CATS vs Zoho Recruit
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
Zoho Recruit
Recruitment module of the Zoho suite
Best for: Teams already in the Zoho ecosystem, or on a tight budget
✓Very affordable with a real free tier
✓Immense custom-field flexibility
✕Clunky, dated interface
✕Overwhelming learning curve for non-technical users
Our verdict
Choose CATS if…
- ✓Your team sources through LinkedIn every day
Choose Zoho Recruit if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in campus & graduate recruiting, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in hiring-heavy industries, a segment CATS doesn't focus on
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | CATS | Zoho Recruit |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Zoho Recruit (official) | $150/mo | $600/mo | $1,500/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 Zoho Recruit?
Zoho Recruit has the lower published starting price. Zoho Recruit pricing starts at $30/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). 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 Zoho Recruit cost?
Zoho Recruit pricing starts at $30/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Staffing-agency edition on monthly billing: Standard $30/user/mo, Professional $60, Enterprise $90 ($25/$50/$75 if you commit annually). A forever-free tier and 15-day trial are published. The separate corporate/internal-HR edition is cheaper again — Standard $25/recruiter/mo billed annually (vendor pricing page, Aug 2026).
Which is rated higher, CATS or Zoho Recruit?
Zoho Recruit is rated higher: 4.4/5 on G2 versus 4.2/5 for CATS on G2.
Who is CATS best for, and who is Zoho Recruit best for?
CATS: Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking. Zoho Recruit: Teams already in the Zoho ecosystem, or on a tight budget.