Compare/Head to head

Manatal vs Stardex

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

Starting price

Manatal

$15/user/mo 14 day free trial

Affordable ATS for small businesses and agencies with AI match scores, a Chrome extension and an API, from $15/user/mo on annual billing.

Where Manatal fits

  • Small in-house teams
  • Boutique agencies
  • Desks that live in Chrome while sourcing
  • Buyers who want AI match without enterprise pricing

Stardex

$79/user/mo

AI ATS and CRM for executive search firms. Starter is $79/user/mo, and the first 14 days are fully refundable.

Where Stardex fits

  • Executive search and retained recruiting firms
  • Desks that want AI notes and org charts in the ATS
  • Teams that will add sequences on Pro
  • Ops connecting Claude to Stardex via MCP

At a glance

DetailManatalStardex
Starting price$15/user/mo$79/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, CRMATS, Outreach, CRM, Sourcing
Capterra4.6 from 141 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

Manatal

Stands out: A $15 per-user start with AI ranking and browser capture included.

Watch out: MCP is Enterprise Plus only, and monthly billing is $19 rather than $15.

Not the right fit for

  • Small teams that need MCP below the top tier
  • Teams that refuse annual billing

Stardex

Stands out: Search-firm ATS with AI tagging, client portals, org charts, plus a remote MCP server and REST API.

Watch out: Sequences, similar-profile search, and webhooks start on Pro at $119/user/mo. Copilot, with SSO and audit logs, is custom-priced.

Not the right fit for

  • In-house TA teams that need a corporate ATS
  • Firms that need SSO on the $79 Starter plan

Pros and cons

Manatal

  • Low published per-user price
  • 14-day trial with no card
  • Chrome extension included
  • MCP restricted to the top tier
  • Monthly billing costs more
  • Light on enterprise reporting

Stardex

  • Starter $79/user/mo with AI search
  • Remote MCP server for Claude
  • API and data exports on every plan
  • Sequences and webhooks start on Pro
  • SSO and audit log are Copilot/custom
  • Built for search firms, not in-house TA

What each one costs

Manatal

$15/user/mo

Professional is $15 per user a month billed annually, or $19 monthly, for up to 15 jobs and 10,000 candidates. Enterprise is $35 annually or $39 monthly with unlimited jobs and workflow automation, and Enterprise Plus is $55 annually or $59 monthly, adding the open API, the ChatGPT and Claude (MCP) integration and SSO. A Custom plan is priced on demand. There is a 14-day free trial with no card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Stardex

$79/user/mo

Starter is $79/user/mo and Pro $119/user/mo, with yearly billing shown at 20% off; Copilot is custom. The first 14 days are fully refundable. API access and data exports are included on all plans. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Manatal cheaper than Stardex?
Manatal starts lower, at $15/user/mo against $79/user/mo for Stardex. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Manatal or Stardex for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Manatal offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Manatal or Stardex have an MCP server?
Manatal and Stardex ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Manatal alternatives All Stardex alternatives Every ATS tool

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