Ashby vs Manatal: A Founder’s Guide to Choosing the Right ATS

Ashby vs Manatal is a comparison many founders come across when searching for a reliable applicant tracking system (ATS) to support fast, effective hiring. An ATS helps streamline everything from job postings to candidate communication, giving teams more structure and visibility throughout the recruitment process. Ashby appeals to startups and tech-driven teams that value data, automation, and scalability.

On the other hand, Manatal stands out for its ease of use, quick setup, and strong sourcing tools—making it a solid pick for SMBs and agencies. In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between Ashby and Manatal to help you make a confident decision based on your hiring goals, team size, and long-term plans.

What This Blog Covers

This guide is designed to help founders and hiring teams compare two leading applicant tracking systems: Ashby and Manatal. Inside, you’ll find:

• A side-by-side feature comparison of Ashby vs Manatal
• Insights into pricing, ease of use, and team fit
• Detailed breakdowns of candidate management, automation, and AI tools
• Pros and cons to help you weigh the trade-offs
• A list of top alternatives if you’re still exploring options
• A final verdict to support your decision-making

Whether you’re scaling a fast-growing startup or managing hiring on a lean team, this blog aims to give you clarity before you commit to a platform.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Ashby	Manatal
Pricing	Custom	Starts at $15/user/month
Ease of Use	✅ Clean interface for growing teams	✅ Fast setup, beginner-friendly
Integrations	✅ Native with calendars, HRIS, Slack	✅ 2,000+ apps via Zapier
Analytics	✅ Detailed pipeline and hiring reports	✅ Basic insights with export support
Automation	✅ Workflow automation, interview scheduling	✅ AI resume scoring, enrichment tools
Best For	Scaling startups, data-driven hiring teams	SMBs, recruitment firms, fast-moving teams

Ashby vs Manatal: Overview

Ashby: Data-Driven Hiring for High-Growth Teams

Ashby is a modern applicant tracking system built for startups and high-growth companies that want to bring structure, speed, and insights into their hiring process. It combines traditional ATS features with advanced scheduling tools and built-in analytics—removing the need for multiple platforms.

Its all-in-one approach enables recruiting teams to run faster processes, collaborate better, and track performance across every stage of the hiring journey.

Ashby Overview
Used By	Fast-scaling startups and tech-driven teams like Notion, Vanta, and Modern Treasury
Focus Areas	Structured workflows, hiring analytics, automated scheduling, interview planning
Typical Users	Founders, recruiters, and talent leads at growing companies
Best Known For	Unified ATS with built-in scheduling and reporting Custom dashboards and pipeline analytics Seamless integrations with HR and calendar tools

Manatal: Simple, Smart Hiring for SMBs and Agencies

Manatal is a user-friendly ATS designed for businesses that want to streamline recruitment without complexity. It brings AI-powered resume ranking, social media sourcing, and easy job board publishing into one dashboard—helping teams hire faster with fewer manual tasks.

Its lightweight setup and affordability make it an appealing option for smaller teams or agencies managing high volumes of roles.

Manatal Overview
Used By	Thousands of SMBs and recruitment agencies across 130+ countries
Focus Areas	AI resume scoring, sourcing enrichment, job board syndication, client collaboration
Typical Users	Recruiters, HR teams, and staffing agencies handling high-volume hiring
Best Known For	AI-driven candidate ranking LinkedIn and social media profile enrichment Streamlined interface and fast onboarding

Key Features Comparison

When choosing an applicant tracking system, certain features have a direct impact on how efficiently a team can source, evaluate, and hire candidates. Here’s how Ashby and Manatal compare across five of the most practical features for founder-led teams.

Feature	Ashby	Manatal
Job Posting & Distribution	Centralized posting, career page integration, built-in workflows	One-click publishing to 2,500+ job boards
Pipeline Management	Custom stages, structured dashboard, detailed reporting	Visual pipeline, tagging, easy filtering for high-volume roles
AI Resume Tools	Structured parsing and search based on filters	AI scoring and profile enrichment from social sources
Interview Scheduling	Calendar sync, interview panel coordination, conflict management	Calendar integration with basic reminders and communication
Automation & Tasks	Custom triggers for reminders, emails, and status changes	Task assignments and basic automation for admin tasks

Job Posting & Distribution

• Ashby supports centralized job posting with built-in workflows that streamline approvals and publishing. Users can push roles to a branded careers page and integrate with popular job boards through direct connections. This is especially useful for growing teams that need control and consistency across multiple openings.

• Manatal makes posting even more accessible by offering one-click distribution to over 2,500 job boards worldwide. Teams can publish roles to major platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Monster without leaving the dashboard. For companies that want to expand their reach quickly with minimal setup, Manatal offers a fast and reliable solution.

Candidate Pipeline Management

• Ashby gives hiring teams a highly structured view of the pipeline, with drag-and-drop stages, customized workflows, and detailed reporting on candidate progress. The dashboard is designed to help founders, recruiters, and interviewers stay aligned as candidates move through different stages. It’s built to support repeatable, consistent hiring practices across multiple roles.

• Manatal also offers a visual pipeline, but its layout is more simplified and geared toward ease of use. Users can tag candidates, filter based on custom fields, and easily view where each person stands in the process. This works well for teams managing high volumes or running parallel searches with limited resources.

AI Resume Parsing & Enrichment

• Ashby includes strong parsing capabilities that allow recruiters to filter and search based on specific attributes like experience, location, or job title. It’s ideal for teams that value clean, structured candidate data as a foundation for better hiring analytics.

• Manatal takes a more AI-driven approach, automatically enriching resumes with data pulled from public social profiles and scoring candidates based on how well they match a job description. This helps surface strong candidates faster and gives smaller teams an edge when screening large volumes of applications.

Interview Scheduling Tools

• Ashby offers integrated scheduling features that sync with Google and Outlook calendars. Recruiters can set up interview panels, send invites, and avoid calendar conflicts without switching tabs. The scheduling tool also supports multi-stage interview coordination, making it easier to keep things moving without delays.

• Manatal provides basic scheduling tools with calendar sync and reminders. While not as advanced as Ashby’s capabilities, it still supports direct communication with candidates and helps ensure timely follow-ups. For smaller teams, it covers the essentials without requiring deep setup.

Automation & Task Management

• Ashby includes customizable automation rules that reduce repetitive tasks. Teams can trigger actions like status updates, email sends, or reminders based on candidate stage changes or time-based triggers. This keeps hiring flows consistent and frees up recruiter time for more strategic work.

• Manatal also supports automation, though with a more lightweight approach. Users can set up task assignments, follow-up reminders, and resume tagging rules to reduce manual work. It’s well suited for teams that need some structure without the complexity of building custom workflows.

Ashby vs Manatal: User Experience & Interface

Ashby

Ashby delivers a modern, structured interface built for teams that need visibility and control throughout the hiring process. Its layout balances flexibility with clarity, offering a workspace where recruiting, scheduling, and reporting tools work in sync.

While there’s depth in features, the interface remains clean and focused, making it easier for teams to stay aligned as they scale. Once teams get through the initial setup, daily usage feels smooth and efficient.

• Dashboard built for pipeline and scheduling visibility
• Unified workflows for sourcing, interviews, and analytics
• Minimal design that scales well with team size
• Native sync with Google and Outlook calendars for seamless scheduling

Manatal

Manatal is built for speed and ease of use. Its interface is straightforward, with an emphasis on getting hiring teams up and running quickly. The drag-and-drop pipeline view, simple navigation, and embedded AI tools make it approachable—even for users new to ATS platforms.

Everything from job posting to candidate scoring is accessible within just a few clicks, helping teams stay productive without over-customization.

• Drag-and-drop candidate pipeline for fast tracking
• Clear menus and dashboards for job and candidate management
• Built-in enrichment tools for smoother sourcing workflows
• Light setup process and intuitive layout for new users

Ashby vs Manatal: Pricing Breakdown

Ashby

Ashby pricing follows a custom pricing model, which means the cost varies based on company size, feature needs, and hiring volume. While exact figures aren’t publicly listed, Ashby positions itself as a long-term solution for scaling teams—especially those investing in structured hiring and advanced reporting.

Plans include access to core ATS features, analytics, scheduling tools, and integrations. Ashby also offers a free demo for teams that want to evaluate the platform before committing.

• Custom pricing based on team requirements
• Full access to scheduling, automation, and analytics tools
• Great fit for VC-backed or high-growth teams
• Demo available upon request

Manatal

Manatal pricing offers transparent and tiered pricing with options for teams of all sizes. This includes access to AI resume scoring, job board integrations, and collaboration tools.

The Professional plan is ideal for small in-house teams, while the Enterprise plan adds custom roles, single sign-on, and additional storage. A 14-day free trial is available on all plans, with no credit card required.

• Starts at $15/user/month (billed annually)
• Tiered plans with scalable features
• 14-day free trial included
• Great fit for lean hiring teams and agencies

Ashby vs Manatal: Pros & Cons

Platform	Pros	Cons
Ashby	– All-in-one ATS – Great for structured hiring – Clean, scalable interface – Strong analytics & reporting – Seamless integrations	– No public pricing – Setup may take time – Feature-rich for small teams – Best for structured workflows
Manatal	– Affordable and easy – AI resume scoring – 2,500+ job boards – Recruiter-friendly tools – High-volume hiring support	– Basic reporting tools – Limited integrations – Not ideal for complex needs – Lacks advanced analytics

Ashby

Pros

• All-in-one platform with advanced features
  Ashby combines applicant tracking, interview scheduling, and analytics in a single system. It’s designed to support structured hiring processes from end to end, reducing the need to jump between multiple tools.
• Ideal for process-oriented teams
  Teams that value consistency and clearly defined hiring stages will appreciate Ashby’s structure. It supports multi-stage hiring workflows and promotes collaboration across roles and departments.
• Clean, modern interface
  The UI is sleek, intuitive, and scales well with team size. Whether you’re a 5-person startup or a 100-person talent team, Ashby feels polished and easy to navigate.
• Powerful analytics and funnel reporting
  Ashby’s reporting tools are a standout. Recruiters and hiring managers get detailed insight into each stage of the hiring process, helping teams identify bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
• Seamless integrations
  It integrates smoothly with Slack, calendar tools, and several HR platforms, making it easier to plug into your existing tech stack without disruption.

Cons

• No public pricing
  Ashby does not display pricing on its website, so you’ll need to contact their team for a quote. This may slow down the decision-making process for smaller teams or budget-conscious buyers.
• Setup may take longer for small teams
  While it’s great for scaling companies, the initial setup and configuration might feel like a lot for smaller teams with limited technical resources.
• Feature-heavy for basic hiring needs
  If you’re looking for a simple ATS, Ashby might be more tool than you need. Some teams may find its rich feature set overwhelming or unnecessary.
• Optimized for structured hiring
  Ashby works best for organizations that already have—or are building—well-defined, multi-step hiring processes. It’s less suited for ad hoc or very informal hiring.

Manatal

Pros

• Affordable and beginner-friendly
  Manatal is one of the more budget-conscious options on the market. It’s easy to set up, which makes it a great pick for lean teams or companies that need a quick hiring solution.
• AI-powered resume analysis
  Manatal uses AI to help score and enrich resumes, speeding up the screening process. This is especially useful for teams handling large volumes of applicants.
• Extensive job board publishing
  With one-click posting to over 2,500 job boards, Manatal saves time and maximizes your job ad exposure with minimal effort.
• Great for recruiters and small HR teams
  The platform is designed with recruiters in mind, providing features that help source, manage, and communicate with candidates effectively.
• Handles high-volume hiring well
  Because of its automation and AI tools, Manatal is especially well-suited for fast-paced environments that need to move quickly through large applicant pools.

Cons

• Basic reporting features
  Manatal offers some analytics, but its reporting tools are less customizable than those in more advanced platforms. Teams that rely heavily on hiring data may feel limited.
• Limited native integrations
  Outside of Zapier, Manatal doesn’t have a wide range of built-in integrations. This could be a barrier for teams that want deeper connections with other tools.
• Not tailored for complex hiring
  The platform works well for straightforward recruiting workflows but may fall short for companies with complex or highly customized hiring processes.
• Lacks robust analytics out of the box
  While it provides helpful summaries, the absence of deeper, granular data may be a drawback for teams focused on optimizing every stage of their funnel.

Ashby vs Manatal: Customer Support and Onboarding

Choosing an ATS isn’t just about features—it’s also about the level of support and onboarding you’ll receive as your team adopts the platform. Here’s how Ashby and Manatal compare when it comes to helping teams get started and stay supported.

Ashby

Ashby takes a hands-on approach to onboarding, especially for scaling teams that need structured setup and training. New customers typically receive onboarding assistance and access to a dedicated customer success manager. The support team is known for being responsive, with help available through live chat and email.

Ashby also provides extensive product documentation, including setup guides, FAQs, and workflow templates to help teams hit the ground running. The platform is designed to support hiring complexity, and the onboarding experience reflects that with strategic guidance throughout implementation.

• Dedicated onboarding support for new customers
• Live chat and email support during business hours
• Detailed help center with product guides and templates
• Ongoing support for scaling and customizing workflows

Manatal

Manatal is designed for fast implementation, making it easy for smaller teams to get started with minimal guidance. The platform includes in-app walkthroughs, a searchable help center, and email-based support. Most users can get set up in under a day, with templates and AI features already built in.

While Manatal doesn’t assign a dedicated onboarding manager for every account, it does offer responsive support through live chat, along with video tutorials and product documentation. It’s a plug-and-play experience that works well for teams who want to move quickly without needing technical setup.

• 14-day free trial with full-feature access
• In-app guidance and product walkthroughs
• Email and live chat support
• Knowledge base with training videos and documentation

Alternatives to Ashby and Manatal

If you’re still exploring the right fit for your hiring needs, here are a few other applicant tracking systems worth considering. Each brings something unique depending on your hiring volume, team structure, and tech stack.

Tool	Best For	Top Features
Lever	Teams looking for a unified ATS + CRM	• Candidate nurturing • Pipeline rediscovery • Visual workflows
Greenhouse	Structured hiring at scale	• Interview kits • DEI tools • 300+ integrations
Workable	Teams needing quick, scalable hiring	• AI-powered sourcing • Video interviews • Job board integrations
BreezyHR	Small businesses and remote teams	• Drag-and-drop pipeline • Team collaboration tools • Candidate texting
Rippling	All-in-one HR, payroll, and hiring stack	• ATS + HRIS in one • Onboarding automation • Role-based access control

Verdict: Which Grows Better With Your Team?

Both Ashby and Manatal bring valuable strengths to the table—but the right choice depends on your company’s stage, hiring goals, and available resources.

Ashby

Ashby is ideal for companies building long-term hiring systems with a focus on structure, data, and scale. If your team is growing fast, values deep analytics, and needs tight integration across tools, Ashby delivers a powerful, unified platform that grows alongside your organization.

Choose Ashby if:

• You’re building a long-term, scalable hiring system
• Structured workflows and detailed analytics are a priority
• Your team needs seamless integrations with HR and calendar tools
• You’re a growing startup or VC-backed team with dedicated talent operations

Manatal

Manatal, on the other hand, is a smart pick for teams that want to hire quickly and efficiently without overcomplicating the process. It offers strong automation, broad job board reach, and AI features at a price point that works for lean operations.

Choose Manatal if:

• You’re hiring fast and need a simple, affordable solution
• You want AI resume scoring and social profile enrichment
• Your team needs quick setup and job board reach without complex workflows
• You’re part of a lean HR team or small recruiting agency

Before making a final decision, consider booking a demo or starting a free trial with both platforms. Seeing how they fit into your current workflow will help you choose a system that not only supports your hiring today but continues to add value as your team evolves.

Conclusion

Choosing the right ATS comes down to how your team hires today and how you plan to grow tomorrow. Ashby is built for structure, scale, and data-backed decision-making, making it a strong choice for fast-growing teams that need advanced workflows and analytics. Manatal, on the other hand, delivers speed and simplicity at an affordable price, with smart AI tools that support lean hiring operations.

Both platforms bring real strengths, but the best fit depends on your budget, hiring volume, and internal process. If possible, take advantage of free trials or demos to see which one works best in your environment. A hands-on test often reveals what checklists can’t and helps you commit with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions