Hiring the right talent is critical for the success of any small business, but managing the recruitment process can be challenging without the right tools. This is where Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) comes in. From posting job openings to tracking applications and communicating with candidates, the right ATS will streamline the entire recruitment process.
Keeping that in mind, the experts at Software Finder have gone through some of 2024's top ATS offerings in the market and selected the right ones for you to use at your company. These software aim to make the hiring process easier and ensure small businesses can attract, track, and hire the best candidates.
Before deciding on the right software for your needs, let's break down where each applicant tracking software excels and how you can benefit from it.
- ApplicantStack – Best for automated hiring and onboarding
- Paylocity HR – Best for medium-to-large-sized companies
- Applicant Starter – Best for companies with high hiring demands
- BambooHR Payroll – Best for small to medium-sized businesses
- Zoho Recruit – Best for cloud functionality
- Recruit CRM – Best for recruiting agencies
- Breezy HR – Best for fast-growing companies
- JazzHR – Best for ease of use
- Greenhouse – Best for automation for large teams
Software | Best Known For | Pricing |
ApplicantStack |
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Paylocity |
| Flexible pricing plans are available. Get in touch for a custom quote |
Applicant Starter |
| Contact us for a personalized quote |
BambooHR |
| Get in touch for a pricing plan tailored to your needs |
Zoho Recruit |
| Pricing plans start from $30/recruiter/month. There is also a free plan with limited functionality |
Recruit CRM |
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Breezy HR |
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JazzHR |
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Greenhouse |
| Prices vary. Get in touch to get a quote based on your organization's requirements |
1. ApplicantStack
ApplicantStack is a feature-rich yet easy-to-use ATS that caters to small and mid-sized businesses. It provides tools for posting jobs, managing candidates, scheduling interviews, and onboarding, making it a solid choice for growing businesses.
Pros
- User-friendly, with an intuitive interface so small business owners don't require any technical training
- Can create hiring workflows that fit diverse recruitment processes, from job posting to offer letters
- Easily schedule interviews and communicate with candidates, thanks to built-in email and calendar tools
- ApplicantStack is known for providing excellent customer service, which is especially important for small businesses that may not have a dedicated IT department
Cons
- There's no dedicated mobile app, so managing candidates on the go can be a hassle if you rely heavily on mobile devices for work
- Limited integration options compared to others
Pricing
Pricing plans range from $29/month to $150/month, depending on your needs. Get in touch for a plan tailored to your company's requirements.
2. Paylocity
Paylocity is a human resource (HR) management platform featuring Time Clock Software, perfectly suited for small businesses seeking an all-in-one solution. This platform combines payroll, benefits administration, time tracking, and recruitment into a seamless system.
Pros
- Paylocity's ATS is just one part of the HR platform. Smaller companies can use the all-in-one platform for all their HR needs, saving money in the process
- Extensive customization for recruitment workflows, allowing small businesses to adapt the software to their specific processes
- Ability to generate detailed reports on applicant status, time-to-hire, and other key recruitment metrics to improve the hiring process over time
Cons
- Comprehensive features make it more expensive than standalone ATS options. Small businesses might not need the full HR suite, so it ends up being a bad investment for them
- Given its wide array of features, small businesses may find Paylocity's interface overwhelming at first, especially if they only need applicant tracking
Pricing
Contact us for a customized quote based on your ATS requirements.
3. Applicant Starter
Applicant Starter is an affordable, easy-to-use ATS designed for small businesses with basic hiring needs. It covers the essential aspects of recruitment, such as posting jobs and managing applicants.
Pros
- Automates the hiring process, freeing up HR departments' time to focus on other areas
- Applicant Starter avoids complexity by offering only the essential features, which is perfect for small businesses that don't need advanced tools
- Minimal setup time required. You can begin posting jobs and tracking applicants almost immediately
Cons
- Customer support isn't always reliable
- No mobile app
Pricing
Get in touch for a custom quote for Applicant Starter.
4. Bamboo HR
BambooHR is renowned for its employee management capabilities, including a robust Applicant Tracking System (ATS) as part of its comprehensive HR suite. It's well-suited for small businesses in need of an all-in-one solution that encompasses recruitment, Onboarding Software, and employee records management.
Pros
- Helps you navigate through all the ATS features so you don't get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options
- Automatically assigns candidates a New Employee role once they are marked as "Hired"
Cons
- Difficult to track the status of candidates during the hiring process
- Mobile app doesn't let you create new job openings
Pricing
Contact for a customized quote based on your needs.
5. Zoho Recruit
Zoho Recruit is a flexible, cloud-based ATS designed to cater to both in-house recruiters and staffing agencies. It provides powerful customization options and integrations with other Zoho products, making it a good fit for small businesses.
Pros
- Allows you to tailor workflows, fields, and modules to your business needs. This makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of industries
- Zoho offers competitive pricing plans, including a free tier for businesses that only need basic ATS functionality
- Zoho Recruit integrates with many other Zoho and third-party tools, making it ideal for businesses already part of the Zoho ecosystem
- Offers AI-driven features like resume parsing and candidate matching to streamline the hiring process
Cons
- The flexibility of Zoho Recruit comes with a learning curve, especially for small businesses that may not have a dedicated HR staff
- Customer support response can be a bit slow, which could be problematic during critical recruitment periods
Pricing
Free plan to test out the functionality. Paid plans start from $30/recruiter/month, with prices dependent on the features you require.
6. Recruit CRM
Recruit CRM is an ATS built specifically for staffing and recruitment agencies, but its strong candidate management and tracking features make it suitable for small businesses as well.
Pros
- Offers advanced reporting tools that provide insight into your recruitment performance, allowing small businesses to optimize their hiring strategy
- Built-in CRM features help you manage candidate and client relationships, which is useful for small businesses with complex hiring pipelines
Cons
- Due to added CRM functionalities, it is a bit more expensive than typical ATS options, which might not be feasible for smaller companies
- Can be a bit complex to set up for smaller teams
Pricing
Starts from $40/user/month up to $90/user/month for enterprise-level features. Get in touch for customized pricing.
7. Breezy HR
Breezy HR is a visually appealing ATS with a focus on simplicity and automation. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that makes managing the hiring process easy, particularly for small businesses with limited HR staff.
Pros
- Breezy HR's drag-and-drop interface is intuitive and ideal for small businesses looking for a simple, visual way to manage their recruitment process
- Automation features, such as email templates and automatic reminders, help speed up the recruitment
- Allows you to post jobs across multiple platforms from a single dashboard
Cons
- Lacks in-depth reporting features, which could make it harder for businesses to track and optimize their hiring process
- Many automation features are only available in more expensive plans, which could be a drawback for a small business on a budget
Pricing
Costs $189/month for the Startup plan all the way up to $529/month for the Business plan. Get in touch for cost details and a quote.
8. JazzHR
JazzHR is an affordable, feature-rich ATS that provides strong customization options and collaborative hiring tools. It's a good fit for small businesses that need a customizable solution without the high price tag.
Pros
- Allows users to create and customize various steps during the hiring process
- Offers tools to highlight candidates which can then be seen by other recruiters in your company for a more collaborative hiring process
- Customer support is responsive
Cons
- Search function can be improved as it requires users to write the exact name spelling of a candidate to find them
- Can be a bit expensive for some smaller companies
Pricing
Plans start from $99/month for the Hero package up to $499/month for the Pro package.
9. Greenhouse
Greenhouse is a well-known ATS that offers powerful features like structured hiring processes, data-driven insights, and scalability. It's suitable for small businesses looking for a more advanced ATS with room to grow.
Pros
- Excellent scalability, making it suitable for small businesses that plan to grow over time
- Detailed analytics help you track every aspect of your hiring process
- Structured interview process and candidate experience tools ensure that applicants have a positive experience throughout the hiring process
Cons
- Greenhouse is more expensive than many other ATS solutions, which might not make it a feasible option for smaller businesses with tight budgets
- Setting up and customizing the system can be time-consuming
Pricing
Prices vary based on the organization's needs. Get in touch for a customized quote.
1. Time Savings
ATS automates repetitive tasks like job postings, resume sorting, and candidate communication, allowing small business owners to focus on high-priority tasks. This efficiency can significantly reduce time-to-hire.
2. Improved Candidate Organization
An ATS centralizes all applicant data, making it easy to manage resumes, track candidate progress, and organize recruitment. No more sifting through emails or spreadsheets.
3. Better Hiring Decisions
With built-in tools like resume parsing, candidate scoring, and interview feedback collection, an ATS helps streamline decision-making and ensures you hire the right person for the job. This integration effectively streamlines your HR processes, enhancing overall efficiency and accuracy in your recruitment strategy.
4. Enhanced Collaboration
Team members can easily collaborate by sharing candidate notes, interview feedback, and progress updates, keeping everyone aligned throughout the hiring process.
5. Consistent Candidate Communication
ATS platforms enable automatic email notifications and text messaging, ensuring timely responses and a positive candidate experience, which can improve your employer brand.
6. Compliance And Reporting
Many ATS platforms provide built-in compliance features that help small businesses adhere to legal hiring regulations and generate reports on diversity, time-to-hire, and more, aiding informed decision-making.
7. Scalability
As your business grows, an ATS can scale with you, handling more candidates and roles without needing to overhaul your hiring processes.
For a small business, choosing an ATS with the right features is crucial to streamlining the hiring process and saving time and resources. Here are the key features to look for when selecting an ATS for small businesses:
- Multi-platform Job Posting: Choose an ATS that allows you to post jobs to multiple platforms (like job boards and social media) with one click. Look for customizable job templates and integrations with popular job boards like LinkedIn
- Candidate Sourcing Tools: An ATS with resume parsing and candidate matching saves time by automatically filtering applicants based on qualifications. Systems with talent pools let you store potential candidates for future roles
- Customizable Workflows: Select an ATS that lets you create custom hiring stages and automate tasks like interview scheduling or candidate notifications. Role-based permissions for team members help streamline collaboration
- Candidate Communication: Look for systems with automated email templates, interview scheduling tools, and text messaging integration to keep candidates informed and engaged throughout the hiring process
- Team Collaboration Tools: An ATS with collaborative features—such as interview feedback forms and shared candidate notes—helps teams work together smoothly when evaluating candidates
Investing in the right Applicant Tracking System can significantly improve your small business's recruitment process. By automating repetitive tasks, keeping candidates organized, and enhancing collaboration within your team, an ATS ensures that your hiring process runs smoothly and efficiently.
Whether you're looking for simplicity, customization, or scalability, the above selection will have an ATS that fits your needs and budget. Choose wisely, and the right ATS will become a valuable asset in building your workforce. If you are still struggling to find the right ATS for your small business, get in touch with us, and we will help you out.