Head to head

CATS vs Crelate

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

CATS

$89/user/mo 30 day free trial

Classic agency ATS for firms that want cheap and proven. $89 per user/month, with a 30-day free trial and a documented API.

Where CATS fits

  • Staffing agencies that want cheap and proven
  • Desks that need an API without enterprise services
  • US agency front office
  • Buyers comparing Recruit CRM and Crelate

Crelate

$85/user/mo Free trial

Boutique agency recruiting CRM built around notes, hotlists and email sync. Essentials is $85 per user/month paid annually, with a free trial.

Where Crelate fits

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

At a glance

DetailCATSCrelate
Starting price$89/user/mo$85/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial30 day free trialYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, CRMATS, CRM
Capterra4.2 from 144 reviews4.5 from 443 reviews

Where they pull apart

CATS

Stands out: A proven agency ATS with published per-user pricing and a real API.

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

Not the right fit for

  • Corporate structured hiring
  • Teams that need MCP

Crelate

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.

Not the right fit for

  • Corporate in-house talent teams
  • Teams that need MCP

Pros and cons

CATS

  • Published per-user pricing
  • Documented API for desk automations
  • 30-day free trial
  • No MCP
  • Front-office only
  • Not a corporate ATS

Crelate

  • Hotlists and email sync built for boutique desks
  • Public API
  • Free trial available
  • No MCP
  • Published price is annual billing
  • Not a corporate hiring platform

What each one costs

CATS

$89/user/mo

From $69/user/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 17 Sep 2026

Crelate

$85/user/mo

From ~$55/user/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 17 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is CATS cheaper than Crelate?
Crelate starts lower, at $85/user/mo against $89/user/mo for CATS. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try CATS or Crelate for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. CATS offers a 30 day free trial. Crelate offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All CATS alternatives All Crelate alternatives Every ATS tool

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