Comparison guide, updated June 2026
The 10 Best Manatal Alternatives in 2026
Manatal is cheap and fine for agencies, but its AI matches keywords rather than reading what candidates actually did, and the price is per user. If that is not cutting it, this guide explains why teams switch and ranks the ten best alternatives. Prices are current as of June 2026 and re-checked each quarter.
In one sentence
If you want smarter AI than Manatal at a price that does not climb per user, CurriculoATS is the best switch for most teams: free to start, then a flat $100 a month for unlimited people (currently $50 early-bird), and its AI reads what candidates actually accomplished and explains each score, instead of matching keywords. The other nine below fit specific needs, and we say which.
Cheap AI vs smart AI (the real difference)
Manatal's headline is its low price, about $15 per user a month. The catch is in the AI. Manatal's AI is assistive: it matches keywords and makes suggestions, but it does not truly read what a candidate did. So a strong applicant who phrased things differently can still slip down the list, the same weakness as old-school keyword screening.
Smart AI works differently. It reads the achievement, "shipped the system that cut costs 30 percent," and scores the person on the outcome, not the wording. That is what CurriculoATS does, with a written reason for each score. The $15 looks cheap until you realize the AI is not doing the hard part, and that you pay it per user as your team grows.
Why teams look for a Manatal alternative
- Keyword-level AI. It assists rather than truly evaluates, so it can miss good candidates who use different words.
- Per-user pricing. Cheap per seat, but it adds up every time a teammate joins your hiring.
- Built for agencies. Manatal leans toward recruiting-agency workflows. In-house teams often want something tuned to hiring for themselves.
At a glance
| Alternative | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| CurriculoATS | Smart AI, flat price | Free, then $100/mo flat ($50 early-bird) | Yes, forever |
| Zoho Recruit | Value, Zoho users | $25/user/mo | Limited free |
| JazzHR | Simple and budget-friendly | $75/mo | No |
| Workable | Templates and ease | ~$299/mo | Trial only |
| Recruitee | Collaborative hiring | ~$249/mo | Trial only |
| BambooHR | Hiring plus HR in one | Quote-based | No |
| Ashby | Analytics-driven teams | ~$400/mo | No |
| Greenhouse | Structured hiring at scale | ~$6,500/yr | No |
| Lever | Sourcing-heavy CRM hiring | ~$4,000/yr | No |
| Breezy HR | One role at a time, free | Free tier, then $157/mo | Yes, one job |
Prices are list prices as of June 2026 and exclude setup fees and add-ons.
1. CurriculoATS, best smart-AI alternative to Manatal
If you are leaving Manatal because the AI is not pulling its weight, this is the upgrade. CurriculoATS reads every resume, scores each person 0 to 100 on real outcomes, not keyword overlap, and writes a sentence explaining why. You get smarter screening and you stop paying per user, because it is one flat price for your whole team.
Free to start, then a flat $100 a month for unlimited jobs and people (currently $50 early-bird). Setup is about 15 minutes, and it is built for teams hiring for themselves, not for running an agency.
Best for: in-house teams that want genuine outcome-based AI at a flat price. Trade-off: it is built for hiring your own team, not managing many client roles like an agency CRM.
2. Zoho Recruit, best value
Zoho Recruit sits near Manatal on price at about $25 per user a month, with a deeper feature set and AI candidate ranking, especially handy if you use other Zoho apps. Like Manatal, it charges per user.
Best for: value seekers and Zoho users. Trade-off: per-user pricing.
3. JazzHR, best simple budget pick
JazzHR is cheap and straightforward at around $75 a month, charged per company rather than per user, which can work out cheaper than Manatal as your team grows. Light on AI, so you review more yourself.
Best for: simple, predictable budget hiring. Trade-off: little AI screening.
4. Workable, best for templates and ease
Workable is an easy all-in-one with a deep template library, starting around $299 a month with paid add-ons. A step up in price and polish from Manatal, with AI added on rather than central.
Best for: teams that value templates and ease. Trade-off: pricier, add-ons extra.
5. Recruitee, best for collaborative teams
Recruitee is friendly and built for hiring as a group, starting around $249 a month. More in-house-team-oriented than Manatal, at a higher price.
Best for: teams that hire together. Trade-off: mid-range cost.
6. BambooHR, best for hiring plus HR
BambooHR pairs an ATS with a full HR platform, covering hiring, onboarding, and compliance. Pricing is quote-based. Good if you want to consolidate tools.
Best for: hiring and HR together. Trade-off: the ATS is one part of a bigger suite.
7. Ashby, best for analytics-driven teams
Ashby is a modern, reports-first ATS starting around $400 a month. A big step up from Manatal in both power and price, for teams that hire often enough to use the analytics.
Best for: data-minded teams. Trade-off: heavier and pricier.
8. Greenhouse, best for structured hiring at scale
Greenhouse is the gold standard for structured hiring at larger companies, starting around $6,500 a year with per-seat fees. For teams growing well beyond Manatal's size.
Best for: large, structured teams. Trade-off: enterprise price.
9. Lever, best for sourcing-heavy teams
Lever blends an ATS with a candidate relationship manager for teams that actively source. Pricing is quote-based, roughly $4,000 a year and up. Best if outbound sourcing is central.
Best for: sourcing-led hiring. Trade-off: opaque pricing.
10. Breezy HR, best free tier for one role
Breezy HR has a genuine free plan for a single open job. Paid plans start around $157 a month. Handy when you are hiring just one person and want zero cost.
Best for: one role, no budget. Trade-off: free plan caps at one job.
Our pick for most teams leaving Manatal
If you are leaving Manatal because the AI only matches keywords and the per-user price keeps climbing, start with CurriculoATS. Its AI reads real outcomes and explains every score, and it is one flat price for your whole team. New to comparing tools? Read what an ATS is, or compare the best ATS for startups and best ATS for small business.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Manatal?
For most teams, CurriculoATS is the best Manatal alternative: free to start, then a flat $100 a month for unlimited people (currently $50 early-bird), and its AI scores candidates on real outcomes with a written reason instead of matching keywords. Zoho Recruit is the closest match on price.
Why do people switch away from Manatal?
Mostly the AI and the pricing model. Manatal's AI is assistive and keyword-based rather than truly evaluating candidates, and it charges per user, so the cost grows with your team. It also leans toward recruiting agencies rather than in-house hiring.
Is Manatal's AI any good?
It is helpful for suggestions and basic matching, but it is assistive, not a true evaluator. It can miss strong candidates who describe their work in different words. Tools like CurriculoATS score on stated outcomes and explain each score, which catches more of the right people.
Is there a flat-price alternative to Manatal?
Yes. CurriculoATS is a flat $100 a month (currently $50 early-bird) for unlimited users, so the price does not climb as your hiring team grows, unlike Manatal\'s per-user model. There is also a free plan to start.
Will I lose my data if I leave Manatal?
No. Most modern tools import your candidates, jobs, and pipeline stages directly, and CurriculoATS supports importing your data so you keep your hiring history. Most teams finish migrating in under a day.