Recruitly vs CATS
See how Recruitly compares to CATS and why more recruitment agencies are making the switch
About CATS
CATS (Comprehensive Applicant Tracking System) is a web-based ATS for staffing agencies and recruiting departments.
The Recruitly Advantage
While CATS offers a basic applicant tracking system at an entry-level price point, Recruitly delivers a significantly more comprehensive platform with advanced AI capabilities, integrated marketing tools, and superior automation features that provide better value and higher productivity.
Key Differences
Why recruitment agencies choose Recruitly over CATS
Recruitly provides cutting-edge AI capabilities powered by Qdrant vector database and OpenAI embeddings, while CATS offers minimal AI functionality
Recruitly features built-in email marketing with AI template designer, whereas CATS provides only basic email templates
Recruitly includes direct integration with 50+ job boards, while CATS has more limited job posting options
Recruitly delivers AI CV editing and rewriting with built-in profile enrichment, capabilities that CATS lacks entirely
Recruitly offers homegrown drip feed/sequencing for outreach campaigns as a native feature, not available in CATS
Recruitly provides 50+ built-in automation rules, compared to CATS' minimal workflow automation
Recruitly includes comprehensive GDPR compliance automation with dashboards, while CATS offers basic compliance tools
Recruitly features built-in two-way SMS and VoIP integrations, whereas CATS has limited communication options
Recruitly's user interface is significantly more modern and intuitive, compared to CATS' dated interface
Recruitly has more extensive Zapier integrations and webhooks for connecting with other business systems
Feature Comparison
See how Recruitly and CATS stack up feature by feature
| Feature | Recruitly | CATS |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant Tracking System (ATS) | ||
| Job Board Multi-Posting | Native (50+ job boards) | Limited integrations |
| AI-Powered Candidate Matching | Advanced AI with semantic search | Basic keyword search |
| Two-Way Communication | Built-in WhatsApp (coming soon), SMS, VoIP | Email only |
| CRM for Business Development | Comprehensive CRM with automation | Basic contact management |
| CV Formatting & Submission | Advanced editor with AI rewrite | Basic CV handling |
| Interview Scheduling | Automated scheduling system | Basic calendar integration |
| Revenue & Commission Tracking | Comprehensive tracking system | Limited financial tracking |
| Workflow Automation | 50+ automation rules | Minimal automation |
| GDPR Compliance | Automated GDPR management | Basic compliance tools |
| AI CV Generator | Built-in with built-in profile enrichment | Not available |
| Email Marketing | Built-in with AI template designer | Basic email templates |
| User Interface | Modern, intuitive design | Dated interface |
| Integration Capabilities | Extensive Zapier & webhooks | Limited integration options |
What Our Customers Say
Hear from customers who switched from CATS to Recruitly
"After using CATS for two years, switching to Recruitly was eye-opening. The modern interface and AI-powered features have reduced our time-to-fill by nearly 40%, and we are no longer paying for multiple add-on services."
Brandon Williams
Owner, Pinnacle Recruitment Solutions
"CATS served our basic needs when we were starting out, but as we grew, its limitations became painfully apparent. Recruitly's comprehensive platform has eliminated three separate tools we previously needed, actually saving us money despite the higher base price."
Lisa Rodriguez
Operations Manager, Professional Staffing Group
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about switching from CATS to Recruitly
Is Recruitly worth the higher price compared to CATS?
Most agencies find that Recruitly's additional capabilities more than justify the price difference. When accounting for the third-party tools and services needed to supplement CATS (such as email marketing, job board distribution, and document management), Recruitly often proves to be more cost-effective while providing a more streamlined, integrated experience.
How does Recruitly's technology compare to CATS?
Recruitly uses significantly more advanced technology including Qdrant vector database for semantic search, OpenAI embeddings for context-aware matching, and Claude for AI rewriting. CATS relies on more traditional database technology with basic keyword search functionality, lacking the AI capabilities that give Recruitly users a competitive advantage.
Is migration from CATS to Recruitly complicated?
Not at all. Recruitly offers a specialised migration service for CATS users that handles the entire process, typically completing migrations in 1-2 weeks with minimal disruption. Our team extracts your data from CATS, transforms it for optimal use in Recruitly, and provides training to ensure your team is productive from day one.
Ready to make the switch?
Join hundreds of agencies who have upgraded from CATS to Recruitly