedIn uses a pay-per-click model that allows you to set your own budget. However, the overall cost will depend on the number of applicants who click on your ad. This might result in unqualified candidates or even a higher cost per hire. In addition, they also offer seven monthly plans that range from $0 to $835 per month.

For Job Seekers

Given that 9,000 members apply for LinkedIn jobs every minute, it’s safe to assume that this is one of the most competitive hiring platforms on the planet. This means that most applicants need to invest extra effort to create memorable applications and catch the employer’s eye. That’s why close to 200 million members opted for the LinkedIn premium.

Now, this service might not be to everyone’s liking. Even though you can send a very limited number of direct messages to recruiters, it doesn’t really guarantee that your message will be seen or that you’ll get a reply. On top of that, most users agree that Premium LinkedIn is not worth the price that’s currently set at just under $30 per month.

Pros:

• All-in-one platform with one billion members

Cons:

• Cost-per-click pricing model to sponsor your job post
• The price can go up as high as $835 per month
• One of the most competitive hiring platforms on the planet
• LinkedIn premium is not worth the price

7. FlexJobs

FlexJobs entered the hiring market almost two decades ago. As a reputable and well-established platform, their main goal is to connect job seekers with high-quality remote and flexible work opportunities.

For Employers

“Is FlexJob free?” is a common question that a lot of employers have. Even though they do advertise a 14-day free trial, they don’t offer free membership. That means that you’ll have to pay a standard fee of $399 per month. For those thinking “Is FlexJobs worth it?”, the answer really depends on your hiring needs.

If you’re someone who’s frequently hiring then this might be worth your money, considering you’ll be able to post multiple jobs. However, the Flexjobs cost might not be worth it if you’re hiring every now and then. In addition, you can also choose between monthly, quarterly and yearly payment plans.

For Job Seekers

In comparison to other alternatives, FlexJobs reviews are pretty decent. They’ve scored 4.5/5 on Trustpilot. In fact, 70% of users gave them five stars, praising their transparency and helpful customer service. Users are also happy with the algorithm that sends them accurate job listings that align perfectly with their expertise and preferences.

On the other hand, some users have been complaining about the “subscription traps” as they can’t seem to get out of FlexJobs marketing loops and unsubscribe from the job alerts. Another downside is that FlexJobs is charging job seekers to access the job board, which is not a standard industry practice and as a result, can turn away potential candidates.

Pros:

• Excellent Trustpilot user rating (4.5 out of 5)
• Remarkably efficient algorithm

Cons:

• Fixed-rate of $399 per month without options to post for free
• Charging job seekers to access the job board
• “Subscription traps” (impossible to unsubscribe from job alerts)

8. ZipRecruiter

Despite the fact that ZipRecruiter is one of the biggest and best-known job boards in the world, it doesn’t come without its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. 

For Employers

If you’re thinking, “I’m not really sure is ZipRecruiter legit?”, you can rest assured that it’s a well-established hiring platform. In fact, if you were to compare, for example, ZipRecruiter vs. Indeed, you’ll find that both offer equally unique and valuable features.

In terms of ZipRecruiter pricing, you won’t be able to find much research online. That’s because the company doesn’t disclose their pricing details publicly. While this goes against the principles of transparency, other resources claim that ZipRecruiter charges $299 for a very limited number of job postings.

For Job Seekers

When it comes to ZipRecruiter jobs, apart from being incredibly competitive, users have been complaining about other things as well. For example, the main concern is that the platforms engage in what’s called “manipulative marketing” strategies. Instead of clearly stating that their daily job posts are advertised by AI, they make it look like a real person is reaching out to potential candidates.

Pros:

• One of the biggest and best-known job boards in the world

Cons:

• Incredibly competitive for both employers and employees
• The company doesn’t disclose their pricing details publicly
• Sources claim they $299 for a few job postings
• Manipulative marketing strategies

9. Glassdoor

So, what is Glassdoor and how does it work? Primarily, Glassdoor is a career portal but also a place where employees can leave reviews for their former or current companies.

For Employers

To register on the website and start posting Glassdoor jobs, you’ll find two options. One is free of charge with limited features such as basic company information and analytics. The other one includes access to premium branded content as well as advanced insights. However, you’ll have to contact their sales team to get an exact quote.

Now, according to Glassdoor itself, they use a cost-per-click model to sponsor job posts. This means that posting a job and boosting its visibility can cost you anything from $0.5 to $5 per click. This might not be the best option if you’re looking for a more predictable pricing model or if you have a limited budget.

For Job Seekers

One of the most talked-about features this platform offers is the Glassdoor reviews. This is the place where job seekers come to search for additional information regarding important aspects of their job, such as company culture, salary trends and other specific policies. However, there are increasing concerns regarding the authenticity of these reviews.

If you have doubts about anonymity or are wondering are Glassdoor reviews anonymous, the answer is simple — yes, anyone can post a review. To make matters worse, the employer is in charge of reviewing the feedback and ultimately making the decision to either post it or not. As a result, many users find this feature not only misleading but also totally pointless.

Pros:

• Has the biggest number of company reviews in the world
• Offer a very basic but free-of-charge membership plan

Cons:

• Concerns raised regarding the authenticity of company reviews
• Employers get to review the feedback and approve or reject
• Non-transparent pricing model
• Cost-per-click model to sponsor posts

10. Indeed 

As the number one recruitment site in the world, Indeed has more than 250 million visitors each month. They also offer various tools and resources for employers and job seekers alike. 

For Employers

As an employer, recruiter or a staffing agency, you’ll be able to log in to your Indeed for employers dashboard where you can track applicants, manage your job posts and gain deeper insights into the analytics. In terms of posting Indeed jobs, you’ll be looking at the same pricing model that Glassdoor is using.

That’s because the two have partnered up to extend their reach and enhance their hiring solutions. As a result, posting a job on Indeed automatically extends it to Glassdoor. Although this way you can increase the visibility of your job post, you’ll still have to use their not-so-ideal cost-per-click model that might easily end up accumulating extra cost.

For Job Seekers

As a job seeker, you can use the filters on the website to narrow down your search. This is a great option if you’re looking for specific work opportunities or “Indeed jobs near me.” They also have a rich variety of job postings, such as Indeed part-time jobs and Indeed remote jobs.

However, to be able to land a job, you have to invest extra time to make your application stand out. As if that wasn’t enough, many users report an increased number of fake listings. This then leads to fake assessments, spam job offers and even the risk of identity thefts. As a result, legitimate job seekers who are looking for genuine opportunities end up feeling disappointed.

Pros:

• The number one recruitment site in the world with 250 million monthly visits
• Partnered up with Glassdoor 
• Rich variety of job postings

Cons:

• Cost-per-click model that
• Increased number of fake listings
• Fake assessment, spam job offers and risk of identity thefts

Best Way To Post a Job For Free

Among the above-mentioned alternatives to Hospitality Online, OysterLink stands out as the only place where employers can post multiple job ads completely FREE of charge. Click below to gain access to hundreds of thousands of hospitality professionals waiting to get hired!