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CATS vs ApplicantStack Comparison

Last updated:

CATS

4.3(391 reviews)

Starting at $69 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

CATS is an easy to use, powerful tool that brings important staffing data together, anywhere on the go! It takes the tedious, paper-and-pencil task of charting, and makes it fast and simple for managers and recruiters to…

ApplicantStack

4.5(1,969 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

ApplicantStack is Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and Human Resources (HR) software for small to medium-sized companies. It comes with a Recruiting Module, Job Board Subscription, Performance Tracking, Time and Attendanc…

ApplicantStack leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 1,969 reviews.

CATS vs ApplicantStack — at a glance

FeatureCATSApplicantStack
Rating4.3 / 54.5 / 5
Reviews3911,969
Starting price$69 /User/MonthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryStaffing SoftwareApplicant Tracking System (ATS)
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between CATS and ApplicantStack

  • Pricing: CATS starts at $69 /User/Month. ApplicantStack pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: CATS is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while ApplicantStack targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: ApplicantStack scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
  • Deployment: CATS supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; ApplicantStack supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

CATS vs ApplicantStack — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Staffing Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

CATS - Staffing Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
ApplicantStack
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

CATS

Best for customizable, user-friendly staffing in healthcare and recruitment agencies.

Choose if
  • You need easy job posting to multiple job boards without technical hassle
  • Your organization requires flexible, configurable workflows tailored to specific recruitment needs
  • You want an intuitive interface suitable for recruiters and HR administrators with limited tech skills
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team demands advanced AI-driven recruitment features for sophisticated candidate sourcing
  • You require extensive third-party app integrations beyond basic job board connectivity

ApplicantStack

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

CATS typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. ApplicantStack tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

CATS is an easy to use, powerful tool that brings important staffing data together, anywhere on the go! It takes the tedious, paper-and-pencil task of charting, and makes it fast and simple ... Read More about CATS

ApplicantStack is Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and Human Resources (HR) software for small to medium-sized companies. It comes with a Recruiting Module, Job Board Subscription, ... Read More about ApplicantStack

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $69 , Billed Yearly
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

Not Available

8.9/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
10 – 500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

CATS

No key benefits available yet.

ApplicantStack

  • Cost-Effective ATS & HR Suite for SMBs: ApplicantStack offers a solid suite of recruiting and HR tools at a competitive price, making it a strong value proposition for small to medium-sized companies looking to digitize hiring and HR operations.
  • All-in-One HR Features Including Time and Attendance: Beyond applicant tracking, the platform includes built-in HR tools like performance tracking and attendance, enabling users to manage the full employee lifecycle in one platform.
  • Ease of Use and Quick Implementation: The platform is designed for simplicity, allowing HR teams to onboard quickly with minimal training. Pre-built templates and reports help accelerate usage right from the start.
Best fit

Best fit

CATS

No best-fit guidance available yet.

ApplicantStack

  • 10 – 500 employees
  • Healthcare, Education, Retail, Nonprofits, Manufacturing, Hospitality
  • HR Generalists, Talent Acquisition Managers, Office Administrators, Hiring Coordinators, Small Business Owners
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

CATS

No alternatives guidance available yet.

ApplicantStack

  • While suitable for small to mid-sized businesses, larger companies may find ApplicantStack’s customization options for workflows, forms, and reports less robust than enterprise-grade ATS platforms.
  • The platform provides functional design, but may not offer the sleek, user-friendly interface found in newer ATS systems like Greenhouse or Lever, especially for tech-savvy recruiting teams.
  • Unlike AI-first platforms (e.g., iSmartRecruit or SeekOut), ApplicantStack lacks native artificial intelligence tools for predictive analytics, smart resume parsing, or automated candidate ranking.

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

CATS has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

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Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do CATS and ApplicantStack Compare on Features?

Total Features

0 Features

11 Features

Unique Features

No features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare CATS and ApplicantStack on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $69 , Billed Yearly
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • CATS PRO

        • Meeting Scheduler

        • SMS Texting (US & Canada)

        • 2- way Calendar & Email sync

        Show more +

      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      CATS pricing
      ApplicantStack pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      CATS User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      81

      32

      10

      1

      2

      425

      215

      45

      11

      3

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Users generally appreciate CATS for its ease of use, customization options, and efficient candidate tracking, though some find it complex initially and desire more advanced features.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Customizability
      • Efficient candidate tracking

      Common complaints

      • Complexity for new users
      • Limited integrations and advanced features

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 699 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Streamlines recruitment and onboarding processes, saving time and enhancing efficiency by organizing all stages in one platform.
      • User-friendly interface that's intuitive even for non-technical users, aiding faster adoption.
      • Facilitates easy job posting to multiple job boards and tracking applicants from multiple sources.

      Common complaints

      • Some users find the system's user interface slightly outdated or not as visually appealing.
      • Customization features often require assistance from account managers or may have certain limitations.
      • Report generation can sometimes be slow or inconsistent with specific criteria.

      Pros and Cons

      • Easy job posting to multiple websites

      • Highly customizable to meet organizational needs

      • Intuitive and user-friendly interface for non-developers

      • Complexity in features and customizations can overwhelm new users

      • Limited selection of additional apps and connectors in the marketplace

      • Streamlines recruitment and onboarding processes, saving time and enhancing efficiency by organizing all stages in one platform.

      • User-friendly interface that's intuitive even for non-technical users, aiding faster adoption.

      • Facilitates easy job posting to multiple job boards and tracking applicants from multiple sources.

      • Some users find the system's user interface slightly outdated or not as visually appealing.

      • Customization features often require assistance from account managers or may have certain limitations.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      Allen

      Allen

      AEC DIRECT

      AEC DIRECT

      SCI

      SCI

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Text candidates with an intuitive message interface

      4 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to CATS and ApplicantStack in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, CATS or ApplicantStack?
      ApplicantStack edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.3). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do CATS and ApplicantStack offer a free trial?
      Yes, both CATS and ApplicantStack offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of CATS vs ApplicantStack?
      CATS starts at $69 /User/Month. ApplicantStack starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to CATS?
      Top alternatives to CATS include monday.com, CleverStaff, ApplicantStack, Recruit CRM, Recruiterflow.
      What are the top alternatives to ApplicantStack?
      Top alternatives to ApplicantStack include RecruitBPM, JobScore, Manatal, Recruiterflow, Jobtoolz.

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