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.

Manatal

$15/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

Detail	Manatal	Stardex
Starting price	$15/mo	$79/user/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	14 day free trial	Not on record
MCP server	✓Yes	✓Yes
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	ATS, CRM	ATS, Outreach, CRM, Sourcing
Capterra	4.6 from 141 reviews	Not 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/mo

From ~$15/user/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Sep 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 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Manatal cheaper than Stardex?

Manatal starts lower, at $15/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.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 7 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?