An alternative to Paraform
A recruiter network, or one accountable search.
[solved] is an alternative to Paraform for companies that want one senior talent partner accountable for the whole search, at a fixed fee set before it begins: $10,000 for Specialist Search or $20,000 for Leadership Search. Every shortlisted candidate arrives with evidence of their work and identity verified. Paraform works differently: three to five specialized recruiters from its network work a role in parallel, supported by custom AI agents, for about 20% to 25% of first-year salary, with a 90-day replacement search.
What the fee looks like on your hire
Move the salary to your role's base. Paraform's fee grows with it; the [solved] fee stays fixed.
$180,000
$26,000 to $35,000
Paraform range: about 20% to 25% of first-year salary, as stated in Paraform's own comparisons, 2026.
Side by side
How each works
Paraform
Paraform matches your role with three to five specialized recruiters from its network who have filled similar roles and work it in parallel, and builds custom AI agents trained on its hiring data that learn from your feedback. A dedicated talent strategist manages the search with you, and Paraform integrates with the tools your team already uses. Its fee is about 20% to 25% of first-year salary, due when you hire.
[solved]
One of our senior talent partners defines the role with you in one working session and confirms the direction with a few calibration profiles before anyone is contacted. Each shortlisted candidate is assessed on the outcomes you approved, identity verified, and arrives with a Candidate Evidence Brief.
When Paraform is the better choice
- Your in-house team wants added top-of-funnel sourcing across many roles, and will run screening and the process itself.
- You are hiring in fields like legal or healthcare.
When [solved] fits better
- The hire is consequential, and you want evidence before your team spends interview time.
- You want a fixed fee, known before the search begins.
- You want most of the fee tied to a signed hire. Three-quarters of the fee is due only when your hire signs, and the retainer is returned in full if the shortlist misses the criteria you agreed.
- You want to see the search as it moves, in one Hiring Workspace.
- You want one search partner, whether you are hiring for one role or many.
What I valued most was that I didn't become the project manager for the agency. My team had total visibility, but we weren't the ones keeping the search alive.
Questions
What is a good alternative to Paraform?
If you want one senior talent partner accountable for the whole search, a fixed fee set before it begins, and every shortlisted candidate assessed on evidence and identity verified, [solved] runs each search end to end, for one role or many.
Is Paraform a recruiting agency?
Paraform describes itself as a recruiting marketplace and an AI-native recruiting firm: specialized recruiters from its network, supported by AI agents, work your role on contingency. [solved] is a search firm: one of our senior talent partners runs each search end to end, at a fixed fee.
How many recruiters work a role on Paraform?
Paraform says three to five specialized recruiters from its network work each role in parallel. Every [solved] search is led by one of our senior talent partners, accountable for the whole search.
How much does Paraform cost?
Paraform describes its fee as about 20% to 25% of first-year salary, due only when a hire is made and spread in installments across a 90-day guarantee window. [solved] charges a fixed $10,000 for Specialist Search or $20,000 for Leadership Search.
How is [solved] different from Paraform?
Paraform puts three to five recruiters from its network on your role in parallel, supported by AI agents, for a percentage of salary. [solved] runs each search with one of our senior talent partners, accountable from the role definition to the signed offer, and every shortlisted candidate arrives with a Candidate Evidence Brief and identity verified.
What happens if a hire leaves early?
Paraform states that it runs a replacement search if a hire does not work out within 90 days. [solved] covers 90 days, or 180 days with Exclusive Search, starting on your hire's first day.
Is anything due before a hire?
A retainer begins the search: $2,500 for Specialist Search or $5,000 for Leadership Search. The balance is due when your hire signs. If the shortlist misses the criteria you agreed, the retainer is returned in full, and if you stop a search, the retainer carries over when the role reopens or a new search begins.
Tell us about the role. Within one business day, we confirm whether we are the right firm to lead the search.
Bring the job description you have, or the role in your head. We define the role with you.
Sources: Paraform, For Companies page and frequently asked questions, read October 2026; Paraform's own comparison articles, 2026, for its fee range and recruiter model. Last reviewed October 2026. Paraform is a trademark of its owner. [solved] is not affiliated with Paraform.