Top 8 alternatives to Manatal for recruitment agencies in 2026
Chris Allen
TL;DR
Manatal earns its reputation as one of the best-value ATS/CRM options on the market.
The interface is clean, the AI features are genuinely useful, customer support is responsive, and the entry price of $15/user/month is hard to argue with on paper.
For agencies looking for a capable, modern platform without an enterprise price tag, it regularly tops comparison lists, and for good reason.
So why are people looking for alternatives?
A few things come up consistently in real user reviews.
The $15/month entry plan caps you at just 15 open jobs and 10,000 candidates, which sounds fine until a busy month hits. API access and workflow automation are locked behind the $55/user/month Enterprise Plus tier, meaning the platform's true power only unlocks at a price point that narrows the value gap with pricier competitors. Mass email credits are capped, which frustrates agencies doing high-volume outreach.
And while Manatal serves both agencies and internal HR teams, that dual audience means some agency-specific workflows (particularly around client management depth and fee-based pipeline tracking) aren't as sharp as dedicated agency tools.
If any of that sounds familiar, here are eight alternatives worth evaluating.
1. Happlicant
Where Manatal is designed to serve both agencies and internal HR teams, Happlicant is built exclusively for agency recruiters. This means every feature, every workflow, and every design decision is shaped around placing candidates with clients rather than hiring for a single organisation.
The CRM side is a genuine first-class feature, not an add-on: client management, deal tracking, and relationship pipelines sit alongside the ATS as equal parts of the same system.
You also get a LinkedIn Chrome Extension for one-click sourcing, workflow automation, and AI resume parsing, without hitting job caps or having core features gated behind a top-tier plan.
Best for: Solo recruiters and small agencies that want an agency-first ATS/CRM with no job caps, no feature gating, and flat pricing that doesn't penalise growth.
Pricing: From $59/user/month — see current plans here.
2. RecruitCRM
RecruitCRM is probably the most direct agency-focused upgrade from Manatal.
Both are modern, well-reviewed platforms; however, where Manatal's agency CRM is one part of a broader product, RecruitCRM is built entirely around the agency workflow: client pipelines, placement tracking, deal management, and candidate communication all sit at the core rather than the edges.
The unlimited free trial is genuinely standout: full platform access, no credit card, no time limit.
From ~$85/user/month.
Honest caveat: A meaningful step up in price from Manatal's entry tier, and reporting depth is limited outside higher-tier plans. But for agencies that have hit Manatal's job caps or workflow limitations, the jump in agency-specific depth is immediate.
Best for: Small-to-mid agencies ready to invest more per user for a sharper agency-first workflow and the most risk-free trial in the market.
3. Recruiterflow
Where Manatal's outreach tools are relatively limited, Recruiterflow's are one of its strongest features.
Email sequences, candidate nurturing workflows, and a polished LinkedIn Chrome Extension make it one of the best options for agencies running systematic, outbound-first recruitment models.
The kanban pipeline view and client management tools are also noticeably more agency-focused than Manatal's.
From ~$119/user/month.
Honest caveat: Significantly more expensive than Manatal at every tier, and temp and contract workflows are limited. But for perm-focused agencies where outbound candidate outreach is central to daily operations, the native automation tools are worth the premium.
Best for: Permanent placement agencies where candidate outreach sequences and pipeline automation are non-negotiable parts of the workflow.
4. Loxo
Loxo does something Manatal doesn't attempt: it combines the ATS/CRM with a built-in sourcing engine.
Its database of over 1.2 billion professional profiles, AI-powered candidate matching, and multi-channel outreach automation make it one of the most capable proactive sourcing platforms available to agency recruiters.
For outbound-heavy desks, that integrated approach is a fundamentally different value proposition to Manatal's more passive, pipeline-management model.
From ~$119/user/month.
Honest caveat: Real learning curve, price reflects the depth, and customer support gets mixed reviews. Agencies with reactive or inbound-led models may not use what they're paying for. But for proactive sourcing-first operations, the integrated database alone justifies evaluation.
Best for: Outbound-first agencies in tech or professional services who want their ATS and sourcing database fully integrated under one roof.
5. Vincere Evo
Vincere is the step-up option for agencies that have outgrown Manatal's feature ceiling and need more depth across perm, contract, and temp workflows.
It has back-office tools, analytics, and AI features built into a single system designed specifically for mid-market recruitment agencies.
From £85/user/month.
Honest caveat: The Access Group acquisition has introduced friction, rising costs and inconsistent support show up in recent reviews, and there's no free trial, just a demo. The platform can also feel over-engineered for smaller teams that don't need its full depth.
Best for: Mid-sized agencies (10–50 recruiters) handling multiple placement types who have genuinely outgrown Manatal and need enterprise-grade workflow depth.
6. Zoho Recruit
If you're already working inside the Zoho ecosystem — Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Mail — Zoho Recruit is the natural next step.
The native integrations are genuinely valuable, and the feature breadth at entry pricing from around $25/user/month is comfortably between Manatal's base tier and most agency-specific alternatives.
Honest caveat: Zoho Recruit serves a very broad audience (enterprises, SMEs, internal HR teams, and agencies alike) which means the agency-specific workflow focus isn't as sharp as dedicated tools. The interface can feel generic and setup-heavy. But for teams already in the Zoho stack, the integration value is real.
Best for: Budget-conscious agencies already using Zoho products who want to consolidate tools without a significant price jump.
7. Crelate
For executive search and retained recruitment firms, Crelate is the most compelling upgrade from Manatal.
Its deep pipeline configurability, relationship-tracking depth, and Outlook integration are built specifically for the long-cycle, high-touch world of senior placements — right where Manatal's more generalised approach runs out of precision.
Custom pricing.
Honest caveat: Setup takes real time and effort, and custom pricing means a full sales conversation before you know what you'll pay. High-volume contingency desks will likely find the depth overkill.
Best for: Boutique executive search and retained recruitment firms who need a configurable, relationship-led system that Manatal's pipeline simplicity can't match.
8. PCRecruiter
PCRecruiter is a long-standing agency ATS/CRM that rewards agencies prioritising configurability and stability over a modern interface.
It handles perm, contract, and retained work, integrates well with Outlook, and has a browser tool for pulling candidate data from any online source directly into your database.
Custom pricing.
Honest caveat: The interface is functional rather than modern: it won't win any design awards, and new users used to Manatal's clean UX will notice the contrast immediately. But for agencies that value precision and long-term stability over aesthetics, PCRecruiter has earned its loyal user base for good reason.
Best for: Agencies prioritising deep configurability and platform stability over a slick interface, particularly those doing a mix of permanent and professional search.
Comparison table
Tool | Best for | Pricing (from) | Free trial | Agency CRM depth | Outbound sourcing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manatal | Budget-conscious agencies & internal HR teams | $15/user/ month | 14 days | Basic | Basic |
Happlicant | Solo recruiters & small agencies | $59/user/ month | Yes | Strong | Yes |
RecruitCRM | Small agencies, great support | ~$85/user/ month | Unlimited | Strong | Basic |
Recruiterflow | Automation-first perm agencies | ~$119/user/ month | Yes | Strong | Yes |
Loxo | Outbound & AI-first agencies | ~$119/user/ month | 7 days | Strong | Yes |
Vincere Evo | Mid-size & international agencies | £85/user/ month | Demo only | Strong | Basic |
Zoho Recruit | Zoho ecosystem agencies | ~$25/user/ month | Yes | Partial | Basic |
Crelate | Executive & retained search | Custom | Yes | Strong | Basic |
PCRecruiter | Stability & configurability | Custom | Yes | Strong | Basic |
Manatal is a genuinely good tool, and if the job cap and feature gating aren't problems you've hit yet, there's nothing wrong with staying on it.
But if you're bumping against the 15-job limit, finding the agency CRM too shallow for the complexity of your client relationships, or frustrated that automation only unlocks at the $55 tier, the switch is worth making.
For solo recruiters and small agencies wanting a purpose-built agency tool with flat pricing and no feature gating, Happlicant is the most focused answer.
For the deepest agency CRM experience with the lowest-risk trial, RecruitCRM.
For outbound automation at its best, Recruiterflow.
For integrated sourcing power, Loxo.
For agencies already in the Zoho stack, Zoho Recruit makes the most of what you're already paying for.
Whatever you choose, the upgrade from a tool you've outgrown is rarely as disruptive as staying on one that's holding you back.
If you want to think through what features actually matter before committing, our guide on how to calculate ROI on a recruitment CRM is a practical place to start.
See Happlicant's software in action
Jump on a quick demo call to see how Happlicant's ATS/CRM can save you time and help you grow your agency.
