An ATS and CRM in one platform tracks candidates through a hiring pipeline and manages client relationships in the same workspace, instead of running two separate systems that don't talk to each other. For agencies, that usually means one login, one billing relationship and one place where a recruiter can see a candidate, the client who might hire them, and the conversation history with both. Sprad, Spott and Recruiterflow currently do this best for agency workflows specifically, each with a different trade-off on price and sourcing depth.
ATS vs. CRM vs. an all-in-one platform: what's actually different
An ATS (applicant tracking system) manages the hiring pipeline for an open role: sourced, applied, screened, interviewed, offered. A CRM (candidate or client relationship management) manages relationships that outlast any single role — a candidate you placed two years ago, or the client company you're trying to win as a new account. Agencies need both, because a good candidate today is often a placement next quarter, and a client conversation rarely starts and ends with one requisition.
- ATS only: tracks applicants through stages for one specific job. Weak on long-term relationships once the role closes.
- CRM only: tracks people and companies over time. Weak on structured pipeline stages, reporting and compliance for active hiring.
- Combined ATS/CRM: one database, one candidate or client record, one place to see both the active pipeline and the relationship history — what every platform in this comparison is built around.
The best combined ATS/CRM platforms for agencies (2026)
All prices below are per recruiter seat, per month, as published by each vendor in September 2026. Annual billing is assumed unless noted.
| Platform | Price/seat/mo | External sourcing built in | AI matching | Outreach sequences | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sprad | 59 € | Yes — 1B+ profiles | Requirement search, not keywords | LinkedIn (email in beta) | Agencies that also need to source, not just track |
| 2. Spott | $119 | No (enrichment only) | Semantic matching | Email, WhatsApp, SMS, LinkedIn | Teams with an existing pool who want a unified inbox |
| 3. Recruiterflow | $99–159 | LinkedIn extension only | AIRA (Enterprise tier only) | Email & SMS sequences | Automation-heavy teams replacing Zapier stacks |
| 4. Loxo | $149–199 | Yes — 1.2B Loxo Source | Talent Graph (Professional tier) | Email (documented reliability issues) | US agencies that want sourcing and ATS in one bill |
| 5. Crelate | $85–119 | LinkedIn extension only | Native AI assistant, every plan | No sequences | Small boutique teams wanting a simple, flexible pipeline |
| 6. Recruit CRM | $95–100 | No | Basic (resume parsing, ChatGPT add-on) | Email sequencing | Budget-conscious teams that want a solid, flexible core |
| 7. Bullhorn | $99–165 (AI: custom) | No native (partner integrations) | Custom-priced Pro/Max only | Custom-priced only | Large, established agencies already invested in the ecosystem |
| 8. Manatal | $15–55 | LinkedIn extension only | AI enrichment & recommendations | No sequences | The cheapest full ATS/CRM with real AI features |
1. Sprad: the only one that also finds candidates for you
The difference from every other name on this list: you describe a role in plain language and Atlas reads full candidate profiles against it, instead of building a Boolean string. A recent benchmark found Atlas surfaced 38% of the matches other tools found across three roles, against 9% for the best competitor. Search, outreach and screening run on credits (200 free every month, no credit card), so an idle recruiter costs nothing beyond the base seat.
2. Spott: the tidiest inbox for an existing pool
Spott is built around a unified inbox — email, WhatsApp, SMS and calls in one thread per candidate — plus an AI notetaker that summarizes calls in under a minute.
3. Recruiterflow: automation over sourcing
Recruiterflow's "Recipes" (when-then automations) and multi-channel sequences replace a Zapier-plus-outreach-tool stack. Reviewers on G2 rate it 4.6/5 across 194 reviews and consistently praise support, though reporting setup is described as awkward at volume.
4. Loxo: a US-built sourcing database with an ATS attached
Loxo's pitch is the reverse of an ATS with sourcing bolted on: its 1.2B-profile "Loxo Source" database is the core product, with pipeline management around it.
5. Crelate: simple, flexible, capped at two seats on the entry plan
Crelate ships a native AI assistant on every plan, including its cheapest Essentials tier — a genuine differentiator among the pricier gated-AI options in this list.
6. Recruit CRM: the best price-to-feature ratio for a lean setup
Recruit CRM holds the highest Capterra score in this group (4.9/5, 475 reviews). Candidates come from imports, referrals and a Chrome-extension-style LinkedIn workflow rather than a built-in search engine.
7. Bullhorn: established, but AI sits behind a quote
Bullhorn's Starter and Core plans cover the ATS/CRM basics and 300+ integrations. G2 reviewers (4.2/5, 1,242 reviews) cite lag on large datasets and slow support; Capterra's "value for money" category sits at 3.7/5, the weakest score in this comparison.
8. Manatal: the cheapest seat with real AI in it
Its interface ships in German, Spanish and French. Reviewers on Capterra (4.6/5, 142 reviews) call the price "insanely good," but also note AI suggestions "often miss the mark" on nuanced roles, and admin mobile access is limited.
How to choose between them
- You need to find candidates, not just track them: Sprad or Loxo — both ship a real external search engine; the rest need a separate sourcing tool bolted on.
- Your team is under 5 recruiters: Sprad, Recruit CRM or Manatal — no 3-seat minimums, no enterprise sales cycle.
- You already have a candidate pool and the pain is conversation sprawl: Spott's unified inbox is purpose-built for that problem.
- You want AI features included in the list price, not a custom quote: Sprad, Spott, Crelate and Manatal all bundle AI into every plan; Bullhorn, Recruiterflow and Loxo gate the strongest AI behind their top, custom-priced tier.
- Your agency runs temp staffing with payroll and shift compliance: none of the eight above handle payroll — that's a separate category of specialized back-office ERP software.
Questions to clarify before you buy
- Does the seat price include AI, or is it a custom quote? Bullhorn, Loxo and Recruiterflow all gate their strongest AI features behind higher or custom-priced tiers — get the number in writing before you sign, not just the seat price.
- Is there a seat minimum or maximum? Recruiterflow requires 3 seats minimum; Crelate's cheapest plan caps out at 2 users. Check both ends against your actual headcount.
- Where is candidate data hosted, and is there a signed data processing agreement? For DACH agencies this is the practical GDPR question — ask for the DPA and the hosting region before the trial, not after the contract.
- What happens to your data if you cancel? Export formats and post-cancellation access vary a lot between these vendors; get it in the contract, not a sales call.
- Does outreach include email, or only LinkedIn? Several tools here, including Sprad today, route candidate outreach through LinkedIn only — check this if email sequences are how your team actually works.
Why one workspace beats stitching tools together
The real cost of a separate ATS, CRM, sourcing tool and enrichment service isn't just the extra invoices — it's the data that goes stale between them. A candidate updates their title on LinkedIn, your CRM doesn't know, and your recruiter reaches out with an offer for a role the person left months ago. An all-in-one platform doesn't fully solve that on its own, but it removes at least one handoff where the update gets lost. Where Sprad goes further than the others here is ownership: cancel most of these tools and the candidate data built inside stays with the vendor or simply disappears with the subscription. A talent pool built in Sprad stays with your agency, searchable, even after you cancel.
FAQ
Is an ATS the same as a CRM?
No. An ATS tracks candidates through a hiring pipeline (applied, screened, interviewed, hired); a CRM manages relationships — with candidates over time, or with client companies. Recruiting agencies typically need both, which is why combined platforms exist.
What's the cheapest ATS/CRM with AI features included?
Manatal, at $15/user/month annual, is the cheapest with genuine AI candidate enrichment built in. Sprad's 59 €/month base plus pay-per-use credits is usually cheaper overall for a team that also needs to source candidates, since Manatal has no external search engine.
Which of these tools includes external candidate sourcing?
Only Sprad (1B+ profiles) and Loxo (1.2B profiles) ship a genuine external search engine as part of the core product. The rest rely on LinkedIn browser extensions or third-party enrichment integrations.
Do any of these have a free plan?
Sprad offers 200 free credits every month with no credit card required, which covers a real amount of usage before any bill starts. None of the others in this table have a permanently free tier — most offer a time-limited trial instead.
Which platform is best for a small agency under 10 recruiters?
Sprad, Recruit CRM and Manatal all avoid seat minimums and enterprise sales processes. Recruiterflow's 3-seat minimum and Crelate's 2-user cap on its cheapest plan are worth checking against your exact headcount first.
What should DACH-based agencies check for GDPR compliance?
Ask for a signed data processing agreement under GDPR (EU) 2016/679, Art. 28, before your trial ends. Confirm where candidate data is actually hosted — a German-language interface doesn't automatically mean EU hosting. And check the default retention period for rejected candidates: several US-built vendors default to a longer window than typical German practice, and this is usually a setting you can change once you ask.
The bigger picture: your data, not just your tools
Choosing an ATS/CRM combination is really a choice about where your agency's network lives. Sprad brings the requirement search over 1B+ profiles, the talent pool and the outreach agent into one workspace for 59 € per recruiter a month, with 200 free credits every month and no credit card required — and unlike a rented seat on LinkedIn, the pool stays yours after you cancel. See what that looks like for your team size at sprad.io/industry/recruitment-agencies.
Jürgen Ulbrich
Jürgen Ulbrich has more than a decade of experience in developing and leading high-performing teams and companies. As an expert in employee referral programs as well as feedback and performance processes, Jürgen has helped over 100 organizations optimize their talent acquisition and development strategies.
