Compare/Alternatives

CATS alternatives

4 tools our write-ups put next to CATS, with starting price, free tier, MCP and API side by side.

CATS from $89/user/mo30 day free trialAPI

Closest alternatives

See the CATS listing

The short answer

Recruit CRM : Agency CRM with hosted MCP if an agent connector is required. From $95/user/mo
Crelate : Boutique agency CRM if email sync is the wedge. From $85/user/mo
Tracker RMS : Agency ATS and CRM with a published per-user start. From $79/user/mo
Loxo : Agency ATS with AI sourcing if you have outgrown a classic desk. From $149/user/mo

Why people look past CATS

No MCP, and it is a front-office tool rather than a corporate hiring platform.

What we noted

No MCP
Front-office only
Not a corporate ATS

Not the right fit for

Corporate structured hiring
Teams that need MCP

Worth keeping in mind: A proven agency ATS with published per-user pricing and a real API.

CATS alternatives compared

Tool	Free tier	From	MCP	API	Head to head
CATS (the one you are on)	–No	$89/user/mo	–No	✓Yes
Recruit CRM Agency CRM with hosted MCP if an agent connector is required.	–No	$95/user/mo	✓Yes	✓Yes	Head to head
Crelate Boutique agency CRM if email sync is the wedge.	–No	$85/user/mo	–No	✓Yes	Head to head
Tracker RMS Agency ATS and CRM with a published per-user start.	–No	$79/user/mo	–No	✓Yes	Head to head
Loxo Agency ATS with AI sourcing if you have outgrown a classic desk.	–No	$149/user/mo	✓Yes	✓Yes	Head to head

What each one does differently

Recruit CRM

$95/user/mo Free trial MCP API

Why it comes up: Agency CRM with hosted MCP if an agent connector is required.

Stands out: A hosted MCP at agent.recruitcrm.io plus agency hotlists and GDPR controls.

Watch out: MCP access has to be switched on per role before an assistant can connect.

Best for

Boutique staffing agencies
Mid-size desks that need hotlists
UK and EU agencies that care about GDPR tooling

4.9 on Capterra from 476 reviews

Read the Recruit CRM write-up CATS vs Recruit CRM

Crelate

$85/user/mo Free trial API

Why it comes up: Boutique agency CRM if email sync is the wedge.

Stands out: Desktop-class notes, hotlists and email sync for small agency desks.

Watch out: No MCP, and the published price is annual billing rather than month to month.

Best for

Boutique staffing agencies
Desks that live in email and hotlists
Small teams that want a recruiting CRM rather than a corporate ATS

4.5 on Capterra from 443 reviews

Read the Crelate write-up CATS vs Crelate

Tracker RMS

$79/user/mo API

Why it comes up: Agency ATS and CRM with a published per-user start.

Stands out: A published per-user price for staffing front office plus reporting, rather than a quote.

Watch out: The entry plan is capped at around five users, so growing desks move up quickly.

Best for

Staffing firms wanting a published per-user price
Agency front office plus reporting
Desks comparing CATS and Recruit CRM

4.7 on Capterra from 186 reviews

Read the Tracker RMS write-up CATS vs Tracker RMS

Loxo

$149/user/mo Free trial MCP API

Why it comes up: Agency ATS with AI sourcing if you have outgrown a classic desk.

Stands out: An ATS plus a sourcing database and MCP, built for agency desks.

Watch out: The published Core price is annual billing, and the MCP URL is issued in-product.

Best for

Agencies that outgrew a spreadsheet and a job board
Desks that want sourcing next to the ATS
Teams that want MCP on the ATS of record

4.6 on Capterra from 134 reviews

Read the Loxo write-up CATS vs Loxo

Common questions

What is the best CATS alternative?

It depends on what sent you looking. Our write-ups put Recruit CRM closest to CATS. Why it comes up: Agency CRM with hosted MCP if an agent connector is required. The table above shows all 4 on price, free tier, MCP and API.

What is the cheapest CATS alternative?

Of the published starting prices here, Tracker RMS is lowest at $79/user/mo. Starting price is the entry plan, not the seat count you will end up on, so read the plan table on each listing.

Which CATS alternatives have an MCP server?

Recruit CRM and Loxo ship a first party MCP server, so you can drive them from Claude or ChatGPT without building against the API yourself.

Does CATS have a free trial?

CATS offers a 30 day free trial on our listing. Trial terms move, so confirm on the vendor site before you plan around it.

Keep looking

Back to the CATS write-up Every ATS tool we list Search the whole directory

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 21 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?