11 Best Applicant Tracking Systems For Small Businesses

Hiring is challenging, especially for small businesses with limited resources.

Posting job ads, screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and making offers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

That’s where an applicant tracking software comes in handy.

These software solutions simplify your hiring process, saving time and helping you find the best candidates.

In this guide, we’ll share the top 11 picks for the best applicant tracking software for small businesses.

We’ve spent hours testing different software solutions to find out these top picks based on key factors like features, pricing, integration, customer support, and more.

So, let’s dive in and find out more!

Best Applicant Tracking Systems For Small Businesses

Software:	Best For:	Standout feature:	Pricing:
Workable	Overall ATS features	AI-powered candidate sourcing and matching	15-day free trial, from $189/month
BambooHR	Customer support and mobile app	Dedicated customer success manager	7-day free trial, custom pricing
Recruit CRM	CRM features	Combined ATS and CRM functionality	Free trial, from $40/user/month
Zappyhire	AI powered ATS	AI-based candidate screening and ranking	Custom pricing
Manatal	Reporting and analytics	Customizable reporting dashboards with visual charts	14-day free trial, from $15/user/month
TalentRecruit	Onboarding	Customizable onboarding checklists and workflows	Free demo, custom pricing
JazzHR	Affordability	Unlimited users and candidates on all plans	14-day free trial, from $99/month
GoHire	Small startups	Clean and user-friendly interface designed for startups	14-day free trial, from $99/month
Ashby	Ease of use	Simple and intuitive user interface	From $300/month
Recruitee	High-volume recruiting	Bulk actions for managing high-volume applications	Free 18-day trial, from $249/month
BreezyHR	Free ATS	Feature-packed free plan with no user limits	14-day free trial, limited free plan, from $189/month

1. Workable – Best Overall Pick

Our Score: 4.8/5 (Excellent)

Pricing: 15-day free trial, paid plans starting at $189 per month for up to 20 employees with 2 active jobs

Key Features:

Customizable hiring pipelines and drag-and-drop workflows.
AI-powered candidate sourcing and matching.
Built-in video interviews and assessments.
Branded career pages and job board integrations.
Detailed reports and analytics for data-driven hiring.
Mobile app for hiring on the go.
GDPR and EEOC compliant.

Why We Picked It?

Workable is our top pick for the best overall applicant tracking system for small businesses. And that’s because it offers a perfect balance of features, ease of use, and affordability.

With Workable, you can simplify your entire hiring process from job posting to offer letters.

What sets Workable apart is its AI-powered sourcing tool that helps you find top talent faster by suggesting candidates that match your job requirements.

You can also create custom hiring pipelines, collaborate with your team, and make data-driven decisions using detailed reports and analytics.

Pros:	Cons:
User-friendly interface	Pricier compared to some other ATS tools
Extensive job board integrations and custom career pages	Limited customization options for reports
AI-powered candidate sourcing and matching
Customizable hiring workflows and pipelines

Integrations: LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Facebook, Checkr, Namely, Spark Hire, Criteria, Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Gmail

Best For:

Workable is best for small to mid-sized companies looking for an all-in-one ATS solution.

It’s especially well-suited for businesses that want to automate their hiring process, collaborate efficiently, and make data-driven hiring decisions.

However, if you’re looking for a more affordable option and don’t need advanced features like AI sourcing, consider JazzHR. And for businesses that prioritize onboarding, TalentRecruit might be a better fit.

With all that said, overall, Workable is an excellent choice for most small businesses looking for a complete yet user-friendly ATS.

2. BambooHR – Best For Customer Support And Mobile App

Our Score: 4.8/5 (Excellent)

Pricing: 7-day free trial, custom pricing based on features and number of employees (but on average, you can expect around $8 per employee per month)

Key Features:

Applicant tracking system with hiring workflows.
Centralized employee database and records.
Time-off management and employee onboarding.
Performance management with goal tracking.
Employee satisfaction with eNPS and surveys.
Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
Dedicated customer success manager.

Why We Picked It?

BambooHR is more than just an applicant tracking system.

It’s a complete HR software that helps small businesses manage the entire employee lifecycle from hiring to onboarding to performance management.

What really makes BambooHR stand out is its exceptional customer support. Each customer gets a dedicated success manager to help with setup, training, and ongoing support.

BambooHR also offers an extensive library of resources, guides, and videos to help you make the most of the platform.

Another standout feature is the mobile app that allows you to manage HR tasks on the go. You can view employee records, approve time-off requests, and respond to candidates from your smartphone.

Pros:	Cons:
All-in-one HR software with ATS functionality	Expensive than other ATS
Exceptional customer support	Advanced ATS features are not available as compared to other dedicated standalone ATS solutions
User-friendly interface and intuitive navigation
Great mobile app

Integrations: Linkedin, Indeed, Glassdoor, Checkr, Namely, CyberGrants, Lattice, 15Five, Bonusly, Culture Amp

Best For:

BambooHR is best for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one HR solution with excellent customer support. If you want to simplify your HR processes beyond just hiring, BambooHR is a great choice.

However, if you’re looking for more advanced ATS features like AI capabilities, BambooHR is not the right fit. Instead, consider options like Workable or Zappyhire.

Also, BambooHR is not suitable for handling high-volume recruiting. For that, Recruitee is a better option.

And for businesses on a tight budget, JazzHR or BreezyHR offers better plans.

But everything considered, BambooHR is still an excellent choice, especially for businesses that value customer support and want a completeHR tool with ATS functionality.

3. Recruit CRM – Best For CRM Features

Our Score: 4.7/5 (Very Good)

Pricing: Free trial for up to 50 candidates and 4 open jobs, paid plans starting at $40 per user per month

Key Features:

Combined ATS and CRM functionality in one platform.
Drag-and-drop pipeline management and kanban view.
Email integration and two-way sync with Gmail and Outlook.
Automated email sequences and personalized templates.
Careers page builder with customizable application forms.
Reporting and analytics dashboard.
Chrome extension available for quick candidate sourcing.

Why We Picked It?

Recruit CRM stands out for its unique combination of applicant tracking and customer relationship management features.

It allows you to manage both candidates and clients in one centralized platform.

With Recruit CRM, you can build talent pools, create email campaigns to nurture candidates, and track all interactions in real-time. The kanban view and drag-and-drop interface make it easy to manage your hiring pipeline and move candidates through the process.

We especially like the email integration and automation features that allow you to send personalized emails at scale and sync communication with your Gmail or Outlook account.

The chrome extension is also handy for quickly adding candidates from LinkedIn or GitHub.

Pros:	Cons:
All-in-one ATS and CRM functionality	Expensive than other ATS tools
Intuitive kanban view for pipeline management	There’s a slight learning curve for advanced features
Strong integration and automation features
Chrome extension for quick candidate sourcing

Integrations: Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, GitHub, Slack, Zoom, Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 Calendar

Best For:

Recruit CRM is best for small companies, especially staffing agencies, recruitment firms, and executive search companies that want to manage both clients and candidates in one system.

It’s especially useful if your hiring process involves a lot of email outreach and personalized communication.

However, if you don’t need the CRM functionality, you might find Recruit CRM too complex and pricey. If you just need a feature-packed simple ATS solution, then consider Workable or BreezyHR.

But if you want a powerful tool that combines the best of ATS and CRM in one user-friendly platform, then Recruit CRM is the best pick for you.

4. Zappyhire – Best AI Powered ATS For Small Businesses

Our Score: 4.8/5 (Excellent)

Pricing: Custom Pricing available upon request

Key Features:

AI-based candidate screening and ranking.
Automated interview scheduling and reminders.
AI chatbot for candidate engagement and support.
Smart filters and boolean search for candidate sourcing.
Advanced reports with drill-down analytics.
Customizable hiring workflows and pipeline view.
Multilingual career page builder and job broadcasting.

Why We Picked It?

Zappyhire is our top pick for the best AI-powered applicant tracking system for small businesses.

It uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate tedious tasks and help you find the best candidates faster.

What we really like about Zappyhire is its AI-based screening feature that analyzes resumes and shortlists top candidates based on your job requirements. It saves a ton of time and ensures you don’t miss out on qualified candidates.

Another standout feature is the AI chatbot that can answer candidate questions, provide application updates, and even schedule interviews. It offers a better candidate experience while reducing your workload.

Pros:	Cons:
Advanced AI features for screening and engagement	Reporting features are a bit limited
User-friendly interface and customizable workflows	Limited integration option compared to other ATS
Multilingual support for global hiring
Strong AI video interviewing features

Integrations: LinkedIn, Google, Azure, Zoom, Slack, Asana, Keka, Zimyo, Outlook, Microsoft Teams

Best For:

Zappyhire is best for small businesses that want to use AI to automate their hiring process and find top talent faster. It’s especially useful if you receive a high volume of applications and want to automate screening and engagement.

However, if you prefer a more hands-on approach to candidate evaluation, you might find the AI features too limiting. In that situation, consider a more traditional ATS like Recruit CRM or Workable.

But overall, Zappyhire is an excellent choice for tech-savvy small businesses that want to use the power of AI to improve their recruiting efficiency and candidate experience.

5. Manatal – Best For Reporting and Analytics

Our Score: 4.6/5 (Very Good)

Pricing: 14-day free trial, paid plans starting at $15 per user per month

Key Features:

Customizable reporting dashboards with visual charts.
Advanced analytics for pipeline tracking and forecasting.
Collaboration tools for team communication and feedback.
AI-powered candidate recommendations and job matching.
Social media integration for candidate sourcing.
Multilingual careers page builder and application forms.
Compliance management with GDPR, CCPA, and SOC2.

Why We Picked It?

Manatal earns our top spot for the best ATS for reporting and analytics.

It offers a complete set of tools to help you track, analyze, and optimize your hiring process.

What sets Manatal apart is its customizable reporting dashboards that provide real-time insights into key hiring metrics like time-to-hire, candidate source, and pipeline conversion rates. You can easily create visual charts and graphs to share with your team and stakeholders.

We also like the advanced analytics features that allow you to forecast hiring needs, identify bottlenecks, and measure the ROI of your recruitment marketing campaigns.

The AI-powered recommendations are also helpful for finding similar candidates and jobs.

Pros:	Cons:
Strong reporting and analytics	Higher learning curve compared to other ATS
User-friendly interface	Pricing can add up quickly for larger teams
Great team collaboration features
AI-powered recommendations for faster hiring

Integrations: LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Stackoverflow, Gmail, Outlook, Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 Calendar, Zapier, Mailchimp, Microsoft Teams

Best For:

Manatal is best for data-driven small businesses that want to automate their hiring process and make informed decisions based on metrics and insights.

It’s especially useful if you have a distributed hiring team and need collaboration tools. In fact, Mantal is considered as one of the best affordable alternatives for advanced ATS solutions like Greenhouse.

And in comparison to other solutions like Recruit CRM, Manatal offers more affordable and feature packed pricing plans as well.

That said, if you’re looking for a simple ATS with basic reporting, you might find Manatal overwhelming. In that situation, consider a simpler tool like JazzHR or BreezyHR.

But overall, Manatal is a powerful ATS that combines advanced analytics with an user-friendly interface and AI-powered features.

6. TalentRecruit – Best For Onboarding

Our Score: 4.6/5 (Very Good)

Pricing: Free demo available, Custom pricing available upon request

Key Features:

Customizable onboarding checklists and workflows.
Automated tasks and reminders for new hires.
Easy document management.
New hire portal with company information and resources.
Onboarding analytics and reporting.
Mobile-friendly design for on-the-go onboarding.
Integration with background check providers.

Why We Picked It?

TalentRecruit is our top pick for the best ATS for onboarding. Its user-friendly platform and automated features make it easy to create a seamless onboarding experience for new hires.

What sets TalentRecruit apart is its customizable onboarding checklists and workflows.

You can create customized tasks and reminders for each new hire, ensuring they have everything they need to hit the ground running. The document management features also simplify the paperwork process.

We also like the new hire portal, which provides a centralized hub for company information, benefits enrollment, and training resources. This helps new hires feel welcomed and engaged from day one.

In addition to great onboarding features, Talent Recruits also offers employee referral and nice assessments features. These features help you hire top talent faster in a more effective way.

Pros:	Cons:
User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop onboarding builder	Limited customization compared to other ATS
Automated tasks and reminders keep onboarding on track	Reporting features not as advanced as offered by other ATS
Simple document and offer management features
New hire portal enhances employee engagement

Integrations: ADP, Gusto, BambooHR, Checkr, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft 365

Best For:

TalentRecruit is best for small to mid-sized businesses that want to create a structured and engaging onboarding experience.

It’s especially useful for companies in regulated industries that require a lot of paperwork and compliance checks.

However, if you’re looking for a more affordable option with basic onboarding features, consider JazzHR. For businesses that want a more comprehensive HR platform with onboarding capabilities, BambooHR might be a better fit.

Overall, TalentRecruit is an excellent choice for businesses that prioritize onboarding and want to create a positive first impression for new hires.

Its user-friendly platform and automated features make it easy to create a consistent and engaging onboarding process.

7. JazzHR – Best Affordable ATS for Small Businesses

Our Score: 4.9/5 (Excellent)

Pricing: Offers a 14-day free trial plan, paid plans start at $99 per month for 3 active jobs

Key Features:

Unlimited users and candidates on all plans.
Easy job posting to multiple free and paid job boards.
Resume parsing and auto-reject features to screen candidates.
Customizable hiring stages and interview guides.
Offer letters and e-signature capabilities.
Pre-built and custom reports on key recruitment metrics.
Compliance and EEO reporting features.

Why We Picked It?

JazzHR is our top pick for the best affordable ATS for small businesses. It offers affordable paid options with all the essential features you need to automate your hiring process.

One standout feature of JazzHR is its unlimited users and candidates on all plans. This means you can involve as many team members as needed in the hiring process without worrying about extra costs.

The easy job posting to multiple job boards also helps you reach a wider pool of candidates.

We also like JazzHR’s screening features, which include resume parsing and auto-reject based on knockout questions. This can save you time by automatically filtering out unqualified candidates.

The customizable hiring stages and interview guides also help you create a consistent and organized hiring process.

Pros:	Cons:
Affordable pricing plans	Limited customization for career pages
Easy job posting to multiple free and paid job boards	Some features are available only as an add-on
Screening features to filter out unqualified candidates
Simple and easy to use

Integrations: Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, Checkr, Spark Hire, TazWorks, Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 Calendar

Best For:

JazzHR is best for small businesses on a tight budget that still want a feature-packed and user-friendly ATS. It’s especially useful for businesses that hire infrequently or have a small hiring team.

However, if you need more advanced features like AI-powered sourcing or in-depth analytics, you may outgrow JazzHR as your hiring needs evolve. For that, a more complete ATS solution like Recruitee or GoHire are worth considering.

Overall, JazzHR is a great choice for small businesses that want an affordable and easy-to-use ATS with all the essential features.

8. GoHire – Best For Small Startups

Our Score: 4.6/5 (Very Good)

Pricing: 14-day free trial, paid plans starting at $99 per month for up to 3 active jobs

Key Features:

Clean and user-friendly interface designed for startups.
Branded careers page and customizable job application forms.
Sourcing extension to find candidate profiles on LinkedIn.
Easy job posting to over 15 job boards.
Offers over 700 job description templates.
Basic reporting on pipeline, source, and candidate metrics.
Strong candidate screening with advanced reporting.

Why We Picked It?

GoHire is our top pick for the best ATS for small startups.

Its pricing plans are similar to JazzHR. But unlike JazzHR, you don’t have to pay a lot for different add-ons for separate features. Each of GoHire’s plans are feature-packed with all ATS features you need to automate your hiring workflow.

Its clean and modern interface is designed with startups in mind, making it easy for small teams to get up and running quickly.

One standout feature of GoHire is its branded careers page and customizable job application forms. This allows startups to create a professional and cohesive candidate experience, even with limited resources.

The sourcing extension is also helpful for finding and adding candidate profiles from LinkedIn.

Pros:	Cons:
User-friendly modern interface	Some features are only available in higher-tier plans
Customizable branded career pages	Limited integrations compared to other ATS
Great interview scheduling features
Easy job posting to different job boards

Integrations: Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, Microsoft 365 Calendar, Zoom, Slack

Best For:

GoHire is best for small startups that are just beginning to automate their hiring process.

Its user-friendly interface and branding features make it easy to create a professional candidate experience, even with a small hiring team.

However, as your startup grows and your hiring needs become more complex, you may find GoHire’s features and reporting capabilities limiting. In that case, a more advanced ATS like Recruitee, or Manatal would be a better fit.

And for startups that prioritize candidate sourcing and relationship management, Recruit CRM is another option to consider. Its combined ATS and CRM features can be helpful for building talent pipelines and nurturing candidate relationships over time.

Overall though, GoHire is a great choice for small startups that want an easy-to-use ATS with interview screening, interview scheduling features and branding capabilities.

9. Ashby – Best For Ease of Use

Our Score: 4.7/5 (Very Good)

Pricing: Paid plans start at $300 per month for a company size of up to 10 employees.

Key Features:

Simple and intuitive user interface.
Customizable hiring workflows and pipeline stages.
Automated interview scheduling and feedback collection.
Built-in candidate communication templates.
Collaborative hiring with team member permissions.
Detailed reporting and analytics dashboard.
Mobile-friendly design for hiring on the go.

Why We Picked It?

Ashby is the top pick for its ease of use. Its user-friendly interface makes it really easy to navigate, even for first-time users.

What we really like about Ashby is its customizable workflows that allow you to tailor your hiring process to your specific needs.

You can easily create pipeline stages, move candidates through the process, and automate repetitive tasks like interview scheduling and feedback collection.

Ashby also offers a range of built-in templates for candidate communication, so you can send personalized emails and messages with just a few clicks. The collaborative hiring features are also handy for involving team members in the decision-making process.

Pros:	Cons:
User-friendly interface	Expensive for smaller companies with limited budget
Customizable workflows	There is a slight learning curve to learn and implement all advanced features
Automated communication and scheduling
Strong CRM and analytics

Integrations: Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, Slack, Zoom, Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 Calendar, Greenhouse

Best For:

Ashby is best for small to mid-sized businesses that prioritize ease of use and want an advanced all-in-one ATS solution.

From candidate interview scheduling to CRM, and analytics, it includes all the features you need for effective recruitment.

However, if you’re looking for a more simple and more affordable solution, better options include GoHire or JazzHR.

But overall, Ashby is a great choice for businesses that want a user-friendly and feature-packed advanced ATS solution.

10. Recruitee – Best For High-Volume Recruiting

Our Score: 4.7/5 (Very Good)

Pricing: Free 18-day trial, paid plans starting at $249 per month for up to 5 job slots and unlimited users and unlimited data storage

Key Features:

Bulk actions for managing high-volume applications.
Automated job posting to multiple boards and social media.
Advanced search filters and candidate tags.
Collaborative hiring with shared candidate profiles.
Customizable email templates and sequences.
Robust reporting with pipeline and sourcing analytics.
Compliance management with GDPR and EEOC.

Why We Picked It?

Recruitee is our top pick for the best ATS for high-volume recruiting. Its bulk actions and automated features and templates really make it easy to manage a large number of applications and keep your pipeline moving.

What sets Recruitee apart is its advanced search and filtering capabilities that allow you to quickly find and tag relevant candidates.

You can also automate job postings to multiple boards and social media channels to expand your reach.

We also like the collaborative hiring features that allow you to share candidate profiles, leave notes, and assign tasks to team members. The customizable email templates and sequences are also helpful for streamlining communication with candidates.

Pros:	Cons:
Powerful tools for managing high-volume applications	Higher price point compared to other ATS
Advanced search and filtering capabilities	Steeper learning curve for some advanced features
Automated job posting and candidate communication
Collaborative hiring

Integrations: LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 Calendar, Zoom, Asana, Trello

Best For:

Recruitee is best for growing small and mid-sized businesses that need to fill a high volume of positions quickly and efficiently. It’s especially useful if you have a remote hiring team and need collaboration tools to stay aligned.

However, if you’re a small business with a lower hiring volume, you might find its features more than needed and its price point too high. For that, consider a more affordable option like JazzHR or GoHire.

But overall, Recruitee is a powerful ATS that’s built for scale. So for a small growing organization or Startup, it’s definitely worth considering.

11. BreezyHR – Best Free ATS For Small Businesses

Our Score: 4.9/5 (Excellent)

Pricing: 14-day full feature free trial, Limited free plan also available, paid plans starting at $189 per month for unlimited users

Key Features:

Automated interview scheduling with calendar integration.
Customizable interview scorecards and feedback forms.
Video interviewing with built-in recording and playback.
Candidate self-scheduling for increased flexibility.
Automated reminders and follow-up emails to candidates.
Mobile app for on-the-go interview management.
Reporting and analytics for interview metrics.

Why We Picked It?

BreezyHR is our top pick for the best free ATS for small businesses.

In its free plan you get all the essential features like branded career site, distribution to over 50 different job boards, multiple language support as well resume parsing features. On top of that, there’s no limitation on users.

So if you’re looking for a feature-packed free ATS, BreezyHR is a great choice. Its paid plans do come with additional helpful features.

We like its automated scheduling features and calendar integration that make it easy to coordinate interviews with candidates and hiring teams.

What sets BreezyHR apart is its customizable interview scorecards and feedback forms that allow you to standardize your evaluation process and make more objective hiring decisions.

You can also conduct video interviews directly within the platform and record them for later review.

We also like the candidate self-scheduling feature that allows applicants to choose their own interview slots based on your team’s availability. This increases flexibility and reduces back-and-forth emails.

Pros:	Cons:
Feature-packed free plan	Paid plans are a bit expensive than those offered by other ATS
Built-in video interviewing features	Limited reporting features
Easy interview scheduling
Great employee referral and offer management features

Integrations: Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Slack, Zoom, Zapier, Indeed, LinkedIn, Facebook, Checkr, Glassdoor

Best For:

BreezyHR is best for small to midsize businesses that are looking for a free feature-packed ATS.

It also has great interview scheduling and job posting features. It’s especially useful if you conduct a high volume of interviews and need tools to standardize your evaluation process.

However, if you’re looking for a more advanced ATS with strong reporting and CRM features, then better options include Ashby and Recruit CRM.

But overall, BreezyHR is an excellent choice for small businesses that want an easy-to-use, affordable, and feature-packed ATS.

Want to explore more software solutions? Visit our hrtech’s marketplace to explore a wide range of different HR tools and software to enhance your HR processes. Explore now to learn more!

What Are Applicant Tracking Systems?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software tool that helps businesses manage their hiring process from start to finish.

It allows you to post job openings, collect and organize applicant resumes, communicate with candidates, schedule interviews, and ultimately make hiring decisions.

Think of an ATS as a central database for all your hiring needs.

Instead of sifting through countless email attachments and spreadsheets, an ATS keeps everything organized in one place.

It automates many of the repetitive tasks involved in hiring, like resume screening and interview scheduling, so you can focus on finding the best candidates for your open positions.

Benefits Of Applicant Tracking Systems

Using an ATS offers several key benefits for small businesses:

Time savings – An ATS automates many of the manual tasks involved in hiring, like posting jobs, screening resumes, and scheduling interviews. This frees up your time to focus on more important tasks, like evaluating candidates and making hiring decisions.
Improved organization – An ATS keeps all your hiring data organized in one central location. No more digging through emails or spreadsheets to find candidate information. Everything is easily searchable and accessible from within the system.
Better candidate experience – An ATS allows you to communicate with candidates more efficiently and keep them informed throughout the hiring process. This leads to a better overall candidate experience, which can help you attract top talent.
Enhanced collaboration – An ATS allows multiple team members to access and collaborate on hiring tasks. You can assign roles and permissions, share feedback, and make decisions together in real-time.
Data-driven insights – Most ATS offer reporting and analytics features that give you valuable insights into your hiring process. You can track metrics like time-to-hire, candidate source, and conversion rates to optimize your recruiting efforts over time.

Key Features To Look For In An Applicant Tracking System

When evaluating ATS options for your small business, look for these key features:

Ease of use – The ATS should have a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate, even for first-time users. Look for features like drag-and-drop workflows and customizable pipelines.
Job posting and distribution – The ATS should allow you to post jobs to your company website and popular job boards with just a few clicks. Look for options to customize your job listings and employer branding.
Resume parsing and screening – The ATS should be able to automatically parse resumes and extract key information like contact details, work history, and skills. Look for options to screen resumes based on custom criteria and rank candidates by match score.
Candidate communication – The ATS should offer tools for communicating with candidates, like email templates, bulk messaging, and SMS. Look for options to automate follow-ups and keep candidates informed throughout the process.
Interview scheduling – The ATS should make it easy to schedule interviews with candidates and hiring team members. Look for features like self-scheduling, calendar integration, and automated reminders.
Collaboration tools – The ATS should allow multiple team members to access and collaborate on hiring tasks. Look for features like shared candidate profiles, feedback forms, and task assignments.
Reporting and analytics – The ATS should offer robust reporting and analytics features to help you track key hiring metrics. Look for customizable dashboards, data visualizations, and options to export reports.
Compliance management – The ATS should help you stay compliant with relevant laws and regulations, like EEOC and GDPR. Look for features like EEO surveys, data privacy controls, and audit trails.

Our Selection Criteria For Choosing the Best ATS for Small Businesses

To select the best applicant tracking systems for small businesses, we evaluated each tool based on the following criteria:

Selection Criteria:	Weight:
Ease of use	25%
Features	25%
Pricing	20%
Integration	15%
Customer support	15%

1. Ease Of Use (25%)

We looked for ATS with user-friendly interfaces, intuitive navigation, and minimal learning curves. The tool should be easy to set up and use, even for hiring managers without technical expertise.

2. Features (25%)

We evaluated each ATS based on its feature set, including job posting, resume parsing, candidate communication, interview scheduling, collaboration tools, and reporting. We gave higher scores to tools with more comprehensive and innovative features.

3. Pricing (20%)

We considered each ATS’s pricing model and value for money. We looked for transparent pricing, flexible plans, and options for different budget levels. We gave higher scores to tools with more affordable and predictable pricing.

4. Integration (15%)

We assessed each ATS’s ability to integrate with other HR and business tools, like job boards, calendars, email, and background check providers. We gave higher scores to tools with more extensive and seamless integration options.

5. Customer support (15%)

We evaluated each ATS’s customer support options, including documentation, tutorials, live chat, email, and phone support. We gave higher scores to tools with more responsive and helpful customer support teams.

Based on these criteria, we selected our top 11 picks for the best applicant tracking systems for small businesses.

Each tool on our list stands out in one or more of these areas and offers unique features and benefits for different types of small businesses.

How Much Do Applicant Tracking Systems Cost?

The cost of an applicant tracking system varies depending on several factors, such as the size of your company, the number of users, the features you need, and the pricing model of the provider.

Most ATS providers offer different pricing plans based on the number of job openings, users, or candidates you need to manage.

Free – Some ATS providers offer a free plan with limited features and users, like BreezyHR. This can be a good option for small businesses just starting out with hiring.
Basic – Basic plans typically cost between $50 to $100 per month and include features like job posting, resume parsing, and candidate communication. Examples include JazzHR and GoHire.
Professional – Professional plans usually cost between $100 to $300 per month and include more advanced features like interview scheduling, custom workflows, and reporting. Examples include Workable, Recruitee, and Ashby.
Per Employee Pricing Plans – Some software solutions offer plans based on per employee pricing. This can turn out to be costly as you keep adding more users to the platform. Examples include BambooHR and Manatal.
Enterprise – Enterprise plans are designed for larger companies with more complex hiring needs. Prices can range from $500 to $1000 per month or more and include features like advanced analytics, and dedicated support. Examples include ADP and Workday.

When evaluating ATS pricing, consider your company’s specific needs and budget.

Look for providers that offer transparent pricing, flexible plans, and the option to scale up or down as your needs change.

Do Small Companies Use ATS?

Yes, many small companies use applicant tracking systems to manage their hiring process. In fact, ATS adoption has been growing rapidly among small businesses in recent years.

Data shows that 35% of small companies use some form of recruiting or applicant tracking software.

There are several reasons why small companies are turning to ATS:

Efficiency – Small companies often have limited resources and need to be as efficient as possible with their time. An ATS can automate many of the repetitive tasks involved in hiring, like posting jobs and screening resumes, freeing up time for more important tasks.
Organization – Small companies may not have a dedicated HR team and rely on managers or team members to handle hiring. An ATS can help keep everything organized in one place, making it easier to collaborate and track progress.
Competitiveness – In today’s job market, candidates expect a seamless and professional hiring experience. An ATS can help small companies compete with larger employers by providing a user-friendly application process and timely communication.

However, not every small company needs an ATS. If you’re only hiring a few employees per year or have a very simple hiring process, you may be able to manage everything manually or with basic tools like spreadsheets and email.

Overall, consider using an ATS if you:

Plan to hire more than 10 employees per year
Receive more than 50 applications per job opening
Have multiple team members involved in hiring
Want to improve your candidate experience and employer brand
Need to track and report on hiring metrics

Are Applicant Tracking Systems Worth It For Small Businesses?

For most small businesses, investing in an applicant tracking system is well worth the cost.

The benefits of using an ATS, like increased efficiency, better organization, and improved candidate experience, can have a significant impact on your hiring success.

Of course, the value of an ATS depends on your specific needs and goals. Before investing in an ATS, take the time to evaluate your current hiring process and identify areas where an ATS could provide the most benefit.

Consider factors like your hiring volume, team size, and budget, as well as your long-term growth plans. Look for an ATS that offers the features and flexibility to scale with your business over time.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right applicant tracking system for your small business is a big decision.

The right ATS can help you simplify your hiring process, improve your candidate experience, and make better hiring decisions.

Out of all of our top picks, here are our top three picks for the best ATS for small businesses:

Workable – Best overall ATS for small businesses. Workable offers a user-friendly platform with strong features like AI-powered sourcing, custom workflows, and advanced reporting. It’s a great choice for companies looking for an all-in-one solution.
BambooHR – Best for customer support and mobile hiring. BambooHR provides exceptional customer support with a dedicated success manager for each client. Its mobile app allows you to manage candidates and approvals on the go.
BreezyHR – Best free ATS for small businesses. BreezyHR offers a generous free plan with essential features like job posting, and branded career site option. It’s a great option for companies on a tight budget.

Overall, the best ATS for your small business will depend on your unique needs and goals. Take the time to evaluate your options and choose a provider that aligns with your hiring strategy and company culture.

Need more guidance on selecting an ATS or optimizing your hiring process? Our team of HR experts is here to help. With years of experience, our experts can help you find the right solution for your unique needs and challenges. Contact us now to learn more!