CATS vs Top Echelon
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
Top Echelon
Affordable ATS/CRM with a built-in split-placement network
Best for: Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements
✓Extremely affordable with transparent pricing
✓Automations, Sequences, and Smart-TE AI on the Professional tier
✕Resume parsing into existing candidate records trips reviewers up (Capterra, 2026)
✕Email integration draws more criticism than any other feature in reviews
Our verdict
Choose CATS if…
- ✓You need an open API for custom integrations
Choose Top Echelon if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓Peer sentiment: 4.6/5 across 515 Capterra reviews vs 4.2/5 for CATS
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | CATS | Top Echelon |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | $445/mo | $1,780/mo | $4,450/mo |
| Top Echelon (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
Is CATS cheaper than Top Echelon?
CATS and Top Echelon have the same published starting price. CATS pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Top Echelon 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). 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).
What does Top Echelon cost?
Top Echelon pricing starts at $89/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Monthly billing: TE Recruit Standard $89/user/mo and Professional $110/user/mo. Committing annually drops those to $75 and $89. Automations, Sequences, Smart-TE AI, Natural Language Search, [BETA] AI People Search, inbound email sync, and API access are Professional-tier only. The TE Network split-placement subscription is billed separately: $150/mo per agency plus a $350 startup fee on monthly billing, or $135/mo annually with the startup fee waived (vendor pricing page, Aug 2026).
Which is rated higher, CATS or Top Echelon?
Top Echelon is rated higher: 4.6/5 on Capterra versus 4.2/5 for CATS on G2.
Who is CATS best for, and who is Top Echelon best for?
CATS: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking. Top Echelon: Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements.