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 2025'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.
9 Best Applicant Tracking Software For Smaller Companies
ApplicantStack – Best for automated hiring and onboarding
Paylocity HR – Best for medium-to-large-sized companies
All-in-One Human Resource Information System (HRIS)
Centralized document storage for candidate files
Flexible pricing plans are available. Get in touch for a custom quote
Applicant Starter
Communicate with applicants through text, emails, and voice messages
Customizable templates
Contact us for a personalized quote
BambooHR
Creating job openings through a simple 3-step process
Measuring analytics like time-to-hire
Get in touch for a pricing plan tailored to your needs
Zoho Recruit
Skill-based candidate matching
Send bulk emails to applicants
Improved search accuracy through AI
Pricing plans start from $30/recruiter/month. There is also a free plan with limited functionality
Recruit CRM
Designed for staffing agencies
Includes GPT-4 features
Pro: $40/user/month
Business: $65/user/month
Enterprise: $90/user/month
Breezy HR
Create job openings using over 800 recruiting templates
Generate reports for data-driven insights to improve the hiring process
Startup: $189/month
Growth: $329/month
Business: $529/month
JazzHR
Simplified and ideal for small businesses
Customizable workflow stages for easier tracking of candidates
Hero: $99/month
Plus: $325/month
Pro: $499/month
Greenhouse
Focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for modern recruiting
Referral systems for employees to suggest potential candidates
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
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.
How A Small Business Can Benefit From An ATS
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.
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.
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.
Team members can easily collaborate by sharing candidate notes, interview feedback, and progress updates, keeping everyone aligned throughout the hiring process.
ATS platforms enable automatic email notifications and text messaging, ensuring timely responses and a positive candidate experience, which can improve your employer brand.
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.
As your business grows, an ATS can scale with you, handling more candidates and roles without needing to overhaul your hiring processes.
Features To Look For In Applicant Tracking Systems For Small Businesses
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:
Start Tracking Potential Applicants
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.
