- Verified 10 Nov 2026Every profile shows where facts came from
- Unknowns labelledGaps are stated, never guessed
- No paid placementNo affiliate links, ratings or reviews
- Not a rankingAlphabetical by default; fit notes, not scores
What is Applicant Tracking Systems?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) manages hiring from job posting to offer: it collects applications, moves candidates through stages, coordinates interviews and feedback, and reports on hiring performance.
Also called Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An ATS keeps candidates, interview feedback and hiring decisions in one place instead of inboxes and spreadsheets.
This category spans SMB tools with published prices (JazzHR, Workable, Zoho Recruit), mid-market platforms (Ashby, Recruitee, Teamtailor) and enterprise suites (Greenhouse, Lever, SmartRecruiters, iCIMS).
Many vendors quote prices; published plans run from about $1,000 a year to $15,000+ for enterprise entry tiers. The profiles below summarise dated 2026 sources and estimates, and are research aids, not rankings.
Best applicant tracking systems by need.
Shortlists built from what each sourced profile documents, listed alphabetically, not ranked. Open a profile for limits, prices and sources.
Best free applicant tracking systems
1 of 12 profiles document a free plan.
Applicant tracking systems for small businesses
4 of 12 profiles are documented mainly for small and mid-size teams.
Applicant tracking systems for enterprises
6 of 12 profiles are documented for large enterprises.
Applicant Tracking Systems compared: browse and filter
Search and filters update this list on the page and do not create new URLs, so every profile stays crawlable and linkable.
Ashby
Ashby · All-in-one recruiting platform
An all-in-one ATS, CRM, scheduling and analytics platform, with Foundations from about $400 a month for companies up to 100 employees.
- Size band
- Monthly or annual
- Cloud
- All-in-one
- Independent sources
Best for Fast-growing companies wanting ATS, CRM and analytics in one tool
Key capabilities- Foundations
- Plus
- Enterprise
- AI credits
PricingFoundations about $300-$900 a month (up to 100 employees); Plus and Enterprise quoted (typically $30,000-$120,000 a year).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly-
Breezy HR
Breezy HR · Applicant tracking system (SaaS)
An easy applicant tracking system for small businesses with a free plan for one open job and paid plans from $157 a month billed annually.
- Free plan
- Free trial
- Cloud
- Independent sources
Best for Small businesses hiring regularly
Key capabilities- Job boards
- Career site
- Referral portal
- Visual pipeline
PricingFree for one job; Startup $157 a month billed annually.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly Greenhouse
Greenhouse · Structured hiring ATS
A structured-hiring ATS for growing and enterprise companies, with quote-based pricing estimated from about $6,500 a year for small teams.
- Quote-based
- Annual
- Cloud
- Structured hiring
- Independent sources
Best for Scaling companies that want structured, data-driven hiring
Key capabilities- Core
- Plus
- Pro
- Small teams
PricingNot published; estimates about $6,500 a year (small teams) to $15,000-$40,000 (mid-market) and $70,000+ (enterprise).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyiCIMS
iCIMS · Enterprise talent acquisition
An enterprise talent acquisition platform sold by quote, estimated at $30,000-$60,000 a year mid-market and $80,000-$150,000+ for enterprise.
- Quote-based
- Annual
- Cloud
- Enterprise
- Independent sources
Best for Large enterprises with complex, high-volume hiring
Key capabilities- Mid-market
- Enterprise
- Implementation
- ATS
PricingCustom quote; estimates $30,000-$60,000 a year mid-market, $80,000-$150,000+ enterprise; implementation $15,000-$25,000.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyJazzHR
Employ Inc. · SMB applicant tracking
An affordable flat-fee ATS for small businesses, from $1,000 a year (Hero) with self-serve online purchase.
- Free trial
- Flat fee
- Cloud
- SMB
- Independent sources
Best for Small businesses wanting an affordable, self-serve ATS
Key capabilities- Hero
- Plus
- Pro
- Annual discount
PricingHero $1,000, Plus $3,480, Pro $5,508 a year; monthly $110, $350, $549.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyLever
Employ Inc. · ATS with recruiting CRM
An ATS combined with a recruiting CRM, priced on company headcount by quote (estimated about $12,000 a year at 200 employees).
- Quote-based
- By headcount
- Cloud
- ATS + CRM
- Independent sources
Best for Teams that source and nurture candidates proactively
Key capabilities- 200 employees
- 500 to 1,000 employees
- Model
- ATS
PricingCustom quote by headcount; estimates about $12,000 a year at 200 employees and $35,000-$65,000 at 500-1,000.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly-
Manatal
Manatal · Recruitment software and ATS for agencies and HR
An affordable ATS and recruitment CRM popular with agencies, priced per user from $15 a month on Professional.
- Free trial
- Cloud
- Independent sources
Best for Recruitment agencies
Key capabilities- Pipelines
- Job posting
- Career page
- Client management
PricingProfessional $15 per user a month.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly Recruitee
Tellent · Collaborative hiring ATS
A collaborative ATS from Tellent with Start, Advance and Optimize plans; pricing is unpublished, with Start estimated around EUR 301 a month.
- Quote-based
- Annual minimum
- Cloud
- Collaborative hiring
- Independent sources
Best for SMB and mid-market teams wanting collaborative hiring
Key capabilities- Start
- Advance
- Optimize
- Minimum
PricingNot published; Start estimated about EUR 301 a month (annual); one-year minimum commitment.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlySmartRecruiters
SAP · Enterprise talent acquisition suite
An enterprise talent acquisition suite acquired by SAP in 2025, with Essential from $14,995 a year.
- Annual
- Tiered
- Cloud
- Enterprise
- Independent sources
Best for Enterprises and high-volume hirers, especially SAP customers
Key capabilities- Essential
- Professional
- High Volume / Complete
- Acquirer
PricingEssential from $14,995 a year; Professional, High Volume and Complete by quote.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyTeamtailor
Teamtailor · Employer-branding ATS
An ATS centred on employer branding and careers sites, sold by custom quote (estimates range from about $2,750 a year for small teams).
- Quote-based
- Annual
- Cloud
- Employer branding
- Independent sources
Best for Companies investing in employer brand and candidate experience
Key capabilities- Small teams
- Mid-market
- At scale
- Careers site
PricingCustom quote; estimates about $2,750 a year for small teams and $6,000-$15,000 for most mid-market employers.Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyWorkable
Workable · SMB and mid-market ATS
A self-serve ATS with published pricing: Standard from $299 a month billed annually ($360 monthly), with a 15-day free trial.
- Free trial
- By company size
- Cloud
- Published pricing
- Independent sources
Best for SMBs and mid-market teams wanting a capable ATS with clear pricing
Key capabilities- Standard
- Premier
- Enterprise
- Interview kits
PricingStandard $299 a month (annual) or $360 monthly; Premier $599; Enterprise $719 (annual only).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directlyZoho Recruit
Zoho Corporation · ATS for HR and staffing
Zoho's ATS for corporate HR and staffing agencies, with a free plan (1 active job) and Standard at $25 per recruiter a month (annual).
- Free plan
- Per recruiter
- Cloud
- Zoho suite
- Independent sources
Best for Small HR teams and staffing agencies wanting low-cost recruiting
Key capabilities- Free
- Standard
- Enterprise
- Corporate HR
PricingFree (1 active job); Standard $25, Enterprise $50 per recruiter a month (annual, corporate HR).Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
No listings match these filters.
Listings are ordered alphabetically by default. They are not ranked, and there are no user ratings or paid placements.
Applicant Tracking Systems compared on key criteria.
Summaries come from each profile; open a profile for sources and caveats.
| Product | Pricing model | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Published pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashby | By company size | ~$300-$400/mo | Not documented | Partly | All-in-one recruiting |
| Greenhouse | Quote (annual) | ~$6,500/yr (est.) | No | No | Structured hiring |
| iCIMS | Quote + implementation | ~$30,000/yr (est.) | No | No | Large enterprises |
| JazzHR | Flat fee | $1,000/yr | Free trial | Yes | Small businesses |
| Lever | Quote by headcount | ~$12,000/yr at 200 staff (est.) | No | No | Sourcing + ATS |
| Recruitee | Quote (1-year min) | ~EUR 301/mo (est.) | Not documented | No | Collaborative hiring |
| SmartRecruiters | Annual tiers | $14,995/yr | No | Entry tier | Enterprise, SAP |
| Teamtailor | Quote (annual) | ~$2,750/yr (est.) | Not documented | No | Employer branding |
| Workable | By company size | $299/mo (annual) | 15-day trial | Yes | SMB and mid-market |
| Zoho Recruit | Per recruiter | $25/recruiter/mo (annual) | Yes (1 active job) | Yes | SMBs and agencies |
Which Applicant Tracking Systems option fits which situation.
- AshbyMay suit Fast-growing companies wanting ATS, CRM and analytics in one tool
- GreenhouseMay suit Scaling companies that want structured, data-driven hiring
- iCIMSMay suit Large enterprises with complex, high-volume hiring
- JazzHRMay suit Small businesses wanting an affordable, self-serve ATS
- LeverMay suit Teams that source and nurture candidates proactively
- RecruiteeMay suit SMB and mid-market teams wanting collaborative hiring
- SmartRecruitersMay suit Enterprises and high-volume hirers, especially SAP customers
- TeamtailorMay suit Companies investing in employer brand and candidate experience
- WorkableMay suit SMBs and mid-market teams wanting a capable ATS with clear pricing
- Zoho RecruitMay suit Small HR teams and staffing agencies wanting low-cost recruiting
Based on each profile's documented strengths and limits. These are fit notes, not rankings: test options against your own requirements.
Key features and capabilities of Applicant Tracking Systems.
The capabilities that define the category. Not every product offers all of them, and depth varies a lot between entry-level and enterprise tools.
Job posting
Publish to boards and career sites.
Application pipeline
Track candidates by stage.
Resume parsing
Extract candidate details.
Interview scheduling
Coordinate calendars.
Scorecards
Structured feedback.
Offer management
Approvals and letters.
Candidate communication
Templates and emails.
Hiring analytics
Time to hire and sources.
How businesses use Applicant Tracking Systems.
- 01
Structured hiring
Consistent stages and feedback.
- 02
High-volume screening
Filter applications.
- 03
Hiring manager collaboration
Shared decisions.
- 04
Offer approvals
Control compensation.
- 05
Compliance reporting
Track hiring fairness.
Who uses Applicant Tracking Systems and what problems it solves.
Small businesses
Post jobs and track applicants affordably.
Growing companies
Standardise interviews and collaborate on hiring.
Enterprises
Run high-volume, compliant hiring across regions.
Staffing agencies
Manage clients, jobs and candidate pools.
What Applicant Tracking Systems changes in practice.
Practical outcomes teams report when the category is implemented well. Results depend on adoption, data quality and process, so we do not quote percentages.
Faster hiring
Organised pipelines.
Better decisions
Structured evaluations.
Candidate experience
Timely updates.
Compliance
Records of decisions.
Features and criteria to evaluate in Applicant Tracking Systems.
Pricing model
Flat, per recruiter, by headcount or quote.
Structured hiring
Interview kits and scorecards.
Sourcing and CRM
Nurture passive candidates.
Integrations
Job boards, HRIS, calendars and Slack.
Reporting
Time to hire, pipeline and source data.
Contract terms
Minimums, auto-renewal and add-ons.
How to choose Applicant Tracking Systems: a step-by-step approach.
- 1
Map your hiring process
Stages, approvals and interviewers.
- 2
Estimate volume
Open roles, hires and recruiters per year.
- 3
Request quotes early
Many vendors do not publish prices.
- 4
Run a pilot role
Hire for one role end to end.
- 5
Check integrations
HRIS, calendars and job boards.
- 6
Review contract terms
Minimums, renewal and price increases.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Which job boards integrate?
- How does AI screening work and how is bias managed?
- Does it sync with our HRIS?
- How is pricing structured?
Common mistakes when choosing Applicant Tracking Systems.
Ignoring headcount pricing
Some prices scale with total employees, not recruiters.
Missing add-on costs
Sourcing, texting and onboarding can cost extra.
Skipping hiring-manager training
Feedback delays slow hiring.
Auto-renewing unnoticed
Diarise notice periods.
Not migrating candidate data
Plan exports and consent records.
Applicant Tracking Systems key terms explained.
- ATS
- Applicant tracking system.
- Structured interview
- Consistent questions and scoring for every candidate.
- Scorecard
- A form for rating candidates on defined criteria.
- Recruiting CRM
- Tools to source and nurture passive candidates.
- Time to hire
- Days from application to accepted offer.
- Careers site
- A company page listing jobs and culture.
Applicant Tracking Systems comparisons.
9 side-by-side comparisons with a feature table, pricing, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios. No winner is declared in any of them.
Alternatives to popular applicant tracking systems.
Every product in this category has a guide comparing its main alternatives and competitors on pricing, free plan, features and fit.
Applicant Tracking Systems questions and answers
What is the best free applicant tracking systems?
1 of the 12 applicant tracking systems profiles here document a free plan: Zoho Recruit. Free plans and tiers usually cap users, records or usage, so check each profile for limits. The list is alphabetical, not a ranking.
What is the best applicant tracking systems for small businesses?
Products documented mainly for small and mid-size teams include JazzHR, Recruitee, Workable and Zoho Recruit. JazzHR may suit small businesses wanting an affordable, self-serve ATS. Recruitee may suit SMB and mid-market teams wanting collaborative hiring. Workable may suit SMBs and mid-market teams wanting a capable ATS with clear pricing. The best fit depends on your sales or work process and budget, so trial two or three.
Which applicant tracking systems suits large enterprises?
6 profiles are documented for large enterprises: Ashby, Greenhouse, iCIMS, Lever, SmartRecruiters and Teamtailor. Larger rollouts should also check SSO, permissions, audit logs, data residency and contract terms on each profile.
Where can I find alternatives to a specific ATS?
Every product in this category has its own alternatives guide, for example Greenhouse alternatives, Lever alternatives and Workable alternatives. Each guide compares the main competitors on pricing, free plan, features and fit.
What is the best ATS for small businesses?
JazzHR, Workable and Zoho Recruit publish affordable prices; this list is not a ranking.
Greenhouse or Lever?
Both quote prices; Greenhouse focuses on structured hiring and Lever adds a built-in sourcing CRM.
Is there a free ATS?
Zoho Recruit offers a free plan for 1 active job.
Who owns SmartRecruiters?
SAP completed its acquisition on 11 September 2025, per a 2026 guide.
Narrow your Applicant Tracking Systems shortlist.
Open a profile for sources and pricing, read an alternatives guide, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf is not the answer.
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