43% of small businesses struggle to attract top talent, and 41% face increasing competition for highly qualified hires. In today's tough job market, it's harder than ever to find the right candidates.
For small businesses, these hiring hurdles can hinder growth and success. But what if there was a way to streamline your recruitment process and secure top talent efficiently?
This blog explores the 10 best Applicant Tracking Systems for small businesses. It will help you tackle hiring challenges and find the best ATS for your team.
Research Methodology
The following 10 best ATS for startups were selected based on criteria essential for small businesses:
- Affordability: Cost-effective solutions suitable for limited budgets.
- Features: Comprehensive functionalities that address recruitment needs.
- User Experience: Intuitive interfaces that require minimal training.
- Integration: Compatibility with existing systems and workflows.
- Scalability: The ability to grow alongside the business.
Evaluations used insights from trusted review platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot. This ensured that the reviews were unbiased.
Top 10 Best ATS for Startups in 2025
We researched and found the top 10 applicant tracking systems for small companies. We based our evaluation on pricing, features, AI recruitment tools, and more.
1. Skima AI
Skima AI is a leading ATS for startups and small businesses. It is a cloud-based recruiting software that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance the candidate experience. It gathers different data points to improve candidate profiles.
This helps add missing skills and background details. Recruiters can then find candidates who meet specific needs, like technical skills and industry experience.
Features
- Access to 800M+ global talents
- Applicant Tracking and Skill Evidence Detection
- Candidate pipeline management
- Integrates with existing ATS and HR software seamlessly
- Automatically extracts and organizes information from resumes
- Resume Tagging Capabilities
- AI Search Algorithm Trained on Millions of Resumes
- AI chat-based search with AI candidate matching
- Secure in-house AI models with no external APIs
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance
Pros
- AI Search Engine: Skima AI has an AI search engine that helps recruiters find candidates, job descriptions, or other information quickly. With just one click, it simplifies hiring tasks.
- AI-Driven Matching: Skima AI uses deep learning to match the ideal candidates quickly with your given job description. The system analyses thousands of resumes in seconds, cutting down time-to-hire.
- Automation Capabilities: It automates job posting, resume screening, and interview scheduling. This lets recruiters focus on strategic decisions.
- Seamless Integration: Skima AI integrates easily with existing ATS systems, making recruitment smoother. It also connects with payroll and HR systems, bringing everything together for a hassle-free experience.
- Reliable Customer Support: Several users have praised Skima AI’s support team for being quick and helpful. This improves their overall experience with the platform.
Cons
- Initial Learning Curve: Although the system is effective, recruiters may need a short period to adjust to the advanced AI hiring tools. To ease the transition, training and demo sessions are provided.
2. Workable
Workable's ATS lets businesses manage the whole recruitment process. You can post jobs and make offers seamlessly. It also integrates with tools like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Google Hire. This helps you connect with more potential candidates.
Additionally, Workable offers a robust mobile app, so recruiters can manage job postings, track applicants, and communicate with candidates on the go. Its collaborative features let team members leave notes and feedback on candidates. This makes decision-making easier.
Features
- Job posting distribution across 200+ job boards
- Collaborative recruitment tools for team feedback
- Automated email responses and candidate communications
- Built-in candidate ranking and review system
- Powerful reporting and analytics tools
Pros
- Complete Candidate Evaluations: Workable gives HR companies detailed data and visual tools to improve recruiting metrics and assess candidates. This technology helps businesses hire the best talent using data.
- Quick and Simple Onboarding: Workable offers easy instructions for new users. They can get started immediately. This saves training time and effort. So, teams can jump into critical tasks more quickly.
- Unlimited Collaborative Options: Workable lets team members view potential profiles and access real-time information. This makes collaboration easier.
- User-Friendly Interface: HR staff find it easy to navigate Workable dashboards. The clean design doesn't need much training for users, and they can start using it right away for their HR needs.
Cons:
- Incompatibility with Virtual Conferencing: Workable doesn't work with apps like Zoom. This makes it hard for HR professionals to schedule and run smooth interviews.
- Email Syncing Issues: Some users have noted that Workable has trouble syncing inbox emails. It may cause delayed responses and missed opportunities. As a result, it can hinder recruitment and discourage prospects.
- Limited Functionality After Offer: Once a candidate accepts an offer, useful features drop significantly. This leaves customers without tools for the last steps of recruiting.
3. Greenhouse
Greenhouse is one of the leading applicant tracking systems for startups that are scaling quickly. It is easy to customize and provides thorough reporting features for an efficient hiring process.
Moreover, Greenhouse offers a suite of features, including candidate scorecards, automated workflows, and interview scheduling. The platform works with HR tools, such as job boards, background check services, and onboarding software. This flexibility and scalability make it good for businesses.
Features
- Customizable job pipelines and workflows
- Advanced reporting and analytics for recruitment insights
- Interview scheduling and collaborative feedback tools
- Integration with over 200 HR tools and apps
- Offer management
Pros
- Collaboration Tools: Your team can leave notes, rate candidates with a scorecard, and sync data easily. Integrations let you schedule interviews without back-and-forth emails.
- Powerful Analytics: Gain clear insights, like how long hiring takes and which job boards are most effective.
- Diversity Focus: Use tools like anonymised resumes and diversity tracking to hire fairly and meet inclusion goals.
- Seamless Integrations: Greenhouse works with tools like Slack for updates, LinkedIn for sourcing, and HR systems like Workday.
- User-Friendly Design: Users find the layout simple and modern. You can post jobs or track candidates easily, even if you're not tech-savvy.
Cons
- Limited Automation: Some users point out that Greenhouse lacks certain automation. This can result in more manual tasks during recruitment.
- Limited Customization: HRs may find few pipeline stages available. This can make the hiring process feel less flexible compared to other platforms.
- Customer Support Lag: Some users mention that support responses can be slow, especially for smaller clients. Waiting days for assistance can be quite frustrating.
- Complex Implementation: Greenhouse requires more administrative setup than simpler ATS options. This may create challenges for teams with limited resources.
4. JazzHR
JazzHR is an affordable ATS that gives small businesses a complete set of recruitment tools, from job posting to hiring.
It’s well-known for being simple and easy to use, making it a good option for companies without a dedicated HR team. Its features include job distribution, resume parsing, and interview scheduling.
Features
- Job posting and candidate distribution to multiple job boards
- Customizable hiring workflows and stages
- Collaborative candidate evaluation and feedback tools
- Automated resume screening and candidate ranking
Pros
- Advanced Applicant Tracking System: JazzHR has a complete ATS that helps recruiters and hiring managers track candidates. This promotes teamwork during the recruitment process.
- Flexible Workflows and Task Management: The platform offers custom workflows and task assignments. Stakeholders receive timely notifications, which improve decision-making.
- User-friendly Interface: JazzHR's simple interface makes it easy for recruiters to use the platform. It streamlines job postings, application reviews, and progress tracking.
- Integration with Job Boards and Social Media: JazzHR connects well with various job boards and social media. This increases the visibility of job openings and draws in a diverse talent pool.
- Automated Notifications: The system sends important updates and reminders automatically. This keeps recruiters informed and boosts overall candidate management efficiency.
Cons
- Complicated Reporting System: JazzHR's reporting tools are not easy to use. Extracting insights takes extra effort, which complicates recruitment tracking.
- Limited Customization of User Roles: Pre-set user roles limit what administrators can do. This restricts access levels and stops customisation for specific roles.
- Inefficient Career Page Structure: The platform combines all job postings in one place. This makes it difficult for job seekers to find relevant opportunities, impacting their experience.
- Difficult Subscription Cancellation Process: Users find it hard to cancel their JazzHR subscriptions. They must reach out to customer support to do this.
- Frequent Workflow Maintenance: JazzHR's automated workflows require regular updates. This can pose challenges for small businesses with few resources.
5. Breezy HR
Breezy HR is a visually appealing ATS that focuses on creating an engaging and intuitive hiring process for small businesses. Breezy HR has a drag-and-drop interface and customizable features. This makes managing the hiring process easy.
You can post jobs and onboard new employees all in one place. The platform also offers features to improve candidate engagement, such as video interviewing and team collaboration tools. All the features make it one of the best ATS for startups.
Features
- Customizable pipelines
- Job board integrations and candidate sourcing
- Collaborative feedback and approval process for team hiring
- In-depth reporting and analytics tools
- Integrated video interviews and candidate messaging
Pros
- Automation Features: The platform simplifies tasks like resume parsing, interview scheduling, and candidate communication. This lets HR teams to focus on strategic decisions.
- Integration Capabilities: Breezy HR connects easily with tools like LinkedIn, Slack, Google Calendar, and Microsoft Office 365. This boosts workflow efficiency and keeps data in sync.
- Collaborative Tools: It promotes teamwork through shared calendars, feedback tools, and custom workflows. This helps ensure team alignment during hiring.
- User-Friendly Interface: Breezy HR has a simple drag-and-drop design, making it easy to use for everyone, even those without technical skills.
- Customizable Workflows: Adjust your hiring processes with workflows that meet your organisation’s needs. This enhances overall efficiency.
- Easy Job Posting: Users can post jobs to over 50 job boards with one click. This increases visibility and attracts a wide range of candidates.
Cons
- Limited Free Plan: The free Bootstrap plan lets users manage only one active position at a time. This may not suit growing companies with multiple hiring needs and tight budgets.
- Limited Advanced Features: Breezy HR offers various functions, but some users think the advanced reporting and analytics features could be better.
- Occasional Technical Issues: A few users have noted minor bugs and slow load times. These issues can affect user experience, especially during peak times.
- Automation Complexity: Automation is important, but setting up its triggers can be tricky. Users have mentioned difficulty in identifying active triggers.
- Video Platform Quality: Some customer reviews say the built-in video interviewing feature needs improved quality and reliability.
6. Zoho Recruit
Zoho Recruit's ATS is designed for small businesses and recruitment agencies, offering a variety of tools to streamline the hiring process. It allows businesses to create and post job openings, track candidates, and collaborate on hiring decisions.
Zoho Recruit also features a custom workflow builder that helps tailor the process to your business needs. With integrations across many Zoho tools and other platforms, it's a great choice for businesses using Zoho’s products.
Features
- Customizable workflows and pipelines
- Resume parsing and automatic candidate ranking
- Integration with Zoho CRM and other third-party apps
- Candidate sourcing from job boards and social media
- Automated interview scheduling and follow-ups
Pros
- Strong Integrations: It connects smoothly with Zoho tools, G Suite, and job boards. This helps streamline workflows and lowers manual tasks.
- Customization Options: It features flexible workflows, custom fields, and portals. Teams can adapt it to meet their hiring needs.
- AI-Powered Tools: Its resume parsing and candidate matching features save time. They quickly identify the best candidates.
- Easy Job Posting: You can post jobs across various boards. Smart sourcing tools help you attract top talent.
Cons
- Intensive Learning Process: New users struggle with advanced features like custom workflows. They often need time or training to master them.
- Outdated Interface: The Zoho applicant tracking UI feels outdated and less user-friendly, and it does not keep up with modern ATS designs.
- Slow Customer Support Response: Users find it frustrating to wait for help, especially on cheaper plans. Response times are often slower on lower-tier plans.
- Complex Setup: Setting up initially can take time, especially for teams new to Zoho’s ecosystem.
- Unexpected Requirements for Job Posting: Zoho Recruit requires a matching website domain and email to post jobs. This can lead to extra costs and complications.
7. Manatal
Manatal is a cloud-based applicant tracking software for small businesses that uses AI to simplify the recruitment process. This makes it a good choice for small businesses looking to adopt cutting-edge technology.
It uses AI to rank and filter resumes, making candidate screening much faster and more accurate. Additionally, Manatal provides easy integration with major job boards, social media, and HR tools.
Features
- AI-powered resume parsing and candidate ranking
- Customizable recruitment pipelines and stages
- Integration with job boards, LinkedIn, and HR tools
- Candidate sourcing from multiple platforms
- Collaborative feedback and approval workflows
Pros
- Wide Range of Functionalities: Manatal automates job posting, sources candidates, and offers AI-driven recommendations. This simplifies the hiring process.
- Customization Options: Users appreciate the ability to tailor pipelines and recruitment stages to fit specific job needs. This allows for flexibility in hiring.
- Collaboration Tools: Manatal supports easy collaboration between teams and clients. It enables shared feedback and quick communication within the platform.
- User-Friendly Interface: Users like Manatal for its intuitive and clean design. This makes it easy to manage recruitment processes efficiently.
Cons
- Limited Client Portal Personalization: Some users want more ways to customize the client portal’s design for their brand.
- Occasional Integration Issues: Users have reported glitches with integration. The social media enrichment tool does not always work.
- Navigation Issues: Customers find it hard to understand Manatal’s few features, despite its benefits.
- Limited Reporting Capabilities: Users find that the reporting features are limited and lack detailed recruitment metrics.
- Performance Issues: Some users noted slow performance or bugs that sometimes disrupt their recruitment workflow.
8. Recooty
Recooty is an easy-to-use and affordable Applicant Tracking System. It is designed for small businesses that need to post jobs, track candidates, and collaborate with teams without the complexity of larger systems.
Recooty stands out for its user-friendly interface and automation features. It simplifies candidate communication and interview scheduling. With its focus on affordability, Recooty is one of the best ATS for startups looking for a straightforward recruitment tool.
Features List
- Job posting to multiple job boards
- Automated candidate communication and interview scheduling
- Customizable job listings and candidate pipelines
- Collaborative hiring team features
- Resume parsing and candidate ranking
Pros
- Efficient Job Posting: Several reviewers appreciate its ability to distribute job ads across multiple platforms seamlessly.
- Effective Candidate Management: The platform’s candidate tracking and evaluation tools are often highlighted as being very useful.
- Responsive Customer Support: Users have reported positive experiences with prompt and helpful customer service.
- User-Friendly Interface: Users consistently praise its intuitive design, which simplifies the recruitment process.
Cons
- Limited Advanced Features: Some users feel that Recooty lacks the depth of functionalities required by rapidly scaling businesses.
- Basic Reporting: Reviewers have mentioned that reporting and analytics tools are somewhat limited compared to competitors.
- Integration Constraints: A few users note that the platform does not integrate with as many third-party tools as they’d prefer.
- Occasional Glitches: Some feedback points to intermittent bugs or slow response times in the system.
- Customization Limits: Users have indicated that the ability to tailor workflows is somewhat restricted.
9. Recruit CRM
Recruit CRM is an AI-powered recruitment software that combines ATS and CRM functionalities, catering to recruitment agencies and businesses of varying sizes.
Its customizable features and user-friendly interface have garnered positive feedback from users worldwide.
Features
- Track and manage candidate information
- Maintain detailed records of client interactions and requirements
- Seamlessly integrate with email platforms
- Automatically extract candidate details from resumes
- Publish job openings to various job boards and social media platforms.
- Visualize and manage recruitment pipelines using customizable Kanban boards.
- Access detailed reports to analyze recruitment performance
Pros
- Excellent Customer Support: The support team is quick and helpful. They provide dedicated trainers and live chat assistance, which makes onboarding and daily use simple.
- Customizable Feature Set: The platform’s strong ATS and CRM features are a key strength. These features include resume parsing, AI candidate matching, and customizable pipelines.
- Seamless Integrations: Recruit CRM connects with popular tools, like a LinkedIn extension and job boards. This integration streamlines workflows and boosts productivity.
- Flexible Customization: Many users appreciate the ability to customize workflows, reports, and dashboards for their recruiting needs. This enhances efficiency and improves data visibility.
Cons
- Reporting Module Limitations: Reviewers feel the reporting section isn't as strong or flexible as they expect. It often requires manual adjustments after exporting.
- Occasional Glitches: Some users find that certain pages, like the login home page, still appear after they log in. They also sometimes encounter lag, which interrupts their workflow.
- Limited Customisation in Lower-Tier Plans: Customisation is a key strength, but several reviews point out that advanced options, such as detailed reporting features, are limited to higher-priced plans.
- Geographical Search and Navigation Shortcomings: Users say the geographical search needs improvement. They find it difficult to navigate job descriptions and listings, especially since there is no back button.
10. Recruitee
Recruitee is a collaborative hiring software designed to streamline the recruitment process for businesses of all sizes. Established in 2015 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Recruitee serves a global clientele with its modern applicant tracking system (ATS).
The platform prioritises simplicity. It features a user-friendly interface that streamlines the hiring process.
Features
- Automate manual tasks throughout the recruitment workflow, like resume parsing
- Create and customize career pages without coding skills to enhance employer branding
- Utilize social sharing links, referral management, and smart campaigns to boost sourcing
- Streamline interview coordination with scheduling tools, templates, & collaborative notes
- Build tailored dashboards and reports to analyze and optimize recruitment processes
- Over 120 applications integrate to enhance functionality and fit into existing workflows
Pros
- Effective Candidate Management: The platform simplifies tracking candidates and managing their history. This helps recruiters keep their workflows organized.
- Responsive Customer Support: Recruitee's support team is known for quick and helpful replies. This ensures that recruitment activities face minimal disruption.
- Comprehensive Analytics: Users appreciate the detailed analytics and reporting features. They help in making data-driven hiring choices.
- Intuitive User Experience: Users praise Recruitee for its attractive and user-friendly design. This makes navigation and usage easy.
Cons
- Limited Customization: Some users want more options to tailor the platform to their workflows.
- Integration Challenges: A few users struggle to connect Recruitee with other HR systems, indicating a need for improvement.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic functions are easy to use, some users find advanced features harder to learn.
- Mobile App Limitations: Users say the mobile app misses some features found on the desktop version, affecting usability on the go.
- Notification Management: Some users want better notification settings to manage recruitment alerts more effectively.
How to Choose the Best ATS for Small Businesses?
The right Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is crucial for optimizing your small business's hiring process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed decision:
1. Define Your Hiring Needs
Determine the average number of hires you make monthly or annually. This helps in choosing an ATS that can handle your recruitment load efficiently.
Besides this, identify specific challenges in your hiring process. These might include finding candidates, setting up interviews, or handling communications.
2. Check Pricing & Scalability
Check the cost of the ATS relative to your budget. Ensure there are no hidden fees and that the pricing structure aligns with your financial capabilities.
In addition, choose a system that can scale with your business. As your company grows, the ATS should accommodate increased hiring needs without compromising performance.
3. Look for Essential Features
- Automation: Seek features that automate repetitive tasks like resume screening and interview scheduling to save time and reduce errors.
- Job Posting Integration: Ensure the ATS can post job openings to multiple job boards and social media platforms seamlessly.
- Analytics and Reporting: Access to detailed reports on recruitment metrics can help refine your hiring strategies and demonstrate the ATS's return on investment.
4. Read User Reviews
You can explore reviews on platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot to understand the experiences of other users. Pay attention to comments about usability, customer support, and feature effectiveness.
5. Test Free Trials
You can utilize free trials or demo versions to assess the ATS's interface and functionality. This firsthand experience is invaluable in determining if the system meets your specific needs.
Summary - Ready to Optimize Your Recruitment Process?
Implementing an ATS streamlines the hiring process, reduces time-to-fill, and boosts candidate quality. Small businesses can benefit greatly from automation, centralised data, and the cost savings that come with it. When choosing an ATS, assess your hiring needs, review pricing, and identify essential features. Testing free trials is key to finding the best fit.
For businesses looking for an advanced, AI-powered ATS software, Skima AI offers cutting-edge recruitment automation. With intuitive features, seamless integrations, and data-driven insights, Skima AI simplifies hiring and helps businesses grow. Explore Skima AI today and optimize your recruitment process effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an ATS tool?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that automates recruiting by managing job postings, tracking applicants, and organizing resumes. It streamlines hiring, enhances collaboration, and improves candidate experience.
2. Which ATS is best for small business expansion?
Skima AI is a top choice for small businesses aiming to grow. It provides scalable solutions with features like access to over 800 million candidates worldwide. It also includes ATS, HR systems, payroll, job board integration, and more, making hiring easier for teams.
3. How does an ATS benefit small businesses?
An ATS streamlines recruitment, reduces time-to-hire, and improves candidate quality. It automates tasks, brings data together, and boosts teamwork. This makes hiring easier for small businesses.
