Loxo: Overview and Positioning
What is Loxo?
Loxo is a fast-growing American ATS/CRM founded in 2012. The platform serves over 13,200 teams and 125,000 users worldwide. Loxo recently raised $115 million to develop its AI capabilities.Loxo's Unique Positioning
Loxo differentiates itself with its proprietary database of 1.2 billion profiles, presented as an alternative to LinkedIn Recruiter.
| Criterion | Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Growth | One of the fastest-growing ATS |
| Database | 1.2B profiles (announced) |
| Interface | Modern and fast |
| Outreach | Email/SMS/LinkedIn sequences |
| Target market | US agencies, executive search |
Common Problems with Loxo
Despite aggressive marketing, Loxo faces recurring criticism:
| Problem | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incomplete database | Many missing or outdated profiles |
| Imprecise search | Inconsistent results, false positives |
| Limited LinkedIn automation | Manual reminders, no true automation |
| Degraded support | Long wait times, unkept promises |
| Rigid contracts | Annual commitments hard to cancel |
| US-centric | Not adapted for European market |
Why Look for a Loxo Alternative?
Loxo Database Limitations
Loxo announces 1.2 billion profiles, but reality differs:
- Tests reveal about 226 million profiles with usable data
- Profiles are often outdated (months behind)
- Users still need to verify on LinkedIn current status
- LinkedIn Recruiter remains necessary for many users
Search Problems
"Loxo's search routinely returns irrelevant results. Searching 'Dwight Schrute' might return profiles like Christopher or Alexander, with no connection."
Loxo uses a system of manual aliases (grouping 10-15 similar titles) rather than true semantic search.
Declining Customer Support
With rapid growth, Loxo support has suffered:
- Long wait times to speak to a human
- Sales promises not kept after purchase
- Hostile experience during cancellations
- Little help for data migration
Cobalt vs Loxo: Detailed Comparison
Overview
| Criterion | Cobalt | Loxo |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Unified ATS+CRM+Staffing platform | ATS+CRM with database |
| Target | Staffing firms, EU agencies | US agencies, executive search |
| Price | From $89/user/month | From $109/user/month |
| Interface | Modern, intuitive | Modern, fast |
| AI | Native matching, semantic search | Basic AI, manual aliases |
| Support | Local, responsive | English, variable |
| Staffing | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
Sourcing and Database
| Feature | Cobalt | Loxo |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary database | ❌ (focus on your pool) | ✅ 1.2B (announced) |
| Data quality | ✅ Your data, always current | 🟡 Often outdated |
| LinkedIn Chrome extension | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bulk import | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI CV parsing | ✅ Native | ✅ |
| Auto enrichment | ✅ | 🟡 Limited |
Search and Matching
| Feature | Cobalt | Loxo |
|---|---|---|
| AI semantic search | ✅ True vectorization | 🟡 Manual aliases |
| Natural language search | ✅ | 🟡 |
| Boolean search | ✅ | ✅ |
| Candidate-job matching | ✅ Automatic AI | 🟡 Basic |
| Advanced filters | ✅ | ✅ |
| Candidate scoring | ✅ | ✅ |
With Cobalt, search "senior AI/ML engineers with Python, TensorFlow or similar tools" and get relevant results through true semantic understanding.
Want to go further?
Discover how Cobalt can help you.
With Loxo, you risk missing candidates if their exact title isn't in the alias list.
Search Verdict: Cobalt uses true semantic AI, Loxo a limited alias system.Outreach and Automation
| Feature | Cobalt | Loxo |
|---|---|---|
| Email sequences | ✅ Automated | ✅ Automated |
| SMS sequences | ✅ | ✅ |
| LinkedIn automation | ✅ Integrated | 🟡 Manual reminders only |
| Dynamic personalization | ✅ | ✅ |
| Response tracking | ✅ | 🟡 Bugs reported |
| Templates | ✅ | ✅ |
"For LinkedIn campaigns, you can only set reminders to manually complete tasks - there's no true automation."Outreach Verdict: Cobalt offers true multichannel automation. Loxo stays manual on LinkedIn.
Staffing Features
| Feature | Cobalt | Loxo |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment management | ✅ Native | ❌ |
| Consultant assignment | ✅ AI Matching | ❌ |
| Bench tracking | ✅ Auto alerts | ❌ |
| Rate management | ✅ | ❌ |
| Planning view | ✅ | ❌ |
| Integrated client relations | ✅ | 🟡 Basic |
Pricing and Terms
| Element | Cobalt | Loxo |
|---|---|---|
| Starter price | $89/user/month | $109/user/month |
| Pro price | $89/user/month (all included) | $229/user/month |
| Staffing | ✅ Included | ❌ Not available |
| AI/Matching | ✅ Included | 🟡 Basic included |
| Commitment | Monthly possible | Annual (often required) |
| Cancellation | Flexible | Difficult |
Total Cost for 10 Users (Annual)
| Item | Cobalt | Loxo Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Licenses | $10,680 | ~$27,500 |
| Staffing features | ✅ Included | ❌ Not available |
| Total | $10,680 | ~$27,500 |
Support
| Criterion | Cobalt | Loxo |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Local support | English |
| Response time | < 2h average | Variable (long delays) |
| Onboarding | ✅ Personalized included | 🟡 Basic |
| Account manager | ✅ Dedicated | For large accounts |
| Cancellation help | ✅ | ❌ Hostile experience reported |
Summary Table: Cobalt vs Loxo
| Criterion | Winner | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 🏆 Cobalt | 2-3x cheaper |
| AI Search | 🏆 Cobalt | True semantics vs aliases |
| Staffing | 🏆 Cobalt | Native vs nonexistent |
| Local support | 🏆 Cobalt | Native vs English |
| LinkedIn automation | 🏆 Cobalt | Real vs reminders |
| External database | 🏆 Loxo | 1.2B profiles (variable quality) |
| Interface | 🟡 Tie | Both modern |
| GDPR/EU Data | 🏆 Cobalt | EU vs USA |
Conclusion: Loxo or Cobalt?
Choose Loxo if:
- You're a US-based agency or English-speaking
- You want access to a massive external database
- You don't need staffing features
- You accept English-only support
Choose Cobalt if:
- You're a European staffing firm or agency
- You need staffing features
- You want true semantic AI
- You're looking for responsive local support
- You want to cut your budget by 2-3x
- You need GDPR compliance
Ready to discover a better Loxo alternative?
Request a free Cobalt demo and see why European staffing firms and agencies choose us.
