CATS vs Mercury
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
Mercury
Recruitment platform built on Microsoft Dynamics 365
Best for: Enterprise agencies embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem
✓Unparalleled Microsoft integration (Teams, Outlook, Office 365)
✓Power Platform flexibility for custom automation
✕Complex interface requiring extensive training
✕High total cost: Mercury + Microsoft licensing + implementation
Our verdict
Choose CATS if…
- ✓Your team sources through LinkedIn every day
- ✓You want to trial before committing (free trial available)
Choose Mercury if…
- ✓You're in rpo providers, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
- ✓Reporting and analytics drive how you run the desk
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | CATS | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Mercury (official) | 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 Mercury pricing compare?
CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (term not stated) (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). Mercury 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 (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 Mercury cost?
Mercury uses custom quote-based pricing and does not publish list prices (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Custom quote only, no public seat pricing. Built on Microsoft Dynamics, so budget for Microsoft licensing plus Mercury's implementation, data migration, and training services (vendor site, Jul 2026).
Which is rated higher, CATS or Mercury?
CATS holds 4.2/5 on G2 and Mercury holds 4.2/5 on G2.
Who is CATS best for, and who is Mercury best for?
CATS: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking. Mercury: Enterprise agencies embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem.