CATS vs Recruit CRM
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
Recruit CRM
Easy-to-use ATS + CRM for small and mid-size agencies
Best for: Small agencies that want fast onboarding and top-rated support
✓Highly intuitive Kanban pipelines; productive within hours
✓Industry-leading support sentiment (4.8 G2 across 800+ reviews)
✕Scalability limits for larger teams
✕Rigid reporting functionality
Our verdict
Choose CATS if…
- ✓You need an open API for custom integrations
Choose Recruit CRM if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, 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
- ✓Entry price matters: $59/user/mo published vs $89 for CATS
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | CATS | Recruit CRM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Recruit CRM (official) | $295/mo | $1,180/mo | $2,950/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
Is CATS cheaper than Recruit CRM?
Recruit CRM has the lower published starting price. Recruit CRM pricing starts at $59/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (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 Recruit CRM cost?
Recruit CRM pricing starts at $59/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Recruit CRM currently publishes plans starting at $59/user/month, with monthly and annual billing available (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
Which is rated higher, CATS or Recruit CRM?
Recruit CRM is rated higher: 4.8/5 on G2 versus 4.2/5 for CATS.
Who is CATS best for, and who is Recruit CRM best for?
CATS: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking. Recruit CRM: Small agencies that want fast onboarding and top-rated support.