Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for Smarter Hiring

Recruiting top talent today requires more than just job postings — it demands streamlined workflows, collaboration, and automation. That’s where Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) help.

Whether you’re a startup, staffing agency, or enterprise, the right ATS can save time and improve hiring quality. Here’s a list of the 10 best Applicant Tracking Systems — covering features, pricing, and ideal use cases.

What to Look for in an ATS

Before you choose, ensure the platform offers:

• Job posting & resume parsing automation
  
• Collaboration tools for hiring teams
  
• Workflow & email automation
  
• Analytics and compliance tracking
  
• HRIS or payroll integration
  

A great ATS should simplify hiring while improving candidate experience.

1. Rippling

Rippling combines HR, IT, and payroll management with a built-in ATS — ideal for end-to-end employee lifecycle automation.

Pricing: Paid only. Base HR plan starts at $35/month + $8 per user, with ATS modules as add-ons.
Best for: Mid to large companies needing full HR integration.

2. Zoho Recruit

Zoho Recruit offers flexible workflows and strong integrations across the Zoho suite. It’s ideal for SMBs and staffing agencies.

Pricing: Free plan available (limited). Paid plans from $25 to $75 per user/month.
Best for: Businesses already using Zoho or seeking a budget-friendly ATS.

3. CEIPAL ATS

CEIPAL focuses on AI-driven recruiting with automation and compliance tools for staffing firms.

Pricing: Paid. Plans start around $24 per user/month (min. 5 users).
Best for: Agencies and large teams managing high candidate volumes.

4. BambooHR

BambooHR is known for simplicity and a unified HR suite that includes a basic Applicant Tracking System.

Pricing: Paid only. Starts around $250/month for up to 25 employees.
Best for: Small to medium businesses wanting integrated HR + recruiting.

5. JobDiva

JobDiva blends ATS and CRM features, popular among recruiting agencies managing multiple clients.

Pricing: Paid only, custom quotes required.
Best for: Staffing and enterprise teams needing advanced recruitment analytics.

6. Breezy HR

Breezy offers drag-and-drop pipelines, branded career pages, and team collaboration. It’s one of the easiest Applicant Tracking System tools to set up.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid tiers from $189/month (Startup) to $529/month (Business).
Best for: Startups and small businesses prioritizing ease of use.

7. Homebase

Homebase suits hourly and shift-based hiring, combining scheduling, time tracking, and applicant management.

Pricing: Offers a free basic plan with paid tiers starting around $24.95/month per location.
Best for: Retail, restaurants, and small businesses hiring hourly staff.

8. 100Hires

100Hires is an affordable, lightweight ATS with resume tracking, automation, and email tools.

Pricing: Paid plans from $99/month (basic) to $249/month (advanced).
Best for: Startups or small teams needing an affordable solution.

9. Greenhouse

Greenhouse is a leading enterprise ATS built for structured, data-driven hiring and advanced analytics.

Pricing: Paid only, custom quotes (typically $6,000–$10,000/year for SMBs).
Best for: Scaling companies with complex hiring workflows.

10. Lever

Lever combines ATS and CRM functionality to nurture passive candidates and manage pipelines.

Pricing: Paid only, custom quotes (commonly from $4,000/year for small teams).
Best for: Growth-focused companies emphasizing proactive recruitment.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right Applicant Tracking System depends on your company size, budget, and goals.

At AlternativeKnot, we curate the best software alternatives to help users find smarter, cheaper, and more efficient solutions across industries.

If you know an emerging ATS or recruiting platform we should feature, we’d love to hear from you! Reach us at: info@alternativeknot.com or drop a message at: https://alternativeknot.com/contact-us