Head to head

CATS vs Loxo

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

Loxo

$149/user/mo Free trial

Agency ATS with AI sourcing, sequences and a Chrome extension. Core is $149/user/mo billed annually, with a seven-day trial and no card.

Where Loxo fits

  • 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
  • Buyers who will start on a seven-day trial

At a glance

DetailCATSLoxo
Starting price$89/user/mo$149/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial30 day free trialYes
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, CRMATS, CRM
Capterra4.2 from 144 reviews4.6 from 134 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

Loxo

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.

Not the right fit for

  • In-house talent teams that need structured hiring kits
  • Buyers working to a sub-$100 per-seat budget

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

Loxo

  • Public $149/user/mo Core
  • Seven-day trial, no card
  • MCP plus API on an agency ATS
  • Core price is annual billing
  • Not built for in-house structured hiring

What each one costs

CATS

$89/user/mo

Pro is $89 per user per month billed annually, or $110 per user per month billed monthly. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 21 Sep 2026

Loxo

$149/user/mo

Core from $149/user/mo billed annually; Professional from $199/user/mo billed annually. Seven day trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is CATS cheaper than Loxo?
CATS starts lower, at $89/user/mo against $149/user/mo for Loxo. 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 Loxo for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. CATS offers a 30 day free trial. Loxo offers a free trial.
Does CATS or Loxo have an MCP server?
Loxo ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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