What is an Applicant Tracking System? (Top 10 You Can Use)

The hiring world has changed. Imagine getting hundreds or even thousands of resumes for just one job. Going through each one manually? Impossible. That’s why Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are the backbone of modern recruitment. They save companies massive time and money by automating resume screening and organizing candidates smartly.

Without ATS, recruiters would drown in paperwork and emails. Important candidates might be missed, and hiring would slow to a crawl. ATS brings order to chaos, helping companies find the best talent faster than ever. This makes ATS not just a tool — but a necessity in today’s ultra-competitive job market.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler — a platform that helps freelancers and professionals get hired through their work samples. In this article, I’m walking you through everything you need to know about ATS, why it’s essential for hiring in 2025, and which top 10 systems are leading the pack. Whether you’re a recruiter or a job seeker, understanding ATS is your secret weapon to get ahead.

WHAT EXACTLY IS AN APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is specialized software designed to automate and manage the recruitment process end-to-end. At its core, ATS collects and organizes job applications into a single digital platform. But it doesn’t stop there. The power of ATS lies in its ability to analyze and filter these applications quickly and intelligently.

Imagine ATS as a high-powered filter combined with a smart organizer. When candidates submit their resumes online, the ATS automatically scans each one using keyword matching, parsing (breaking down text into categories), and sometimes artificial intelligence to assess how well the applicant fits the job description. This means that resumes containing relevant skills, certifications, job titles, and experience get ranked higher. The ATS also tags candidate profiles with details such as education, location, and years of experience.

The system creates a visual hiring pipeline, where recruiters can see candidates moving from application to screening, interview, and finally hire or reject. It allows recruiters to set custom workflows, for example, automatically moving a candidate to the interview stage if they pass resume screening. The ATS tracks every communication and stores notes, making it easier for teams to collaborate and avoid losing candidates in the process.

Some ATS systems even integrate with AI tools that predict candidate success based on past hiring data, helping recruiters focus on the most promising applicants. Overall, ATS turns a huge, messy pile of resumes into a manageable, prioritized list — transforming hiring from a guessing game to a data-driven process.

1. Greenhouse: The All-Rounder ATS for Collaborative Hiring

Greenhouse is widely known for making the hiring process transparent and highly collaborative. What sets Greenhouse apart is its emphasis on structured interviews. Instead of random questions, recruiters can create interview kits with specific questions and scoring rubrics. This helps teams objectively assess candidates based on uniform criteria. Structured hiring reduces bias and improves the quality of new hires. Greenhouse also provides detailed analytics — like which recruiting channels bring the best candidates and how long each stage takes. For companies aiming to scale hiring while keeping high standards, Greenhouse offers a perfect blend of automation and human insight.

2. Lever: ATS and CRM Combined for Talent Relationship Management

Lever combines applicant tracking with candidate relationship management (CRM), meaning it doesn’t just help you hire, but also nurture long-term relationships with candidates. Instead of losing potential talent after a job opening closes, Lever lets recruiters keep in touch, send updates, and create talent pools for future openings. This is crucial in 2025 when hiring top talent is competitive and companies must build pipelines over months or years. Lever also uses AI to recommend candidates who best fit new roles based on previous hiring data. This makes it easier to find candidates who might not be actively applying but are a great match.

3. Workday: Enterprise-Level ATS with Full HR Integration

Workday is designed for large enterprises needing more than just applicant tracking. It integrates hiring with payroll, employee onboarding, performance management, and even finance. This integration allows seamless data flow — for example, once a candidate is hired, their information automatically updates payroll and benefits systems without extra data entry. Workday’s powerful reporting features help HR teams plan hiring budgets, forecast talent needs, and track workforce diversity in real-time. Though expensive, Workday’s end-to-end solution makes it invaluable for global companies managing thousands of employees.

4. BambooHR: Simplified ATS for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses

BambooHR focuses on simplicity and ease of use. For small and medium businesses (SMBs) that don’t have dedicated HR departments, BambooHR’s ATS combined with core HR functions (like employee records, time-off tracking, and benefits) is a godsend. It features an intuitive interface where even non-tech-savvy managers can post jobs, review applicants, and schedule interviews in minutes. BambooHR also offers candidate self-service portals and automated email follow-ups, improving candidate experience without overwhelming busy SMB teams.

5. SmartRecruiters: AI-Powered Hiring Platform with Mobile Access

SmartRecruiters leverages AI to enhance candidate matching and ranking. The AI engine scans resumes and job descriptions to recommend the best fits, freeing recruiters from manual filtering. It also offers a clean mobile-friendly design, so hiring teams can review candidates, send messages, and schedule interviews directly from their phones. This flexibility is critical for busy recruiters or hiring managers on the move. Additionally, SmartRecruiters supports multi-language job postings and compliance tools for global hiring, making it perfect for companies expanding internationally.

6. Jobvite: Social Recruiting and Candidate Engagement Platform

Jobvite stands out for its strong focus on social recruiting — sharing job posts easily across social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to tap into passive candidates. It includes referral management tools, where employees can share openings with their networks and track referral rewards. Jobvite also automates the onboarding process, helping new hires get up to speed quickly with paperwork, training, and introductions. By combining social reach with smart automation, Jobvite helps companies build stronger talent communities and improve hire quality.

7. iCIMS: Highly Customizable ATS for Complex Hiring Needs

iCIMS is favored by companies with complex or niche hiring requirements. Its highly customizable workflows allow organizations to tailor every step of the hiring process, from application to offer. For example, a healthcare company can add specific credential checks, background screening, or compliance questions within the ATS. iCIMS also integrates with numerous background check providers, job boards, and HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems), making it highly flexible. Its robust analytics tools help hiring managers monitor funnel effectiveness and compliance metrics — especially valuable in regulated industries.

8. JazzHR: Affordable ATS with Easy Custom Workflows for Startups

JazzHR is a favorite among startups and growing companies looking for an affordable, user-friendly ATS. It allows custom workflows to fit any hiring process — whether simple or complex. JazzHR offers drag-and-drop pipeline management so recruiters can easily move candidates through stages like resume review, phone screen, interviews, and offer. It also supports multi-platform job posting, meaning one click to share your job opening on dozens of popular boards like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn. JazzHR’s pricing model is flexible, making it accessible to small teams with tight budgets.

9. Zoho Recruit: Integrated ATS and CRM for Staffing Agencies

Zoho Recruit combines applicant tracking with customer relationship management (CRM) features, making it perfect for staffing agencies managing multiple clients and candidates. It offers candidate sourcing tools to scrape resumes from social media and job boards automatically. Its AI-powered candidate matching improves placement rates by recommending candidates that fit client requirements. Zoho Recruit also supports contract staffing and vendor management, helping agencies manage temporary or freelance hires effectively. The platform includes customizable email templates, interview scheduling, and detailed reporting to improve recruitment efficiency.

10. Breezy HR: Visual Drag-and-Drop Pipelines for Easy Hiring Management

Breezy HR’s biggest strength lies in its highly visual, drag-and-drop hiring pipelines. This intuitive interface helps recruiters and hiring managers clearly see the progress of each candidate at every stage. It simplifies collaboration by allowing users to comment on candidates, schedule interviews with calendar sync, and send automated messages. Breezy HR also integrates with popular job boards, social media platforms, and background check services. Its automation features reduce manual work by sending personalized follow-up emails and reminders, helping recruiters stay organized and candidates engaged throughout the hiring journey.

Final Thought

Choosing the right Applicant Tracking System is a critical step in modern hiring success. With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But understanding your company’s unique needs — from size and budget to the level of automation and integration required — helps narrow down the perfect fit. An ATS doesn’t just organize resumes; it transforms your hiring into a strategic advantage, reducing time-to-hire, improving candidate experience, and enabling smarter decisions.

As the founder of Fueler, I’ve seen firsthand how empowering companies with better hiring tools and approaches makes all the difference. Fueler itself complements ATS platforms by focusing on hiring through real assignments, helping companies verify skills beyond resumes. Combining smart ATS software with practical, skill-based hiring like Fueler’s approach is the future of recruitment — efficient, fair, and effective.

FAQs

1. What is the best Applicant Tracking System for small businesses?

For small businesses, ease of use and affordability are key. BambooHR and JazzHR are top choices because they offer simple interfaces, affordable pricing, and essential ATS features like job posting, resume parsing, and interview scheduling. These platforms help SMBs streamline hiring without overwhelming complexity.

2. How does an Applicant Tracking System improve hiring efficiency?

An ATS automates many manual tasks like sorting resumes, scheduling interviews, and communicating with candidates. This reduces recruiter workload, speeds up candidate review, and minimizes human error. With features like AI-driven candidate matching and collaborative hiring workflows, ATS tools help teams find the best talent faster and more reliably.

3. Can I integrate my Applicant Tracking System with other HR software?

Yes, most modern ATS platforms offer integrations with payroll, HRIS, background check services, and onboarding tools. For example, Workday provides an all-in-one HR suite, while iCIMS and Lever support many third-party integrations. This ensures seamless data flow and reduces duplicate data entry, improving overall HR efficiency.

4. How much does an Applicant Tracking System typically cost?

ATS pricing varies widely based on features, number of users, and company size. Small business-focused ATS like JazzHR may start around $39/month, while enterprise solutions like Workday or Greenhouse can cost thousands annually. Many ATS providers offer tiered pricing, so companies can pick plans that fit their needs and scale over time.

5. What features should I look for when choosing an Applicant Tracking System?

Key features include resume parsing, candidate tracking, interview scheduling, automated communication, and reporting analytics. Advanced options like AI-based candidate matching, CRM functionality, and multi-language support add extra value. The right ATS should align with your hiring volume, budget, and the complexity of your recruitment process.

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