Head to head

ApplicantStack vs HiringThing

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

ApplicantStack

$29.99/mo 14 day free trial

No-frills small-business ATS from $29.99 a month, with a free trial. Starter covers one active job.

Where ApplicantStack fits

  • Small HR teams
  • Start-ups with one live role
  • Buyers replacing a spreadsheet
  • Teams that want a free trial on a cheap tracker

Small-business ATS with job posting, apply forms and a public API, from around $76/mo.

Where HiringThing fits

  • Small HR teams that want an API
  • Small businesses posting a few roles
  • Buyers who refuse an enterprise implementation
  • Teams replacing a spreadsheet and a patchwork of automations

At a glance

DetailApplicantStackHiringThing
Starting price$29.99/mo$76/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underATSATS
Capterra4.4 from 1,555 reviews4.5 from 91 reviews

Where they pull apart

ApplicantStack

Stands out: A published sub-$30 paid start for small HR teams.

Watch out: Starter is capped at one active job, and there is no API or MCP.

Not the right fit for

  • Agencies
  • Teams that need MCP or an API

HiringThing

Stands out: An open API on a small-business tracker, without an enterprise implementation first.

Watch out: No MCP, and it is not built for large requisition-heavy teams.

Not the right fit for

  • Agencies
  • Teams that need MCP

Pros and cons

ApplicantStack

  • Published price under $30
  • Free trial
  • Simple job posting plus pipeline
  • One active job on Starter
  • No API
  • No MCP

HiringThing

  • Open API on a small-business ATS
  • Job posting without enterprise process
  • Published starting price
  • No MCP
  • Light on reporting
  • Not built for agencies

What each one costs

ApplicantStack

$29.99/mo

From $30/mo. Confirm current pricing on the vendor site.

Checked 17 Sep 2026

HiringThing

$76/mo

From $76/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is ApplicantStack cheaper than HiringThing?
ApplicantStack starts lower, at $29.99/mo against $76/mo for HiringThing. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try ApplicantStack or HiringThing for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. ApplicantStack offers a 14 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All ApplicantStack alternatives All HiringThing alternatives Every ATS tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 17 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?