CATS vs CEIPAL
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed September 22, 2026How we research →
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
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
CEIPAL
AI staffing OS: ATS, VMS & workforce management in one
Best for: High-volume IT and contract staffing firms that need ATS and VMS in one system
✓Unified ATS, VMS, and workforce management aimed at high-volume IT and contract staffing
✓AI ranking and bulk sourcing built for heavy requisition loads
✕Pricing is quote-based; the low third-party figures circulating are unverified
✕Breadth of the suite makes for a steeper learning curve
Our verdict
Choose CATS if…
- ✓You want to trial before committing (free trial available)
Choose CEIPAL if…
- ✓You're in rpo providers, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in contract & temp staffing, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You run temp or contract desks and need pay & bill in the platform
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | CATS | CEIPAL |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATS (official) | $89/user/mo (term not stated)flat | $89/user/mo (term not stated)flat | $89/user/mo (term not stated)flat |
| CEIPAL (reported) | Custom quote | Custom quote | Custom quote |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of September 22, 2026; real quotes vary with plan tier, add-on modules, and contract terms. See how we label pricing confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do CATS and CEIPAL pricing compare?
CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (term not stated) (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). CEIPAL uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026).
What does CATS cost?
CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (term not stated) (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). One published plan, CATS Pro, at $89/user/mo shown against a struck-through $110, plus a $500 data migration fee. The pricing page does not say whether $89 is a monthly or an annual rate, so the billing term is unconfirmed. The older $69 figure that third-party sites still quote no longer applies (vendor pricing page, Sep 2026).
What does CEIPAL cost?
CEIPAL uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (reported, reviewed July 4, 2026). Quote-based: CEIPAL does not publish seat pricing on its site. Third-party aggregators cite an entry figure around $24/user/mo, but that is unverified against any official page and modules (VMS, workforce management) are priced separately (Jul 2026).
Which is rated higher, CATS or CEIPAL?
CEIPAL is rated higher: 4.6/5 on G2 versus 4.2/5 for CATS on G2.
Who is CATS best for, and who is CEIPAL best for?
CATS: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking. CEIPAL: High-volume IT and contract staffing firms that need ATS and VMS in one system.