Manatal vs Plural (2026)
By Jordan Hale · Published 2026-11-07 · Prices checked on each vendor’s own pricing page 2026-11-07 (UTC+8)
Short answer. Pick Manatal if 1–3 recruiters need AI matching and paid seats: Professional is $15 per user per month billed annually ($19 monthly), with a 15-job / 10,000-candidate cap and unlimited hiring managers. Pick Plural Hire if you want one flat $59/month bill for a lightweight ATS, careers page, and pipeline — noting Hire lists 3 hiring managers. Neither is forever-free; both run 14-day trials. Prices checked 2026-11-07.
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| Manatal | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per recruiter user | Flat monthly plan |
| Entry paid | Professional $15/user/mo annual ($19 monthly) | Hire $59/mo |
| Next tiers | Enterprise $35 / Enterprise Plus $55 (annual per user) | Hire + Retain $179/mo; Enterprise $299/mo |
| Free / trial | 14-day trial (no card) | 14-day trial on paid plans |
| Job / HM limits on entry | 15 jobs/account; unlimited hiring managers | Unlimited job postings; 3 hiring managers; 5 offices |
| 1 recruiter seat / yr | $180 | $708 |
| 3 recruiter seats / yr | $540 | $708 |
| 5 recruiter seats / yr | $900 | $708 |
Sources, all opened 2026-11-07: manatal.com/pricing, pluralcareers.com/pricing. Plural’s page toggles monthly/yearly; figures above are the monthly prices shown. Plural’s “75% off Greenhouse” line is marketing, not a list price.
Choose Manatal when
- You have few recruiter logins and want published AI candidate matching / enrichment on a per-seat bill.
- Many hiring managers need access without buying seats (unlimited HMs on Professional).
- You are fine with the 15-job Professional cap, or will pay Enterprise at $35/user when you outgrow it. Try Manatal.
Choose Plural when
- You want the cheapest flat sticker we track among paid SMB ATS plans ($59/mo Hire).
- A public careers page, online applications, and a simple pipeline are enough — and ≤3 hiring managers fit Hire.
- You are leaving a quote-only enterprise ATS and want a printed price. Try Plural.
Who should skip both
- Forever-free: Zoho Recruit Forever Free (see free ATS for small business).
- Many logins on one flat bill with deeper ATS features: Breezy Startup after its 14-day trial ($157/mo annual; no free plan) — see Plural vs Breezy HR and Manatal vs Breezy HR.
- Agencies that need client CRM / desk software: Recruit CRM, not either of these.
FAQ
Is Manatal cheaper than Plural?
For 1–3 recruiter seats, yes. Four Manatal Professional seats at $15 ($60/mo) already exceed Plural Hire at $59/mo. At 5+ recruiter seats Plural’s flat $59 usually wins on sticker price.
Does either have a free plan?
Neither is forever-free. Manatal and Plural both offer 14-day trials. For forever-free, see Zoho Recruit Forever Free.
Which is better for a small business?
Few recruiters who want AI matching: Manatal. One flat bill and a lightweight careers page/pipeline with ≤3 hiring managers: Plural Hire. Forever-free: Zoho Recruit.
Next: Manatal review, Plural review, Plural vs Breezy HR, Manatal vs Breezy HR, best ATS for small business, ATS pricing, how Hirelane reviews tools, affiliate disclosure, Plural alternatives, Zoho Recruit review.