Selecting the right recruitment software for small agencies is challenging. That’s why we have personally tested numerous solutions, and our consultants have spoken with thousands of businesses to gather real-world insights. Additionally, we have evaluated hundreds of user reviews to evaluate each platform based on ease of use, pricing, and customer support.
Recruitment software has become an indispensable tool for modern hiring teams, and choosing the right system for a small agency presents its own set of challenges. Large staffing agencies have extensive budgets and dedicated IT support that helps them curb the hiring issues efficiently. Conversely, small recruitment agencies that do not have the luxury of extensive budgets are on a constant lookout for affordable, intuitive, and flexible tools.
Our evaluation process combines workflow simulations, product testing, and feedback from recruiters and growing agencies. We examined how each platform handles candidate sourcing, automation, communication tracking, and integration with popular job boards.
In this comprehensive guide, we enlisted recruitment software designed for small agencies to find the best candidates and speed up their hiring cycles. Relying on recruitment software can result in reduced administrative overheads, improved collaboration, and a smoother hiring experience for both candidates and recruiters.
Software | Rating | Best For | Deployment | Key Features | Starting Price | Action | Detailed Reviews |
Recruitee | 5/5 | Small To Mid-Sized Teams | Cloud | Collaborative Hiring, Customizable Pipelines | €270/month | View Demo | |
Workable ATS | 4.4/5 | Small & Medium Businesses | Cloud | Employee Information Management, Attendance and Time Tracking | $360/month | View Demo | |
JazzHR | 4/5 | Small to mid-sized businesses | Cloud | Compliance and Reporting, Collaborative Hiring | $75/month | View Demo | |
Freshteam | 3.6/5 | Small to mid-sized businesses | Cloud | Employee Offboarding, Job Fitment Rating (JFR) | Custom Pricing | View Demo | |
Zoho Recruit | 4.8/5 | Small to mid-sized businesses | Cloud | Recruitment CRM, Job Posting | $30/recruiter/month | View Demo | Read Detailed Zoho Recruit Review
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CATS ATS | 4/5 | Small to mid-sized businesses | Cloud | Automated Resume Parsing, Custom Workflow Automation
| $110/month | View Demo |
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Pinpoint ATS | 5/5 | Small to mid-sized businesses | Cloud | Branded Career Websites, Candidate Profiles | Custom Pricing | View Demo | Read Detailed Pinpoint ATS Review
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Greenhouse Software | 4.4/5 | Small to mid-sized businesses | Cloud | Talent Sourcing , Scalable Workflows | Custom Pricing | View Demo | Read Detailed Greenhouse Software Review
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Rippling HR | 4.8/5 | Small to mid-sized businesses | Cloud | Global Workforce Management, Custom Workflows | Custom Pricing | View Demo |
Recruitee - Editor's Choice
Recruitee is a modern Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and collaborative recruitment platform. It helps simplify and optimize every stage of the hiring process for small agencies. It provides a unified workspace that automates repetitive hiring tasks and enhances team collaboration, helping organizations attract and hire top talent efficiently.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small to mid-sized teams seeking a collaborative and scalable ATS.
Key Features
- Reporting And Analytics
- Customizable Pipelines
- Collaborative Hiring
- API And Webhooks
- Talent Pool Management
- Job Board Multi-posting And Smart Campaigns
Pricing:
Recruitee plans start at €270/month. It uses a subscription-based (SaaS) payment model. Specifically, you can pay either monthly or annually (with a 20% discount on annual billing).
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Recruitee stands out across key metrics such as ease of use, functionality, customer support, and value for money. This makes it a solid choice for modern recruitment teams that are looking to streamline their hiring processes. After analyzing the user's feedback and testing the software, we can safely say that its intuitive interface and collaborative design simplify the hiring process while maintaining a professional, structured workflow.
Users particularly appreciate its streamlined candidate tracking, customizable pipelines, and built-in collaboration tools that keep hiring teams aligned.
When it comes to pricing, Recruitee offers transparent, tiered plans that deliver strong value relative to features, especially for teams that prioritize collaboration and automation without enterprise-level costs.
Recruitee is best for organizations seeking an agile, user-friendly platform that balances functionality with simplicity. For larger enterprises with highly complex, multilayered hiring workflows, it may serve best as a complement to broader HR suites rather than a standalone system.
User Ratings:
Rated 5/5 on our website. It is loved for its user-friendly interface and mobile optimization. Alternatively, users have often been critical of its limited customization options. See More Reviews
Workable ATS
Workable ATS is a cloud-based platform that helps growing businesses attract and hire top talent. It ensures maximum reach with its integration with 200+ job boards. Features such as automated interview scheduling and AI-powered candidate sourcing simplify collaboration across hiring teams. From payroll management to time tracking and employee data management to hiring, it comes with intelligent features to redefine how companies perform HR tasks.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small to mid-sized businesses seeking a scalable, collaborative hiring platform.
Key Features:
- Employee Information Management
- Employee Self-Service Portal
- Recruitment and Applicant Tracking
- Performance Management
- Attendance and Time Tracking
- Employee Onboarding
Pricing:
Workable plans start at $360/month. It uses a subscription-based (SaaS) payment model. Users can opt to pay either monthly or annually based on their needs.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Along with an intuitive interface, Workable is often praised for its multiple job-boards integrations and sourcing features, including AI-based candidate matching and global job board reach, streamlining hiring workflows.
The platform is a suitable fit for growing firms that want to balance usability with advanced administrative functions.
While it may fall to the pricier end of the market, it boosts the company’s ROI by reducing time-to-hire and administrative burden.
Overall, Workable is an excellent pick for agile, growth-minded hiring teams seeking a user-friendly ATS without enterprise-heavy complexity.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.4/5 across user reviews with high marks for ease of use, value for money, and customer support. Users love its clean interface and multi-channel job posting, though several mention limitations around workflow customization. See More Reviews
JazzHR
JazzHR, a cloud-based ATS, is a solid choice for companies looking for software that utilizes automation tools to streamline their hiring operations. Companies can utilize custom workflows and score-based evaluations to find the best candidates. It helps growing organizations streamline hiring operations and keep recruitment efforts aligned with business goals.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small and growing businesses seeking an affordable, easy-to-use ATS.
Key Features:
- Compliance and Reporting
- Applicant Tracking
- Collaborative Hiring
- Offers and E-signatures
- Candidate Experience
- Interviews And Assessments
Pricing:
JazzHR plans start at $75/month. It uses a subscription-based (SaaS) payment model.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change
Why We Like It:
JazzHR distinguishes itself by combining intuitive design with robust recruiting automation at a price point tailored for growing businesses. Users consistently highlight how quickly teams can create branded job postings, distribute them across major job boards, and manage candidates through customizable hiring pipelines; all without extensive training or IT support.
JazzHR’s workflow automation includes offer letter templates, approval routing, and interview scheduling, reduces manual coordination and shortens time-to-hire for small and mid-sized teams.
However, while users appreciate its reporting dashboards and basic analytics, some note that advanced metrics and integrations with enterprise HR systems remain limited compared to higher-tier ATS solutions.
If you want an ATS that offers strong everyday recruiting value without the enterprise-price complexity, JazzHR is a compelling choice.
User Ratings:
Rated 4/5. Users appreciate its intuitive design, ease of job-posting, and streamlined tracking. Common critiques include limited reporting and fewer deep integrations. See More Reviews
Freshteam
Freshteam is a cloud-based applicant tracking system and HR software designed for growing teams. Recruitment, onboarding, and employee data management are handled on this single platform. With built-in time-off tracking, job-board integrations, and mobile access, it empowers HR teams to manage hiring and employee lifecycle more efficiently.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses looking to streamline recruitment, onboarding, and HR workflows.
Key Features:
- Employee Offboarding
- Job Fitment Rating (JFR)
- Candidate Management
- Organization Charts
- Offer Management
- Pre-Payroll
Pricing:
Freshteam pricing is based on the feature set and organizational needs. It uses a subscription-based (SaaS) payment model and supports both monthly and annual billing.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change
Why We Like It:
Freshteam by Freshworks stands out for blending applicant tracking, onboarding, and employee data management into one unified HR suite. Users particularly value its drag-and-drop hiring pipelines, built-in candidate sourcing from job boards like LinkedIn and Glassdoor, and automated offer management that simplify recruiting for small and mid-sized organizations.
The software offers a free plan and paid tiers, which make it accessible for startups and small businesses. Some reviewers mention that advanced automation and customization options could be stronger, and support responses can be slow at times.
Even so, Freshteam stands out for its straightforward design and the way it connects recruiting with everyday HR tasks.
User Ratings:
Rated 3.6/5 on Software Finder. Most users find the software compatiable for its ease of use and simple setup for recruitment and onboarding, though some note that customization and support options could be improved. See More Reviews
Zoho Recruit
Zoho Recruit is a cloud-based applicant tracking system built for hiring teams and staffing agencies of all sizes. It simplifies job posting, candidate tracking, and interview scheduling while offering strong automation and integrations with the wider Zoho ecosystem. With its help, small agencies can make recruitment smoother, faster, and data driven.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for staffing agencies and internal HR teams needing an end-to-end, customizable ATS with broad integrations and automation.
Key Features:
- Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
- Recruitment CRM
- Analytics And Reporting
- Job Posting
- Resume Parsing
- Dedicated Portals
Pricing:
Zoho Recruit offers a free plan titled “Forever Free" plan for customers who want to test the software’s functionalities, as well as paid plans starting from $30/recruiter/month. It uses a subscription‑based (SaaS) payment model.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change
Why We Like It:
Zoho Recruit stands out for its comprehensive hiring toolkit, intuitive interface, and robust automation features. Recruiters can easily post openings to multiple job boards, manage candidates through drag-and-drop pipelines, and automate key steps like resume parsing, email communication, and interview scheduling.
Users particularly appreciate how it streamlines everyday hiring tasks and reduces manual effort. However, some note that reporting options lack deeper customization, and the mobile app doesn’t offer the same ease of use as the desktop version.
Overall, Zoho Recruit delivers a powerful combination of ease of use, automation depth, and efficient job-board management, making it a reliable solution for modern recruiting teams.
User Ratings:
Zoho Recruit is rated 4.8/5 on our website. Users praise the interface, customization, and value. Common complaints focus on occasionally slow support. See More Reviews
CATS ATS
CATS ATS is a cloud-based applicant tracking system aimed at recruitment teams and staffing agencies. It boasts automated resume parsing, job-board posting, and workflow customization. With its user-friendly interface and robust integrations, it’s a great fit for teams looking to manage hiring efficiently while reducing manual effort.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small agencies and professional recruiters seeking a customizable and user-friendly applicant tracking system.
Key Features:
- Job Posting And Management
- Automated Resume Parsing
- Custom Workflow Automation
- Analytics And Reporting
- Smart Sourcing with Browser Extension
- Customizable Candidate Profile Layout
Pricing:
CATS plans start at $110/user/month for the monthly billing option. It uses a subscription‑based (SaaS) payment model.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change
Why We Like It:
According to the reviews, CATS ATS earns praise for being affordable, user-friendly, and able to handle core recruiting workflows without excessive complexity. Reviewers also highlight its resume-parsing, job-posting, and candidate-tracking tools as reliable time-savers for small teams.
Its strengths suit staffing firms or smaller in-house teams that need solid ATS functionality without enterprise overhead. On the flip side, many users point out weaker reporting features and limitations when it comes to deeper custom workflows.
If you want a reliable, straightforward ATS for everyday hiring tasks and modest budgets, CATS ATS is a strong pick.
User Ratings:
Rated 4/5 for its ease-of-use and cost-effectiveness, although some users mention issues with customization and reporting. See More Reviews.
Pinpoint ATS
Pinpoint ATS is a cloud-based platform designed for in-house talent teams to attract, assess, and hire efficiently. It offers AI-powered candidate sourcing, customizable workflows, and branded career sites. Users praise its collaboration tools, including shared candidate scoring and automated interview scheduling, while reporting and DEI analytics help track and optimize hiring decisions.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small to mid-sized businesses seeking a customizable, user-friendly applicant tracking system.
Key Features:
- Branded Career Websites
- Candidate Profiles
- Employee Onboarding
- Online Application Forms
- Job Board Advertising
- Multilingual Candidate Experience
Pricing:
Pinpoint offers custom pricing based on the specific needs of each business. It follows a subscription-based (SaaS) payment model.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Pinpoint ATS stands out for its clear, user-friendly design and flexibility in managing modern hiring processes. Users appreciate its customizable workflows, branded career pages, and seamless collaboration tools, which help hiring managers, HR teams, and recruiters to work more efficiently.
Others say it has improved their visibility of hiring activity and reduced admin time, though some note setup can take a while and support response times may be slower.
Pinpoint ATS is one of the most compelling choices for growing teams that are looking for an intuitive and powerful platform that streamlines recruitment and collaboration.
User Ratings:
Rated 5/5 on Software Finder based on user reviews. It is frequently praised for the candidate-experience tools and flexibility; common concerns include occasional performance slowdowns and set-up time. See More Reviews
Greenhouse Software
Greenhouse is a cloud-based applicant tracking and hiring platform built for companies scaling their recruitment. It offers features like structured interview workflows, a rich integration ecosystem, and collaborative tools for hiring teams. With a sheer focus on hiring processes, data-driven decisions, and teamwork, it helps small agencies manage hiring more professionally.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small agencies, early-stage businesses, and scaling companies aiming to streamline and scale their hiring processes
Key Features:
- Talent Sourcing
- Candidate Experience
- Scalable Workflows
- Interviewing And Decision-Making
- Onboarding
- Reporting And Insights
Pricing:
Greenhouse offers custom pricing tailored to your company's size and hiring needs. It uses a subscription-based (SaaS) payment model.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It:
Greenhouse stands out for combining scalable recruitment capabilities with strong process management and team collaboration tools. Many reviewers highlight its ease of use, strong job board, and HR tech integrations, and how it supports organized workflows across departments.
Companies that want more control over candidate experience, interview consistency, and reporting will find this software a reliable choice for building structured and data-driven hiring processes. On the flip side, users often point out that advanced reporting and deep customization for smaller teams may not match top-tier tools.
Even with it's downsides, it proves to be a solid choice for hiring teams that want a scalable ATS with streamline workflows and enhances collaboration.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.4/5. Users praise its seamless integrations and comprehensive interview scheduling and feedback workflows. Common critiques include limited reporting flexibility and cost. See More Reviews.
Rippling HR
Rippling HR is a cloud-based workforce platform that combines payroll, benefits, and IT/device management into one system. Geared toward growing companies and global teams, it automates onboarding, helps manage employee data and app access, and aims to reduce administrative overhead across HR and operations.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For:
Ideal for small to mid-sized businesses seeking an all-in-one platform for HR, payroll, and IT management.
Key Features:
- Global Workforce Management
- Policy Management
- Custom Workflows
- Access And Approval Management
- Workforce Analytics
- AI-Powered Interview Assistant
Pricing:
Rippling offers a modular pricing structure, and the price depends on the organizational needs and the feature set.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change
Why We Like It:
Rippling stands out for its innovative approach to simplifying workforce management through smart, connected systems. For companies scaling quickly or operating internationally, this unified approach can save significant time and effort.
That said, a few caveats arise, including integrations with different payroll software. Additionally, some users noted restrictions in setting up approval workflows.
Overall, Rippling is a solid option for small agencies looking to centralize HR and IT operations on one platform, especially if you're ready for a more involved setup and budget accordingly.
User Ratings:
Rated 4.8/5. Users mention strong integrations and ease-of-use as its plus points. Common criticism is observed for limited customization options. See More Reviews
Selecting the right recruitment software for a small agency requires careful consideration of your hiring volume, budget, and growth plans. Start by evaluating the features that match your agency's needs; some platforms focus on applicant tracking, while others provide robust candidate sourcing or client relationship management.
Consider ease of implementation and ongoing support, as cloud-based solutions typically allow faster setup and minimal IT overhead, whereas on-premises options may offer more customization but require technical expertise.
Ensure the software complies with data privacy regulations, offers secure storage of candidate information, and provides reliable backup options. Integration capabilities are essential; your recruitment software should seamlessly connect with job boards, email systems, and existing HR tools to maintain efficient workflows.
What Not To Overlook
- Hidden implementation, subscription, and training costs
- Ease of use / minimal learning curve
- Mobile accessibility for recruiters on the go
- Data migration complexity from your current system
- Integration with recruitment-specific tools (job boards, CRM, email, scheduling)
- Customer support responsiveness and availability
- Scalability to handle more clients, candidates, and jobs
- Analytics and reporting focused on actionable hiring insights
- Compliance and data privacy
- Customization of workflows, templates, and candidate pipelines
- Vendor stability and reputation