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Best CATS Alternatives: 9 Compared, With Free Options (2026)

Explore 9 alternatives to CATS, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The 9 free CATS alternatives buyers consider most

Quick answer

The strongest CATS alternatives right now are JobAdder, Velents and PARiM. JobAdder leads the list with a 4.63★ rating from real users. Compare all 9 on rating and pricing below.

There's no single best tool for everyone, so if CATS falls short on cost, features, or ease of use, look here. These 9 staffing software free alternatives lead the field, ranked by SpotScore (a blend of real-user satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing. Compare them quickly in the table, then read each profile.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
JobAdderStreamline job postings and candidate management.—★★★★★ 4.63(112)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
VelentsTransform your hiring process with Velents.—★★★☆☆ 3.4Freefrom $99/moteams of all sizes
PARiMMaximize productivity and minimize costs with PARiM.—Not yet ratedFreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
ZipwireStreamline your workforce with ease.—Not yet ratedFreeFreemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
AryticFind the perfect hire with Arytic's AI technology.—★★★★★ 5(2)FreeFreemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
ZerocoderUnlock your business potential with Zerocoder's no-code solutions.—★★★★★ 5(10)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
ScissorsStreamline your workforce, elevate your brand.—★★★★☆ 4.4FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
GustavStreamlining staffing, maximizing success.—★★★★★ 5(2)FreeFreemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
OorwinStreamline your staffing with efficient scheduling software.—★★★★★ 4.52(263)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
JobAdder - Staffing Software

JobAdder

Streamline job postings and candidate management.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is JobAdder?

The JobAdder recruiting software enables user to post and manage job openings as well as the candidate database. It is the first of its kind to do so with a simple yet powerful interface that can be used by any sized staffing company. This easy to use and feature packed software will increase ...

Read more about JobAdder
Free Trial·

JobAdder offers custom pricing plan

Velents - Staffing Software

Velents

Transform your hiring process with Velents.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

3.4

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What is Velents?

Introducing Velents – the ultimate solution for streamlined hiring processes. With its powerful platform, recruiters can save up to 80% of their time and expenses, while candidates can establish their personal brands. Choose from a variety of cutting-edge tech hiring solutions tailored to your ...

Read more about Velents
Free TrialTry Free →·

Velents offers custom pricing plan

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PARiM - New SaaS Software

PARiM

Maximize productivity and minimize costs with PARiM.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is PARiM?

PARiM is designed to reduce the complexity of employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, absences, payroll computing, and costs. Our team of experienced workforce management professionals has worked on this software for over 5 years and provides quality results. Streamline processes ...

Read more about PARiM
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $55/Month

Zipwire - New SaaS Software

Zipwire

Streamline your workforce with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

Add to compare

What is Zipwire?

Zipwire is a straightforward, yet powerful app created to assist Human Resources, People Ops and groups of entrepreneurs manage their part-time, freelance, and contract teams with ease. It streamlines tasks with a user-friendly interface and robust tools to maximize all the benefits of ...

Read more about Zipwire

Starts from $14.99/Month, also offers free forever plan

Arytic - Staffing Software

Arytic

Find the perfect hire with Arytic's AI technology.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

Add to compare

What is Arytic?

Arytic is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence powered platform that helps employers source the best talent for their job vacancies. Combining the latest technology and behavioral sciences, Arytic offers an accurate, fast and affordable way to find the ideal candidate. An intuitive engine ...

Read more about Arytic

Starts from $99.99, also offers free forever plan

Zerocoder - Staffing Software

Zerocoder

Unlock your business potential with Zerocoder's no-code solutions.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Zerocoder?

Zerocoder is the perfect destination for businesses that need to upgrade their no-code development. The platform provides access to an exclusive network of top-tier no-code developers and designers. This matching technology smoothly pairs businesses with the most suitable zerocoders for their ...

Read more about Zerocoder
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $1,499/Month

Scissors - Staffing Software

Scissors

Streamline your workforce, elevate your brand.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

Add to compare

What is Scissors?

Scissors is the ultimate staffing solution, designed toremove theSysntax dullness of managing your workforce. Harness the power of this intuitive software and spendmore time nurturing relationships with your candidates. Quickly cut through hours of tedious workforce management tasks, so you can ...

Read more about Scissors
Free Trial·

Scissors offers custom pricing plan

Gustav - Staffing Software

Gustav

Streamlining staffing, maximizing success.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

Add to compare

What is Gustav?

Gustav is an innovative staffing software specifically designed to save staffing agencies, over the road trucking companies and industrial staffing firms THOUSANDS of dollars in wasted recruiting costs by leveraging data capture and empowering its users. Gustav takes a traditional approach to ...

Read more about Gustav

Starts from $149/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan

Oorwin - Staffing Software

Oorwin

Streamline your staffing with efficient scheduling software.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Oorwin?

Oorwin's Staffing Software is an online, web-based system that makes managing staffing easier and more efficient. Create a better experience for customers, clients or patients with a more efficient employee scheduling software program. Integrates with most other popular payroll systems and is ...

Read more about Oorwin
Free Trial·

Oorwin offers custom pricing plan

Who competes with CATS?

Across Staffing Software, 9 products compete directly with CATS. The strongest overlap is with JobAdder, Velents and PARiM. Each is compared against CATS on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Sites and apps like CATS

Searches for "sites like CATS" and "apps like CATS" land on the same set of options as "CATS alternatives" — the 9 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each of these made the list

JobAdderBest for teams of all sizes

Very user-friendly and intuitive interface for managing candidates and client database efficiently.

Watch for: Some users find it challenging to link all sections and have to input information multiple times.

VelentsBest for teams of all sizes

Streamlined hiring processes

Watch for: Limited to tech hiring

PARiMBest for teams of all sizes

Streamlines employee scheduling

Watch for: Limited to staffing management

ZipwireBest for teams of all sizes

Easy staff management

Watch for: Limited to part-time and freelance staff

AryticBest for teams of all sizes

AI-powered talent sourcing

Watch for: May require technical expertise

ZerocoderBest for teams of all sizes

Rapid solutions and quality work provided by Zerocoder, enhancing project efficiency.

Watch for: Pricing could be more affordable for some clients.

ScissorsBest for teams of all sizes

Intuitive user interface

Watch for: Limited integrations

GustavBest for teams of all sizes

Cost-effective solution

Watch for: Limited features for large firms

OorwinBest for teams of all sizes

Streamlines recruitment processes, making it easier to close roles and find the best candidates.

Watch for: Some users find the UI lacking certain organization-specific options.

Why teams look for a CATS alternative

Teams rarely leave CATS without a reason — usually it's one of these:

  • Complexity in features and customizations for new users without proper guidance.
  • Limited selection of additional apps and connectors in the Marketplace.
  • Some users find the system too basic without advanced AI features.
  • Need for more support or refining in certain areas for improved user experience.

What counts when comparing CATS alternatives

Comparing pricing, ratings, and strengths across the 9 free alternatives: 9 offer a free tier; paid plans run $99, with Velents the cheapest entry point; and Arytic is the highest rated at 5★ across 2 reviews.

How we ranked these.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to CATS are Arytic (5.0★), Zerocoder (5.0★), Gustav (5.0★). Compare all 9 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to CATS, prioritize: Applicant Tracking, Recruiting Management, Resume Parsing, Contact Database, Reporting, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

CATS starts from $69 /User/Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply CATS is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Which CATS alternative should you pick?

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — JobAdder, Velents and PARiM let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Arytic has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.

Migrating away from CATS

Before you move off CATS, export your existing data and confirm your new tool can import it. Check feature parity for the workflows you depend on, then run a short pilot on a free tier or trial before rolling it out. Most tools above offer a free way to test, so you can validate the fit before paying. Keep your CATS account active until the migration is done.

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