SoftwareDuel

Zoho CRM vs Manatal

A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool

Last updated: April 30, 2026

🏆 Our Pick: Manatal

Manatal is our recommended pick for most teams — recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price.

Try ManatalRead our full Manatal review →

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a feature-rich customer relationship management platform that offers exceptional value for small and mid-size businesses. It includes sales automation, marketing tools, analytics, and AI capabilities at a fraction of the cost of competitors. Zoho CRM is part of the broader Zoho ecosystem of 45+ business apps.

FreemiumFree to start
Get Pricing →

Manatal

★★★★★4.6/5

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.

PaidFrom $15/user/mo
Get Pricing →

Pros

  • Exceptional value with a strong free plan for up to 3 users
  • Deep integration with the Zoho ecosystem of business apps
  • Strong automation and AI features at affordable price points
  • Highly customizable

Cons

  • Interface can feel overwhelming with too many features
  • Customer support response times can be slow
  • Less intuitive than HubSpot or Pipedrive for new users

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

Zoho CRM vs Manatal: Side by Side

FactorZoho CRMManatal
User RatingN/A4.6/5 ★
CategoryCRM SoftwareApplicant Tracking
Pricing ModelFreemiumPaid
Starting PriceFree$15/user/mo
Best ForBudget-conscious SMBs wanting a feature-rich CRM with a broad app ecosystemRecruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price
Our Pick🏆 Recommended

Zoho CRM Features

  • Lead and contact management
  • sales automation
  • email marketing
  • workflow rules
  • analytics
  • AI assistant Zia
  • mobile app
  • social media integration

Manatal Features

  • AI candidate scoring
  • social profile enrichment
  • pipeline management
  • job posting
  • collaboration tools
  • career page
  • analytics
  • mobile app
  • integrations

Pricing Comparison

Zoho CRM

Freemium

Free to start

See full pricing →

Manatal

Paid

Starts at $15/user/mo

Professional: $15/user/mo · Enterprise: custom

See full pricing →

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 Zoho CRM if budget-conscious smbs wanting a feature-rich crm with a broad app ecosystem. Choose Manatal if recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price.

Best For

Budget-conscious SMBs wanting a feature-rich CRM with a broad app ecosystem

Best For

Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price

Also Consider

If neither Zoho CRM nor Manatal is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.

Monday.com CRM

Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform

From $12/user/mo

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Zoho CRM and Manatal?

Zoho CRM is best for budget-conscious smbs wanting a feature-rich crm with a broad app ecosystem. Manatal is best for recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price.

Which is better, Zoho CRM or Manatal?

Choose Zoho CRM if budget-conscious smbs wanting a feature-rich crm with a broad app ecosystem. Choose Manatal if recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting ai-powered ats at an affordable price.

How much does Zoho CRM cost?

Zoho CRM starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.

How much does Manatal cost?

Manatal starts at $15/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.

Who should use Zoho CRM?

Budget-conscious SMBs wanting a feature-rich CRM with a broad app ecosystem

Who should use Manatal?

Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price