CATS Review
4.2(144)Straightforward, customizable ATS for small agencies
CATS (absorbed into the Recur Software portfolio in 2026) is a no-frills ATS for small agencies that value customization over polish. It's stable and cheap-ish, but showing its age against AI-native newcomers.
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
CATS pricing
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).
- Free trial
- Yes
- Free tier
- No
- Min. seats
- 1
- Billing
- Not published
Pricing data: Official (published by the vendor).
Pros
- ✓Deep customizability of fields and workflows
- ✓Simple, centralized candidate management
- ✓Affordable relative to mid-market suites
Cons
- ✕Clunky, dated interface
- ✕Weak third-party data integration
- ✕Reported issues with candidate email deliverability
Features
| 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 | – |
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CATS: frequently asked questions
How much 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).
Does CATS offer a free trial?
Yes. CATS offers a free trial. There is no free tier.
Is CATS an ATS or a CRM?
CATS is an applicant tracking system: it manages active applicants through the hiring process rather than long-term candidate relationships.
Who is CATS best for?
Small agencies wanting simple, affordable applicant tracking. We rank it for recruitment agencies & staffing firms.
What are the main drawbacks of CATS?
The criticisms that come up most: Clunky, dated interface; Weak third-party data integration; Reported issues with candidate email deliverability.
What are the best CATS alternatives?
Based on segment overlap and review ratings, the closest CATS alternatives are Vultus Recruit, Happlicant, Recruit CRM, Manatal. Full list: https://recruitmentcrm.com/alternatives/cats.