Atlas vs CATS
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed July 4, 2026How we research →
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
Atlas
AI-native "CRMx" that writes the record from your calls and email
Best for: Agency desks — perm, executive search and contract — that want capture and automation instead of CRM data entry
✓Automatic capture is the real differentiator: calls, email and meetings land on the record without anyone typing a note, with transcripts, summaries and actions attached to the right person and company (G2 reviewers, Mar–Aug 2026; vendor site, Sep 2026)
✓Reviewers who ran Bullhorn and Vincere before it single out support response times as the best they've used (G2, Jul 2026)
✕Contract billing, not pay & bill: GP, invoice and payment status are tracked and pushed to Xero, but that link runs one way, there is no payroll, and timesheet capture is not described anywhere Atlas publishes — a desk that pays contractors needs that machinery elsewhere (Atlas team, Sep 2026)
✕WhatsApp and contact enrichment are paid add-ons rather than part of the seat: about £7/user/mo and from £20/user/mo (Atlas team, Sep 2026)
CATS
Straightforward, customizable ATS for small agencies
Best for: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking
✓Deep customizability of fields and workflows
✓Simple, centralized candidate management
✕Clunky, dated interface
✕Weak third-party data integration
Our verdict
Choose Atlas if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in contract & temp staffing, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
- ✓AI matching and assistance are on your must-have list
Choose CATS if…
- ✓Your team sources through LinkedIn every day
- ✓Multi-job-board posting is core to how you fill roles
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Atlas | CATS |
|---|---|---|
| ATS + CRM core | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email/inbox sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| LinkedIn / Chrome extension | ~ | ✓ |
| Multi-job-board posting | ~ | ✓ |
| Built-in candidate sourcing | ~ | ~ |
| Workflow automation | ✓ | ~ |
| AI matching & assistance | ✓ | – |
| Reporting & analytics | ✓ | ~ |
| Temp back-office (pay & bill) | ~ | – |
| Open API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app | ~ | – |
IncludedPartial or paid add-onNot available
What would it cost your team?
| Est. monthly cost, entry tier | 5 seats | 20 seats | 50 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas (official) | £125/user/mo (12-mo term)flat | £125/user/mo (12-mo term)flat | £125/user/mo (12-mo term)flat |
| CATS (official) | $445/mo | $1,780/mo | $4,450/mo |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of July 4, 2026; real quotes vary with plan tier, add-on modules, and contract terms. See how we label pricing confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do Atlas and CATS pricing compare?
Atlas pricing starts at £125/user/mo (12-mo term) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026).
What does Atlas cost?
Atlas pricing starts at £125/user/mo (12-mo term) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). £125/user/mo is Atlas's standard rate on its standard 12-month term, supplied by the vendor and also sold in USD, EUR and AUD; payment is monthly or annually in advance, and discounts apply for longer terms, upfront payment and volume. A no-commitment option exists at a higher rate. Two add-ons are licensed per seat and are not in the £125: Contact Enrichment from £20/user/mo and WhatsApp from about £7/user/mo (Atlas team, Sep 2026).
What does CATS cost?
CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Monthly billing: $89/user/mo and $110/user/mo, plus a $500 data migration fee. The annual rate is not confirmed and is deliberately not published here; the older $69 figure that third-party sites still quote no longer applies. Same monthly pair as TE Recruit, which has owned CATS since 2020 (Aug 2026).
Which is rated higher, Atlas or CATS?
Atlas is rated higher: 4.9/5 on G2 versus 4.2/5 for CATS on G2.
Who is Atlas best for, and who is CATS best for?
Atlas: Agency desks — perm, executive search and contract — that want capture and automation instead of CRM data entry. CATS: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking.