Counter Offer Email With a Competing Offer
How do I counter a salary offer when I have another offer?
Mention the competing offer calmly, state your preferred number, and make clear this company is still your first choice. Name the other company and its number in one sentence, then ask if there's room to align comp. The email should sound like you want to take this offer — not like you're shopping.
Avoid this mistake: Don't threaten, bluff, or say "match this or I walk." The moment it reads as an ultimatum, you've lost the room.
Best next step: Use the template below, then get the $7 Counter-Offer Kit if you want safer wording before you hit send.
You're here because
- You have a real second offer and don't know how to mention it
- You're afraid naming the other company will sound like a threat
- You actually prefer this job and don't want to lose it
- You don't want to bluff or seem to be playing them
- You have 48–72 hours and you're freezing
The exact email to send
Hi [HIRING_MANAGER],
Thank you for the offer to join [COMPANY] as [ROLE]. To be transparent: I want to take this role. [COMPANY]'s [SPECIFIC_REASON — e.g. team, mission, product, manager] is what I'm optimizing for.
I do have a competing offer from [OTHER_COMPANY] at $[OTHER_BASE] base + $[OTHER_BONUS], with a response deadline of [DEADLINE]. The two offers are structurally close, with [COMPANY] currently [$X lower / equity lower / signing lower].
Would there be flexibility to bring the base to $[TARGET], or to add a signing bonus that closes the gap? I'm flexible on structure — if base is constrained, equity or signing both work.
I'd love to wrap this up by [DATE] so I can decline the other offer cleanly.
Thanks,
[YOUR_NAME]
The 3-line version (for a tight deadline)
If the other offer expires in 24–48 hours and you need to send something now, this is the short, low-risk version:
I want to take this role — [COMPANY] is my first choice. I do have a competing offer from [OTHER_COMPANY] at $[OTHER_BASE] base, with a deadline of [DEADLINE]. Is there any flexibility to bring the base to $[TARGET] so I can decline the other offer and sign here?
Thanks,
[YOUR_NAME]
- Built for the moment a written offer or deadline lands — not casual browsing.
- Written for the 24–72 hour decision window.
- Designed for people who don't negotiate often.
- Real workplace register — not internet bravado.
How much more should you ask for?
Anchor to the real number — don't invent a stretch figure. Three low-risk rules:
- Ask them to match the competing base. A named, verifiable number is the most defensible ask you have.
- If the gap is large, ask them to close it — not just match. Let them use base, signing bonus, or equity. "I'm flexible on structure" makes it easy to say yes.
- If your preferred offer is already lower, ask to land within a few thousand of the other one. You're buying the right to pick the job you actually want without leaving money on the table.
The point isn't to squeeze the maximum — it's to name a number you can defend with the offer in your inbox.
What NOT to say
- "Match it or I'm gone" — the moment you ultimatum, you've lost.
- Naming a competing offer that doesn't exist. Recruiters often verify.
- Hiding the company name when asked — it makes the offer sound fake.
- "Either you can do better or I'm taking the other one" — same as above.
- Bringing this up after you've negotiated once and lost — you're stacking pressure.
An illustrative example
An engineer had Offer A (preferred role) at $155K and Offer B (less preferred) at $170K. They wrote: "I want this role. The competing offer is at $170K base. Can we close the gap?" The company replied with $165K + $10K signing + 5% equity refresh. Closed the comp gap, took the preferred role.
Why this works
Recruiters need to defend their offer to comp committees. A real competing number — with a real company name — is a defensible reason to escalate the package. Stating clearly that you prefer this role removes the threat and gives them a clean win to take to leadership.
What to do next
Send this once. If they decline, you have a real choice — not a bluff that exploded. The Counter-Offer Kit includes the follow-up email if they come back with a partial match.
Before you send — quick check
- Do you know your walk-away number?
- Do you have a Levels.fyi or market band to anchor to?
- Do you have a 3-business-day deadline written in?
If you answered "not sure" to any of these, the Counter-Offer Kit walks you through all three.
Related reads
FAQ
Should I name the competing company?
Yes. A named company is verifiable and defensible. An unnamed "competing offer" sounds like a bluff and gets ignored.
What if my competing offer isn't really competing — different role, different city?
Be honest about the comparison: "The roles aren't identical, but the base is $X." Recruiters respect that more than a forced comparison.
Can I lie about a competing offer?
No. Recruiters can and do informally verify competing offers, and the reputational cost if a bluff is caught is much larger than the upside.
How much more should I ask for when I have a competing offer?
Anchor to the real number. Ask them to match the competing base, or to land within a few thousand dollars of it. If the gap is large, ask them to close it with a mix of base, signing bonus, or equity rather than base alone.