Manatal vs Zoho Projects
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.
Try Manatal →Read our full Manatal review →Manatal
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.
Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a full-featured project management tool offering task management, Gantt charts, time tracking, and budget management at a very competitive price point within the Zoho ecosystem.
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
- ✓Very affordable pricing
- ✓Strong Gantt chart features
- ✓Built-in time tracking and budgeting
- ✓Good Zoho ecosystem integration
- ✓Solid feature set for the price
Cons
- ✗Interface less polished than competitors
- ✗Best value within Zoho ecosystem
- ✗Mobile app could be improved
- ✗Support can be slow
Manatal vs Zoho Projects: Side by Side
| Factor | Manatal | Zoho Projects |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.6/5 ★ | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $19/user/mo | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price | Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool |
| Our Pick | 🏆 Recommended | — |
Manatal Features
- ✓AI candidate sourcing
- ✓applicant tracking
- ✓CRM
- ✓onboarding
- ✓analytics
- ✓job board integrations
Zoho Projects Features
- ✓Project management
- ✓task tracking
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓time tracking
- ✓team collaboration
- ✓portfolio management
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 Zoho Projects if budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool.
Best For
Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price
Best For
Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool
Also Consider
If neither Manatal nor Zoho Projects 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 Zoho Projects?
Manatal is best for recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price. Zoho Projects is best for budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool.
Which is better, Manatal or Zoho Projects?
Choose Manatal if recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price. Choose Zoho Projects if budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool.
How much does Manatal cost?
Manatal starts at $19/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Zoho Projects cost?
Visit Zoho Projects website for current pricing.
Who should use Manatal?
Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price
Who should use Zoho Projects?
Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool