Manatal vs Top Echelon
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
Manatal
AI-powered ATS at a budget price
Best for: Budget-conscious teams, from solo recruiters to in-house TA
✓Lowest credible entry price in the category
✓AI candidate scoring and social enrichment included at low tiers
✕Per-user pricing scales poorly for larger teams
✕Advanced reporting is rigid
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 Manatal if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Top Echelon doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in high-volume hiring, a segment Top Echelon doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in campus & graduate recruiting, a segment Top Echelon doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in hiring-heavy industries, a segment Top Echelon doesn't focus on
Choose Top Echelon if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment Manatal doesn't focus on
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Manatal | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manatal (official) | $95/mo | $380/mo | $950/mo |
| Top Echelon (official) | $475/mo | $1,900/mo | $4,750/mo |
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
Is Manatal cheaper than Top Echelon?
Manatal has the lower published starting price. Manatal pricing starts at $19/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Top Echelon pricing starts at $95/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026).
What does Manatal cost?
Manatal pricing starts at $19/user/mo (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Monthly billing: Professional $19/user/mo, Enterprise $39, Enterprise Plus $59. Commit annually and those drop to $15/$35/$55. Job limits are per account, not per user; 14-day free trial (vendor pricing page, verified Aug 2026).
What does Top Echelon cost?
Top Echelon pricing starts at $95/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). Monthly billing: TE Recruit Standard $95/user/mo and Professional $115/user/mo. Committing annually drops those to $79 and $95. 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, Sep 2026).
Which is rated higher, Manatal or Top Echelon?
Manatal is rated higher: 4.8/5 on G2 versus 4.6/5 for Top Echelon on Capterra.
Who is Manatal best for, and who is Top Echelon best for?
Manatal: Budget-conscious teams, from solo recruiters to in-house TA. Top Echelon: Solo recruiters and small perm firms doing split placements.