Yena vs Firefish.
The Sourcer vs CRM-first recruitment
Firefish is a powerful CRM driven by data engagement. Yena is the AI-native alternative — describe a role, get a ranked shortlist of switch-ready candidates in minutes, and calibrate results yourself.
Why we're credible to write this
Firefish is a leading UK recruitment CRM. Firefish wins on real-time analytics dashboards, database engagement tracking, and UK market presence. Yena wins on the Sourcer's signal-first candidate discovery, a calibration loop you control, and publicly listed plans.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison.
| Characteristic | Yena | Firefish |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Strategy | The Sourcer: plain-language brief → ranked shortlist of switch-ready candidates | CRM-first: database engagement & analytics |
| Target Market | Executive SearchAgencies & consultants, DACH/Europe | UK AgenciesUK recruitment agencies, all sizes |
| Candidate Discovery | Signal-FirstSurfaces candidates who look likely to move, before a role is posted | NoneManual search through your own CRM database |
| Calibration Loop | Yes/Maybe/NoRate results in chat — Yena refines the prompt and re-ranks in seconds (Calibration Summary) | Manual FiltersManual saved searches, no AI re-ranking |
| AI Candidate Matching | SemanticThe Sourcer's AI ranks by role fit and explains why each candidate made the list | ManualDatabase search + manual screening |
| Contact Reveal | When availableAvailable contact details surface on shortlisted candidates for recruiter review | ManualManual entry or candidate provides |
| Candidate CRM | Own Your PoolEvery sourced candidate saved to your own searchable pool | Core ProductFirefish's core product — mature database tooling |
| Client Portal | IncludedShare live shortlists with hiring managers via client portal | Not CoreNo dedicated client-facing portal |
| MCP / Agent Access | MCP ServerUse the Sourcer from Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor | NoneWeb app only |
| Real-Time Analytics | StandardPipeline metrics, time-to-fill, sources | AdvancedReal-time dashboards: billing, activity, performance |
| Pricing | Public plansCurrent plans and limits on /pricing; 10-day free trial | Per-User£65-£100/user/month (£780-£1200/year) |
| Evaluation | Guided trialTest Yena with your own recruiting workflow | ImmediateCloud-based, immediate start |
| Product Strength | AI-native sourcing platform — best judged with a live demo on your own roles | 4.6/5 (Strong value for money) |
| Best For | Signal-first sourcing, calibrated AI shortlists, client-facing recruiting teams | UK agencies, analytics lovers, database engagement |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yena is the Sourcer: describe a role in plain language and get a ranked shortlist of relevant, switch-ready candidates in minutes, each with a 'why this candidate' note. Firefish is a CRM-first platform focused on database engagement and real-time analytics.
No, Firefish relies on you searching and engaging your own database manually. Yena's Sourcer actively surfaces candidates who look likely to move, including signals before a role is even posted.
Yena publishes its current plans and limits on /pricing and offers a 10-day free trial. Firefish charges per user/month (£65-£100), which can add up for larger teams — worth comparing shortlist quality, not just the price tag.
Yena is built for active, signal-first sourcing — a recruiter describes the role and calibrates the Sourcer's results with Yes/Maybe/No feedback. Firefish is better suited to nurturing a database you already own.
Yes — Yena ships an MCP server, so you can search and shortlist candidates from Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor without leaving your existing workflow. Firefish is accessed only through its own CRM interface.