The Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Ask any HR recruiter what dreads them most, and they will likely say finding the right talent. Most recruiters find themselves browsing through CVs for hours each day without getting a suitable resume.

Coupled with the modern complicated hiring landscape, where they must avoid bias and prioritize diversity can make the entire process numbing. 

However, there are ways that recruiters can simplify the hiring process and still find the right candidate.

The best way is to use an ATS software. It works by automating most backend recruitment processes, saving you time. 

Why listen to me? Well, here at SMB, we’ve written hundreds of reviews on ATS software. So, we are not random people venting on the internet.

Second, we browse through the internet on forums like Reddit and analyze reviews on platforms like G2 and TrustPilot to get insight. 

So, let’s compare the 10 best applicant tracking systems.

The 10 best ATS softwares and platforms

1. Breezy HR – Editors choice
2. Workable – Best for mid-sized tech companies
3. Recruitee – Best for collaborative recruitment
4. Manatal – Best for in-house HR teams
5. Teamtailor – Best for branding
6. Greenhouse – Best for reporting
7. VIVAHR – Best all-in-one software
8. JazzHR – Best for SMEs
9. Lever – Best for growing enterprises
10. SmartRecuiters – Best for startups looking to scale

How we evaluate and test apps

When I’m testing apps/tools, I employ a dual approach based on free trial availability. For platforms offering free trials, I test their functionalities, usability, navigation, and ease of use. In the case of tools lacking a free version or trial, I rely on in-depth research and user testimonials through software review platforms like G2, Capterra, TrustRadius, Software Advice, and GetApp to gauge their performance and capabilities. Learn more about our ratings criteria for applicant tracking systems here.

1. Breezy HR – Editors choice

Best Suited For: SMEs on a budget looking for a solution with a free plan to streamline their recruitment for an occasional open position.

Pricing

Breezy HR provides customers with four pricing packages, allowing them to choose between monthly or annual subscription options. The annual subscription comes with a 17% discount.

Here are the plans:

• Bootstrap: Free
• Startup: $189 monthly or ($1884 annually)
• Growth: $329 monthly or ($3276 annually)
• Business: $529 monthly or ($5268 annually)

Breezy HR is a modern hiring platform designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. It excels in effectively recruiting top-tier candidates on an occasional basis. The software allows you to create a career page and post job ads globally to 50+ top job boards. 

Breezy HR also offers task automation, fosters better collaboration within the HR team, and simplifies applicant management through intuitive drag-and-drop features. Not only that, MDs can monitor their recruitment with in-depth reporting and analytics.

Features

• Branded career site
• Job posting and distribution to 50+ job boards
• World-class resume parsing
• Multi-language support

Why we picked it

Breezy HR is a decent choice for SMEs looking for an effective and simple hiring platform. The integrations and features will help MDs recruit quality talent, automate tasks, and save time.

Start 14-day free trial of Breezy HR!

14-day free trial of Breezy HR

2. Workable – Best for mid-sized tech companies

Best Suited For: Medium to large tech enterprises that need a solution for recruiting suitable candidates globally.

Pricing

Workable offers its customers three pricing packages, each with a trial period of 2 weeks. The plans also have varied payment options, and they include:

• Starter: $149 paid monthly only
• Standard: $360 monthly or ($3588 annually)
• Premier: $7899 paid annually only

Workable is a recruitment software that helps medium-sized enterprises recruit top talent globally. MDs and the HR teams can better identify the right talent and easily manage the process.

Not only that, Workable enables automation of the hiring processes and provides in-depth reporting and ways to improve.

Features

• Unlimited active jobs
• AI candidate sourcing
• Candidate self-scheduling
• Job posting and distribution to 200+ job boards

Why we picked it

Workable provides a reliable tracking and recruitment platform, enabling enterprises to effectively hire suitable talent for their needs.

The software offers extensive integrations that help in job posting and simplifying hiring workflows.

Start 15-day free trial of Workable!

Try Workable for free!

3. Recruitee – Best for collaborative recruitment

Best Suited For: Medium to large enterprises looking to streamline their hiring and make it efficient.

Pricing

Recruitee offers its clientele three pricing packages, each plan having a free trial period of 18 days. You can also choose from monthly or annual subscriptions and request a demo. Annual subscriptions get a 16% discount.

Here are the plans:

• Launch: $269 monthly or ($2688 annually)
• Scale: $479 monthly or ($4788 annually)
• Lead: custom pricing

Recruitee offers a comprehensive tracking and recruitment software, facilitating improved collaboration for businesses seeking to hire global talent. Recruitee has extensive integrations with other HRIS, communication, and collaboration platforms.

They include Slack, LinkedIn, and more.

Features

• Access 2900+ free and paid job boards
• Jobs widgets
• Candidate video chat
• Talent sourcing Chrome extension

Why we picked it

Recruitee is a decent collaborative recruitment platform that can help medium to large enterprises hire top talent. MDs will find features that allow them to communicate better with their HR team and applicants through video, 2-way email, and more.

Start your 18-day free trial of Recruitee!

Start 18-day free trial of Recruitee

4. Manatal – Best for in-house HR teams

Best Suited For: Headhunting agencies and in-house HR teams looking to simplify high-volume applicant onboarding processes.

Pricing

Manatal offers its customers three pricing packages and a 2-week trial period on the first two plans. You can also choose from monthly or annual subscriptions. Picking the annual subscription comes with a 21% discount.

Here are the plans:

• Professional: $19 monthly or ($180 annually)
• Enterprise: $39 monthly or ($420 annually)
• Custom: Custom pricing

Manatal provides a recruitment solution tailored for MDs, aiding in handling resume backlogs and identifying suitable candidates for open positions. With a robust candidate database, Manatal efficiently collects resumes to streamline the hiring process.

It also organizes the information of each candidate who has applied for a position. It comes in handy in speeding up the hiring process.

Features

• Powerful resume parsing and data enrichment
• Automated job recommendation based on candidate profile
• It supports all languages
• Automated workflows and actions

Why we picked it

Manatal offers MDs a tracking and recruitment platform that helps them become flexible in dealing with large volumes of applicants. Manatal proves especially valuable for users with small recruitment teams, significantly expediting the hiring processes. The platform also enables you to automate most tasks.

Start 14-day free trial of Manatal!

Try Manatal for free!

5. Teamtailor – Best for Branding

Best Suited For: Startups and medium-sized enterprises looking to recruit top talent using a candidate-focused platform.

Pricing

The Teamtailor pricing model is invite-only. You’ll have to send a quote to customer support, and a dedicated representative will reach out with a custom plan.

However, the software offers a demo and a 2-week free trial period.

Teamtailor offers its users a tracking and recruitment software that helps them hire suitable candidates for their enterprise. The platform provides extensive branding tools, like a site builder that helps create pages that attract the right talent. 

Team Tailor also offers integrations with HRIS, collaboration, and communication platforms. They include Slack, Indeed, social networks, and more.

Features

• Unlimited job postings and users
• Integrates with existing HR stack
• Access to Tailor Academy
• Ongoing support to all customers

Why we picked it

Teamtailor offers MDs an all-in-one recruitment software that helps them brand their enterprise to attract suitable candidates. Additionally, the platform provides a manager who offers guidance on the best hiring practices.

Start 14-day trial of Teamtailor!

Try Teamtailor for free!

6. Greenhouse – Best for reporting

Best Suited For: Mid-sized companies growing fast and looking for an all-rounded hiring platform.

Pricing

You have the option to select from three pricing packages. Now, Greenhouse doesn’t display the pricing of its plans. It requires you to send a quote to customer support and get a custom price.

Greenhouse is an applicant tracking system (ATS) specializing in recruitment and management, aiding in the acquisition of suitable global candidates. MDs will find that Greenhouse allows them to automate workflow tasks and track data on the recruitment process.

Not only that, the platform offers extensive integrations with communication and collaboration platforms like Slack. The whole ecosystem makes the recruitment process effective in finding talent that matches the open positions.

Features

• Scalable workflows
• DEI application during recruitment
• GDPR Compliance
• CRM + events

Why we picked it

Greenhouse holds its own as an all-rounded ATS. MDs will find features that help them onboard top talent globally and automate most processes. Start by requesting a demo, and you will get a quote for a package that fits your business.

7. VIVAHR – Best all-in-one software

Best Suited For: Small businesses seeking an all-rounded candidate tracking and recruitment software.

Pricing

VIVAHR offers its customers four pricing packages, with a one-week free trial period. You can choose a monthly or annual subscription. Picking the annual subscription comes with a 20% discount on all plans.

Here are the packages:

• Starter: $89 monthly or ($849 annually)
• Essential: $119 or ($1188 annually)
• Grow: $179 monthly or (1908 annually)
• Pro: $279 monthly or ($3108 annually)

VIVAHR is a tracking and recruitment platform that allows you to create job ads easily and post them to 50+ job boards. The platform also has a dashboard, the central hub where you can track applicants and organize them in segments.

VIVAHR also allows you to create scorecards that help improve team performance and collaboration.

Features

• Niche and premium job site posting
• Bulk actions
• Hiring expert advice
• Custom hiring pipeline

Why we picked it

VIVAHR offers you a recruitment software that helps you match the right candidate to the open position. You’ll be pleased to find that VIVAHR allows you to create a career page that helps recruit suitable candidates.

8. JazzHR – Best for small businesses

Best Suited For: SMEs looking to automate job posting on popular job boards.

Pricing

JazzHR offers three pricing packages to scalable customers. Unlike most ATS platforms, JazzHR doesn’t offer a free plan or trial period.

Here are the plans:

• Hero: $49 monthly when billed annually
• Plus: $239 monthly when billed annually
• Pro: $359 monthly on the annual subscription

JazzHR is a recruitment and tracking software that allows MDs and HR teams to create a scalable hiring process. JazzHR uses an ATS rather than old-school approaches like spreadsheets and email. 

It allows you to post job openings on 18+ popular job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn. You’ll also get to track applicants and seamlessly schedule interviews.

Features

• New candidates’ email notifications
• Mobile resume screening
• Mobile-friendly job board
• Resume uploader and parser

Why we picked it

JazzHR is a decent recruitment software that proves highly valuable for small teams seeking assistance in hiring the right candidates. The plans are scalable and can accommodate growing enterprises.

9. Lever – Best for growing enterprises

Best Suited For: Fast-growing enterprises looking for a scalable ATS platform to help recruit candidates.

Pricing

Lever offers two pricing packages to its users, and you can request a demo. However, Lever doesn’t display the price of its packages.

You’ll need to send a quote to customer support for a custom price.

Lever is a recruitment and tracking platform allowing MDs and HR teams to manage hiring. The software combines an ATS with CRM into an enterprise-ready, all-rounded platform.

Lever also offers customizable workflows to help tweak them to match recruitment preferences.

Features

• Developer-friendly APIs and Webhooks
• Lever integration ecosystem
• DEI solution
• GDPR Compliance

Why we picked it

Lever is an all-rounded and modern ATS software that MDs and HR teams will find helpful in recruiting the right talent. Additionally, Lever automates hiring workflows through triggers and filters, which enhance team productivity.

10. SmartRecruiters – Best for startups looking to scale fast

Best Suited For: Startups or new recruiting firms looking for a scalable solution that provides data-driven hiring recommendations.

Pricing

SmartRecruiters’ pricing model is invite-only. You have to send a quote to customer support to get custom pricing.

SmartRecruiters is a recruitment software that helps growing enterprises recruit top talent. Besides job postings, SmartRecruiters allows the creation of recruitment campaigns and interview scheduling.

SmartRecruiters also provides in-built skill testing and assessment modules to help retain talent and predict future performance.

Features

• 350+ integrations with recruitment systems
• Compliant with GDPR
• 200+ job boards for easy global distribution
• Configurations for multiple brands

Why we picked it

SmartRecruiter excels in candidate management and ATS software that recruiters will find valuable. It automates job posting on social media and job boards globally. The software also offers configurations for multiple brands and hiring processes.

Conclusion: How to Pick The Best Applicant Tracking Software

An ATS platform can help MDs and their recruitment team attract and hire the right talent for the open positions.

ATS software serves as a comprehensive tool, enabling the management of candidates and overseeing the entire hiring process from its inception to the final stages.

Despite the abundance of ATS software options in the market, not all are universally suitable for every type of business. Different businesses have varying needs and priorities when it comes to their hiring processes.

A decent ATS should do more than basic tracking. It should automate tasks, simplify workflow, facilitate collaboration, and more.

This guide reviewed the 10 best applicant tracking systems to help businesses recruit the right candidates. Here is a recap of each and their benefits.

Quick Recap:

1. Breezy HR – Editors choice
2. Workable – Best for mid-sized tech companies
3. Recruitee – Best for collaborative recruitment
4. Manatal – Best for in-house HR teams
5. Teamtailor – Best for branding
6. Greenhouse – Best for reporting
7. VIVAHR – Best all-in-one software
8. JazzHR – Best for SMEs
9. Lever – Best for growing enterprises
10. SmartRecuiters – Best for startups looking to scale