Greenhouse

AI-powered recruiting platform built for structured, bias-aware hiring

Ahrefs

AI-enhanced SEO toolset with industry-leading backlink index and keyword research capabilities

Greenhouse

Moderate

16/25

Ahrefs

Moderate

14/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionGreenhouseAhrefs

Data Residency

Where is your data stored and processed?

Greenhouse: Data hosting available in US and EU. EU data residency supports GDPR compliance for European organisations managing candidate personal data.

Ahrefs: Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors

3/5

Data hosting available in US and EU. EU data residency supports GDPR compliance for European organisations managing candidate personal data.

3/5

Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors

Legal Jurisdiction

Which laws govern the company and your data?

Greenhouse: Incorporated in Delaware, US. Subject to US legal frameworks. GDPR data processing agreements available for European customers handling candidate data.

Ahrefs: Singapore incorporation provides a favourable alternative to US-based alternatives; Singapore has PDPA data protection legislation and is not subject to US CLOUD Act; GDPR DPA available

3/5

Incorporated in Delaware, US. Subject to US legal frameworks. GDPR data processing agreements available for European customers handling candidate data.

3/5

Singapore incorporation provides a favourable alternative to US-based alternatives; Singapore has PDPA data protection legislation and is not subject to US CLOUD Act; GDPR DPA available

Data Retention & Training

Is your data used for model training?

Greenhouse: Configurable candidate data retention policies with GDPR-aligned deletion workflows. Candidate consent management features support lawful processing under EU data protection law.

Ahrefs: Primarily processes public web index data; customer account and project data retained per privacy policy; no known use of customer data for model training

4/5

Configurable candidate data retention policies with GDPR-aligned deletion workflows. Candidate consent management features support lawful processing under EU data protection law.

3/5

Primarily processes public web index data; customer account and project data retained per privacy policy; no known use of customer data for model training

Certifications

ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.

Greenhouse: Holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications. Solid baseline security posture for a recruitment platform handling sensitive candidate personal data.

Ahrefs: No publicly confirmed SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications; GDPR DPA available; cookie-free Web Analytics reduces personal data exposure

3/5

Holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications. Solid baseline security posture for a recruitment platform handling sensitive candidate personal data.

2/5

No publicly confirmed SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications; GDPR DPA available; cookie-free Web Analytics reduces personal data exposure

Regulatory Fit

Suitability for regulated industries and professional services

Greenhouse: Good fit for organisations with structured hiring requirements and GDPR obligations. Candidate consent and data deletion features align with EU data protection requirements for HR data processing.

Ahrefs: Bootstrap model and Singapore jurisdiction are notable differentiators; absence of formal security certifications limits suitability for highly regulated sectors requiring SOC 2 evidence

3/5

Good fit for organisations with structured hiring requirements and GDPR obligations. Candidate consent and data deletion features align with EU data protection requirements for HR data processing.

3/5

Bootstrap model and Singapore jurisdiction are notable differentiators; absence of formal security certifications limits suitability for highly regulated sectors requiring SOC 2 evidence

Total Score

16/25

14/25

Best For

Greenhouse

Best for teams that prioritise data residency (scores 3/5) and need a bronze-tier tool.

Ahrefs

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls.

Detailed Comparison

Ahrefs vs Greenhouse: Trust & Compliance Comparison

Ahrefs (Ahrefs, SG) scores 14/25 overall with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI-enhanced SEO toolset with industry-leading backlink index and keyword research capabilities. Greenhouse (Greenhouse Software, US) scores 16/25 with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. AI-powered recruiting platform built for structured, bias-aware hiring.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

Both score equally at 3/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors

●Greenhouse (3/5): Data hosting available in US and EU. EU data residency supports GDPR compliance for European organisations managing candidate personal data.

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Both score equally at 3/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Singapore incorporation provides a favourable alternative to US-based alternatives; Singapore has PDPA data protection legislation and is not subject to US CLOUD Act; GDPR DPA available

●Greenhouse (3/5): Incorporated in Delaware, US. Subject to US legal frameworks. GDPR data processing agreements available for European customers handling candidate data.

#### Data Retention & Training

Greenhouse leads with 4/5 vs 3/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Primarily processes public web index data; customer account and project data retained per privacy policy; no known use of customer data for model training

●Greenhouse (4/5): Configurable candidate data retention policies with GDPR-aligned deletion workflows. Candidate consent management features support lawful processing under EU data protection law.

#### Certifications

Greenhouse leads with 3/5 vs 2/5.

●Ahrefs (2/5): No publicly confirmed SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certifications; GDPR DPA available; cookie-free Web Analytics reduces personal data exposure

●Greenhouse (3/5): Holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications. Solid baseline security posture for a recruitment platform handling sensitive candidate personal data.

#### Regulatory Fit

Both score equally at 3/5.

●Ahrefs (3/5): Bootstrap model and Singapore jurisdiction are notable differentiators; absence of formal security certifications limits suitability for highly regulated sectors requiring SOC 2 evidence

●Greenhouse (3/5): Good fit for organisations with structured hiring requirements and GDPR obligations. Candidate consent and data deletion features align with EU data protection requirements for HR data processing.

Certifications at a Glance

Certification	Ahrefs	Greenhouse
ISO 27001	No	Yes
SOC 2 Type II	No	Yes

Overall Verdict

Greenhouse has a clear trust advantage, scoring 16/25 compared to Ahrefs's 14/25. Greenhouse particularly excels in data retention & training, certifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, Greenhouse or Ahrefs?

Greenhouse has a TrustKit score of 16/25 while Ahrefs scores 14/25. Greenhouse currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Greenhouse and Ahrefs compare on data residency?

Greenhouse scores 3/5 for data residency (Data hosting available in US and EU. EU data residency supports GDPR compliance for European organisations managing candidate personal data.), while Ahrefs scores 3/5 (Singapore-incorporated and bootstrapped; data processed across global infrastructure; no formal per-customer data residency selection but alternative jurisdiction to US CLOUD Act-covered vendors).

Are Greenhouse and Ahrefs GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. Greenhouse has a regulatory fit score of 3/5 and Ahrefs scores 3/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

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