ATS Mako vs Loxo
Loxo is a well-regarded ATS and CRM built around a large internal talent database and outbound sourcing tools, priced per user with no permanent free tier. ATS Mako takes a different approach on pricing specifically: a flat rate per tier that covers a set number of users, rather than a per-seat bill that climbs every time you add a recruiter.
ATS Mako differs from Loxo mainly in pricing structure: ATS Mako's plans are flat monthly rates covering a set number of users ($149-$299/mo), while Loxo is priced strictly per user (published at $149/user/month for Core and $199/user/month for Professional, billed annually), with Enterprise pricing custom-quoted.
Loxo and ATS Mako are built for genuinely different workflows, which matters more than the price gap alone. Loxo's strength is its internal talent database and outbound sourcing sequences — real, valuable tooling for a recruiter whose day is mostly proactive candidate hunting, and its Professional tier is priced accordingly at $199/user/month with a 7-day trial to test it. That per-user model means cost scales directly with every recruiter added, with no flat-rate ceiling, and enterprise features like SSO and SAML are reserved for a custom-quoted tier on top. ATS Mako's flat per-tier pricing is a bet on a different reality: most staffing and high-volume teams care less about a large proprietary sourcing database and more about candidates replying fast once they're already in the pipeline — which is why SMS, self-scheduling, and white-label branding are built into the base tiers rather than layered on as a separate sourcing product. If outbound sourcing volume is the actual bottleneck, Loxo's tooling is real and worth its price. If the bottleneck is candidates going quiet after they've already applied, that's a different problem, and it's the one ATS Mako is built to solve first.
ATS Mako vs Loxo
| Capability | ATS Mako | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly rate per tier — $299/mo (Tiger Shark) covers up to 10 users, so cost doesn't scale directly with headcount. | Priced strictly per user: published at $149/user/month (Core, annual) and $199/user/month (Professional, annual) — a 10-person team on Professional runs roughly $2,000/month. |
| Free access | 30-day free trial with full feature access on any plan, no setup fees and no long-term contract. | Loxo's published free option is a 7-day trial of the full Professional platform, not a permanent free tier. |
| Two-way SMS | Included in the Tiger Shark tier ($299/mo flat) as a core platform feature. | Text messaging is available on Loxo's paid plans per Loxo's own product blog, priced per user rather than as part of a flat, multi-user rate. |
| Enterprise security features | Role-based access control included without a separate enterprise tier. | SSO, SAML, and advanced governance are reserved for Loxo's custom-quoted Enterprise tier. |
| White-label branding | Full white-label branding — logo, colors, and domain — included as a core platform feature. | Loxo is built primarily as a recruiter-facing tool with its own product identity; white-label branding of the candidate-facing experience isn't the platform's focus. |
| Annual price increases | Flat-tier pricing with no built-in automatic escalator. | Multiple independent reviewers report Loxo contracts carry an automatic 5% annual price increase, meaning the signup price isn't the year-two or year-three price. |
What sets ATS Mako apart.
Flat pricing, not a per-seat bill
Loxo's published pricing is strictly per user across every tier. ATS Mako's tiers are flat rates that cover a set number of users, so a 10-person team pays $299/month flat instead of a bill that scales directly with headcount.
A real 30-day trial, not a 7-day one
Loxo's published free option is a 7-day trial of its Professional platform. ATS Mako offers a 30-day free trial, giving a team more time to actually run its hiring process on the platform before committing.
SMS on a flat rate, not a per-user add
Loxo's texting is available on paid, per-user plans. ATS Mako includes two-way SMS in the Tiger Shark tier at one flat rate, regardless of how many of that tier's 10 seats you're using.
A trial long enough to actually test it
Seven days is barely enough time to import a candidate list, let alone run a real requisition through screening and an offer. A 30-day trial gives a team room to see the platform handle an actual hiring cycle before deciding.
Built for candidates to see your brand, not the vendor's
Loxo is built primarily as internal recruiter software. ATS Mako's white-label branding extends to every candidate-facing touchpoint — the apply page, SMS, email — under your own identity.
ATS Mako vs Loxo — FAQ
Is ATS Mako a Loxo alternative?
Yes, particularly for teams that want a flat monthly rate covering multiple users rather than Loxo's strictly per-user pricing, which climbs directly with headcount.
How does ATS Mako's pricing compare to Loxo's?
Loxo publishes per-user pricing: $149/user/month for Core and $199/user/month for Professional, both billed annually, with Enterprise custom-quoted. ATS Mako publishes flat plans instead — $149/month for Reef Shark and $299/month for Tiger Shark, covering up to 10 users — so the price doesn't rise every time you add a recruiter.
Does Loxo have a permanent free plan?
Loxo's published free option is a 7-day trial of its full Professional platform rather than an ongoing free tier. ATS Mako offers a 30-day free trial.
Is Loxo better for teams that rely heavily on its talent database and sourcing tools?
For agencies whose workflow depends on Loxo's built-in talent database and outbound sourcing sequences, and that have the per-seat budget for it, that depth is real. ATS Mako is built for teams that want SMS, AI ranking, and white-label branding on a flat rate that doesn't scale per seat.
Does Loxo's white-label the candidate experience the way ATS Mako does?
Loxo is built primarily as a recruiter-facing tool rather than a white-label platform for candidate-facing branding. ATS Mako extends white-label branding across the apply page, SMS, and email — every touchpoint a candidate sees.
Does Loxo's price increase every year?
Multiple independent reviewers report Loxo contracts include an automatic 5% annual price increase, which is worth building into a multi-year cost comparison rather than judging only on the first-year quote.
Build a faster, smarter hiring engine.
Start your 30-day free trial — no setup fees, no contracts. Or see ATS Mako in action.
30-day free trial · No setup fees · No long-term contracts