An applicant tracking system decides how fast you can post a role, screen applicants and get an offer signed, and most tools on the market cover those basics. The differences that matter sit underneath: whether you pay per user, a flat fee or per employee, whether the system is built for in-house hiring or for agencies placing candidates with clients, and which features, from AI screening to API access, are held back for higher plans.
This guide ranks 20 applicant tracking systems for in-house hiring teams and recruitment agencies. We scored the top 10 on the same 8 parameters, checked every price on the vendor’s own pricing page in October 2026, and worked out what each pricing model costs at real team sizes, so you can shortlist on fit rather than on feature lists.
Top Applicant Tracking Software: Quick Summary
Here is a quick summary of top Applicant Tracking Software that you may filter based on price, score and overall ranking.
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- From
- $299/mo
- Pricing model
- Flat, by company size
- Company size
- 1 to 1,000+ employees
- Free trial
- 15 days
Watch for: Texting, video interviews and assessments are paid add-ons on Standard, at $89, $109 and $59 a month.
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- From
- $157/mo
- Pricing model
- Flat, unlimited users
- Company size
- Small teams
- Free trial
- Free plan, 1 job
Watch for: The free Bootstrap plan covers one open job, so a second role moves you to the $157 paid plan.
-
- From
- Quote only
- Pricing model
- Quote only
- Company size
- Mid-size to enterprise
- Free trial
- No
Watch for: No published price and no free trial means a sales process before you can test anything.
-
- From
- $15/user/mo
- Pricing model
- Per user
- Company size
- Small teams, agencies
- Free trial
- 14 days
Watch for: Per-user billing passes Breezy HR’s flat $157 a month at 11 seats.
-
- From
- Quote only
- Pricing model
- Quote only
- Company size
- Mid-size
- Free trial
- Yes
Watch for: Pricing is quote only, so get a written figure to set against Workable’s published $299.
-
- From
- $400/mo
- Pricing model
- Flat, by company size
- Company size
- Startups to enterprise
- Free trial
- Demo only
Watch for: Single sign-on costs an extra $100 a month on the Foundations plan.
-
- From
- Quote only
- Pricing model
- Quote only
- Company size
- Growing mid-size
- Free trial
- Demo only
Watch for: Lever is one of three ATS brands owned by Employ, so ask how its roadmap differs from JazzHR’s and Jobvite’s.
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- From
- $14,995
- Pricing model
- Entry price, then quote
- Company size
- 50+ employees
- Free trial
- No
Watch for: AI matching and the hiring agent start on Professional, which has no published price.
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- From
- $1,000/yr
- Pricing model
- Flat, billed yearly
- Company size
- Small businesses
- Free trial
- 14 days
Watch for: The $1,000 Hero rate assumes yearly billing, which JazzHR says saves up to 24% over paying monthly.
-
- From
- $250/mo
- Pricing model
- Flat to 25 employees
- Company size
- Small to mid-size
- Free trial
- 7 days
Watch for: The Core plan’s ATS stops at 5 open jobs, with 25 on Pro and 50 on Elite.
Our ranking weighs editorial score against fit for small and mid-size hiring teams, which is why Breezy HR, our pick for small teams, ranks second ahead of higher-scored providers such as Ashby. Sort by Highest score to see the pure score order. Prices are starting rates as published on each provider’s own pricing page in October 2026. Bases differ: Manatal charges per user, Workable and Ashby price by company size, JazzHR bills yearly and sorts as about $83 a month, and SmartRecruiters does not state the term for its $14,995 entry price, which sorts as about $1,250 a month. Greenhouse, Teamtailor and Lever publish no price and sort last. BambooHR’s $250 covers up to 25 employees, then pricing moves to per employee. Sorting changes the order only.
Detailed Reviews of the Top Applicant Tracking Systems
Each review below uses the same eight parameters, and every price was checked on the provider before updating. Scores reflect each product’s recruiting module, not the wider suite it may sit in.
Workable
Why we picked Workable
Workable is the most complete self-serve ATS on this list. One Standard plan at $299 a month for companies of 1 to 20 employees covers sourcing, job distribution to 200+ boards, interview kits and offer letters, and the 15-day trial unlocks all of it without a card.
Its AI agent searches 400M+ profiles and screens every applicant against up to 14 job criteria, which runs on AI credits. Every paid account starts with 3,000 free credits, so a small team can test real screening before spending more.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
Breezy HR
Why we picked Breezy HR
Breezy HR charges one flat fee of $157 a month on annual billing however many hiring managers log in. For a five-person company where the founder, two managers and an office lead all review candidates, that is the cheapest way to give everyone access.
The free Bootstrap plan runs one open job with unlimited users, which is enough to replace an inbox for an occasional hire. Its 2,105 public reviews are the third-largest base in our top 10, and the visual pipeline is the feature reviewers praise most.
Reporting is where it gives ground. We scored it 3.5, the lowest Reporting & Analytics figure among the top five.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
Greenhouse
Why we picked Greenhouse
Greenhouse is built around structured hiring: every role gets an interview plan, scorecards and defined evaluation criteria, so ten interviewers judge candidates the same way. With 4,559 public reviews, it has the largest review base among our top 10, and most come from mid-size companies.
It scores 4.8 on Integrations & API, the highest on this page, which matters when the ATS has to feed an HRIS, background checks and assessments. The trade is price transparency. There is no published rate and no free trial, which is why its Pricing & Value score sits at 3.2.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
Manatal
Why we picked Manatal
Manatal starts at $15 per user a month on annual billing, the lowest published rate in our top 10. AI candidate recommendations and profile enrichment sit on that entry plan, which most rivals keep for higher tiers or sell as credits.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
Teamtailor
Why we picked Teamtailor
Teamtailor treats the career site as part of the ATS, not an add-on. You build branded pages, campaign landing pages and job listings in the same tool that tracks applicants, so marketing and recruiting work from one place.
Unlimited users and job postings come as standard, and public reviews rate it highly for ease of use, which is why we scored it 4.6 there. Pricing is quote only, so set any written quote against Workable’s published $299 before you sign.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
Ashby
Why we picked Ashby
Ashby puts the ATS, CRM, scheduling and analytics in one system. The Foundations plan costs $400 a month for companies of up to 100 employees, with a 10% discount for annual commitment.
Its 4.9 on Reporting & Analytics is the highest score on this page. Custom reports, drilldowns and dashboards come built in, so a head of talent can answer pipeline questions without exporting to a spreadsheet.
It ranks sixth despite a 4.3 score because its 117 public reviews are the smallest base in our top 10, and there is no free trial to test it yourself.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
Lever
Why we picked Lever
Lever combines the ATS and a talent CRM, so a candidate you nurtured for six months and the application they finally submit sit in one record. With 2,756 public reviews, it has the second-largest review base in our top 10.
Employ has owned Lever since August 2022, alongside JazzHR and Jobvite. That gives Lever access to Employ’s AI screening and sourcing companions, but it also means three of the ATS brands on this page share a parent and a product roadmap.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
SmartRecruiters
Why we picked SmartRecruiters
SmartRecruiters is now part of SAP SuccessFactors, which makes it the natural shortlist pick for companies already running SAP HCM. Its Essential plan starts at $14,995 and bundles the ATS, CRM, onboarding, SMS messaging, job distribution and scheduling.
The vendor says the product suits organizations with at least 50 employees and does not support agencies. AI talent matching and the hiring agent start on the Professional plan, which has no published price.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
JazzHR
Why we picked JazzHR
JazzHR’s Hero plan costs $1,000 a year, about $83 a month, which is the lowest flat price in our top 10. Plus and Pro follow at $3,480 and $5,508 a year, and JazzHR says yearly billing saves up to 24% over paying monthly.
It is the simplest tool here to start with, and the 14-day free trial needs no card. AI & Automation scored 3.3, second lowest in the top 10, so teams that want AI screening should look at Manatal or Workable first.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
BambooHR
Why we picked BambooHR
BambooHR is an HR system with an ATS inside it, and we scored only the hiring module. For companies of 25 employees or fewer, Core costs a flat $250 a month and the ATS handles 5 open jobs, rising to 25 on Pro and 50 on Elite.
The case for it is what happens after the offer. A hire moves straight into the employee record with a new hire packet, onboarding checklist and e-signatures, and BambooHR connects to 150+ integration partners. The case against is depth: AI & Automation scored 3.0, the lowest on this page.
ATS-specific details
Editor scores: 8 parameters
Strengths and limitations
Support channels
More Applicant Tracking Software Worth Considering
These ten are each built around a narrower strength, such as agency workflows, enterprise scale or an HR suite, so we list them here rather than as full cards. Prices were checked with each provider, and each row uses the same fields as the ten reviews above.
Every provider above was scored on the same eight parameters, which the methodology at the end of this page explains. The top ten carry full reviews, and providers 11 to 20 are listed in brief because each is built around a narrower use, such as agency placement or a single HR suite.
This guide is for the decision that comes next: which type of ATS fits how you hire, what it will really cost at your team size, and which charges sit outside the headline price.
How to Choose an Applicant Tracking System
Most ATS products post jobs, track candidates and schedule interviews. These five factors are where they actually differ.
AI screening, and how it is metered
AI screening is now common, but it is often billed in credits. Workable includes 3,000 to start, Ashby includes 1,500 a month on Foundations, and Manatal puts AI recommendations on its entry plan.
Job distribution reach
One-click posting saves hours per role, but reach varies. Workable posts to 200+ boards across 100+ countries, and Manatal distributes to 2,500 free and premium channels.
Best equipped: Manatal, Workable, SmartRecruiters
Integrations and API access
If hires must flow into an HRIS, background checks or payroll, check the connector list and which plan unlocks the API. Ashby lists a 250+ integration marketplace, while Recruit CRM holds Open API access back to its Business plan.
Best equipped: Greenhouse, Ashby, Lever
Whether hiring managers will use it
An ATS only works if the people giving feedback log in. Teamtailor and Manatal share our top Ease of Use score of 4.6, and Workable follows at 4.5.
Best equipped: Teamtailor, Manatal, Workable
In-House ATS, Agency ATS or HR Suite Module
Before comparing features, rule out the wrong type of tool. An agency placing candidates with clients needs different records from a company hiring for itself.
One tool sits outside all three. Gem adds AI sourcing and a recruiting CRM on top of an ATS you already run, or replaces it with an all-in-one plan.
Next step: agencies comparing CRM depth should also see our HR CRM software ranking, and teams weighing a suite should start with our HR software ranking.
What You Will Actually Pay at 3, 10 and 25 Users
Seven of the ten ranked providers publish a starting price, but they bill on different units. The bars below put the six in-house tools with monthly or yearly prices on one footing: a 20-employee company with 10 people using the ATS.
Team size changes the order. At 3 users Manatal costs $45 a month, the cheapest option here. At 25 users it costs $375, well above Breezy HR’s flat $157. Workable and Ashby price by company headcount rather than users, so their bills rise only when your employee count moves into a higher band.
Rule of thumb: per-user pricing wins below about 10 seats, and flat pricing wins as soon as every hiring manager needs a login.
What the Headline Price Leaves Out
The starting price rarely covers everything. These are the add-ons, caps and billing terms each vendor publishes on its own pricing page.
| Provider | Paid add-ons | Caps and gated features | Billing terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workable | Texting+ $89/mo, Video interviews+ $109/mo, Assessments+ $59/mo. AI credits past the free 3,000 start at $600 for 5,000 | Price band follows employee count | Annual billing saves 20% |
| Ashby | SSO $100/mo on Foundations. Extra SMS $90 per 1,000. AI Notetaker | One offer template and one candidate survey on Foundations | 10% off for annual commitment |
| BambooHR | Payroll, benefits administration, time and attendance | ATS capped at 5, 25 or 50 open jobs by plan | $250/mo flat up to 25 employees, then per employee |
| SmartRecruiters | Advanced analytics, sandbox and in-app guidance on Professional and High Volume | AI matching and hiring agent from Professional | $14,995 entry price, term not stated |
| JazzHR | Not listed on the pricing page | Plus $3,480/yr and Pro $5,508/yr above Hero | Yearly billing saves up to 24% |
| Breezy HR | Not listed in our check | Free Bootstrap plan limited to 1 open job | $157 is the annual-billing rate |
| Greenhouse, Teamtailor, Lever | No published price. Every add-on and term is set in the quote. | ||
For the cost of each plan at your team size, see the section above. To pressure-test a quote, take the five questions in Five Questions to Ask Before You Sign into the sales call.
Standalone ATS or the One in Your HR Suite
If you already run an HR system, its built-in ATS may be enough. The question is whether its limits will bite at your hiring volume.
The line is blurring from the other side too. Workable now sells an HR module next to its ATS and offers up to 20% off for bundling the two.
Compare the suites: see our rankings of HR software, HRIS software and payroll software before choosing a suite for its ATS.
Who Owns Your ATS, and Why It Matters
Four of the 20 tools on this page belong to two parent companies. Ownership affects roadmap priorities and, often, what you pay at renewal.
None of this rules a product out. It changes what you should ask before signing a multi-year term.
Before you sign: ask for a renewal price cap in writing, and ask whether your plan or its features could move to a sister brand within the contract term.
Five Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Take these into every sales call or trial. Each one targets a cost or limit that sits outside the headline price.
“If we leave, how do we export candidates, notes and attachments, and does it cost anything?”
“How many AI credits does our plan include, and how many does one screened candidate use?”
“What happens when we pass our open-job or seat limit?”
“Which plan includes API access and the connector for our HRIS?”
“How does our price change at renewal, or when our headcount moves into the next band?”
Once you have signed, the next gap is the first week. Our onboarding software ranking covers the tools that pick up where the ATS stops.
Narrow It Down
Start from the priority that matters most to your team. Each scenario points to the provider we would shortlist first.
One self-serve tool for the whole hiring process
200+ job boards and 3,000 free AI credits from $299 a month.
A small team where every manager needs a login
$157 a month flat for unlimited users.
The lowest cost for fewer than 10 seats
$15 per user a month, with AI recommendations on the entry plan.
Consistent interviews across large panels
Interview plans and scorecards, with our top integration score of 4.8.
Recruiting analytics without spreadsheets
Our highest Reporting & Analytics score, 4.9, from $400 a month.
Winning candidates on employer brand
A career site builder inside the ATS, with unlimited users.
Applicant Tracking Software FAQs
Straight answers on cost, free plans and setup, using the figures checked for this page.
Conclusion
Pick the type of ATS before you compare features. An in-house team, a recruitment agency and a company that wants hiring inside its HR system need different tools, and most failed purchases start with the wrong type.
The cheapest headline price is rarely the cheapest bill. Manatal’s $15 per user beats Breezy HR’s flat $157 a month only until the eleventh seat, and three of our top ten publish no price at all, so their real cost appears only in a quote.
Shortlist two tools, run each trial with a real open job and your actual hiring managers, and take the five questions above into the sales call before you sign.
How We Evaluated Applicant Tracking Software
Every provider on this page is scored across these same eight parameters, on a 1.0 to 5.0 scale. Suite products such as BambooHR are scored on their recruiting module only.
Pricing & Value
Published price, billing model and what the entry plan includes, checked on each vendor’s own pricing page. Quote-only pricing scores lower because buyers cannot plan against it.
AI & Automation
AI screening, matching and sourcing, how they are metered in credits or tiers, and the workflow automation available on the plan most buyers start with.
Sourcing & Job Distribution
Number of job boards and channels reached in one click, sourcing extensions, career site tools and passive candidate search.
Candidate & Pipeline Management
Pipeline stages, scorecards, interview scheduling, collaboration with hiring managers and offer management.
Integrations & API
Native connectors to HRIS, calendars, assessments and background checks, and which plan unlocks API access.
Reporting & Analytics
Built-in reports, custom dashboards and the hiring metrics a talent lead can pull without exporting data.
Support & Reliability
Support channels by plan, resolution speed and uptime, weighed against recurring themes in public reviews.
Ease of Use
How quickly recruiters and occasional hiring managers can work in the tool, judged from trials, documentation and public reviews.
Prices were checked on each provider’s own pricing page in October 2026. Review counts combine two major public review platforms. Rankings are editorial and not paid for.
