CATS vs Fountain
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
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
Fountain
Frontline hiring OS: text-to-apply at massive volume
Best for: Employers making 500+ frontline hires a year
✓Mobile-first text-to-apply flows: no resumes, no accounts
✓24/7 AI voice screening and knockout validation
✕Franchise setups are implementation-intensive
✕Historically stops at screening; workforce management needs add-ons
Our verdict
Choose CATS if…
- ✓You're in recruitment agencies & staffing firms, a segment Fountain doesn't focus on
- ✓You need an open API for custom integrations
- ✓Your team sources through LinkedIn every day
- ✓Multi-job-board posting is core to how you fill roles
Choose Fountain if…
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in hiring-heavy industries, 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
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | CATS | Fountain |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | – | ✓ |
What would it cost your team?
| Est. monthly cost, entry tier | 5 seats | 20 seats | 50 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATS (official) | $445/mo | $1,780/mo | $4,450/mo |
| Fountain (official) | Custom quote | Custom quote | Custom quote |
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 CATS and Fountain pricing compare?
CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Fountain uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 2026).
What does CATS cost?
CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Current official page shows $89 and $110/user/mo options plus a $500 data migration fee; billing-term mapping needs confirmation. The older $69 price no longer applies (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
What does Fountain cost?
Fountain uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Custom quote only. The suite now spans ATS, CRM, sourcing, onboarding, and shift scheduling; billing metric not published (vendor site, Jul 2026).
Who is CATS best for, and who is Fountain best for?
CATS: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking. Fountain: Employers making 500+ frontline hires a year.