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Applicant Tracking Systems for Small Business

Best Applicant Tracking Systems for Small Businesses

We consulted recruiting experts to choose the top applicant tracking systems for 2024

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The quest for recruiting top talent is more challenging for small businesses than ever. From the initial job posting to reviewing applications, sifting through countless resumes, and scheduling interviews, finding the perfect candidate can become a whole job in itself. The average job posting receives nearly 250 applications, but having an applicant tracking system (ATS) can help your team stay organized and deliver an excellent candidate experience.

We spoke with experts and tested dozens of popular vendors to help you choose an ATS that will transform and streamline your hiring practices, taking your recruitment efforts to new heights.

Our Top Picks

Applicant Tracking System Reviews

To find the best applicant tracking systems, we looked at 85 vendors before narrowing it down to our seven top picks. There were a lot of great options to choose from, but the following companies stood out for having comprehensive features, transparent pricing, helpful customer support, and great reputations with experts and users.

From the best free applicant tracking systems to the most expensive, we’ve evaluated them all. Our data collection, reviews, and comparisons will help you determine which applicant tracking system is best for your small business. Read our full methodology to learn about the research that went into making our top picks.

BambooHR

Best Applicant Tracking System for Small Business

BambooHR is ultimately a whole HRIS and HR software package offering features like record keeping, payroll, time tracking, benefits, employee performance and satisfaction management, onboarding, and – you guessed it – applicant tracking.

The user-friendly interface ensures a minimal learning curve and wins our pick for the best applicant tracking system for startups and small businesses.

Greenhouse

Best for Small Business Hiring Managers

Greenhouse is a platform tailored for small businesses, covering the entire hiring process, from attracting talent to onboarding new employees. The platform offers key features such as job posting, automated messaging, and internal communication tools, streamlining candidate and workflow management for efficient talent acquisition.

Transformify

Best for ATS + Workforce Management

Transformify offers a versatile workforce management system with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) plan to streamline hiring. This includes easy job posting, AI-driven analytics, compliance coverage, and seamless candidate communication.

With integration capabilities and a user-friendly interface, Transformify’s ATS ensures efficient decision-making to attract top talent. Additionally, Transformify supports businesses’ contractor management, automates billing, and manages contractor payments for remote teams.

Pinpoint

Best for Engaging with Applicants

Taking a candidate-first approach, Pinpoint is designed to help you engage with top candidates across all industries while maintaining consistent company branding. You can customize all areas of the hiring process, from job descriptions and applications to interviews and onboarding. 

Pinpoint is a great tool for small to medium-sized companies that are looking to create a partnership with their ATS provider to ensure you get top quality candidates.

Teamtailor

Best  ATS for Branded Recruiting

Teamtailor is a specialized applicant tracking system dedicated to optimizing talent acquisition efforts. This all-in-one recruiting solution uniquely concentrates on the crucial aspects of company branding and marketing, recognizing the challenges you face in effectively presenting your company brand.

By incorporating features like career site building, referrals, and targeted job marketing, Teamtailor empowers you to reach specific talent demographics, integrating seamlessly with numerous job sites for broader candidate access.

ApplicantPro

Best Full-Service ATS

ApplicantPro is a comprehensive hiring solution, providing a range of features from applicant tracking to employee onboarding that ensures you recruit and hire top talent.

Designed to streamline the hiring process, it offers three plans – one being a full hiring service. All plans include high-level customer service, unlimited job postings, and optional background check services.

Tracker

Best Applicant Tracking System for Recruiters

Elevate your recruitment processes with Tracker, an integrated applicant tracking system (ATS) that goes beyond traditional solutions. Tracker is both an ATS and CRM that offers a range of features from job board posting to effectively matching candidates. With heavy automation features, it allows you to not only recruit the best of the best but also to foster improved relationships with potential candidates.

Workable

Best ATS for Large Teams

Workable, an all-in-one recruiting platform, simplifies the hiring process with features such as job posting, structured interviews, and automation tools. It caters to businesses of all sizes, offering a mobile app for enhanced accessibility and a built-in referral system for efficient team collaboration.

Paycor

Best Applicant Tracking System To Scale Growth

If you’re looking to help your business thrive and expand, check out Paycor, a cutting-edge Human Capital Management (HCM) solution that seamlessly integrates payroll and HR services. Paycor’s applicant tracking system empowers you to scale at your pace by providing recruiting, hiring, and onboarding features that enable you to assemble top-notch teams.

ClearCompany

Best for Talent Management

While ClearCompany has been in the ATS arena for years, it keeps its hat in the ring by evolving and growing with the times. Enter AI. ClearCompany makes good use of AI to quickly and efficiently identify the best talent for your needs.

Monday.com

Best for Teams Already Using Monday.com

Monday.com is, first and foremost, a project management software. This means that it takes the same approach to applicant tracking. A recruitment process template is available on Monday.com that you can customize to meet your recruiting and, subsequently, onboarding needs.

Zoho Recruit

Best for Talent Acquisition

Zoho has several different programs to choose from, but for ATS, you want Zoho Recruit. Through Zoho Recruit, you get an ATS and a candidate relationship management platform in one. The platform is customizable and scalable, making it suitable for staffing agencies, large enterprises, and small businesses alike.

On this page:

Compare the best applicant tracking systems for small businesses side-by-side

BrandBest ForStarting PriceFree Option
BambooHRSmall businessesRequest a quote7-day free trial
GreenhouseHiring managersRequest a quoteNone
TransformifyATS + Workforce Management$60 per postingNone
PinpointEngaging with ApplicantsRequest a quoteNone
TeamtailorBranded recruitingRequest a quote14-day free trial
ApplicantProFull-Service ATS & HiringRequest a quoteFree trial
TrackerRecruitersRequest a quote14-day free trial
WorkableLarge teams$129 /month15-day free trial
PaycorGrowth and ScaleRequest a quote14-day free trial
ClearCompanyTalent ManagementRequest a quoteNone
Monday.comTeams Already Using Monday.com$8 / month / employee14-day free trial
Zoho RecruitTalent Acquisition$25 / month / employee15-day free trial

What is an applicant tracking system?

Applicant tracking system (ATS) software helps organizations simplify and optimize their recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes from start to finish. The best applicant tracking systems for small businesses serve as a comprehensive solution that helps organize applications and resumes, track candidates and interviews, and onboard new hires.

Businesses of all sizes throughout all industries find ATS solutions useful in establishing processes and organization and making a good first impression with job candidates and new hires.

Applicant tracking system features small businesses really need

Choosing the right applicant tracking system can significantly impact your hiring process and overall efficiency. While your specific needs may vary, the ATS features we look for in our top vendors include:

  • Compliance: An applicant tracking system with compliance features helps small businesses adhere to legal and regulatory requirements, which is vital to avoid potential liabilities and legal issues. If you’re dealing with healthcare or sensitive data, applicant tracking systems that adhere to HIPAA compliance standards are crucial to safeguarding candidate and employee information.
  • E-Verify Integration: For businesses in the United States, integration with E-Verify can help ensure that new hires are authorized to work, which is crucial for compliance with employment laws.
  • Job Posting: Easy job posting to multiple job boards and websites helps you reach a wider audience of potential candidates without manually managing various platforms.
  • Onboarding: Onboarding tools can facilitate a smooth transition for new hires, streamlining paperwork, training, and compliance processes. This ensures a positive experience for new employees and reduces administrative burdens.
  • Resume Parsing: This feature simplifies gaining insight into candidates and organizing candidate information from resumes and applications, saving time and enabling faster candidate assessment.

Other ATS features that help small businesses include:

  • Customized workflows: You may require flexible workflows tailored to your specific hiring processes. Customizable workflows allow you to adapt the system to your unique needs and requirements.
  • Collaboration tools: Collaboration features enable your team members to work together on candidate evaluation and feedback within the ATS, ensuring a coordinated and efficient decision-making process.
  • Candidate Relationship Management (CRM): This helps you build and maintain relationships with potential candidates, creating a talent pool for future openings and reducing the need for extensive external sourcing efforts.
  • Mobile accessibility: With more candidates using mobile devices to apply for jobs, having an ATS with a mobile-friendly interface ensures that applicants can easily interact with the hiring process, improving the candidate experience.

We recently surveyed HR professionals who use ATS solutions. Most said that reporting and resume parsing are the top features they use in their ATS tools for recruitment.

How much does a small business applicant tracking system cost?

Pricing for applicant tracking systems is pretty opaque. In fact, of the seven vendors on our list, only one – Workable – provided pricing details. Workable costs $129 per month for its lowest-priced plan.

We surveyed HR professionals about their applicant tracking system costs, and they reported spending around $1,300 per month on the low end, up to $6,000 per month on ATS software for their businesses. The good news is that the vendors on our list allow for scalability, meaning you can customize, increase, or decrease a plan to meet your budget needs. Some vendors, like ApplicantPro, don’t even require a contract, allowing you to cancel anytime and save on costs.

Applicant Tracking System Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do small companies use ATS?

Yes, they do. Small businesses, especially those without a designated HR department, get a lot of use out of an ATS. These software applications offer efficiency by automating tasks like resume screening and interview scheduling, helping small businesses save time and resources. They also enhance any company’s hiring efficiency and organization, facilitating compliance and offering scalability, all while being cost-effective and contributing to a positive candidate experience.

Why should I use an applicant tracking system?

Take it from the 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies who use an ATS, and believe us, you should use an applicant tracking system too. Why? Because using one will streamline your recruitment and hiring processes, saving you precious time and resources.

Top applicant tracking systems centralize candidate information, ensuring organization and compliance with the necessary documentation. Not only is it cost-effective, but it can scale with your business, enabling you to establish efficient hiring practices and offer a professional candidate experience, contributing to attracting and retaining top talent.

How do I choose the best applicant tracking system?

Choosing the best applicant tracking system involves evaluating your specific needs, such as the size of your company, the volume of hiring, and your budget. Consider factors like user-friendliness, scalability, integration capabilities, and customer support.

It’s essential to seek ATS software that aligns with your industry and recruitment processes while complying with legal requirements. Conduct thorough research, read reviews, and request demos to ensure the system’s compatibility with your unique needs and preferences, and consider seeking input from current users or HR professionals to make an informed decision.

What are the pros and cons of applicant tracking systems?

Applicant tracking systems offer several advantages and disadvantages that should be weighed against your company’s unique needs and goals. The most notable pros and cons include:

Pros:

  • Efficiency and automation
  • Organized information, job postings, communications, and processes
  • Legal compliance and data security
  • Cost-effective
  • Scalability
  • Improved candidate experience

Cons:

  • Learning curve
  • Over-reliance on automation
  • Initial costs

What is the best applicant tracking system for small businesses?

The best applicant tracking system for small businesses can vary depending on your specific needs, budget, and industry. However, here are some popular ATS options that are known for their user-friendliness, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, making them suitable for small businesses:

  • BambooHR
  • Workable
  • Greenhouse

We recommend contacting at least three vendors on our list for a demo and doing a free trial with the software before deciding which applicant tracking system is best for your small business.

Methodology: How we chose the best applicant tracking systems for small businesses

Our reviews team includes researchers, writers, and editors who spend hours, days, and weeks collecting and analyzing data about the companies we review. We started with a list of 85 ATS vendors and narrowed it down to the top seven that will help you refine your hiring process and find the best candidates to meet your needs.

Our research includes a deep dive into each vendor’s offerings and is designed to help you find the right tools for your hiring needs. We consider various factors, including customer support, how well the ATS manages onboarding and organization, its efficiency in the hiring process, and its reputation in the industry.

Through interviews, free trials, demos, research, and reviewing each company’s website and parent company websites, we rated them on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) across four key areas. We studied each vendor’s feature offerings, pricing practices, customer support, and brand reputation to assign an internal score and determine which ones are the best fit for a variety of small businesses.


About the Authors

Raechel Conover headshot

Raechel covers HR, finance, technology, and small business software for the NAWBO Expert Reviews Team. As an experienced journalist and small business owner, she is passionate about helping entrepreneurs make informed purchasing decisions.

krystal speed headshot

Krystal Speed is an HR expert and the CEO of Your HR Strategist. She advises the NAWBO Expert Reviews team, providing insights and expertise to ensure reviews are accurate and helpful. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs create thriving, healthy workplaces.

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