10+ Best Applicant Tracking Systems for Small Businesses (2025)
The best ATS for small businesses, updated by our in-house HR tech experts and researchers for 2025.
A small business ATS is software designed for teams with limited HR resources to digitize and enhance their applicant tracking process. For such companies, there’s a fine line between bootstrapping your budget and shooting yourself in the foot, and our experience tells us that the ROI on the proper ATS software catering to SMB growth will make you wonder why you spent so long making do with Excel.
In this guide, our HR tech experts will introduce you to a few relatively affordable applicant tracking systems for small businesses that will pay off dividends if you’re looking to streamline your hiring process with automation, improve your recruitment efficiency, or better your employer brand and candidate experience.
We have assessed over 50 applicant tracking systems specifically through the lens of small business needs, combining hands-on product testing, live vendor demos, and expert and user feedback. Based on our research and experience, the best ATS platforms for small businesses tend to excel in resume parsing, job posting, pipeline management/user experience, and integration capacity.
- Resume Parsing: The ability to reliably parse resumes and provide meaningful analytics is a core feature of any ATS, but for small businesses, it’s especially critical due to their often modest human resources. A small business can’t afford a bad hire, but you also don’t want to spend countless precious hours going through hundreds of resumes. Hence, resume parsing should filter the best candidates, saving you time. To gauge each ATS’s resume parsing capability, we ran simulations where we sent sample resumes through the system’s application pipeline and assessed how well it extracted and organized key data.
- Job Posting: Whether a small business is expanding across borders or focusing on niche roles, tight budgets are a universal challenge. That’s why we prioritized ATS tools that maximize job posting efficiency by offering access to a good mix of job boards (both general and niche) and provide tools like job description crafting, salary estimators, and language support to help teams tailor postings effectively. To ensure job ads meet relevant legal requirements, we also verified that each platform complies with GDPR and EEOC standards and maintains a clear audit trail of job posting activity.
- Pipeline Management and User Experience: Pipeline management supports automation and efficiency, the foundation of candidate experience. A well-designed small business ATS is crucial because it reflects your company's image. We ran candidate simulations through each pipeline to test for intuitiveness, accessibility, and cohesive visual design. Then, we assessed the performance from both the candidate's and recruiter's perspectives.
- ATS Integration: Compatibility with other software is essential because even at small businesses, the candidate pipeline tends to and should weave through multiple internal data points and systems, such as calendars for scheduling, candidate sourcing tools, and background check services. To ensure each ATS would work with most HR ecosystems, our researchers checked for compatibility with dozens of the top HR tools used by small businesses.
You can read our HR tech assessment process for more details.
Greenhouse
We've long found Greenhouse to be a formidable player in the ATS market, particularly in supporting the growth of SMBs with global operations and/or value-driven, unbiased hiring. Its job boards support 19 languages, while its resume anonymization auto-masks candidates' personal details. Remarkably, it's one of the rare few platforms we've encountered that can parse resumes in 26 languages.
PROS
- Offers access to more than 1,000 job boards.
- Built-in internal mobility, referral programs, and onboarding capabilities.
- Interview kits for structured assessment of candidate skills, traits, and qualifications.
- Resume parsing in 26 languages, job boards in 19 languages, and interviews in 6 languages.
- Resume anonymization removes personal details like photos, names, and gender from resumes.
- Send branded, automated email and text notifications from your company’s domain.
- Over 500 pre-built integrations and an open API for seamless connectivity.
- Greenhouse's onboarding feature is built and executed well. New hires transition smoothly from candidate to employee.
- iOS and Android apps work well for recruiters on the go. Users can review applications, schedule interviews, view candidates' profiles, and more.
- 450+ third-party integrations.
CONS
- While they are suitable for the SMB market, they tend to do better with headcounts of 75+.
- Undisclosed pricing. No free trial is available.
- No monthly subscription option. Higher priced than some competitors.
- Bulk reject and email features are available in the Candidates tab, but not during the application review stage.
- The new UI, released in 2024, has garnered negative feedback from some users, who have found it more challenging to navigate than the previous version.
- Greenhouse’s pricing is undisclosed, and they do not offer a trial version.
- Some users note that reporting customization is quite limited and difficult to navigate.
- In-person/live support could be improved.
Greenhouse is often seen as an enterprise-grade ATS, but based on our testing and experience, it offers several standout advantages that can also benefit small businesses ready to invest in a structured, high-performing hiring system.
For small teams, Greenhouse’s exceptional sourcing reach, with access to over 1,000 job boards, strong internal mobility features, and built-in referral programs. This means that, as an employer, you can utilize the platform’s integrations for external candidate sourcing while making the most of your talent database.
The level of thoroughness and consistency of interview kits we saw in Greenhouse was better than most we’ve tested. They’re structured in a way that helps hiring teams assess not just skills, but candidate traits and qualifications.
Additionally, if you’re hiring people across the globe, like us, you’ll appreciate this vendor's language inclusion. It handles resume parsing in 26 languages and job postings in 19 languages, with the ability to conduct interviews in 6 languages. That’s far beyond what we’ve seen from most other ATS platforms.
We also thought the resume anonymization feature was very useful. It removed applicants' personal details such as photos, names, and gender so we could focus on the qualifications that matter most.
Integration-wise, Greenhouse offers over 500 pre-built options, plus an open API, so it’s quite reassuring that the ATS can fit smoothly into almost any existing HR tool.
However, Greenhouse's pricing is a bit of a mystery and, from what we've seen, not as budget-friendly as other options like Loxo or Manatal. There is no free trial, and no monthly billing option. For a small team of 10, it could cost over $6,000.
The platform has also recently updated its user interface. Sadly, it didn’t get very positive feedback from users, and we can see why. Compared to the previous design, this version somehow requires more clicks to perform certain actions, such as sending an interview self-schedule. Thankfully, Greenhouse does offer the option for users to go back to the old UI under their account settings (which was just what we did).
Another inconvenience we’ve noticed is the absence of bulk rejection and email features during the application review stage. While these features are available in the Candidates tab, we trust having them in the initial review process would streamline things a bit more.
6,500+ companies, including Evernote, Nerdwallet, and Coursera.
Undisclosed.
Best For
Regarding their SMB offering, Greenhouse is best paired with growth-focused organizations. Those burgeoning companies hiring at volume and operating internationally, while small, stand to make the most out of this ATS.
We use Greenhouse to recruit for internal and external software engineering and product management roles. Although our workflow is not complex, it includes multiple stages that candidates must pass through. Our hiring managers need complete visibility into the candidate pipeline, and our HR team needs full access to interview notes.
We also prioritize the candidate experience, ensuring that candidates are kept informed and have clear expectations at every stage. The workflows for scheduling and follow-up are straightforward and support the automation of our recruitment processes.
- We like the automation it provides for our processes.
- We appreciate the full visibility into the candidate pipeline and stages.
- We also like that it integrates seamlessly with our HRIS.
We have used Greenhouse for approximately four years. At the time of purchase, we were in high-growth mode and needed a scalable solution that could integrate with our other tools, offer a clean user experience, and provide robust analytics. We also aimed to automate many of the manual processes already in place.
I have personally used the tool since implementation. It has eased some of our challenges, particularly with integrations and automation, though it has not consistently delivered actionable analytics.
- The reporting and analytics features are lacking; we would like more detailed metrics on time to hire, candidate pass-through rates, and overall hiring metrics that help assess a candidate's likelihood of success in our organization.
- Although candidates find it easy to use, some hiring managers struggle with inputting value-added interview notes. We would benefit from guidance on making feedback objective, bias-free, and actionable.
- We would also appreciate additional features that help reduce bias in the hiring process.
Greenhouse is more robust than JazzHR, our previous ATS solution. It offers better automation, stronger integrations with other tools, and is relatively easy to configure. We strongly prefer using Greenhouse.
- Search and Filter: The ATS should have strong search capabilities to find candidates based on skills, experience, and qualifications.
- Workflow Automation and Interview Scheduling: Customizable recruitment workflows and automated communications reduce manual workload. Built-in calendar integration and scheduling tools help hiring managers prioritize interviews without getting bogged down in logistics.
- Job Board Integration: Seamless posting to multiple job boards, especially LinkedIn, is essential in the current market.
- Analytics Dashboard: A visual display of key recruitment data helps drive decisions about pipeline management, metrics, and areas for improvement.
- Training Resources: Training materials for hiring managers and onboarding support are crucial during setup and implementation of workflows and automations
- Data Security: Greenhouse has placed greater focus on improving data protection and privacy measures.
- User Experience: More frequent interface updates are being released based on user feedback and usage patterns.
- Integrations: Greenhouse has expanded its partnerships with HR tech providers, which has been helpful as our HR tech stack has grown.
Greenhouse is ideal for fast-growing businesses that need to automate recruitment processes. It is also suitable for companies with geographically dispersed hiring teams that need to collaborate asynchronously.
Greenhouse may not be the best solution for slow-growing businesses, mainly due to cost. These organizations may not have defined workflows, connected HR tech systems, or a strong need for detailed analytics.
Workable
We found Workable an excellent ATS for small businesses because it combines ease of use, broad job posting reach, and scalable features that help lean teams run structured, professional hiring processes without needing extra tools or technical support.
PROS
- Allows SMBs to explore the platform’s offerings via a 15-day free trial.
- Supports one-click job posting to over 200 sites and lets you access its talent pool with over 400 million profiles.
- You can conduct cognitive and personality assessments within Wordable, without needing third-party tools.
- The anonymized screening feature can help reduce unconscious hiring bias.
- You can post jobs with one click to over 200 sites. You also get access to access to Workable’s talent pool with over 400 million profiles.
- Workable has built-in cognitive and personality candidate assessment. The platform also has features for offer management, which means you can create offer letters and collect e-signatures without needing to use third-party tools
- You can reduce unconscious hiring bias with Workable’s anonymized screening feature. It helps you hide identifying candidate information from the sourced and applied stages of the hiring process.
CONS
- No automated reference checking and onboarding features.
- Features like candidate texting, video interviews, and assessments are not included in plans but must be bought separately.
- Workable could do better with duplicate candidate merging since one person will have numerous candidate records on the ATS if they apply for multiple positions.
- The reporting feature needs to be more detailed and customizable.
- The candidate search function could have more filters.
- Workable doesn’t provide automated reference checking and onboarding features.
- Useful features such as candidate texting, video interviews, and assessments are not offered in any of Workable’’s plans and instead, sold separately.
- Several users complained about the reporting feature not being detailed or customizable enough, and that the candidate search function could use more filters.
Through our testing, demos, and user feedback, we found that Workable ATS provides small businesses with an ideal blend of ease, flexibility, and a future-ready design. While many ATS platforms either oversimplify for small teams or overwhelm them with enterprise-level complexity, Workable strikes a rare balance: it’s intuitive enough for small hiring teams to adopt quickly, yet robust enough to scale as the business grows.
First, let’s mention this ATS’s plug-and-play setup: small businesses often don’t have the IT resources to configure complex systems, and Workable’s straightforward onboarding, 15-day free trial, and clean interface make it easy to get started. The platform also provides broad job posting reach, giving lean teams access to over 200 job boards and 400 million candidate profiles, which helps maximize recruiting impact without adding extra headcount or budget.
Importantly, Workable includes built-in tools that small businesses often lack, such as anonymized screening, cognitive and personality assessments, and structured interview kits. These are the features that can help your small business run a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process without relying on additional tools or external vendors.
We also appreciate that Workable’s pricing is transparent and its platform is scalable, meaning small teams can adopt the system with confidence that it won’t become obsolete as they expand. However, be mindful that some features, like video interviewing and texting, actually cost extra as they are paid add-ons. Additionally, while the platform offers reporting tools, as highlighted in the user review from Angela Lowry right below, these are quite basic and often require teams to export data into spreadsheets for meaningful analysis.
Workable has been used by over 20,000 organizations, including Sephora, Forbes, Bevi, Moodle, and Navarro.
Workable provides different pricing options to accommodate various business needs. However, their Starter plan was removed in mid 2025. That leaves only the Standard and Premier plans, which cost $299 and $599 per month respectively. For organizations looking for integrated solutions, bundled options that include HR and recruiting functionalities start at $349 per month.
Best For
Workable’s ATS is a good bet for small businesses aiming to scale, as you can start small and know the platform has the capacity to handle more complex needs as you grow.
We use Workable to track candidates in our pipeline from sourcing to the hiring stage. In addition, Workable allows users to add comments and leave reviews for the candidate. We also utilize Workable to share job descriptions with the public. It has robust functionality for that and we have easily double or triple the amount of inbound candidates compared to using Greenhouse.
I love the design and ease of use of the website. The automation tools as you move candidates between stages are really powerful. The reach of workable when you upload a JD is very extensive and I get a significant number of inbound candidates.
We purchased Workable to replace Greenhouse as we felt Greenhouse was too bulky for our needs. We have been using it for about a month so far. While it functions very well as an ATS, I appreciate its automation features and ease of use/navigation. It has a clean and understandable UI. It also has a great support team which has helped with the import of our candidate data from Greenhouse.
- The automation sometimes has a few issues, such as moving a candidate out of the pipeline without sending them an email is a little tricky.
- The scorecard symbols aren't customizable and there are only 3 of them (love, like, no).
- The AI candidate search tool, while neat, isn't too helpful usually.
Compared to Greenhouse, I like it much more. It's easier to use, capable of the same things, and much cheaper. The inbound capabilities are better and creating a JD is less complicated.
Criteria 1: Does your team need a robust pool of inbound candidates? If so, Workable is great at providing that quantity.
Criteria 2: Will other non-talent employees be scoring candidates? Greenhouse is a little bit better at sending interview packages, but Workable is much easier to navigate.
Criteria 3: Is cost an issue considering the size of our team? For a smaller team of a few people <10, Workable is much more affordable.
We haven't used it long enough for this to come into play, but the support team has been helpful in setting things up.
It's great for organizations with a smaller talent team that needs a lot of power for a low price point.
If you need to send robust interview packages often, then Greenhouse may be better.
AvaHR
AvaHR has done a nice job with its customized hiring automation frameworks. We enjoyed the ability to post to 50+ job boards for free while showcasing our company culture with videos, photos, and text. Additionally, the Pipeline Triggers, which automate routine tasks based on the candidate's progress, are a standout feature that we've found to be quite rare among SMB-focused ATS solutions.
PROS
- Culture Profiles let you add videos, photos, and text to showcase your company's work environment.
- Pipeline Triggers automate repetitive actions based on a candidate's stage, such as sending thank-you emails or requesting hiring team feedback.
- Custom questionnaire builder for candidate pre-assessments.
- Data migration service is available at no additional cost.
- Transparent pricing, free trial available.
- Culture Profiles let you add videos, photos, and text to showcase your company's work environment.
- Pipeline Triggers automate repetitive actions based on a candidate's stage, such as sending thank-you emails or requesting hiring team feedback.
- Custom questionnaire builder for candidate pre-assessments.
- Data migration service is available at no additional cost.
- Transparent pricing, free trial available.
CONS
- No free plan, a free trial requires a credit card.
- Pricier than competitors like Loxo and Zoho Recruit.
- Additional charges for features like eSignatures and employee referrals.
- Interview scheduling feature is unavailable (still in development).
- No free plan, a free trial requires a credit card.
- Pricier than competitors like Loxo and Zoho Recruit.
- Additional charges for features like eSignatures and employee referrals.
- Interview scheduling feature is unavailable (still in development).
AvaHR stood out in our tests as a well-designed and functional ATS with solid automation and reporting features.
One apparent plus of this vendor is its transparent pricing and free trial offerings across its subscription plans. We signed up for the free trial of the Standard plan using a Gmail account. The only downside was having to provide credit card information to activate the trial, but other than that, the process was a breeze. Within minutes, we were all set to explore the tool.
Our first impression of AvaHR’s UI was that it was so well thought out. There was nearly nothing to be confused about. And it’s easy on the eye, too. Take the example of their AI job description creator. During our testing, it impressed us with the solid draft it produced with just a few sentences of role requirements provided. We also found it easy to get our application form ready. All we needed to do was define which fields were required and which were optional in the form settings.
The Candidates section gave us a bird’s-eye view of all applicants, including their application dates, stages in the hiring process, and contact details. There was also a convenient Filters button in the top right corner that let us filter candidates based on their tag, stage, job title, department, and a few others. The system didn’t take more than a few seconds to provide results in our tests, but we couldn’t help but be disappointed to discover there was no Boolean or custom filter to be found.
AvaHR’s reporting met our expectations for an SMB-focused ATS. The tool has done a great job of providing key data, from total impressions to page views, clicks, and applications for each job posting. We particularly appreciated the clear visualizations offered by the overview bar and line chart. It made it easier to watch how our jobs were performing.
For businesses migrating from another ATS, you’re in luck! AvaHR’s team offers to handle data import at no extra fee.
However, we did notice that this ATS is slightly pricier than some competitors like Zoho Recruit. Additionally, features like eSignatures and employee referrals are not included in the lowest subscription plans and must be purchased separately if you want to use them.
1,000+ companies, including BuzzRX, Redirect Health, State Farm, and Margaritaville.
AvaHR offers three plans: Starter ($89/month), Grow ($179/month), and Pro ($279/month).
Best For
AvaHR is best suited for U.S.-based small to medium-sized businesses with 100 or more employees.
I use AvaHR daily to manage job postings, screen candidates, and coordinate hiring efforts across multiple dental offices. One of our most important workflows involves customizing hiring pipelines for each client, tailoring the process to meet their specific needs while keeping everything organized.
I rely heavily on AvaHR’s automated email tools to keep candidates engaged and informed, eliminating the need for manual follow-ups at every stage. The ability to easily share candidate profiles and notes with hiring managers has made collaboration much smoother.
AvaHR helps us stay efficient, professional, and responsive—qualities that are critical when supporting busy dental practices that can't afford hiring delays.
- AvaHR makes it incredibly easy to customize hiring pipelines for each dental office we support, offering flexibility without added complexity.
- The automated communication tools save us considerable time and ensure every candidate receives timely, professional responses.
- The interface is clean and intuitive, enabling both our team and clients to start using it with minimal training.
- Customer support is responsive and genuinely helpful whenever we have questions or need assistance.
At Desert Dental Staffing, we were looking for a solution that could streamline our internal hiring and support the many dental practices we partner with. Before using AvaHR, we managed too many manual processes and spent hours following up with candidates and clients.
We needed a tool that was user-friendly, scalable across multiple locations, and professional enough to reflect the high standards of the dental offices we serve. AvaHR met all those requirements. It allows us to centralize hiring, automate candidate communication, and deliver a seamless, branded experience for each client.
I’ve personally used AvaHR for over three years, and it has become a key part of how we help dental businesses fill roles more quickly, efficiently, and with less hassle.
- The mobile experience could be more streamlined to make managing tasks on the go quicker and more efficient.
- The platform does not currently include features for verifying dental-specific certifications or licenses, which would be a valuable addition during candidate screening.
- Some of our dental clients would prefer built-in scheduling tools that better align with typical dental office hours and appointment flows to simplify interview coordination.
Compared to JazzHR, which I’ve used before, AvaHR feels more modern and user-friendly, with a cleaner interface that simplifies the hiring process. While JazzHR has solid features, AvaHR’s automation tools—particularly those for candidate communication and pipeline customization—are more intuitive and flexible.
We also appreciate AvaHR’s ability to scale across multiple locations without becoming overly complex. Overall, we prefer AvaHR because it strikes a better balance between functionality and ease of use, enabling us to hire efficiently without requiring extensive training.
When selecting a hiring tool like AvaHR, prioritize ease of use so your team can adapt quickly. Look for automation features that reduce repetitive tasks, especially those involving candidate communication.
Ensure the platform allows for process customization to fit your organization’s specific needs. Integration with your current software and the quality of customer support are also critical factors. Testing the platform with your team before committing can help confirm whether it's a good fit.
AvaHR has evolved significantly to meet the changing needs of its users, especially small to mid-sized businesses seeking efficient hiring solutions. Notable enhancements include:
- Enhanced Automation with Pipeline Triggers: Customizable triggers automate tasks based on a candidate's stage in the pipeline.
- Advanced Candidate Engagement Tools: Culture Profiles allow businesses to showcase their work environments through videos, photos, and text, attracting culturally aligned candidates.
- Seamless Integrations: AvaHR has integrated with tools like Gmail and Google Sheets via Zapier, improving communication and data workflows.
- User-Friendly Interface and Onboarding: The platform delivers an intuitive interface and quick onboarding experience, allowing teams to start hiring efficiently with minimal setup.
AvaHR is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses looking to streamline their hiring process. It is particularly well-suited for medical and dental practices. Any business facing organizational challenges in recruiting or looking to save time and money will benefit from using this tool.
AvaHR may not be the best fit for large enterprises that require a comprehensive, full-scale HR management system.
Recruit CRM
Recruit CRM is popular among employment agencies and SMBs because it combines ATS and CRM features in one platform, offers a generous free trial, and has transparent pricing.
PROS
- Combines ATS and recruiting CRM in one platform.
- Affordable and transparent pricing. Free trial available.
- Resume parser provides unlimited resume parsing and supports 28 languages.
- Support available for all users includes live chat, training sessions, and dedicated CMS.
- Regular product feature updates.
- No extra fees required for basic data migration that includes importing Excel/CSV files with candidates & clients. During the implementation process of this software, the customer service personnel will help transfer your data for free.
- Great customer service. Their average response time is under two minutes.
- Powerful Linkedin Integration & Executive/Recruitment Report PDF Generator to save time
- Tons of resources made available to users including blogs and articles that give you all the information you need to know about how the software works, job description templates to help you get acquainted with all the possible job openings you will be looking to close, and a glossary that gives you the A-Z of recruitment practices.
CONS
- Limited to two candidate matches and 1 email sequence in the Pro plan.
- Can’t search logged text under Call Notes.
- Not the best fit for corporate recruitment.
- Lacks employee referral and onboarding features.
- Limited native integrations. Recruit CRM only integrates natively with LinkedIn, Zapier, Logic Melon, some email apps, and Google and Outlook calendars. If you want to run background checks, for example, using Checkr or other background verification platforms, you won’t be able to do that unless you use Zapier’s API extension.
In our testing, Recruit CRM impressed us with its ability to meet the needs of small businesses, particularly recruiting agencies that require handling both client and candidate pipelines.
Small teams who spend hours daily on data entry will appreciate the AI resume parser that Recruit CRM offers. It can parse up to 100 files at a time and works with resumes from multiple sources in 28 different languages.
Recruit CRM is easier to use than many other ATSs we’ve tried. In addition to the mobile apps (which we tested and loved), the Kanban view offers a visual way to manage candidate pipelines. Automation enthusiasts will love the drag-and-drop functionality and automated email triggers at various stages. As a bonus, the in-app instructions are clear-cut and make navigation easier.
Small or medium-sized agencies could hardly go wrong with this vendor’s CRM tools. You can manage client relationships, schedule meetings and emails, and track interactions, all from within the platform. Plus, you get unlimited access to training materials, the live chat takes two minutes on average to reply, and there’s a roadmap page where you can request new features.
Unfortunately, Recruit CRM’s Pro plan limits candidate matches to two and email sequences to one—a letdown, particularly for those with multiple placements to fill at a time but can’t afford higher-tier plans. Also, remember that the search function can only search for keywords in candidate resumes and profile data fields, but not in the user’s logged call notes.
Lastly, Recruit CRM is not intended to serve corporate users, so it lacks certain features that in-house TA teams usually prioritize in their ATS, such as referral and onboarding.
1,200+ companies, including Randstad, Michael Page, ManpowerGroup, Kelly Services, and PageGroup.
Recruit CRM offers three pricing tiers:
- Pro Plan: $85 per user/month when billed annually, $100 per user/month when billed monthly.
- Business Plan: $125 per user/month when billed annually, $150 per user/month when billed monthly.
- Enterprise Plan: $165 per user/month, billed annually only.
Best For
Recruit CRM is best suited for small to midsize recruiting, staffing, executive search, and headhunting agencies that prioritize automation and ease of use.
During my time at Maersk, I relied on RecruitCRM almost daily to oversee the recruitment process from start to finish efficiently. This system played a crucial role in monitoring all our interactions with candidates, from initial contact to the final hiring decision. It streamlined communication between departments and offices worldwide, ensuring everyone involved in recruiting was on the same page.
Additionally, it centralized candidate information and conversations, making coordination and follow-up tasks easier throughout our recruitment efforts. Consistently using this tool was vital to maintaining a successful recruitment approach.
Efficient Tracking: It keeps all candidate information and statuses at our fingertips.
Customizable Workflows: We can tweak processes to fit exactly how our teams work.
Integration Friendly: It works well with our other HR and operational systems.
During my time at Maersk, we implemented a platform called RecruitCRM to address the challenges we faced in managing recruitment efficiently and effectively on a global scale due to our widespread operations and the need to oversee numerous recruitment activities each year. The application enabled us to consolidate candidate information in one place, which helped organize our communications and monitor the overall progress of recruitment processes.
I used the system for more than two years, and it significantly improved our ability to coordinate efforts across different regions, leading to a more seamless and cohesive hiring process. This development greatly enhanced our approach to handling our diverse recruitment needs.
Learning Curve: It took time for everyone to get the hang of it.
Occasional Glitches: Sometimes, there are minor bugs, especially after updates.
Limited Awareness: The shipping industry uses so many products that many people aren't familiar with this one.
RecruitCRM stands out due to its flexibility in accommodating recruitment processes and its ability to integrate seamlessly with other systems or tools. This sets it apart from tools that may lack user-centered features and customization options.
I recommend ensuring it can scale with your organization and integrate with your existing systems. Ease of use is also crucial—no one wants a tool that’s difficult to learn. Additionally, check how robust their customer support is because you’ll likely need their help at some point.
When I used it, I noticed upgrades that enhanced its user-friendly interface and incorporated new features based on feedback from users. It seems they are quite dedicated to adapting to market needs.
It's perfect for large, international companies like ours that deal with a high volume of applicants across many different sectors. It's robust enough to handle complex processes and large amounts of data.
Small companies or startups might find it too much for their needs. If the recruitment process is straightforward or doesn’t involve many stakeholders, they might be better off with a more concise, less feature-rich system.
Zoho Recruit
Like most Zoho products, Zoho Recruit is affordable and feature-rich. The ATS is a strong choice for small businesses, offering a free plan that provides small teams with access to core tools, including job posting, candidate management, and interview scheduling, without upfront costs.
PROS
- Combines ATS + candidate CRM in one system, giving small teams an all-in-one tool to track applicants and manage relationships.
- Free plan and scalable paid tiers with a 15-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- 24/5 support available.
- ATS + CRM in one platform
- Backed by a company like Zoho, notable for reliability and good customer service.
- 24/5 support
- Priced quite modestly after the free version
- Certain features like video interviews are available as optional add-ons.
CONS
- The free plan is limited to just one active job and 256MB of storage.
- Features like the client portal, mass email, workflow alerts, and API are paid features.
- Integrations, at times, don’t work properly, requiring disconnecting and reconnecting.
- The career site is not fully customizable until past a certain paid plan.
- The free plan only allows 256MB of storage.
- Additional features, such as the client portal, mass email, workflow alerts, and API calls cost extra.
- Some users have complained about the quality of some of the integrations.
- The career site is not fully customizable until past a certain paid plan.
In our testing, Zoho Recruit proved to be a strong ATS option for small businesses that want more than just the basics. While its free plan gives small teams a taste of core functionalities, the paid plans and add-ons ensure the platform scales alongside them as they grow.
Let’s first dive into Zoho’s free plan. It covers the essentials for managing candidates, emails, and interview scheduling. While the customization options are somewhat limited, we were glad to see the ability to post jobs on both free and paid job boards, including the niche ones. Integrating with Google applications and support for 26 languages are definite pluses, making connecting with applicants from different backgrounds easier. Another time-saving feature is the availability of five customizable email templates, which can be a real help. However, the biggest con of the free plan is that you only get one active job at a time. The storage limit is also on the smaller side, set at 256 MB.
On the bright side, creating a career page with customizable templates is straightforward, though it might not be the most visually stunning option out there. Another cool feature we came across is Zia, the AI-based chatbot. It automatically responds to applicants’ FAQs and keeps them updated on job availability and application statuses. Plus, there's a handy automated candidate matching feature: you create a new job and specify the desired skills, and Zoho Recruit will rank the candidates based on how well their resumes meet set requirements.
However, teams need to plan carefully: while the base plans are affordable, important tools like the client portal, workflow alerts, video interviewing, and some integrations come as paid add-ons. We also encountered some occasional integration issues, where we needed to manually reconnect third-party tools to keep workflows running smoothly. Additionally, the career site customization options feel somewhat limited on lower-tier plans, which may frustrate small businesses trying to present a polished employer brand.
Bosch, Deloitte, Saint-Gobain, PWC, Allianz.
Zoho Recruit provides a range of paid plans alongside the free version:
- Standard plan is priced at $30/user/month, offering features such as a document library, analytics, and customizations.
- Professional plan priced at $60/user/month, which includes assessments and social recruiting capabilities.
- Enterprise plan priced at $90/user/month, providing a comprehensive set of features (doesn’t include add-ons).
- Add-ons available include the client portal and video interview modules. Zoho Recruit also offers a 15-day free trial for users to explore the platform's capabilities.
Best For
Zoho Recruit is best for small businesses and small agencies that want a cost-effective ATS and candidate CRM solution with the flexibility to scale.
We use Zoho Recruit for our internal recruitment efforts. Tech support has been lackluster. There are A LOT of add-ons and additional costs. Limited customization and UX could definitely be improved. This is truly a recruiting-only platform.
- It is simple and easy to use.
- Pushes job postings to multiple sites.
- Great for managing communications with candidates.
- Reminds us to communicate with candidates.
We've been using Zoho recruit for 5 months. Thus far, we have found it to be an extremely simple platform to use. There are not a lot of options for customization. Integrations often disconnect and the mobile app is often non-functional.
The free version offers very little storage. Some resumes do not download correctly if formatting due to formatting. Having to pay extra for specific add-ons even with some of their paid tier's such as mass emails, API calls, or a designated client portal is disappointing. It's not mobile-friendly. Tech support is not good.
Zoho Recruit is the very best tool for small businesses, who can often get lost or struggle to find ROI with competitors.
Zoho Recruit is truly a tool best used in smaller businesses with minimal recruitment activity. Also, this is truly a recruiting tool--it does not feed into onboarding tasks in other systems. The cost of add-ons can be a bit much, and some of these features might be included in a lower-cost solution. Language needs should also be a consideration.
I have not seen Zoho evolve since we have implemented it.
Small organizations with minimal recruitment needs.
Large organizations.
Pinpoint
While often seen as a tool for mid-sized and growing companies, we found Pinpoint to be a strong fit for small businesses with ambitious growth plans. It combines an intuitive ATS with a built-in talent CRM, robust automation workflows, and customizable career sites.
PROS
- Pinpoint’s ATS is highly customizable and values collaborative hiring.
- Pinpoint offers unlimited active jobs, team members, external recruiters, training, and support for all users regardless of their plans.
- The customer support team is helpful and responsive to customers’ requests.
- The pricing is transparent. Startups with under 50 people can benefit from its discounted pricing.
- It’s got a robust career site builder you can easily customize without the help of IT.
- It provides over 100 third-party integrations. Also offers custom integrations (but only for Enterprise plan).
- Pinpoint is an agile ATS that is highly customizable and values collaborative hiring.
- It’s got a simple and transparent pricing structure.
- Pinpoint offers unlimited jobs and team members in all of its plans.
- Their customer service team is highly praised by users.
- The career site builder is very robust, allowing teams to attract and convert the right talent.
- There are over 100 HR software integrations to choose from, and Pinpoint’s team is adding 3-5 every month.
CONS
- Pinpoint offers its employee onboarding module with additional fees.
- It can be expensive for budget-minded teams.
- Doesn’t offer a free trial or free version.
- Multilingual support is only available for the Enterprise plan.
- The employee onboarding module does cost extra.
- It isn’t the best fit if you’re looking for the cheapest ATS.
- There isn’t a free trial or free version at this time.
Pinpoint's applicant tracking system is highly regarded by users for its intuitive interface, neat automation workflows, and robust career site builder, which we found perfect for small businesses to create a polished, professional hiring process.
We love how easy it is for candidates to apply through the career site. Here’s an example of what going the extra mile looks like: if your candidates are not ready to apply, they can opt into a talent community to stay in touch with your company. After testing a few dozen vendors, we can confirm this is something you can’t find in most other ATSs.
We were also impressed by Pinpoint’s customer service. Regardless of the plan you opt for, you will get a dedicated success manager, concierge onboarding, and unlimited support via phone, email, and live chat. There really isn’t anything we dislike about it.
Just a few things to keep in mind, though. There’s no free trial or free plan to try before buying. And when compared with other solutions, Pinpoint tends to be more expensive than some small-business-focused competitors, with the cheapest plan costing $345 per month. If you’d like to use its onboarding module, you need to purchase it separately.
We should also warn you that although Pinpoint has a considerable number of native integration options, its bespoke integrations are only available to Enterprise plan subscribers with a minimum of 150 employees.
300+ companies, including CoinShares, Pathways Global, Grant Thornton, Icario, and Pivot Energy.
Pinpoint offers a Growth plan starting at $345 per month and an Enterprise plan starting at $1,200 per month, both with annual billing. Startups with under 50 employees may be eligible for Pinpoint's startup program.
Best For
Pinpoint is a good choice for small in-house recruiting teams that value a polished, candidate-friendly ATS with exceptional customer support.
I created branded careers pages to strengthen our employer brand and attract more qualified applicants. I collaborated with hiring managers by assigning roles, collecting structured feedback, and coordinating interviews using shared scorecards.
The system’s automation features allowed me to send personalized messages to candidates. This reduced time-to-hire and improved overall candidate engagement. I also generated reports on source of hire, time-to-fill, compliance, and diversity metrics.
- Pinpoint was very user-friendly.
- It supported collaboration between HR teams and hiring managers.
- The careers site and branding tools helped attract more qualified candidates and increased engagement with open opportunities.
- Automation tools for candidate communication and interview scheduling saved a lot of time and improved the candidate experience.
We primarily needed Pinpoint for recruitment and applicant tracking. We were also able to use it for compliance and reporting, including EEO, VETS-4212, and other reporting needs.
It supported communication and documentation throughout the interview process, allowing us to track candidate details, referrals, and more. We also used Pinpoint as a pipeline tool, which was a significant benefit. This allowed us to organize and reuse previous applicants for current roles effectively.
- Configuring workflows and integrations for the first time was very time-consuming.
- Switching between roles or editing email templates was a bit confusing.
- It had limited ability to pull data from multiple sites and systems.
Pinpoint stands out from many competitors due to its clean interface and strong focus on candidate experience. Compared to tools like Greenhouse or Workable, it’s easier to learn and operate with minimal training.
I appreciated the ability to customize the careers site and branding without needing technical support.
Teams should prioritize ease of use, ensuring both recruiters and hiring managers can operate the system with minimal training. It's important to assess scalability and integration options.
Choose a tool that can grow with your organization and easily connect with existing systems.
In 2024, they introduced features for skill extraction, talent pools, improved candidate pipeline management, and a more robust application flow.
I would recommend Pinpoint for small businesses with 500–2,000 employees that handle recruitment in-house and have moderate hiring needs.
Pinpoint wouldn’t be a good fit for large companies with extensive recruitment operations and complex hiring needs.
JazzHR
Purposely built for teams with less than 500 employees, JazzHR provides almost every key feature of an ATS, like career pages, employer branding, candidate sourcing, and talent CRM, at a transparent and affordable price. Free trials are also available.
PROS
- JazzHR is quite affordable and doesn’t place any limits on the number of users added. It also offers a free, 21-day trial that anyone can sign up for.
- It’s got built-in features for offer management. You can choose from existing offer letter templates or create your own and share them with successful candidates.
- You can automate triggers for candidates to be automatically notified via email when their application has moved a stage further in the hiring process. Several other email responses can be automated.
- JazzHR is quite affordable and doesn’t place any limits on the number of users added. It also offers free, 21-day trials that anyone can sign up for.
- JazzHR has built-in features for offer management. You can choose from existing offer letter templates or create your own and share them with successful candidates
- You can automate triggers for candidates to be automatically notified via email when their application has moved a stage further in the hiring process. Several other email responses can be automated.
CONS
- Some users reported a learning curve with JazzHR's UI and that it took them some time to get used to it.
- Although a product geared towards SMBs, it lacks a free plan. We mention this as a con since other SMB-geared recruiting products often do offer free-forever versions, which puts JazzHR slightly behind the competition.
- Several users have mentioned that the reporting feature is difficult to use, with very little room for report customizations.
- JazzHR currently lacks a mobile app, and the browser version isn’t well-optimized for mobile use.
- Some users reported a learning curve with JazzHR's UI and that it took them some time to get used to it
- For a product geared towards SMBs, it lacks a free plan. We mention this as a con since other SMB-geared recruiting products do offer free-forever versions, which puts JazzHR slightly behind the competition.
- Several users have mentioned that the reporting feature is difficult to use with very little room for report customizations.
- JazzHR currently lacks a mobile app, and the browser version isn’t well-optimized for mobile use.
JazzHR delivers a solid mix of affordability, core ATS functionality, and scalable features that we believe are perfect for meeting the evolving needs of growing SMBs.
One of its biggest advantages is that it places no limits on the number of users, a huge plus for small businesses that want to loop in hiring managers, interviewers, or stakeholders without worrying about stacking up per-user fees. We also liked how job postings across multiple boards are simple and efficient, helping small teams maximize reach without extra software.
You can start with the lowest-priced plan (Hero) that includes essential features like posting up to three job openings and then upgrade to higher plans as your company grows, ensuring you don’t pay for features you don't need. The other two plans (Plus and Pro) have more advanced features for automating, customizing, and analyzing the hiring process.
Unlike some competing SMB-focused ATS platforms, however, JazzHR doesn’t offer a free-forever plan, which we see as a significant downside, particularly for very small teams looking to start lean. Several users we spoke with also noted the UI can feel clunky at first, with a steeper learning curve than some more modern, plug-and-play systems.
JazzHR has been used by over 10,000 businesses to date, including TED, Fox Dealer, Clearly, Massaro, and Heath Ceramics.
JazzHR has three plans. When billed annually, these plans cost as follows:
- Hero: $75 per month for unlimited users and 3 open jobs.
- Plus: $269 per month for unlimited users, unlimited open jobs, ATS, interviews, and assessments.
- Pro: Custom pricing for everything from Plus, along with offers and e-signatures, reporting, and all-access support.
Best For
JazzHR is specifically built for teams at organizations with 5 to 500 employees, regardless of industry or recruiting maturity.
I use JazzHR daily to manage our entire hiring process, from creating initial job postings to sending offer letters for electronic signature. After setting up a posting, JazzHR automatically pushes it out to multiple job boards. I then use the platform to screen and evaluate candidates and send automated emails and calendar invites to qualified applicants who meet our role requirements.
For each position, I create custom interview guides within JazzHR, and our hiring managers use the guides to capture detailed notes and rank candidates following their interviews. This allows me to easily track, manage, and compare candidates as they move through the interview process.
Once we have identified our top candidate, I send offer letters directly through JazzHR’s e-signature functionality, and if the candidate accepts, I can seamlessly export their information to ADP for onboarding.
This end-to-end workflow means I rarely have to leave the JazzHR platform during active hiring, which has made our recruiting process much more streamlined and efficient.
- JazzHR provides a strong ATS at a highly competitive price point.
- It is a comprehensive, end-to-end recruiting platform that integrates seamlessly with job boards and HRIS systems, making it a practical choice for teams seeking a standalone ATS that fits smoothly within their existing HR tech stack.
- JazzHR offers a balance of customization and automation, allowing me to build a hiring process that aligns with our organization’s values and interview practices while significantly reducing the time I spend on repetitive tasks.
I have personally used JazzHR for the past three years, after leading the search for a standalone ATS when our primary HRIS, ADP Workforce Now, fell short in its recruiting module. As the sole recruiter on my team, responsible for hiring 20–30 employees annually, I needed a solution that balanced customization and automation and would streamline time-consuming tasks like posting to job boards and coordinating with candidates.
After thoroughly evaluating eight ATS platforms, I selected JazzHR for its ability to automate our hiring workflows, improve overall efficiency, and shorten time-to-hire. Its key benefits include customizable workflows and communications, streamlined candidate tracking, automated candidate messaging, and integration with ADP to support the onboarding process.
JazzHR also met our budget needs while delivering strong functionality, allowing us to significantly improve our recruiting process without overspending.
- When we adopted JazzHR, the implementation process was quick, but there was a learning curve during the first few months as I became familiar with the platform.
- JazzHR doesn’t integrate directly with niche job boards like Exit Five, though it does allow the creation of trackable links for accurate sourcing and reporting.
- JazzHR does not support early onboarding steps such as background checks or prior employment verifications.
Compared to other ATS platforms I have used, JazzHR stands out for its affordability and ease of use. It is a streamlined tool that offers the right mix of customization and automation without being overloaded with features a small team might not use.
It is powerful enough to make hiring more efficient but simple enough that a small team can manage it without extensive training. Its ease of use also makes it accessible for hiring managers with minimal guidance.
The integration with HRIS platforms like ADP eliminates the need to manually transfer data during onboarding. I prefer JazzHR over more expensive, enterprise-level platforms because it provides the essential tools that small to mid-sized teams need: an efficient, functional hiring tool that is both effective and affordable.
When buying JazzHR, organizations should assess whether they want a standalone recruiting platform or one built into their HRIS, and confirm JazzHR integrates with their current system. Since JazzHR is geared toward small to mid-sized companies, teams should evaluate whether its streamlined functionality fits their hiring needs.
Finally, consider the importance of reporting capabilities. While JazzHR’s reports have met my needs, organizations requiring advanced analytics might find other platforms offer stronger reporting features.
Based on my three years of experience with JazzHR, the platform has evolved to stay competitive and meet user needs. Candidate evaluation tools have improved, with enhanced rating systems that make team assessments easier.
JazzHR has also expanded its job board reach, and its integration with JobTarget has improved our ability to attract a broader and more diverse candidate pool.
JazzHR is well suited for small to mid-sized companies seeking a cost-effective, easy-to-use standalone ATS. It is ideal for small teams that want to manage an efficient, end-to-end hiring process without the complexity of more expensive platforms.
With strong automation and customization features, JazzHR supports building workflows tailored to an organization’s hiring needs.
JazzHR may not be suitable for large companies or organizations with complex, high-volume hiring needs. It is a standalone ATS, so companies requiring deep integration with their HRIS may not find it the best fit.
Teamtailor
Teamtailor’s biggest selling feature is its career page, which is well-built and so easy to navigate. The SMB-focused ATS platform also features elements that promote diversity, equality, and inclusion throughout the hiring process. Plus, free trials are available, and they don’t require your credit card details.
PROS
- Teamtailor is a straightforward ATS that is mobile-friendly.
- Drag-and-drop career site builders.
- Built-in tools to support diversity, equality, and inclusion DEI initiatives.
- Customer support and the help center are notably good.
- Offers one simple plan with unlimited job postings, candidates, and users.
- Free trials are available; no credit card is required.
- Teamtailor’s ATS comes with a robust career site builder that’s also easy to use. It works with drag and drop - no coding knowledge necessary.
- Teamtailor backs several features that support diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI), including anonymous hiring, equal employment opportunity (EEO) surveys, etc..
- Teamtailor is highly rated for their ease-of-use. It’s quite simple to post and promote jobs through their platform.
- There is really in-depth and intuitive help documentation for this solution
CONS
- Their analytics module isn’t very easy to adjust.
- No offerings for other core HR tools
- Features for customization and video interview could be improved.
- Lacks pricing transparency.
- Teamtailor’s analytics are good, but enterprise clients need to use BI Connectors to build the reporting they need. Right now, you can’t sport data from the system. This is particularly important for companies with 500+ employees, or those who have many different locations or franchises.
- Analytics doesn’t allow recruiters to see their cost per hire, which is a really impactful metric
- While they offer integrations with HRIS, onboarding, etc - they have focused on just being a really good ATS now.
- There are predefined user access levels, but you cannot define your own user access levels which is important, especially for the largest companies.
Teamtailor’s ATS has a unique approach to talent acquisition, which pays a lot of attention to how your company presents itself to candidates.
In our assessments, we found that the platform’s drag-and-drop career site builder is one of the best in class for SMBs: it allows small teams to create sleek, attractive, and mobile-friendly career pages without needing design or coding skills. This kind of polished first impression is a huge advantage for small businesses trying to stand out in a competitive talent market.
Another way TeamTailor differentiates itself from the pack is how the platform structures its pricing. It’s a single plan with all features included, and thus, this plan's pricing adapts to your company's size. We are also huge fans of the vendor’s all-inclusive plan, which offers unlimited jobs, candidates, and users, making it easier for small companies to scale without worrying about per-seat costs or feature upgrades.
Unfortunately, the analytics feature is where Teamtailor falls short. Our test results show that it’s not particularly flexible or customizable. We noticed the onboarding tool was recently added, but other HR modules, such as performance management, are still missing. And while we appreciate that Teamtailor offers free trials with no credit card required, the absence of upfront pricing transparency can make it more challenging for small businesses to compare costs during the vendor selection process.
Kry, Goodbye Kansas, Vitamin Well, Ponsse, Daniel Wellington.
Teamtailor’s pricing will vary depending on your company size. To give you an idea, $3,300 is a usual starting price for organizations with fewer than 25 employees.
Best For
Teamtailor is an excellent choice for startups and small and medium-sized businesses looking for a straightforward ATS with outstanding features for employer branding.
We used Teamtailor to improve our recruiting process. We used it daily for organizing meetings, streamlining interviews, and consolidating all of our interview notes. Tracking each candidate was smooth and helpful. The team was able to collaborate more effectively since everyone was on the same page. It was a great way to ensure that notes weren't lost in translation. It also saved time by streamlining the Google Calendar, preventing missed or duplicate meetings, as everyone had the same calendar view.
- We felt Teamtailor was a great value for the yearly invoice.
- It was user-friendly and excellent for streamlining interview notes.
- It made our recruiting process more efficient and helped us hire better candidates.
- It kept the applicants organized and made accessing information easy.
- It was a wonderful tool for reducing the administrative hours spent on each potential new hire.
I used Teamtailor for a year and loved it! This was one of my favorite programs for my HR needs. It greatly improved our recruiting process. It helped our team's daily productivity by streamlining tasks that were constantly repeated. Previously, our recruiting process was time-consuming, inefficient, and not always successful. The integration with our Google Calendars and Zoom alleviated a lot of stress in the office.
- Some of the letterhead views could be improved to look more professional.
- The program could offer a better way to manage different job positions for candidates.
- I would like to see Teamtailor enable PDF viewing without requiring the file to be downloaded.
Teamtailor is great for in-office morale. It is an excellent tool for organizing and keeping everyone on the same page. The integration and streamlining features are far more advanced than those of other programs I've used.
The value of the features offered should be carefully considered. The integration with Google Calendars, Zoom, and LinkedIn is a key feature. I would recommend a trial run to ensure it fits the needs of the company.
Teamtailor has improved the organization of the entire recruiting section. It continues to get better over time and improves with user suggestions.
Teamtailor could be used for small or large companies. It is so user-friendly that any business looking to improve and streamline its HR services could benefit from it.
International companies may find Teamtailor not in-depth enough to be beneficial or worth purchasing.
Tellent Recruitee
Tellent Recruitee is highly recommended for SMBs due to its user-friendliness and robust collaboration features. Companies also find the ATS’ permission adjustment functionality helpful in reducing biased hiring. What’s more? There’s a free trial that won’t require your payment info.
PROS
- Tellent Recruitee now offers users an AI-powered tool working as a job description builder.
- Permission adjustment features enable businesses to reduce hiring bias.
- Pricing is transparent. You can also opt for Tellent Recruitee’s free trial to explore the tool.
- Tellent Recruitee puts no limits on the number of users for all of its plans.
- Offers a mobile app where users can receive notifications of candidate interactions and perform several tasks on their Android/iOS devices.
- Tellent Recruitee is highly rated for ease of use and quick implementation.
- It offers a customizable, kanban-style recruiting pipeline with adjustable stages.
- The software also helps reduce hiring bias by allowing permission level adjustments for interviewers, preventing them from seeing each other's candidate scores.
- Quarterly product updates based on users’ feedback.
CONS
- The platform lacks built-in functions for skill assessments, onboarding, video interviewing, and e-signatures, requiring users to use third-party integrations to be able to use such features.
- The reporting feature, at times, doesn't retrieve data accurately.
- Tellent Recruitee has increased its pricing (although it corresponds to an addition of features in each plan).
- Some features (skill assessments, onboarding, video interviewing, e-signatures) are only available via third-party integrations.
- No monthly contract option.
Tellent Recruitee is a great pick for SMBs looking for a collaborative and user-friendly ATS. We had a great experience navigating the platform: it has a nice UI and a Kanban-like recruiting pipeline where we can customize every stage of the process and move candidates by dragging and dropping the cards. The people behind Tellent Recruitee also did a great job in developing the overdue candidate reminder tool: when a candidate sits for too long in your pipeline without getting any updates, it will send a friendly reminder to you.
Another thing we like about Tellent Recruitee is its collaboration capability. The platform says: you can have as many users as you need in Tellent Recruitee, no matter which plans you have opted for, and it doesn’t cost you an extra penny, and it means it. This, combined with the permission adjustment feature, makes it easier to deliver collaborative and unbiased hiring.
That said, some trade-offs were also spotted. First was the absence of built-in tools for skill assessments, onboarding, video interviewing, and e-signatures. While small teams can rely on integrations to fill these gaps, this approach may increase operational complexity. We also noticed that the reporting feature sometimes fails to retrieve data accurately, which can be frustrating for SMBs that rely on clear, real-time hiring metrics to make decisions. Additionally, Tellent Recruitee has increased its pricing recently, though to be fair, those increases have come alongside meaningful feature updates.
Semrush, Mark and Spencer, Transcom, Taco Bell, Toyota, Asus, Livestorm, Rakuten.
Tellent Recruitee offers three annual plans with an 18-day free trial.
- Start costs €270/month for 5 job slots and basic recruitment tools.
- Advance at €343/month, provides unlimited job slots, workflow automation, and permission settings.
- Optimize priced at €1,374/month, includes API access, dedicated customer success, and guided onboarding.
Tellent Recruitee’s latest updates bring in smarter automation with Automated Actions, pre-onboarding through Journeys, and even AgencyHub to simplify working with external recruiters. We also found the new WhatsApp Hiring integration to be a nice way of cutting down on no-shows while keeping candidates engaged. On the HR side, updates like DATEV payroll integration, flexible time tracking, and customizable employee data views help extend Tellent Recruitee’s value past recruiting into everyday workforce management. All of this shows that while Tellent Recruitee remains simple enough for SMBs, it’s also evolving into a platform that can grow with them.
Best For
Tellent Recruitee is a good bet for small and medium-sized businesses looking for an easy-to-use ATS with robust features for collaborative hiring.
I use Tellent Recruitee every day. I know how to use most of its features, such as creating job postings, scheduling interviews, moving candidates through the hiring process, having technical and hiring meetings, rejecting or advancing candidates, making offer letters, and communicating with my team. I also use it to evaluate candidates after a phone screening and add resumes. I also connect Tellent Recruitee to other job websites.
I like Tellent Recruitee because it is very easy to use. It has a user-friendly interface that allows me to perform all workflows efficiently. I can quickly post jobs and move candidates to different stages, saving me much time. The platform is designed to make it simple and quick to use, which is a big plus. I also appreciate that it's very straightforward to use all the workflows, so I can spend little time figuring out how to do something. Overall, Recruitee has made my recruitment process much more efficient and streamlined, which is why I continue to use it.
My organization was searching for an applicant tracking system (ATS) that could connect to multiple job portals, especially in Europe. In addition, the ATS they wanted should have a user-friendly interface so that both hiring managers and other team members can easily use it and be easy to set up.
The organization needed help with its previous ATS system. Connecting to job portals, especially those targeting European markets, was a significant pain point. Hiring managers and other team members needed help connecting to their google calendar, adding to the frustrations. The user interface of the previous ATS could have been better, making the overall experience negative.
To overcome these issues, the organization decided to switch to Tellent Recruitee in August 2022. Tellent Recruitee has provided numerous benefits to the organization and effectively solved the pain points they faced with their previous ATS system. With the ability to connect to over 20+ job portals, including regional portals for specific countries, the organization can now reach a broader range of job seekers. The user-friendly interface of Tellent Recruitee has made it easier for hiring managers and team members to navigate and use the system, improving their overall experience. Additionally, connecting the google calendar to Tellent Recruitee was a breeze, making scheduling and organizing interviews much simpler.
Since August 2022, the organization has been using Tellent Recruitee and has found it to be a reliable and efficient solution to their recruitment needs. The ability to create a complete job workflow within the system has made the recruitment process smoother and more organized. The support team of Tellent Recruitee is also a plus, providing quick and helpful assistance when needed.
One thing I dislike about Tellent Recruitee is the lack of an option for directly promoting jobs on LinkedIn. Currently, Tellent Recruitee doesn't have this feature, which can be a drawback for those who rely on LinkedIn for their recruitment process. Not being able to promote jobs directly on LinkedIn adds an extra step to the process and can be time-consuming. I hope that Tellent Recruitee will add this feature to enhance the user experience and make the recruitment process more efficient.
Tellent Recruitee is different from other applicant tracking systems (ATS) because they have good after-sales service. They listen to customer feedback and make changes based on it. They also have a close relationship with their customers and understand their problems. Other ATS that I have used do not have these features.
When buying an applicant tracking system (ATS), people should consider the following criteria:
- Ability to connect to local job portals
- User-friendly interface
- Ease of creating workflows
- Capability to process offer letters
- Integration with calendars to schedule meetings.
As I have yet to study Tellent Recruitee's history in depth, I can only speak about my experience with the company over the past six months. In that time, I have found Tellent Recruitee to be highly responsive to their customers' needs. They have been able to integrate the solutions we requested and are in the process of adding new features, such as background check capabilities. They have also recently added more portals to better match the needs of their users. Overall, it is clear that Tellent Recruitee is dedicated to making their customers happy and understanding their real-time problems. They go above and beyond to ensure that their users are satisfied with their products and services.
Tellent Recruitee is a user-friendly tool suitable for organizations in various industries, including IT, healthcare, e-commerce, and startups. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to anyone with basic computer knowledge, while advanced features are ideal for HR professionals. This versatility makes Tellent Recruitee a good option for organizations of all sizes and types.
Tellent Recruitee is a user-friendly tool suitable for organizations in various industries, including IT, healthcare, e-commerce, and startups. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to anyone with basic computer knowledge, while advanced features are ideal for HR professionals. This versatility makes Tellent Recruitee a good option for organizations of all sizes and types.
Recooty
Recooty offers a free-forever plan that allows users to post jobs on multiple platforms. The platform’s paid plans pack a handful of recruitment essentials at conservative prices, making it a great ATS option for SMBs.
PROS
- Features a user-friendly and simple interface for easy navigation.
- Offers competitive pricing, ensuring accessibility for small businesses.
- Users can test the software before subscribing through a free trial.
- Provides full set of ATS basics, including job posting, candidate tracking, interview scheduling, candidate assessment, offer management, and onboarding.
- Enables efficient job posting to multiple platforms with a "one-click" solution.
- Supports eight languages: German, English, French, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Vietnamese.
- One user liked the usability of the software, stating that it is 'easy and self-explanatory.'
- The ability to post a job on multiple platforms makes it efficient, as per one user who labels Recooty a 'one-click job posting solution.'
- The company offers a cheap subscription, making it affordable for small businesses.
CONS
- Lacks mobile applications.
- No Chrome extension for importing candidates (e.g., from LinkedIn).
- Limited integrations (Slack and LinkedIn only).
- Suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Not ideal for large enterprises with extensive hiring needs across multiple locations.
- The company does not have a mobile application.
- Recruitment features can be quite basic compared to some competitors.
- Integrations are somewhat limited.
- Not suitable for large enterprises with more job postings and locations.
Recooty is great for SMBs looking for an easy-to-use, affordable, and efficient applicant tracking system. However, if you're looking for a more robust solution with more features, you may want to consider a different ATS.
Our in-house assessment showed that Recooty is a plug-and-play tool. It is easy to set up and easy to navigate. Users can post jobs to multiple boards, track applicants, and set up automated email notifications with just a few clicks. It’s not an exaggeration to say Recooty is a self-explanatory ATS.
Another thing we like about Recooty is its affordability. The software is priced competitively, and you can even start with the free plan. Though it’s limited to one active job at a time, it offers some good features like branded career pages, multiple job boards, and unlimited applications.
Recooty supports not only English but also seven additional languages. However, Recooty lacks a mobile app, despite pressure from users over the years. Recooty isn’t a good call for recruitment teams that need a Chrome extension to support their candidate search on websites like LinkedIn.
The level of customization is lacking compared to higher-priced ATSs in the space, and resume parsing is accessible for only the two highest-priced plans. Integration options also leave something to be desired, as you can only connect the ATS with your LinkedIn and Slack.
Sendlane, Airtable, Uber, Rack Bank, American Hospital, Trello.
Recooty offers a 15-day free trial. Their three paid subscription options start at $79 monthly (billed annually).
Best For
Recooty is an affordable ATS option ideal for small to mid-sized businesses needing minimal setup and multilingual hiring capabilities.
Trakstar Hire
Trakstar Hire outperforms the typical ATS with features like unlimited job posting, resume duplication detection, and advanced customization capabilities. Trakstar Hire is a favorite pick for SMBs as its undisclosed pricing is negotiable based on customers’ annual number of job openings.
PROS
- Recruitment workflow is highly customizable.
- Native, in-platform collaboration hiring features allow users to delegate tasks, collect evaluations, and schedule interviews without third-party tool integrations.
- Users can create unlimited job posts and add as many hiring managers as they need without added cost.
- Offer management is built into the product, so users can create, send, and store offer letters directly through the platform. They even do e-signatures!
- Trakstar Hire’s recruitment workflows are highly customizable. You can edit them as needed to reflect your company’s hiring process.
- You can post as many jobs as needed with Trakstar Hire without any limitation.
- Trakstar Hire has offer management tools built-in. Users can create offer letters and collect e-signatures within Trakstar Hire without needing to integrate it with third-party tools.
CONS
- Limited integration options with third-party HRIS and payroll solutions.
- No mobile apps.
- As Trakstar Hire offers only one plan with all features included, some businesses looking for a basic ATS may need more time to find it.
- No free trial or free plans. Trakstar’s pricing is all-or-one and undisclosed.
- Trakstar Hire has limited integration options with third-party HRIS and payroll solutions.
- Several users have complained about being unable to sort candidates and search results in an order other than displayed.
- Trakstar Hire isn’t a scalable platform; they have a single plan, all features included, which means customers may end up paying for features that they don’t need.
- Trakstar doesn’t publically list their pricing nor allows visitors to create trial accounts directly from the website, which is unusual for a software solution aimed at mid-market companies.
Trakstar Hire ATS (formerly Recruiterbox) is ideal for midsize companies. Still, the platform does work out deals for small businesses as they have room for negotiation based on how many job openings they have annually.
Rather than offering a feature-light product, Trakstar Hire ATS carries nearly everything you can ask for in a modern application tracking system: resume management, candidate sourcing, interview scheduling, offer management, collaborative hiring, reports, and careers site management.
Does the company overdo it? Based on our experience with Trakstar, the answer is yes and no.
It’s challenging to master many things simultaneously, but Trakstar Hire makes learning their tool manageable by presenting users with a well-made set of core products. We’ll start with job posting.
When a job is added to the platform, it is automatically distributed to LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, careers pages, job boards, and search engines. There is no limit to the number of jobs you can post, which is helpful for teams who hire frequently.
We love a smooth, customized workflow, and Trakstar Hire delivers in the “tailored experience” department. Users can customize literally every step of the way, making their hiring experience stand out against the rest but also fold into the best operational flow for the business.
We are also big fans of products with built-in features like offer management. No plug-in is necessary! Creating, sending, and storing offer letters all in one place makes sense.
There’s no such thing as a perfect tool, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out some aspects of the platform that cause us concern.
A free trial was available when they were still Recruiterbox in 2021. In 2023, there’s no more free trial, and the pricing is now undisclosed.
We’ve already touched on the lack of integrations, but it’s worth restating. Though it’s a very capable ATS, being unable to integrate with standard HR tools is a significant drawback.
Makita, Couchsurfing, Lonely Planet, Untappd, Quality Ironworks.
Trakstar Hire has one plan that includes all of its features without any limits. The pricing is custom depending on headcount.
Best For
Trakstar Hire is a powerful ATS for SMBs assessing one hundred or more candidates annually.
BambooHR
BambooHR is among the top ATS options for SMBs, thanks to its ease of use and full-stack features built-in. The platform also offers flexible plans, which means businesses can benefit from having custom offerings based on their needs.
PROS
- Flexible and tailored pricing, allowing you to choose and scale up features based on your specific needs.
- Free 7-day trials are offered, providing an opportunity to explore and evaluate the ATS functionalities before making a financial commitment.
- Well-performing mobile app, which facilitates application review, communication, and collaboration features on the go.
- User-friendly interface and intuitive design.
- Flexible packaging and custom pricing is the way they roll. You can pick out one or two packages and pick other modules as add-ons based on your needs.
- Very simple and straightforward tool, easy to use.
CONS
- Payroll capabilities are limited to U.S.-based employees, which may be a drawback for companies with an international workforce.
- Customer support is available only during U.S. business hours, potentially causing delays in resolving urgent inquiries for users in different time zones.
- Modules like time tracking, performance management, and surveys are offered as add-ons, requiring additional investment to access these functionalities.
- Payroll is only available for US-based employees
- Customer support is only offered during US business hours.
- Some modules like time tracking, performance management, and surveys are only available as add-ons.
Having looked at dozens of SMB-oriented ATS platforms, we find it impressive that BambooHR packs most of the essential recruiting features into a modestly priced HRIS package.
First, let’s discuss the ATS’s customization capability. During our testing, we appreciated how BambooHR made these features accessible without overwhelming the user—everything felt simple, which is a great strength for small businesses with limited recruiting experience.
We also found the candidate application organization process intuitive. It was fast and easy to track candidates through every stage of the hiring process, from application to final e-signature. Plus, BambooHR allowed us to create new hire packets, which provide essential details on what new hires can expect during their first days—a helpful tool that makes onboarding smoother.
BambooHR’s mobile app for hiring is equally loveable. Users we spoke to enjoyed the flexibility it provided. Through the app, hiring managers could post jobs, review resumes, communicate with candidates, and coordinate with other team members while on the move. Just to be sure, we also tested these mobile capabilities ourselves, and phew! The experience was positive. This ability to carry out hiring activities from a smartphone is a real differentiator—especially when compared to tools like JazzHR, which, although feature-rich, lacks the same level of mobile optimization.
BambooHR also scores points with its flexible pricing options. The ATS, though custom, is modestly priced and allows you to choose and scale up features based on your specific needs. A free 7-day trial is also available upon request, so anyone interested can explore and evaluate the platform before committing financially.
When we compared BambooHR to other applicant tracking systems catering to SMBs, such as Trackstar Hire and Zoho Recruit, we found BambooHR’s user interface to be particularly well-designed and easy to use. Additionally, the collaboration features within BambooHR, like the ability to comment on candidate profiles and track team progress, were well-executed and on par with the best that tools like Recruitee offer.
However, it’s worth mentioning that BambooHR doesn’t offer its ATS as a standalone tool. Instead, it’s mixed with time off, benefits, and employee experience, which can be an overkill for those looking for just applicant tracking software.
It’s also quite a letdown to find out that though BambooHR’s customer support is helpful, it’s only available during U.S. business hours, which could lead to delays if you’re in other time zones.
33,000+ companies, including Quora, Universal Group, Reddit, and Asana.
BambooHR pricing is custom. For companies with more than 25 employees, pricing is based on a per-employee, per-month model, while those with 25 or fewer pay a flat monthly rate. There are no annual contracts, and volume discounts are automatically applied as employee counts increase.
Best For
BambooHR is an excellent choice for small businesses, ideally U.S.-based and rapidly growing, that are looking for a feature-rich HRIS with ATS tools built in, all at a reasonable price.
We use BambooHR to track employee evaluations, reviews, expired credentials, birthday and anniversary messages. It supports both mass and individual email communications. We use it to log notes, promotions, and track pay increases or status changes.
The system helps us run various reports, especially during hurricane season. We also categorize departments based on reporting structures or shift assignments.
Reports can be customized to fit specific needs. BambooHR shows when candidates or employees have viewed emails, which is helpful when they claim otherwise. It provides tracking for performance reviews.
The company I have a contract with did not have an ATS and was using Excel, which is outdated for tracking and consolidating information. I was tasked with researching and finding a solution that would work for a small company and fit our budget and needs.
I implemented BambooHR with the representative and have been using it for over four years. The primary reason we needed it was to track all candidates and create historical data, which is also required by law. We also use it to acknowledge birthdays, track training courses (in the healthcare field), complete 90-day probation evaluations, and monitor one-year anniversaries.
Additionally, we run reports for various departments. One of the most useful features is the ability to email and respond directly to candidates without copying and pasting results into Excel. A helpful bonus is the ability to see when candidates or employees open emails.
Many extra features are expensive. Sometimes, you must schedule a call or meeting to receive clear answers. Some reports are not configured to pull exactly what you need or lack sufficient options.
The pricing works for us—BambooHR meets our needs on a small scale. We operate two different companies and were not able to nest them under the same system, even though they are similar.
Add-ons are billed separately. After implementation, someone within the company needs to become the expert on the system. The implementation period was quick and somewhat rushed.
They have added new features that are either free or included in the selected package, which is a plus. They also offer many tutorials and a self-help support page.
BambooHR is a good fit for small businesses that do not require extensive customization or frequent large-scale changes.
BambooHR may not suit very large enterprises with multiple users or businesses under one system.
Manatal
Manatal is an affordable ATS with a 14-day free trial. Its AI features are handy and drag-and-drop functionality also makes organizing candidate pipelines easy.
PROS
- Affordable ATS with a 14-day free trial.
- User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop pipelines.
- Good AI features for job description generation and profile recommendations.
- Free data migration from existing hiring software with automatic duplicate detection.
- Suitable for both in-house TAs and recruiting agencies.
- Supports multiple languages.
- Manatal is quite affordable and offers a 15-day free trial for users to test it out before making commitments.
- Manatal is fairly easy to use. It features drag-and-drop enabled pipelines for candidate organization.
- Manatal’s AI-based recommendations feature can save hiring managers quite a bit of time. It’s able to scan job descriptions then search a users talent pool and bring up candidates most suited for the job.
CONS
- AI can only generate English job descriptions, limited to 200 per month.
- Core product available only in English and Spanish.
- No free plans available.
- Limited native integrations. API and Zapier integrations for top-tier plans only.
- Boolean Search and Advanced Search cannot be used simultaneously.
- The AI recommendations feature works best with resumes that are in English, and doesn’t work as accurately with other languages according to several users’ feedback. Several users have also complained about Manatal’s interface only being available in English and that career pages cannot be published in languages other than English and Spanish.
- Manatal doesn’t offer a free plan. We mention this as a con as several SMB-geared ATSs do offer a free-forever verison, and that puts Manatal slightly behind competition.
- Manatal doesn’t offer prebuilt integration modules. They do have an open API that allows users to plug in third-party products and custom tools, but that required a bit more time and technical knowledge to accomplish. It’s also worth mentioning that only Custom plan customers can access Manatal’s API and Zapier integration. Customers on the Professional and Enterprise plan cannot.
- Users can search for candidates via Boolean Search or Advanced Search, but cannot combine the two search methods together. E.g users cannot use the Boolean search operators (AND, OR and NOT) within Manatal’s Advanced Search tab.
Manatal is a budget-friendly ATS solution that caters specifically to SMBs without compromising essential features. It even has a free trial without requiring credit card info.
Manatal’s AI tool is a real asset. It can generate English job descriptions and sift through your existing candidate database to surface individuals it finds most suitable for the role. The results are pretty awesome and available almost instantly. Its usefulness was reduced when we asked the AI to suggest non-English-speaking candidates, though.
Manatal has a user-friendly interface and native drag-and-drop-enabled pipelines, which are very easy to use. Plus, being mobile-optimized means there’s no need to download any apps from users who need to access Manatal on the go.
We also appreciate how transparent Manatal's pricing is. The platform has a scalable “custom” plan in addition to three lower-tier plans. On its website, it breaks down what’s included in each plan and how much it costs. With prices starting at $15 per user per month, it’s safe to say this ATS is affordable for most SMBs. For those having a hard time with their existing ATS and looking for a switch, Manatal’s offer of free data migration is quite compelling.
However, as mentioned earlier, Manatal’s AI tool works best in English only and only allows for 200 generations per month. Despite having a fairly good pricing structure, Manatal doesn’t offer a free plan like several others in this space. We should also note that its API and Zapier integrations are limited to top-tier plans, while the pre-built integration list is limited.
10,000+ companies, including Unilever, Coca-Cola, Panasonic, Ogilvy, and Toyota.
Manatal has four plans:
- Professional ($15 per user per month)
- Enterprise ($35 per user per month)
- Enterprise Plus ($55 per user per month)
- Custom plans (available on demand)
A 14-day free trial is available, no credit card info required.
Best For
For startups and SMBs with limited budgets who are seeking an easy-to-use ATS with AI features, Manatal is a top choice.
Keka
Keka’s ATS offers a well-rounded mix of recruiting tools, automation options, and integration potential. We were drawn to its flexibility, as SMBs can use it as a stand-alone system or connect it with Keka’s HR, payroll, and performance modules for a single-platform experience. Its tiered pricing makes it accessible for smaller teams while offering advanced automation, integrations, and customization for more complex hiring needs.
PROS
- Customizable hiring stages and requisition workflows for each department.
- AI-assisted job description creation and built-in resume parsing.
- Candidate self-scheduling and structured interview scorecards.
- Duplicate application detection with configurable reapplication rules.
- Advanced tier adds workflow automation, CV-JD match scoring, and integrations with job boards, assessments, and video interviews.
- Federal and state tax filing is included at all tiers.
- Flexible pay schedules with direct deposit support.
- Overtime and leave policy automation to match local labor laws.
- Benefits, loans, and expense tracking in one place.
- Built-in dashboards and reports to monitor payroll trends.
- Accounting integrations for streamlined finance workflows.
CONS
- No self-service free trial; demo with sales is required first.
- Implementation fee applies for setup and (if needed) HR/payroll integration.
- Platform was slow to load during our demo.
- “Free Trial” access is gated behind a sales demo and disclosed only after signup.
- Implementation fees for setup, tax configuration, and data migration.
- Advanced tools (custom reports, asset tracking, engagement surveys) only available in higher tiers.
- Multi-entity payroll and API access require add-on fees.
- Slow load times in the demo raise usability concerns about payroll deadlines.
Keka ATS (named HIRO) gives SMB recruiters a full set of tools to manage hiring from requisition to offer, with the flexibility to adapt workflows to different roles and departments. In our demo, the left-hand navigation made it easy to access job postings, candidate lists, and reports without losing track of where we were in the process.
We started with job and requisition management, where hiring managers can create openings, define custom pipeline stages, and tailor them per department or role. Internal and social referral channels are built in, and an AI assistant can generate job descriptions from scratch. The system also supports internal job boards for promoting roles to current employees.
Candidate management is one of Keka ATS’s stronger areas. Recruiters can parse resumes, tag candidates, and assign them to talent pools for future openings. The demo showed three types of interview scheduling: online, face-to-face, and self-scheduling, the last of which lets candidates pick from pre-set time slots—something that reduces back-and-forth considerably. Each interview can be linked to scorecards, which help interviewers rate candidates against consistent criteria, minimizing bias.
Interestingly, there’s a duplicate detection feature that flags candidates who reapply too soon. Recruiters can set the “cool-down” period and choose whether to merge or overwrite old application data. In the Advanced plan, we also saw integrations with major job boards (LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster), assessment platforms, and video interview tools, plus CV-JD match scoring to quickly identify the best fits.
Offer management and preboarding are built in: recruiters can send offer letters, run them through an approval workflow, and collect candidate data through a dedicated portal. That data can then flow into Keka’s HR module if purchased, but the ATS itself is fully functional as a stand-alone tool.
However, from our experience, the buying and onboarding process felt more rigid than with many other ATS platforms we’ve tested. In fact, we aren’t happy that the “Free Trial” option stated on Keka’s site is just a tease, as once you sign up, you’re booked in for a sales demo before you can actually touch the product.
We’d recommend you factor in the implementation fee for setup and any HR/payroll integration, given that it could bump up the total cost more than you might expect at first glance. And the slow page load times we saw during our demo, although they could be just a one-off event due to a bad internet connection, may be something you’d want to keep in mind when exploring the platform yourself, especially if you’re a busy recruiting team handling dozens of candidates a day.
10,000+ companies, including eBay, Randstad, and ONEPLUS.
Keka offers two plans, Pro ($50/month/recruiter) and Advanced ($75/month/recruiter), both with free trials after sales demos.
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses seeking a flexible ATS that can operate independently or integrate with Keka’s HR/payroll products as they grow.
Why You Should Trust Us
The contributors to this buyer guide represent decades of experience and perspective. We called on Stefanie Sher (Director of Talent Acquisition, Replicated), Tracie Marie (Founder, Hire Incentive), Zachary Larson (People Operations leader with 10+ years experience), Phil Strazzulla (SSR Founder), Huda Idris (SSR Software Advisor), and SSR HR Tech Researcher and Editor Anh Nguyen to help you find the right tool for your team.
Benefits of ATS for Small Businesses
Benefits of using an ATS for small businesses include saving time, improving the quality of hires, reducing costs, becoming more data-driven in recruitment, facilitating collaborative hiring, and building a talent pool.
- Save time: Recent applicant tracking system statistics show that recruiters can reduce time-to-hire by up to 20% when using an ATS solution. Additionally, 86% of recruiters report that ATS solutions have helped them shorten their time-to-hire, at least to some extent. For SMBs, these numbers mean fewer manual tasks and faster candidate movement through the pipeline, freeing up time for team members who often have to wear multiple hats beyond recruiting.
- Increase the quality of hire: Compared to manual applicant tracking, an ATS tailored to the needs of small businesses can aid tremendously in structured evaluations, reduce bias, and ensure that the most qualified candidates rise to the top. Statistically, 78% of recruiters confirm that an ATS has improved the quality of hire.
- Save money: Small businesses can enjoy $10,000 annual savings using an applicant tracking system. Output from our ATS calculator has shown that a 500-person company can save up to $468,000 from a new ATS.
- Become more data-driven with recruitment: Though the small teams are held to the same legal standard as larger ones, they generally don’t have the same access to legal counsel. A quality ATS will help cross the Ts and dot the Is, allowing your business to focus and grow.
- Forster collaborative hiring: In small businesses, where “wearing many hats” is the norm, an ATS brings structure and transparency to collaborative hiring. It organizes tasks, centralizes candidate information, and clarifies who’s responsible for what, helping teams work together efficiently without letting anything slip through the cracks.
- Build a talent pool: A high-quality talent pool doesn’t create itself. Small business ATSs typically can also function as a recruiting CRM, helping small businesses establish and nurture a repository of skilled workers. By creating and managing ongoing relationships with both passive and active job seekers, a lean team can reduce the effort and expense of filling a new role; they can simply tap into the existing pool rather than starting the search from scratch. Some tools even help with considering internal candidates.
How to Choose the Best ATS for Small Businesses
Small businesses seeking an applicant tracking system might find it helpful and time-saving to start by considering just 3 to 5 vendors recommended by industry experts. Additionally, reviewing user feedback, attending product demos, and trialing the ATS firsthand can provide valuable insights to help narrow down the choices further.
- Look for unbiased insights: Most ATS vendors have websites with plenty of information on how good their product(s) are, but rarely do they highlight gaps, trade-offs, or shortcomings. For this reason, we suggest you make the most of third-party reviews, buyer guides, and independent product breakdowns to gain a balanced view of each ATS’s pros and cons. This broader perspective helps you understand where each tool performs well (and where it may fall short) so you can make the right decision for your team’s realities.
- Learn from other small business ATS users: There’s a tremendous amount of value in the feedback of real product users, particularly those working at startups and small businesses. What are their ATS decision criteria? What are their expectations about hiring software vs. reality? How satisfied are they with the purchased ATS? In each of our small business ATS’s detailed reviews, we include insights directly from HR and recruiting professionals using the tools so that you can learn from their firsthand experiences.
- Talk to 3-5 most potential vendors: If your business is too small to justify sending out a formal ATS request for proposal (RFP), you'll need to vet companies yourself. Take advantage of our recommended tools to shortlist the top 3-5 relevant vendors. Then, schedule and come to their product demos prepared. We’d suggest having a list of applicant tracking system questions specific to your small business needs (whether they offer unlimited users, what automation features are included at entry-level plans, how well they support scaling as your hiring needs grow, etc.), as it can significantly help to identify which options match your priorities more efficiently.
Pro Tip: Shopping for a new ATS can be challenging. Contact our HR software advisor for free, personalized assistance in shortlisting vendors that fit your needs and budget.
Bonus Tips for First-Time Small Business ATS Buyers
If you’re a small business weighing whether to invest in an ATS and how to make the right choice, we recommend watching this insightful discussion with Phil Strazzulla, founder of SelectSoftware Reviews, and Rahul Bansal, CEO of TribalVision, as they delve into the whole process of choosing a system that fits your team’s size, budget, and long-term goals.
FAQs
What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
An applicant tracking system for small businesses is a hiring tool designed to help lean teams streamline and organize the recruitment process, from posting jobs and sourcing candidates to managing interview pipelines and maintaining records. For organizations with limited time and resources, a small business ATS removes manual tasks, keeps everything in one place, and ensures the hiring process stays efficient, even as the team grows.
What features are essential for a small business ATS?
Key ATS features for small businesses include resume parsing to extract candidate information automatically, job posting to distribute listings across multiple job boards quickly, candidate pipeline management to track where each candidate stands in the process, candidate searching and filtering to surface the best fits fast, reporting and analytics to monitor hiring progress and identify bottlenecks, and integrations with video interview tools, HRIS, and communication apps to keep workflows smooth without needing a large tech stack.
When should a small business start using an ATS?
A good rule of thumb is that your small business has at least 20 positions to fill per year, as at this level, you will most likely see the significant ROI the ATS brings to your recruitment process.
How much does an ATS cost an SMB?
Specifics on ATS pricing vary based on factors such as business size, job vacancies, integrations, and team location. Based on our research, small businesses typically pay between $15 and a few thousand dollars per month for an ATS, with some free editions available.
Is there any free ATS?
Yes, there is! Manatal (free trial available), Recooty (free trial available), and Wellfound (free plan available) are our favorites. You can find more options in our best free ATS buyer guide.
How many ATS options should an SMB consider when doing demos?
According to Tracie Marie, one of the experts we talked about for this piece, three can be a good starting number for vendor demos, and you should aim to include slightly less than your budget and one slightly more, as “you can see the differences in features among those vendors this way.”
Conclusion
An SMB-focused applicant tracking system can bring real, measurable benefits to small businesses by automating manual tasks, streamlining candidate workflows, improving collaboration, and integrating with essential tools, all of which help lean teams hire faster and more effectively.
Having said that, it’s important to remember that even the best ATS can’t solve underlying issues like a toxic workplace culture or unclear hiring goals. For a supercharged modern ATS to make a difference, the right mindset—ready and willing to adopt the technology, commit to structured processes, and align the tool with broader business and people goals—is critical.
About the Author
About Us
- Our goal at SSR is to help HR and recruiting teams to find and buy the right software for their needs.
- Our site is free to use as some vendors will pay us for web traffic.
- SSR lists all companies we feel are top vendors - not just those who pay us - in our comprehensive directories full of the advice needed to make the right purchase decision for your HR team.
