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OpenCATS alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave OpenCATS: dated interface, and volunteer-maintained with irregular releases. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces OpenCATS, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Zoho Recruit currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1OrangeHRM logoOrangeHRMOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, iOS +13 of 362.6
2Frappe HR logoFrappe HROpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, iOS +14 of 459.6
  1. OrangeHRM logo

    1. OrangeHRMTop pick

    Best for: Organisations with IT staff that want a free, self-hosted HRIS

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from OpenCATS

    Open-source HRIS with a recruitment module.

    Pros

    • Free open-source Starter edition
    • Covers leave, time, recruiting and performance
    • Paid hosted edition available when needed

    Cons

    • No payroll in the free edition
    • Community-only support for Starter
    • Interface lags behind commercial HRIS tools
    Visit OrangeHRM Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is OrangeHRM a good OpenCATS alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open-source edition
    Starter, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days (Advanced)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Frappe HR logo

    2. Frappe HR

    Best for: Companies, especially in India, that want free open-source HR and payroll they can host

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from OpenCATS

    Open-source HR with recruitment, alongside payroll.

    Pros

    • Free and open source, including payroll
    • Strong Indian payroll localisation
    • Pairs with ERPNext for accounting

    Cons

    • Setup and localisation take effort
    • Functional rather than polished interface
    • Support through partners or community
    Visit Frappe HR Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Frappe HR a good OpenCATS alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    100% open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, or managed cloud
    Checked Oct 25, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
    India payroll
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best OpenCATS alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Zoho Recruit logo

Best OpenCATS alternative for most people

Zoho Recruit

Hosted ATS with a free plan and no server to run.

OrangeHRM logo

Best OpenCATS alternative for a free option

OrangeHRM

Open-source HRIS with a recruitment module.

Zoho Recruit logo

Best OpenCATS alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Zoho Recruit

Hosted ATS with a free plan and no server to run.

Frappe HR logo

Best OpenCATS alternative for open source

Frappe HR

Open-source HR with recruitment, alongside payroll.

OrangeHRM logo

Best OpenCATS alternative for self-hosting

OrangeHRM

Open-source HRIS with a recruitment module.

Manatal logo

Best OpenCATS alternative for iPhone and Android

Manatal

Low-cost hosted ATS for agencies.

Zoho Recruit logo

Best OpenCATS alternative for working in the browser

Zoho Recruit

Hosted ATS with a free plan and no server to run.

OpenCATS alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to OpenCATS?

Zoho Recruit ranks first right now. Hosted ATS with a free plan and no server to run. OrangeHRM and Frappe HR follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to OpenCATS?

Yes. Zoho Recruit (free plan + paid), OrangeHRM (open source) and Frappe HR (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to OpenCATS?

Yes: OrangeHRM and Frappe HR. OrangeHRM and Frappe HR can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from OpenCATS?

The complaints we hear most: dated interface; volunteer-maintained with irregular releases; few integrations and no official support.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces OpenCATS, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.