Manatal vs Smartsheet
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: September 14, 2026
Manatal is our recommended pick for most teams — recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price.
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Manatal is an AI-powered applicant tracking system designed for recruitment agencies and corporate HR teams. It offers one of the most affordable price points in the ATS market while including advanced AI features like candidate scoring, enrichment from LinkedIn and social profiles, and automated recommendations. Manatal is popular in Southeast Asia and with global recruiting agencies.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a work management platform that combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with powerful project management and collaboration features. It is widely used by enterprise teams for project tracking, resource management, and automated workflows. Smartsheet is particularly popular with teams comfortable with Excel who need more collaboration and automation capabilities.
Pros
- ✓One of the most affordable ATS tools with genuine AI features
- ✓AI candidate scoring and profile enrichment save significant research time
- ✓Simple to set up and use
- ✓Good for recruitment agencies managing multiple clients
Cons
- ✗Less established in Western markets compared to Greenhouse or Lever
- ✗Some advanced features limited to higher tiers
- ✗Customer support response times can vary
- ✗Limited employer branding customization
Pros
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- ✓Powerful automation and workflow capabilities
- ✓Strong enterprise security and compliance features
- ✓Excellent for managing large portfolios of projects
Cons
- ✗Pricing is higher than many competitors
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern tools
- ✗No free plan — 30-day trial only
- ✗Less intuitive for teams unfamiliar with spreadsheet-style tools
Manatal vs Smartsheet: Side by Side
| Factor | Manatal | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.6/5 ★ | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | $19/user/mo | $9/user/mo |
| Best For | Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price | Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation |
| Our Pick | 🏆 Recommended | — |
Manatal Features
- ✓AI candidate sourcing
- ✓applicant tracking
- ✓CRM
- ✓onboarding
- ✓analytics
- ✓job board integrations
Smartsheet Features
- ✓Spreadsheet-style project management
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓automation
- ✓dashboards
- ✓resource management
- ✓forms
- ✓integrations
- ✓reporting
- ✓enterprise security
Pricing Comparison
Best Use Cases
Manatal
- →Recruiting agencies managing multiple client pipelines
- →HR teams wanting AI-powered candidate scoring
- →Companies sourcing candidates from LinkedIn at scale
Who Should NOT Use These Tools
Manatal is NOT ideal for:
- ✗Companies needing full HRIS beyond recruiting
- ✗Small businesses with occasional hiring needs
- ✗Teams wanting a free ATS option
Integrations
Manatal
LinkedIn, Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Zapier, Google Calendar, Zoom, Teams
Our Take
Choose Manatal if recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Best For
Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price
Best For
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Also Consider
If neither Manatal nor Smartsheet is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Manatal and Smartsheet?
Manatal is best for recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price. Smartsheet is best for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Which is better, Manatal or Smartsheet?
Choose Manatal if recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
How much does Manatal cost?
Manatal starts at $19/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Smartsheet cost?
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Manatal?
Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price
Who should use Smartsheet?
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation