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The Future of Hiring is Here: iSmartRecruit 2.0 is Now Live!

The Future of Hiring is Here: iSmartRecruit 2.0 is Now Live!

iSmartRecruit 2.0 is Now Live!

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Manatal vs Cluen

Manatal vs Cluen's Encore: Features & Benefits Comparison

Which tool is the Right Choice?

Quick Summary

Manatal and Cluen's Encore are two recruitment software platforms, each with its strengths and weaknesses affecting different business needs. Manatal utilises AI to power its tools, enriching candidate profiles with social media data, providing candidate scorecards, and integrating seamlessly with popular platforms like Gmail, Outlook, and Zapier. It's an affordable choice, which makes it a considerable for small to medium-sized businesses aiming to simplify their hiring process.

Meanwhile, Cluen's Encore is designed with executive search areas in mind. It provides specialised features for tracking candidates, managing client relationships, and keeping projects on track. Furthermore, cluen integrates with firm prospects that are highly useful and easy to implement.

We'll look at iSmartRecruit, another recruitment software option known for its affordability. It's built to meet the needs of both recruitment agencies and small to medium-sized businesses, as well as executive firms. When it comes to combining features of manatal and user-friendliness, like Cluen, iSmartRecruit is the best choice out there.

Metrics Comparison of Manatal vs Cluen

Manatal
Manatal
Cluen
Cluen
iSmartRecruit
iSmartRecruit
Pricing Starts From

$19

-

Free Trial

Best For HR teams, recruitment agencies, staffing firms, executive search firms, headhunters and talent acquisition teams Executive search firms, legal recruiters, in-house talent acquisition teams, government bodies, universities, venture capital firms and private equity firms Corporate HRs, Mass recruiters, Hiring managers, Employment and recruiting agencies, Executive search firms, Staffing firms, Small businesses and startups
Help Videos

New Release/Updates Weekly / Monthly Every alternate month Monthly
Trustpilot Score 2.4 0 4
Software Suggest Score 5 0 4.7
SaaSWorthy Score 4.9 0 4.6
Capterra - Ease of Use 4.7 0.0 4.5
Capterra - Customer Service 4.6 0.0 4.7
Capterra - Features 4.4 0.0 4.6
Capterra - Value for Money 4.5 0.0 4.6
Mobile Application

Capterra Rating
G2 Rating
-
Manatal

Pricing Starts From $19

Free Trial:

Ease of Use: 4.7

Customer Service: 4.6

Features: 4.4

Value for Money: 4.5

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

Cluen

Pricing Starts From -

Free Trial:

Ease of Use: 0.0

Customer Service: 0.0

Features: 0.0

Value for Money: 0.0

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating: -

iSmartRecruit

Pricing Starts From: Get Quote

Free Trial: Get a Trial

Ease of Use: 4.5

Customer Service: 4.7

Features: 4.6

Value for Money: 4.6

Capterra Rating:

G2 Rating:

Overview of Manatal

As of 2026, Manatal is a cloud-based recruitment platform for HR teams, recruitment agencies, headhunters and talent acquisition professionals. It includes applicant tracking, recruitment CRM, candidate sourcing, collaboration tools, reporting, branded career pages and AI-assisted recruitment features.

The platform supports candidate sourcing from job boards, career pages, referrals, LinkedIn and other online channels. Recruiters can use customisable pipelines, Kanban-style views and activity tracking to manage hiring workflows in a more structured way.

Manatal’s newer AI features include AI Candidate Scoring and Matching, multilingual CV parsing, candidate enrichment, AI-generated job descriptions, AI Interviewer, AI Notetaker and MCP Server access for connecting recruitment data with selected AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.

Its pricing is structured across Professional, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus and Custom plans. The Professional plan starts at $15 per user per month on yearly billing, while monthly billing starts at $19 per user per month.

Manatal may be suitable for recruitment teams looking for an ATS and recruitment CRM with sourcing, automation and AI-supported screening features. However, teams should also review its plan-based feature access, customisation needs, user experience, integration requirements and support options before deciding whether it fits their hiring workflow.

pros

Pros

cons

Customisable recruitment pipelines.

cons

Candidate sourcing from multiple job boards and online channels.

cons

Applicant tracking and recruitment CRM in one platform.

cons

AI candidate scoring and recommendations.

cons

Multilingual CV parsing and profile enrichment.

cons

AI Interviewer and AI Notetaker features available.


Vallery O.

"Manatal ATS Review"
The Kanban view makes candidate management so seamless! Great job board integration, I seldom have to source because of the quality applicants I receive. Their pricing is very fair.

Verified Capterra Review

pros

Cons

cons

Some advanced features are available only on higher-tier plans.

cons

Monthly pricing is higher than yearly billing.

cons

Customisation may require setup time for teams with complex workflows.

cons

Some users have reported issues with usability and navigation.

cons

Direct WhatsApp communication may not be available as a native feature.

cons

Teams should check integration, support and feature access before purchase.


Jenn N.

"Read the reviews - Dont waste your time or money"
What they don't tell you is that their system and platform is extremely flawed, nothing really works the way it should and when you ask for support, you are given the run around, asked to go in and do things that just do not make sense,

Verified Capterra Review

Overview of Cluen

Cluen is an executive search CRM and recruitment database provider established in 1990 and based in New York City. Its main platform, Encore, is designed for executive search consultants, legal recruiters, in-house talent acquisition teams, government bodies, universities and venture capital or private equity firms.

Encore helps search teams manage relationships, historical data, candidate records, client information, communication activity and business development opportunities from one recruitment database. The platform is positioned for relationship-led search work rather than high-volume applicant tracking.

For 2026, Cluen’s newer positioning focuses on relationship intelligence, workflow automation and AI-supported compliance. Encore can surface past touchpoints, warm introductions and client-candidate dynamics, helping recruiters work with more context during executive search assignments.

The platform also highlights automated follow-ups, reminders and task routing to reduce manual administration. Its compliance support includes AI features for consent tracking, audit trails and data privacy workflows, while the company also states that Encore is GDPR compliant and works with any email programme.

Cluen may suit firms that need a specialist executive search database with relationship tracking, compliance support and long-term client history. Buyers should still review pricing visibility, interface modernisation, integration needs, support scope and whether Encore’s workflow matches their current search process before committing.

pros

Pros

cons

Purpose-built for executive search and relationship-led recruitment.

cons

Encore supports executive search consultants, legal recruiters and in-house talent teams.

cons

Helps manage historical data, client relationships and business development activity.

cons

Relationship intelligence can surface past touchpoints and warm introductions.

cons

Workflow automation supports reminders, follow-ups and task routing.

cons

AI-supported compliance features cover consent tracking and audit trails.


Mike J.

"Encore is a great way to recruit new talent"
I use Encore when looking to hire new talent. It's a excellent way to keep track of every candidate and organize all the information. It's a very simple system of keeping track of finding and hiring new talent.

Verified Capterra Review

pros

Cons

cons

Public pricing is not clearly available.

cons

Interface and usability may feel dated for some users.

cons

Teams should check integration requirements before purchase.

cons

May be more suitable for executive search than general recruitment workflows.

cons

Implementation and configuration may require support for complex databases.

cons

Buyers should review support scope, data migration and contract terms carefully.


Jill M.

"Behind the times"
This product is quite behind their competitors and it feels like an old "DOS" computer as compared to other like products. It is also extremely slow and lacking many desirable features.

Verified Capterra Review

Features Comparison

Manatal
Manatal
Cluen
Cluen
iSmartRecruit
iSmartRecruit
API
Activity Dashboard
Activity Tracking
Alerts/Notifications
Applicant Tracking
Application Management
Approval Workflow
Assessment Management
Billing & Invoicing
Boolean Search
Built-in ATS
CRM
Calendar Management
Campaign Analytics
Campaign Management
Candidate Management
Candidate Profiles
Candidate Sourcing
Candidate Tracking
Careers Page
Chatbot
Collaboration Tools
Commenting/Notes
Compliance Management
Compliance Tracking
Configurable Workflow
Contact Database
Content Management
Customisable Branding
Customisable Forms
Customisable Reports
Customisable Templates
Data Import/Export
Document Management
Electronic Signature
Email Management
Email Marketing
Email Templates
Employee Database
Employee Onboarding
Employee Referral Management
For Recruiting Agencies
For Small Businesses
For Staffing Agencies
Full Text Search
HR Management
Internal Chat Integration
Internal HR
Interview Management
Interview Scheduling
Job Application Management
Job Board Software
Job Management
Job Posting
Job Requisition
Job Tracking
Lead Management
Marketing Automation
Matching Engine
Mobile Access
Multi-Channel Marketing
Onboarding
Pipeline Management
Pipeline Reports
Question Library
Real-Time Analytics
Real-Time Reporting
Recruiting Firms
Recruitment Management
Reference Checking
Reminders
Reporting & Statistics
Reporting/Analytics
Resume Database
Resume Parsing
Resume Search
Resume Storage
SMS Messaging
Scoring
Search/Filter
Self Service Portal
Skills Assessment
Social Media Integration
Social Recruiting
Status Tracking
Tagging
Talent Acquisition
Talent Pool
Task Management
Temporary Staffing
Third-Party Integrations
Workflow Management

Find the perfect features for your hiring needs!

Why iSmartRecruit is Best?

iSmartRecruit is a highly adaptable recruitment software designed specifically for staffing firms, recruitment agencies, executive search firms, and in-house HR teams. It empowers organisations to simplify and enhance their recruitment processes, covering everything from candidate sourcing to onboarding with its extensive features.

The platform also offers AI-powered resume parsing, customisable pipelines, and nice CRM capabilities to streamline recruitment workflows. Features like job board posting, reporting and analytics, and multilingual support make iSmartRecruit suitable for organisations of various sizes.

Its availability in over 70 countries and offering support in 14 languages, including key European tongues, iSmartRecruit makes seamless global accessibility and user-friendliness. You may try it for free today and experience a recruitment solution built for global success.

Our Client Testimonial Speaks Louder Than Words!

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Conclusion

Manatal and Cluen's Encore are both powerful recruitment tools, each with its strengths and weaknesses. iSmartRecruit is the combined replacement of manatal and cluen.

Manatal is a great fit for smaller to medium-sized companies looking for a budget-friendly option with all the essentials covered. It is a budget-friendly option for smaller businesses up to medium-sized ones. On the other hand, Cluen's Encore caters specifically to executive search firms that require in-depth candidate tracking and robust client management capabilities. It is more focused on strategic search teams and executive recruiters.

But if you're after a balance of sophisticated features, good value, and an easy-to-use interface, iSmartRecruit presents itself as a strong counter, suitable for agencies and businesses of all sizes. It is an attractive option that offers AI-powered features and customisable workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the primary differences between Manatal and Cluen's Encore?

Manatal is designed for small to medium-sized businesses, focusing on affordability and AI-driven recruitment features. Cluen's Encore, however, is tailored for executive search firms, emphasising candidate tracking, client relationship management, and project management.

2. What are the user satisfaction ratings for these platforms?

Manatal has a user rating of 4.6/5, reflecting its ease of use and functionality, while Cluen's Encore scores 4.0/5, primarily valued by executive search professionals for its niche features.

3. How does iSmartRecruit compare to these platforms?

iSmartRecruit combines affordability with advanced features like AI-powered tools, multilingual support, and customisable workflows. It is a flexible solution suitable for agencies, recruitment firms, and businesses looking to streamline their hiring processes efficiently.

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