Compare/Head to head

Crelate vs Top Echelon

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

Starting price

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

Top Echelon

$79/mo Free trial

Split-network ATS for independent desk recruiters. Standard is $79/month billed annually, or $95 monthly, with a free trial.

Where Top Echelon fits

  • Independent desk recruiters
  • Split and network staffing
  • Small agencies that partner on roles
  • Buyers who want published monthly pricing

At a glance

DetailCrelateTop Echelon
Starting price$85/user/mo$79/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialYesYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, CRMATS, CRM
Capterra4.5 from 443 reviews4.6 from 515 reviews

Where they pull apart

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

Top Echelon

Stands out: Split and network deals with partner recruiters handled inside the ATS.

Watch out: No MCP, and it only makes sense if splits are part of how you work.

Not the right fit for

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

Pros and cons

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

Top Echelon

  • Split network is a first-class feature
  • Published monthly pricing
  • Free trial available
  • No MCP
  • Only worthwhile if you work splits
  • Not a corporate ATS

What each one costs

Crelate

$85/user/mo

Essentials is $85 per user per month paid annually and Business is $119 per user per month. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Top Echelon

$79/mo

TE Recruit Standard is $79/mo billed annually ($95/mo billed monthly) and Professional is $95/mo billed annually ($115/mo billed monthly). Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Crelate cheaper than Top Echelon?
Top Echelon starts lower, at $79/mo against $85/user/mo for Crelate. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Crelate or Top Echelon for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Crelate offers a free trial. Top Echelon offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Crelate alternatives All Top Echelon alternatives Every ATS tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?