Head to head

JOIN vs softgarden

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

JOIN

€17/job/mo 14 day free trial

European job distribution plus a lightweight ATS, priced per job at €17 a month on annual billing, with a 14-day trial.

Where JOIN fits

  • European small businesses that need multi-posting
  • Teams that think in roles rather than seats
  • Buyers who want a 14-day trial
  • Desks that want a light ATS with distribution

softgarden

€199/mo

German-market in-house ATS with career sites and multi-posting, from €199/mo.

Where softgarden fits

  • German in-house talent teams
  • Austrian in-house talent teams
  • German-speaking mid-market employers
  • Teams that need multi-posting plus a career site

At a glance

DetailJOINsoftgarden
Starting price€17/job/mo€199/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, Job boardsATS, Recruitment marketing
Capterra4.5 from 112 reviews4.6 from 124 reviews

Where they pull apart

JOIN

Stands out: Multi-posting priced by the job rather than by the seat.

Watch out: Per-job pricing gets expensive if you run many roles at once, and there is no MCP.

Not the right fit for

  • US staffing agencies
  • Enterprise HCM selections

softgarden

Stands out: The German and Austrian in-house default, with a published euro starting price.

Watch out: Anything beyond the core plan moves to custom pricing, and there is no MCP.

Not the right fit for

  • US agencies
  • Teams that need MCP

Pros and cons

JOIN

  • Low per-job entry price
  • 14-day free trial
  • Multi-posting across European boards
  • Per-job pricing scales with open roles
  • No MCP
  • Light as a standalone ATS

softgarden

  • Published €199 core price
  • Career site plus multi-posting
  • Public API
  • No MCP
  • Custom pricing above core
  • Not a US agency tool

What each one costs

JOIN

€17/job/mo

From ~€99/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 17 Sep 2026

softgarden

€199/mo

From €199/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 17 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try JOIN or softgarden for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. JOIN offers a 14 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All JOIN alternatives All softgarden alternatives Every ATS tool

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