TOP 10 Applicant Tracking System You Must Try in 2025

Hiring in 2025 is transforming into an AI backed strategic operation that goes beyond resume collection. Recruiters, HR managers, and startup founders are now expected to act fast, build exceptional candidate experiences, and deliver hiring decisions.

That’s why investing in the right Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is no longer optional — it’s the choice of every smart recruiter.

To help you find the best fit for your organization, our team has curated a list of the best ATS in 2025. These platforms were evaluated based on ease of use, automation capabilities, integration support, plus AI features.

What Makes an ATS the Best?

Before diving into the list, here are the essential features you should keep in mind before selecting software to cater to your hiring needs:

• Ease of Use: An easy-to-use interface that recruiters and hiring managers can learn quickly without technical training.
• Automation: Auto-scheduling, follow-up reminders, and candidate matching.
• Integration: Compatibility with various HRMS, payroll systems, job boards, email providers, and calendar tools.
• Collaboration: Tools that support real-time feedback, shared evaluations, and multi-user workflows.
• Analytics: Access to hiring insights through dashboards, performance tracking, and custom reports.
• Scalability: Flexibility to serve both small teams and large enterprises.
• Artificial Intelligence: Smart features like AI-powered resume parsing.
• Pricing: Transparent and affordable pricing aligned with the feature set.

Need something that connects seamlessly with your HRMS platform or handles end-to-end hiring automation? This list has you covered.

Top 10 Applicant Tracking Systems for 2025

1. Lever

Best for: Collaborative hiring and proactive talent pipelines

Lever stands out as a hybrid between an ATS and a CRM, making it perfect for companies that take hiring as a long-term relationship-building exercise. It's not just about filling roles — it's about nurturing talent for future opportunities.

With Lever, you get visual pipeline management and automation tools that reduce recruiter workloads. The platform excels in candidate relationship management, helping teams track passive talent and re-engage with qualified profiles over time.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop hiring pipelines
• CRM capabilities to engage passive candidates
• Workflow automation from application to offer
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) dashboards
• Seamless integration with Slack, Zoom, Workday, and more

Pros:

• Excellent user experience and visual dashboards
• Powerful for building candidate pipelines
• Great for DEI-focused companies

Cons:

• Higher pricing compared to SMB-focused tools
• Custom workflows may require onboarding support

Why Choose Lever:
If you’re focused on building a strong talent brand and managing long-term relationships with candidates, Lever provides the infrastructure to support that vision. It’s especially strong for companies that prioritize diverse and inclusive hiring.

Ideal For: Mid-sized to large businesses with structured, collaborative hiring needs.

2. Zoho Recruit

Best for: Budget-friendly recruitment for SMBs

Zoho Recruit is designed for small to medium businesses that want to implement a solid hiring process without incurring high costs. As part of the broader Zoho ecosystem, this platform allows seamless integration with tools like Zoho CRM, Zoho People, and Zoho Mail.

Its AI-based resume parser, customizable career pages, and intuitive UI make it a compelling option for businesses looking for affordability and functionality.

Key Features:

• AI-powered candidate scoring and parsing
• Pre-built integrations with job boards and social platforms
• Built-in interview scheduling tools
• Custom career site options
• Real-time recruitment analytics

Pros:

• Strong functionality at affordable pricing
• Tight integration with Zoho ecosystem
• Fast setup and intuitive interface

Cons:

• Fewer integrations outside Zoho tools
• Interface may feel dated to modern users
   

Why Choose Zoho Recruit:
It offers an end-to-end solution, from sourcing to onboarding, at a price point most startups and SMBs can afford. If you're already using other Zoho HR or CRM solutions, this ATS will fit in naturally.

Ideal For: Startups, staffing firms, and SMBs looking for value without compromising on key features.

3. CEIPAL ATS

Best for: High-volume hiring and staffing agencies

CEIPAL is purpose-built for staffing agencies and large-scale recruitment operations. With deep AI capabilities, it simplifies everything from resume harvesting to compliance management. Whether you're filling hundreds of positions or handling multiple vendors, CEIPAL gives you the horsepower to do it all.

Its vendor management and bulk hiring features make it ideal for agencies that need to process high volumes of applications with speed and accuracy.

Key Features:

• AI-driven candidate matching and resume scoring
• Integration with VMS platforms for staffing coordination
• GDPR, EEOC, and OFCCP compliance support
• Automated bulk email and SMS campaigns
• Harvesting from third-party job boards

Pros:

• Built for scale and complexity
• Compliance and diversity tracking
• Highly customizable workflows

Cons:

• Can feel overwhelming to new users
• More suited to staffing firms than in-house HR
   

Why Choose CEIPAL:
When you're managing hundreds (or thousands) of applications across roles, automation becomes non-negotiable. CEIPAL brings automation, compliance, and customization together to serve enterprise hiring and agency operations.

Ideal For: Recruiting agencies, BPOs, and organizations with complex workflows and compliance needs.

4. Greenhouse

Best for: Data-driven hiring at scale

Greenhouse is a market leader in structured hiring. It helps organizations build consistent, scalable, and inclusive hiring processes. From interview kits to DEI analytics, Greenhouse empowers your team to make better decisions across every stage of recruitment.

It integrates with over 300 tools, offering unmatched flexibility for large enterprises using multiple HR systems.

Key Features:

• Custom interview workflows and scorecards
• DEI-focused analytics
• 300+ third-party integrations
• Automated onboarding modules
• Employer branding with career site tools

Pros:

• Best-in-class structured hiring framework
• Excellent analytics and dashboards
• Scales beautifully with enterprise teams

Cons:

• Expensive for small or mid-sized teams
• Implementation takes time and training
   

Why Choose Greenhouse:
Greenhouse is ideal for large companies that want data-backed, standardized hiring at scale. While the setup process is more involved, the payoff is a powerful, future-ready hiring infrastructure.

Ideal For: Enterprises with multiple hiring stakeholders and defined recruitment frameworks.

5. Workable

Best for: Global hiring and distributed teams

Workable is designed for modern, agile teams — especially those hiring internationally. It supports over 200 job boards, offers built-in video interview tools, and simplifies offer creation with integrated e-signatures.

Its mobile-first design allows hiring managers and recruiters to access the platform anywhere, enabling real-time collaboration across geographies.

Key Features:

• One-click posting to 200+ job boards
• Mobile recruiting tools
• AI-based sourcing suggestions
• Video interview integration
• Offer letter and document management

Pros:

• Easy international hiring
• Quick implementation and onboarding
• Intuitive mobile experience

Cons:

• Advanced features locked in higher plans
• Limited customization in basic tiers
   

Why Choose Workable:
If your team operates across regions or is remote-first, Workable offers flexibility, accessibility, and ease of use. It also delivers excellent support for international hiring compliance.

Ideal For: Scaling startups, global teams, and companies with remote-first cultures

6. Recruitee

Best for: Startups and teams that prioritize visual hiring workflows

Recruitee delivers a seamless blend of usability and functionality, making it an excellent choice for fast-growing teams and early-stage startups. Its user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface makes pipeline management intuitive, even for non-technical team members.

Designed with collaboration in mind, Recruitee helps everyone from founders to hiring managers stay aligned throughout the recruitment process. The platform also emphasizes employer branding with tools to create custom career pages without writing a single line of code.

Key Features:

• Collaborative evaluation and feedback tools
• Career page builder with branding elements
• Visual hiring pipelines with drag-and-drop
• Role-based user permissions and access
• Integrations with Slack, Zapier, and API options

Pros:

• Excellent UX and visual workflows
• Great for branding and candidate experience
• Affordable for small teams

Cons:

• Lacks some advanced automation
• Basic analytics in lower plans

 

Why Choose Recruitee:
If you're a startup or midsize company looking to hire fast without compromising candidate experience, Recruitee strikes the right balance. It's built for collaboration and gives hiring managers the tools they need to work seamlessly with HR.

Ideal For: High-growth startups, creative agencies, and modern teams wanting full control and custom branding.

7. BreezyHR

Best for: Small businesses seeking simplicity and speed

BreezyHR is known for being refreshingly simple and visually appealing. It uses Kanban-style boards to organize candidate pipelines and provides built-in video interview features, making it a favorite for lean teams that want to hire efficiently.

Its affordability and ease of use make it an ideal tool for startups or agencies who don’t have the bandwidth to manage complex hiring systems. BreezyHR gets the job done with minimal onboarding and training required.

Key Features:

• Visual, drag-and-drop interface
• Branded career pages
• Integrated video interview tools
• Team scorecards for structured feedback
• Calendar and email sync for scheduling

Pros:

• Very easy to use
• Quick setup and onboarding
• Built-in communication tools

Cons:

• May not scale well for enterprises
• Reporting features are basic

 

Why Choose BreezyHR:
If your hiring process is straightforward and speed is your top priority, BreezyHR delivers without overwhelming your team. It’s especially effective for non-technical founders and small HR teams.

Ideal For: Startups, boutique agencies, and small teams that value ease of use over advanced customization.

8. JazzHR

Best for: Small teams and cost-conscious businesses

JazzHR focuses on making enterprise-level hiring features available at SMB-friendly pricing. It includes core ATS functionalities such as job posting, resume filtering, scheduling, and compliance — all at a highly competitive price point.

What sets JazzHR apart is that it offers unlimited job postings, even in its base plan, making it especially appealing for companies with fluctuating or seasonal hiring needs.

Key Features:

• Resume parsing and applicant search
• Unlimited job postings
• Offer letter generation and e-signature
• Interview scheduling and sync with email/calendar
• Reporting for compliance and hiring metrics

Pros:

• Very affordable pricing
• Unlimited job posts even in base plan
• Ideal for startups and SMBs

Cons:

• UI isn’t very modern
• Limited advanced analytics

 

Why Choose JazzHR:
This platform gives small teams access to essential tools that are typically locked behind enterprise paywalls. If you’re on a tight budget but need a reliable ATS, JazzHR is one of the best-value platforms available today.

Ideal For: SMBs, solo HR professionals, and startups with frequent but budget-limited hiring.

9. Manatal

Best for: AI-powered hiring and social candidate enrichment

Manatal offers a fresh take on applicant tracking by blending AI with social recruiting. It enriches candidate profiles using data from LinkedIn, GitHub, and other sources, helping recruiters get a more holistic view of each applicant.

With drag-and-drop pipelines, smart recommendations, and a clean interface, Manatal is ideal for teams that want to embrace next-gen hiring tech without complexity.

Key Features:

• AI-powered resume scoring and recommendations
• LinkedIn and social media profile enrichment
• Custom branded career pages
• Built-in CRM functionality
• Fast and intuitive UI

Pros:

• Excellent candidate discovery tools
• Clean interface
• Affordable for AI capabilities

Cons:

• Fewer integrations compared to competitors
• Newer in the market — less proven than others
   

Why Choose Manatal:
If you're looking for a modern ATS that brings AI, automation, and enrichment tools in one affordable package, Manatal is a great choice. While it's a newer platform, it’s growing quickly and offers surprising depth.

Ideal For: Tech startups, lean HR teams, and companies focused on AI-driven sourcing.

10. AblyWorks

Best for: AI supported workflow with cost-effectiveness

AblyWorks gives a big advantage to recruiters with its exclusive AI based candidate-to-role compatibility feature. This results in faster, more efficient data generation. Apart from that, AblyWorks also tracks the individual recruiter performance on a daily basis.

These features pull it a league apart from other ATS and the modest pricing acts as a cherry on top.

Key Features:

• AI resume-to-requirement matching
• Day-to-day recruiter performance tracking
• Resume parsing
• Smart scheduling and candidate activity monitoring
• Efficient customer support

Pros:

• AI-powered resume screening and candidate ranking
• User-friendly interface with minimal learning curve
• End-to-end automation from job posting to offer letter
• Smart scheduling and candidate activity tracking
• Affordable pricing for growing teams and agencies

Cons:

• Fewer third-party integrations than legacy platforms
• Newer in the market — still building brand recognition
• Advanced customization may require onboarding support

Why Choose AblyWorks:
If smart, cost and speed effective hiring is your goal, AblyWorks ATS should be your go-to. The AI system ensures every candidate profile is reliable, structured, and recruitment-ready, so no more worrying about bad data.

Ideal For: MSMEs, SMEs, and small teams that value both quality and productivity.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right ATS depends on your business size, hiring volume, and how you want to scale your recruitment operations. Some platforms focus on visual simplicity, others on deep automation, while a few combine CRM and ATS for a relationship-first approach.

Here’s a quick takeaway:

• Go for Lever or Greenhouse if structured hiring and collaboration are your top priorities.
• Choose Zoho Recruit or JazzHR if you're looking for affordable and simple functionality.
• Opt for CEIPAL or Workable if scale and global hiring are your key needs.
• Try Recruitee, BreezyHR, or Manatal for modern, flexible, and fast-paced hiring.

 Pro tip: Always take advantage of free trials or demos before making a long-term commitment.

FAQ Section

What is an ATS and why is it important in 2025?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) helps organizations streamline their recruitment process. In 2025, it’s critical due to increased hiring competition, remote work, and the need for automation and data-driven decisions.

Which ATS is best for small businesses?
JazzHR, AblyWorks and Zoho Recruit are ideal for small businesses due to their affordability, ease of use, and core ATS functionalities like resume parsing, job posting, and offer management.

Is there a free version of any ATS software?
Many ATS platforms offer free trials. BreezyHR and Zoho Recruit, for example, have freemium models or free-tier plans to help small teams get started.

How do I choose the right ATS for my company?
Evaluate your hiring volume, team size, and tech ecosystem. Look for essential features like automation, integrations, analytics, and candidate experience tools. Always test a platform using its free trial before committing.

Can ATS software integrate with my existing HRMS or payroll system?
Yes, most modern ATS tools offer integrations with popular HRMS, payroll, and calendar systems. For example, Lever, Greenhouse, and CEIPAL offer wide integration support.