Pricing & trial
CV-Library recruiter cost and free trial, explained
An honest look at what UK recruiters pay for CV database access, how the pricing works, and why a free trial is the sensible first step.
Quick answer
Is CV-Library free for recruiters, and what does it cost?
CV-Library is free for jobseekers, and recruiters can start with a free trial to run searches and preview matching candidates. Paid recruiter access is quoted per business, based on your team size, sectors and how many CV views you need.
- Free recruiter trial available with no upfront payment
- Paid plans are quoted by CV-Library based on usage
- Costs far less than a single typical agency placement fee
- Cancel or decide after trialling real searches for your roles
Is CV-Library free for recruiters?
No — it's free for candidates, paid for recruiters. That's how the database stays full of live CVs. The good news is you can try it before you buy: a free recruiter trial lets you run real searches and count the candidates in your patch, so you're not guessing at value.
How the pricing is structured
Costs are quoted per company because three things move the price: how many users need a login, how many CVs you expect to view, and whether you want job advert credits bundled in. All figures below are in pounds sterling and exclude VAT.
| Option | How it's charged | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment agency (contingency) | 15–25% of salary | £5,250–£8,750 on a £35,000 role |
| Single job advert | Per advert | Typically £100–£300 each |
| CV database subscription | Monthly or annual | Fixed cost, unlimited searching within your plan |
| Free recruiter trial | £0 | Search and assess candidate availability first |
Indicative UK market figures for comparison. Ask for a written quote for your exact usage.
Working out if it pays for itself
Count the hires you made through an agency in the last 12 months and multiply by the fee you paid. If replacing even one of those with a direct hire covers the subscription, the business case writes itself. Our costs and ROI page walks through the sums with worked examples.
Pricing questions recruiters ask
Is CV-Library free for recruiters?
CV-Library is free for jobseekers, not for recruiters. Recruiters pay for CV database access and job advert credits. You can, however, start a free recruiter trial to search the database and see the candidates available in your sector before you pay anything.
How much does CV-Library cost for recruiters?
Pricing is quoted per company rather than published as a fixed price list, because it depends on the number of users, how many CVs you view and whether you also need job advert credits. As a rough guide, UK CV database subscriptions typically run from a few hundred pounds a month for a single user up to several thousand for larger teams.
Is CV-Library cheaper than a recruitment agency?
Almost always, if you make more than one or two hires a year. A contingency agency fee of 15-25% on a £35,000 salary is roughly £5,250 to £8,750 for one hire. A year of database access usually costs less than a single agency placement.
Can I pay monthly?
Monthly and annual options are normally available. Annual contracts tend to carry a lower effective monthly cost, while monthly gives you flexibility if your hiring is seasonal.
What does the free recruiter trial include?
A trial lets you search the CV database and see genuine, current candidates matching your roles, so you can judge the depth of coverage in your sector and location before committing to a subscription.
Does CV-Library charge per CV view?
Most packages include a set allowance of CV views or downloads over the term. If you regularly hit the limit, it's usually cheaper to move up a tier than to buy extras ad hoc.
Already a customer and just need to get in? See our recruiter login guide.
Free recruiter trial
See the candidates before you see an invoice
Start a free recruiter trial, search the UK CV database in your sector, and decide with evidence rather than a sales pitch.
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