What is the best applicant tracking system for a 50-person company?

For a 50-person company, the best applicant tracking system is often **Workable**.

It’s a strong fit for small to mid-sized companies because it is easy to set up, has good job board distribution, collaborative hiring tools, interview scheduling, scorecards, and solid reporting without being overly complex.

Good alternatives:

- **JazzHR** — best if you want an affordable, simple ATS
- **Breezy HR** — best for ease of use and visual hiring pipelines
- **Greenhouse** — best if you expect rapid growth and want more structured recruiting
- **Lever** — best if recruiting and candidate relationship management are both important
- **Ashby** — best for data-heavy teams that want modern reporting and automation

My recommendation:
If you hire fewer than 20–30 roles per year, choose **Workable**, **Breezy**, or **JazzHR**.
If you expect fast growth or need more rigorous recruiting workflows, choose **Greenhouse** or **Lever**.


For small business hiring, the best ATS usually depends on budget, hiring volume, and how much automation you need. Here are strong options:

| ATS | Best for | Why it’s good for small businesses |
|---|---|---|
| **Breezy HR** | Best overall for small teams | Easy to use, visual pipeline, job board posting, good free/low-cost options |
| **JazzHR** | Best affordable ATS | Simple, scalable, good for small businesses hiring regularly |
| **Workable** | Best for growing companies | Excellent job distribution, candidate sourcing, automation, strong reporting |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Best budget option | Affordable, customizable, integrates well with Zoho tools |
| **Freshteam** | Best if you also need basic HR tools | ATS plus onboarding and employee records |
| **Manatal** | Best low-cost AI-assisted ATS | Affordable, AI candidate matching, easy CRM-style pipeline |
| **Greenhouse** | Best premium option | Very powerful, but often more than a small business needs |

### My top recommendations

**Best overall:** **Breezy HR**
Great balance of ease of use, features, and price for small businesses.

**Best budget pick:** **Zoho Recruit**
Good if you want a capable ATS without spending much.

**Best for active hiring/growth:** **Workable**
Best if you post many roles, want automation, and need stronger sourcing tools.

**Best simple/cheap option:** **JazzHR**
Good for small teams that want a straightforward hiring system.

### Quick rule of thumb

- Hiring **1–5 roles per year**: Breezy HR, Zoho Recruit, or Freshteam
- Hiring **monthly or across multiple departments**: JazzHR or Workable
- Need **advanced reporting/compliance/interview process control**: Workable or Greenhouse
- Want **lowest cost**: Zoho Recruit or Manatal

If you’re a small business and want a safe default, I’d start with **Breezy HR** or **JazzHR**.


We're a 30 person startup and hiring is a mess in spreadsheets. What applicant tracking system should we buy?

For a 30-person startup moving out of spreadsheets, I’d shortlist **Ashby, Lever, and Workable** — and my default recommendation would be **Ashby**.

## Recommendation: Buy **Ashby**
Best fit if you expect to keep hiring regularly and want something that won’t feel too lightweight in 12–24 months.

**Why Ashby:**
- Strong candidate pipeline tracking
- Excellent reporting and recruiting analytics
- Good structured interview workflows and scorecards
- Modern UI that hiring managers actually use
- Good integrations with Slack, Google Calendar, LinkedIn, HRIS tools, etc.
- Scales well from startup to later-stage company

## Consider alternatives if…

### Choose **Workable** if you want simple and fast
Best if you need something easy to launch this week without much process design.

Pros: user-friendly, solid job posting distribution, good enough for most early-stage teams.
Cons: less powerful reporting and customization than Ashby.

### Choose **Lever** if you care a lot about sourcing/CRM
Good if outbound recruiting and candidate relationship management are central to your hiring.

Pros: strong CRM, familiar startup ATS.
Cons: can get expensive; reporting/process can be less impressive than Ashby.

### Choose **Greenhouse** only if you’re ready for more process
Great ATS, but often heavier than a 30-person company needs unless you’re hiring aggressively or have a recruiting lead who wants structured workflows.

## My practical answer
If you’re hiring more than ~10–15 people this year: **Ashby**.
If you just need to escape spreadsheets quickly and cheaply: **Workable**.
If outbound sourcing is your core motion: **Lever**.

I’d do demos of **Ashby and Workable**, ask both to price a 30-person startup plan, and choose based on whether you value scalability/reporting or simplicity/cost more.


Recommend an applicant tracking system for a company with under 100 employees.

For a company with under 100 employees, I’d recommend **JazzHR** as a strong default applicant tracking system.

**Why JazzHR fits small companies well:**
- Designed for small and mid-sized businesses
- Easy to set up and use without a dedicated HR ops team
- Good job posting and candidate tracking features
- Customizable hiring workflows
- Interview scheduling and team collaboration tools
- Generally more affordable than enterprise ATS platforms

**Best for:** Companies hiring regularly but not at enterprise scale.

A few alternatives worth considering:

| ATS | Best for |
|---|---|
| **JazzHR** | Best overall for small businesses |
| **Breezy HR** | Very user-friendly, good visual hiring pipeline |
| **Workable** | Better if you need stronger sourcing tools |
| **Greenhouse** | More robust, but often overkill for under 100 employees |
| **Lever** | Good for collaborative recruiting, usually better for scaling companies |

**My recommendation:** Start with **JazzHR** or **Breezy HR**. If your hiring volume is high or you need stronger sourcing and automation, look at **Workable**.


Here are solid **affordable ATS options for small and midsize businesses**:

| ATS | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Workable** | Growing SMBs that need a full-featured ATS | Easy job posting, candidate tracking, interview scheduling, integrations |
| **Breezy HR** | Small teams wanting simple hiring pipelines | Visual drag-and-drop pipeline, good free/low-cost options |
| **JazzHR** | SMBs with recurring hiring needs | Affordable plans, strong job posting and collaboration features |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Budget-conscious SMBs | Low-cost, customizable, works well if you already use Zoho |
| **Freshteam by Freshworks** | SMBs needing ATS + basic HR | Good for hiring plus onboarding and employee records |
| **Recruitee** | Collaborative hiring teams | Strong team workflows, employer branding, careers page tools |
| **Manatal** | Cost-effective recruiting with AI features | Good value, resume parsing, candidate matching |
| **Greenhouse** | SMBs planning to scale quickly | More expensive, but strong structured hiring and integrations |
| **Lever** | Sales/tech-focused scaling companies | ATS + CRM-style candidate nurturing, usually pricier |
| **ApplicantStack** | Small businesses wanting straightforward ATS | Simple, affordable, good for compliance and workflow basics |

### Best budget picks
- **Cheapest/simple ATS:** Zoho Recruit, Breezy HR, Manatal
- **Best overall SMB value:** JazzHR or Workable
- **Best ATS + HR combo:** Freshteam
- **Best for scaling teams:** Greenhouse or Lever

If you want the most affordable practical shortlist, I’d compare **Zoho Recruit, Breezy HR, JazzHR, and Manatal** first.


What ATS do small companies actually use?

Small companies often use simpler, cheaper ATS tools—or no dedicated ATS at all.

Common ATS options small companies actually use include:

- **Indeed Employer / Indeed ATS** — very common for local/small businesses hiring through Indeed
- **LinkedIn Jobs / LinkedIn Recruiter Lite** — often used without a full ATS
- **Breezy HR** — popular with startups and small teams
- **Workable** — common for growing small businesses
- **JazzHR** — small-business-friendly ATS
- **Greenhouse** — used by startups and tech companies, usually once they’re more hiring-heavy
- **Lever** — similar to Greenhouse; common in startups/tech
- **BambooHR** — HR system with hiring features, common for small companies
- **Zoho Recruit** — budget-friendly option
- **Recruitee** — common among small/midsize companies
- **Ashby** — increasingly used by startups, especially tech

But many small companies don’t use a real ATS. They may manage applicants with:

- Gmail/Outlook folders
- Google Sheets or Excel
- Indeed’s built-in candidate dashboard
- LinkedIn messages
- A shared inbox like `jobs@company.com`
- Their HR/payroll platform, like Gusto, Rippling, Paylocity, or ADP

Rule of thumb:

- **1–20 employees:** often email, spreadsheets, Indeed, LinkedIn
- **20–100 employees:** JazzHR, Breezy, BambooHR, Workable, Zoho
- **100+ or high-growth startups:** Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Workable

So if you’re applying to small companies, don’t assume there’s a sophisticated ATS filtering everything. In many cases, a human is reviewing resumes directly in email or Indeed.


I need to hire 10 people this quarter and have no recruiting software. What should I get?

Get a lightweight ATS, not a big enterprise recruiting suite.

My default recommendation: **Workable**
Best fit if you need to hire 10 people this quarter and want something live quickly.

Why:
- Easy to set up fast
- Job posting to multiple boards
- Applicant pipeline tracking
- Interview scheduling
- Scorecards and feedback
- Hiring team collaboration
- Good enough reporting
- Doesn’t require a recruiting ops person to administer

Good alternatives:

| If you want… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Cheapest usable ATS | **Breezy HR** or **JazzHR** |
| Best for structured hiring / future scaling | **Greenhouse** |
| Best for startup/tech hiring with strong analytics | **Ashby** |
| Simple all-in-one sourcing + ATS | **Workable** |
| Mostly inbound hourly/local roles | **Indeed** + a simple ATS |

For your situation, I’d shortlist:

1. **Workable** — best overall choice for speed
2. **Breezy HR** — if budget is tight
3. **Greenhouse** — if you expect hiring volume to keep growing

Minimum features you should require:
- Careers page
- Job board posting
- Candidate pipeline stages
- Email templates
- Interview scheduling/calendar integration
- Interview scorecards
- Hiring team feedback
- Offer approval/document storage
- Basic source reporting

Do not manage 10 hires in spreadsheets/email if multiple people are interviewing. You’ll lose candidates and create confusion.

Recommended setup:
- ATS: **Workable**
- Scheduling: built-in or **Calendly**
- Sourcing: **LinkedIn Recruiter Lite** if you need outbound
- Background checks if needed: Checkr or GoodHire
- Offer letters: ATS templates or DocuSign

If you need to move fast, buy **Workable**, set up your hiring stages and scorecards this week, and start posting jobs immediately.


Cheapest applicant tracking system that isn't terrible

**Best cheap ATS that isn’t terrible: _Zoho Recruit_**

If your main priority is **lowest cost while still usable**, I’d start with **Zoho Recruit**. It has the basics: job postings, candidate pipeline, resumes, email templates, careers page, interview scheduling, and decent automation. UI isn’t beautiful, but it’s functional and inexpensive.

### Good low-cost options

| ATS | Best for | Why it’s decent | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Zoho Recruit** | Cheapest serious option | Very affordable, full ATS features, scalable | UI can feel clunky |
| **Manatal** | Cheap + modern | Clean interface, good candidate tracking, AI/resume parsing | Smaller ecosystem than bigger ATSs |
| **Breezy HR** | Very small teams | Nice UX, simple pipelines, has a free/low-cost entry point | Paid plans get pricey vs Zoho/Manatal |
| **Freshteam / Freshworks ATS** | Small companies already using Freshworks | Easy to use, decent HR features | ATS depth can be limited |
| **Workable** | Better product if budget allows | Polished, strong job posting + collaboration | Not really “cheap” |

### My recommendation

- **Cheapest decent:** **Zoho Recruit**
- **Best cheap UX:** **Manatal**
- **If you only hire occasionally:** **Breezy HR free/entry plan**
- **If you can spend more for quality:** **Workable**

If you’re under ~50 employees and hiring a few roles at a time, I’d probably choose **Zoho Recruit or Manatal** before paying for something like Greenhouse, Lever, or Workable.


Best recruiting software for a small HR team of one

For a small HR team of one, the best recruiting software is usually an easy-to-use ATS with job posting, candidate tracking, interview scheduling, templates, and automation.

### Best options to consider

| Software | Best for | Why it’s good for a solo HR person |
|---|---|---|
| **Breezy HR** | Best overall for small teams | Simple pipeline, drag-and-drop candidate tracking, email templates, scheduling, good automation |
| **JazzHR** | Budget-friendly ATS | Affordable, easy to set up, good for small businesses with steady hiring |
| **Workable** | More robust recruiting | Strong job board posting, candidate sourcing, screening tools, and interview workflows |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Best low-cost/customizable option | Good value, customizable workflows, integrates well if you use Zoho products |
| **Greenhouse** | Best if you plan to scale | Excellent structured hiring tools, but may be more than a one-person team needs |

### My recommendation

If you are a one-person HR team, I’d start with:

1. **Breezy HR** — best balance of ease, features, and affordability
2. **JazzHR** — best if budget is the biggest concern
3. **Workable** — best if you hire frequently and want stronger sourcing tools

### Key features to look for

- One-click job posting to multiple job boards
- Resume and candidate tracking
- Automated email templates
- Interview scheduling
- Scorecards or candidate evaluation forms
- Simple reporting
- Integration with email/calendar
- Affordable pricing for low hiring volume

If you hire only a few roles per year, **Breezy HR or JazzHR** is likely enough. If you hire every month or need stronger sourcing, consider **Workable**.


applicant tracking system recommendations for mid-market companies

Here are strong applicant tracking system options for mid-market companies, depending on hiring volume, complexity, and budget.

| ATS | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Greenhouse** | Structured hiring and interview consistency | Excellent scorecards, workflows, reporting, and integrations. Strong choice for companies scaling quickly. |
| **Lever** | CRM + ATS in one platform | Good for proactive sourcing, nurture campaigns, and collaborative recruiting teams. |
| **Ashby** | Data-driven recruiting teams | Strong analytics, pipeline reporting, automation, and modern UX. Popular with tech and high-growth firms. |
| **Workable** | Ease of use and fast implementation | Good all-around ATS for mid-market companies that want job posting, sourcing, and hiring workflows without heavy complexity. |
| **SmartRecruiters** | Larger mid-market/global hiring | Strong marketplace, candidate experience, and enterprise-style workflows. Better for more complex organizations. |
| **iCIMS** | Compliance-heavy or complex hiring environments | Robust and scalable, especially for companies with high-volume hiring or strict compliance needs. Can be more complex to implement. |
| **BambooHR ATS** | Companies already using BambooHR | Simple and convenient for light-to-moderate hiring needs, but less advanced than dedicated ATS platforms. |
| **JazzHR** | Budget-conscious mid-market teams | Affordable and easy to use, best for smaller recruiting teams with simpler processes. |

### Best overall recommendations

**For most mid-market companies:**
**Greenhouse**, **Lever**, or **Ashby**

**If you want the easiest rollout:**
**Workable**

**If you need enterprise-level scalability:**
**SmartRecruiters** or **iCIMS**

**If recruiting analytics matter most:**
**Ashby**

**If sourcing and candidate relationship management matter most:**
**Lever**

**If structured interviews and hiring consistency matter most:**
**Greenhouse**

### Key features to compare

When evaluating ATS platforms, focus on:

- Integration with your HRIS, payroll, background checks, and assessment tools
- Reporting and pipeline analytics
- Interview scheduling automation
- DEI and compliance reporting
- Candidate experience and mobile application flow
- Hiring manager usability
- Custom workflows and approval chains
- Offer management and e-signature support
- Pricing transparency and implementation effort

### My short list

If I were building a shortlist for a mid-market company, I’d start with:

1. **Greenhouse** – best all-around structured hiring platform
2. **Lever** – best for sourcing-heavy teams
3. **Ashby** – best for analytics and modern recruiting operations
4. **Workable** – best for simplicity and speed
5. **SmartRecruiters** – best for larger or more complex mid-market needs


What's a good ATS for a 200 employee company?

For a ~200-employee company, a good ATS usually needs to be easy for hiring managers, support structured interviews, integrate with HRIS/background checks/job boards, and not be overly enterprise-heavy.

**Top ATS options to consider:**

1. **Greenhouse** — Best if you want a mature, structured hiring process
   - Strong interview kits, scorecards, reporting, integrations
   - Good for companies hiring regularly across multiple teams
   - Can be pricier, but very solid

2. **Lever** — Good all-around ATS + CRM
   - Strong candidate relationship management
   - Nice UX for recruiters and hiring managers
   - Good if you do outbound sourcing

3. **Ashby** — Best modern option for data/reporting
   - Excellent analytics, automation, and workflow flexibility
   - Strong for scaling companies
   - Slightly more complex, but powerful

4. **Workable** — Best practical mid-market choice
   - Easy to set up and use
   - Good job posting distribution and basic workflows
   - Often a good fit if you want something straightforward

5. **BambooHR ATS** — Best if you already use BambooHR
   - Simple, integrated with HRIS
   - Fine for lighter recruiting needs
   - Less robust than dedicated ATS tools

**My general recommendation:**
- If you’re hiring steadily and care about process/reporting: **Greenhouse or Ashby**
- If you do a lot of sourcing: **Lever**
- If you want simple and cost-effective: **Workable**
- If you already use BambooHR and hiring volume is moderate: **BambooHR ATS**

For a 200-person company, I’d shortlist **Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workable** first.


Which applicant tracking systems are easiest to set up for a small business?

For a small business, the easiest applicant tracking systems (ATS) to set up are usually the ones with simple workflows, built-in job posting, email templates, and minimal configuration.

### Easiest ATS options for small businesses

| ATS | Best for | Why it’s easy |
|---|---|---|
| **Breezy HR** | Small teams hiring occasionally or regularly | Very intuitive interface, drag-and-drop pipelines, quick job posting, good templates |
| **Workable** | Small businesses that want a polished all-in-one system | Fast setup, broad job board integrations, strong candidate management |
| **JazzHR** | Budget-conscious small businesses | Simple setup, customizable hiring workflows, good value for small teams |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Businesses already using Zoho tools | Affordable, flexible, integrates well with Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps |
| **Recruitee** | Collaborative hiring teams | Easy to use, clean interface, good team feedback and pipeline features |
| **Greenhouse** | Growing companies that want structure | More robust than the others, but still user-friendly if you expect to scale |
| **BambooHR ATS** | Companies already using BambooHR | Very easy if you need HR + hiring in one place, though less advanced than standalone ATS tools |

### Best picks by situation

- **Simplest overall:** **Breezy HR**
- **Best all-around for small business:** **Workable**
- **Best low-cost option:** **JazzHR**
- **Best if you use Zoho:** **Zoho Recruit**
- **Best if you need HR + ATS:** **BambooHR**
- **Best for scaling hiring process:** **Greenhouse**

If you want the least setup hassle, I’d start by comparing **Breezy HR, Workable, and JazzHR**.


For a growing tech startup, the best ATS usually balances **ease of use, hiring manager collaboration, integrations, scalability, and cost**.

### Best ATS options for tech startups

| ATS | Best for | Why it’s good |
|---|---|---|
| **Ashby** | Fast-growing startups that care about analytics | Excellent reporting, structured hiring, automation, scalable for recruiting teams |
| **Greenhouse** | Startups planning to scale seriously | Strong interview workflows, integrations, scorecards, DEI tools, very mature platform |
| **Lever** | Startups focused on sourcing + CRM | Combines ATS and candidate relationship management well |
| **Workable** | Smaller startups that need speed and simplicity | Easy setup, job posting distribution, good all-around features |
| **Breezy HR** | Budget-conscious early-stage startups | Affordable, simple pipeline management, good for lean teams |
| **JazzHR** | Early-stage companies with basic hiring needs | Cost-effective and straightforward |
| **Gem** | Sourcing-heavy teams, usually alongside an ATS | Great outbound recruiting and candidate nurturing, often paired with Greenhouse/Ashby/Lever |

### My top recommendation

**Best overall for a growing tech startup: Ashby**
It’s modern, strong on analytics, automation, structured interviews, and scales well as your hiring process becomes more complex.

### If you want a quick decision

- **Seed to Series A, lean team:** Workable or Breezy HR
- **Series A to C, scaling hiring:** Ashby or Lever
- **Larger startup / enterprise-ready process:** Greenhouse
- **Heavy outbound technical recruiting:** Lever + Gem or Ashby + Gem

If your startup expects rapid growth, I’d shortlist **Ashby, Greenhouse, and Lever**.


We need an ATS with a free plan. What are the options?

Here are ATS options with a real free plan — not just a free trial. Limits change often, so confirm pricing before committing.

| ATS | Free-plan highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| **Zoho Recruit** | Free forever plan, usually limited to **1 active job** and basic candidate tracking | Small teams needing a simple ATS |
| **Breezy HR** | “Bootstrap” free plan, typically **1 active position** with candidate pipeline tools | Startups hiring one role at a time |
| **Freshteam by Freshworks** | Free tier for small companies, often includes basic recruiting and HR tools | Small businesses that also want light HRIS |
| **SmartRecruiters SmartStart** | Free plan for smaller companies, historically up to **10 active jobs** with a careers page | Growing companies needing more than 1 job |
| **Recooty** | Free plan with limited active jobs and basic ATS features | Very small teams/startups |
| **JOIN** | Free recruiting platform with job posting and applicant tracking; strongest in Europe | EU/UK employers looking for free job distribution |
| **Indeed Employer Tools** | Free job posting and candidate management, but not a full ATS | Companies hiring mainly through Indeed |
| **LinkedIn free job posts** | Limited free posting and applicant management | Occasional hiring on LinkedIn |
| **Odoo Recruitment** | Can be free if using only the Recruitment app under Odoo’s “one app free” model | Teams wanting a customizable business-suite option |
| **OpenCATS** | Free open-source ATS, self-hosted | Technical teams comfortable managing software |
| **CandidATS** | Free open-source ATS, self-hosted | Budget-conscious teams with IT support |

Best short list:

1. **Breezy HR** — best simple free ATS for one role at a time.
2. **Zoho Recruit** — good all-around free ATS from a larger vendor.
3. **SmartRecruiters SmartStart** — best if you need several active jobs.
4. **Freshteam** — best if you also want basic HR features.
5. **OpenCATS** — best fully free option if you can self-host.


Here are some of the top applicant tracking systems likely to be leading choices in 2026, grouped by company type and use case:

## Top Applicant Tracking Systems in 2026

| ATS | Best For |
|---|---|
| **Greenhouse** | Mid-market and enterprise recruiting teams |
| **Lever** | Collaborative hiring and CRM-style recruiting |
| **Workday Recruiting** | Large enterprises already using Workday HCM |
| **iCIMS Talent Cloud** | Enterprise hiring at scale |
| **SmartRecruiters** | Global companies and high-volume hiring |
| **Ashby** | Fast-growing startups and data-driven recruiting teams |
| **JazzHR** | Small and midsize businesses |
| **Breezy HR** | Small businesses and simple hiring workflows |
| **Jobvite** | Recruitment marketing and talent acquisition teams |
| **Pinpoint** | Employer branding and in-house recruiting teams |
| **Recruitee** | Collaborative hiring for SMBs and mid-market companies |
| **Manatal** | Affordable ATS with AI features |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Budget-conscious SMBs and staffing agencies |
| **Bullhorn** | Staffing and recruiting agencies |
| **Avature** | Large enterprises needing deep customization |

## Best Overall ATS Picks

### 1. **Greenhouse**
Strong for structured hiring, interview kits, compliance, reporting, and integrations.

### 2. **Lever**
Good combination of ATS and candidate relationship management, especially for growth-stage companies.

### 3. **Ashby**
Popular with startups and tech companies because of strong analytics, automation, and modern workflows.

### 4. **Workday Recruiting**
Best suited for large organizations that already use Workday for HR and workforce management.

### 5. **iCIMS**
A strong enterprise option for complex hiring, compliance, career sites, and recruitment marketing.

## Best ATS by Business Size

### Small Businesses
- **JazzHR**
- **Breezy HR**
- **Zoho Recruit**
- **Manatal**

### Mid-Market Companies
- **Greenhouse**
- **Lever**
- **Ashby**
- **Recruitee**
- **Pinpoint**

### Enterprise Companies
- **Workday Recruiting**
- **iCIMS**
- **SmartRecruiters**
- **Avature**
- **Oracle Recruiting Cloud**

### Staffing Agencies
- **Bullhorn**
- **Zoho Recruit**
- **Manatal**
- **JobAdder**

## Key Features to Look For in 2026

- AI candidate matching and screening
- Automated interview scheduling
- Candidate relationship management
- DEI and compliance reporting
- Strong integrations with HRIS and payroll tools
- Customizable workflows
- Recruitment marketing tools
- Mobile-friendly candidate experience
- Advanced analytics and source-of-hire reporting

## Quick Recommendation

If you want the safest shortlist:

- **Best overall:** Greenhouse
- **Best for startups:** Ashby
- **Best for enterprise:** Workday Recruiting or iCIMS
- **Best for small business:** JazzHR or Breezy HR
- **Best for staffing agencies:** Bullhorn
- **Best budget option:** Zoho Recruit or Manatal


What ATS integrates well with LinkedIn and Indeed for a small company?

For a small company, the best ATS options that integrate well with LinkedIn and Indeed are:

### Best overall: **Workable**
- Strong integrations with **LinkedIn** and **Indeed**
- Easy job posting to multiple job boards
- Good candidate pipeline management
- Simple enough for small teams but scalable
- Good choice if you want a polished, all-in-one recruiting tool

### Best budget-friendly option: **JazzHR**
- Good for small businesses
- Posts to Indeed and other boards
- LinkedIn integration options available
- Affordable compared with enterprise ATS tools
- Good if you need basic ATS functionality without complexity

### Easiest to use: **Breezy HR**
- Very user-friendly interface
- Integrates with Indeed and LinkedIn job posting workflows
- Good visual pipeline
- Nice option for small teams hiring occasionally

### Best if you expect to scale: **Greenhouse**
- Excellent integrations, including LinkedIn and Indeed
- More robust reporting and structured hiring tools
- More expensive and may be more than a small company needs

### Also worth considering: **Zoho Recruit**
- Affordable
- Works well if you already use Zoho products
- Integrates with job boards including Indeed and LinkedIn
- More configurable, but slightly less polished

My recommendation: **Workable** if you want the best mix of ease of use, integrations, and growth potential. If cost is the biggest factor, look at **JazzHR** or **Breezy HR**.


Small business hiring software with a careers page builder

Here are good **small business hiring software options that include a careers page builder**:

| Software | Best for | Careers page features |
|---|---|---|
| **Breezy HR** | Small businesses wanting an easy ATS | Branded careers page, job widgets, custom application forms |
| **Workable** | Growing teams that need job board posting | Custom careers page, job board integrations, candidate pipeline |
| **JazzHR** | Budget-conscious small businesses | Branded career pages, customizable workflows, offer letters |
| **Recruitee** | Collaborative hiring teams | Careers site builder, talent pools, team feedback tools |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Businesses already using Zoho | Custom career site, candidate portal, automation |
| **GoHire** | Simple hiring for startups/SMBs | Branded careers page, job posting, applicant tracking |
| **Teamtailor** | Companies focused on employer branding | Strong careers site builder, content blocks, candidate experience tools |

**Best overall for small businesses:** **Breezy HR** or **JazzHR**
**Best careers page builder:** **Teamtailor**
**Best value:** **Zoho Recruit** or **GoHire**

Key features to look for:
- Branded careers page
- Custom application forms
- Job board posting
- Applicant tracking pipeline
- Email templates and automation
- Interview scheduling
- Team collaboration
- Compliance tools like EEO/GDPR if needed


Best applicant tracking system for non-technical hiring managers

For **non-technical hiring managers**, the best ATS is usually one that is easy to use, has clean candidate pipelines, simple feedback tools, and minimal setup complexity.

## Best overall: **Workable**
**Best for:** Small to mid-sized companies that want an easy, modern ATS.

Why it’s good for non-technical managers:
- Very intuitive interface
- Easy job posting to multiple boards
- Simple candidate pipeline views
- Built-in interview scheduling and feedback forms
- Good collaboration between recruiters and hiring managers
- Requires little training

## Other strong options

### **Breezy HR**
**Best for:** Teams that want a very visual, drag-and-drop hiring process.

Pros:
- Kanban-style candidate pipeline
- Very easy to learn
- Good for small businesses
- Simple communication and interview tools

### **JazzHR**
**Best for:** Budget-conscious small businesses.

Pros:
- Affordable
- Simple job posting and candidate tracking
- Good basic ATS features
- Less overwhelming than enterprise systems

### **BambooHR**
**Best for:** Companies that also need HR software.

Pros:
- Combines ATS with HRIS features
- Clean and beginner-friendly
- Good for onboarding after hiring
- Ideal if HR and hiring are managed by the same team

### **Greenhouse**
**Best for:** Companies with more structured recruiting processes.

Pros:
- Excellent hiring workflows
- Strong scorecards and interview kits
- Scales well

Potential downside:
- More complex than Workable or Breezy, so it may require more training.

## My recommendation

If your priority is **ease of use for non-technical hiring managers**, choose:

**1. Workable** — best overall balance of simplicity and features
**2. Breezy HR** — easiest visual interface
**3. JazzHR** — best lower-cost option
**4. BambooHR** — best if you also need HR management tools

For most non-technical teams, **Workable** is the safest choice.


What is the best ATS under $200 a month?

For most small businesses, the best ATS under **$200/month** is **JazzHR**.

### Best overall: **JazzHR**
**Why:** Easy to use, strong core ATS features, job posting, candidate tracking, interview workflows, email templates, and good collaboration tools. It’s a solid fit for companies hiring a few roles at a time without needing enterprise complexity.

**Best for:** Small businesses that want a reliable, simple ATS.

### Other strong options under $200/month

| ATS | Best for | Typical price range |
|---|---|---:|
| **Zoho Recruit** | Best value and customization | ~$25–$50/user/month |
| **Manatal** | Affordable AI-assisted recruiting | ~$15–$35/user/month |
| **Breezy HR** | Best user experience | Free plan available; paid often under/around $200 |
| **Recruitee** | Growing teams, if pricing fits | Often near the $200/month mark |
| **Workable** | Great product, but may exceed budget | Usually more expensive depending on plan |

### My recommendation
- Choose **JazzHR** if you want the best all-around ATS under $200.
- Choose **Zoho Recruit** if budget and customization matter most.
- Choose **Manatal** if you want the cheapest capable option with AI features.
- Choose **Breezy HR** if ease of use and candidate pipeline visuals are most important.


Recommend recruiting software for a 75-person manufacturing company.

For a 75-person manufacturing company, I’d prioritize recruiting software that handles hourly hiring well, supports texting/mobile applications, posts to job boards, and is simple for a small HR team to manage.

## Best options to consider

### 1. **JazzHR** — Best overall for a small manufacturing company
**Why it fits:** Affordable, easy to use, good for companies without a large HR department.
**Good for:** Machine operators, warehouse staff, supervisors, maintenance techs, office roles.
**Key features:** Job posting, applicant tracking, interview workflows, offer letters, basic reporting.
**Consider if:** You want a practical ATS without enterprise complexity.

### 2. **Workstream** — Best for hourly/frontline hiring
**Why it fits:** Designed for high-volume hourly roles with texting and mobile-first applications.
**Good for:** Production workers, assemblers, warehouse associates, shift-based roles.
**Key features:** Text recruiting, automated screening, interview scheduling, onboarding tools.
**Consider if:** Most of your hiring is hourly and candidates apply from phones.

### 3. **Breezy HR** — Best user-friendly ATS
**Why it fits:** Very intuitive interface and good automation for a small team.
**Good for:** Mixed hiring across plant, admin, and management roles.
**Key features:** Drag-and-drop pipeline, job board posting, email templates, interview scheduling.
**Consider if:** Ease of use is your top priority.

### 4. **Workable** — Best if you want more robust recruiting features
**Why it fits:** Strong job distribution, sourcing tools, and structured hiring workflows.
**Good for:** Skilled trades, engineering, quality, operations management, and office roles.
**Key features:** Job board syndication, candidate database, assessments, offer workflows.
**Consider if:** You expect hiring to grow or need more advanced tools.

### 5. **BambooHR** — Best if you also need HR software
**Why it fits:** Combines HRIS with basic recruiting, onboarding, employee records, and PTO.
**Good for:** Companies that want one system for HR and recruiting.
**Key features:** Applicant tracking, onboarding, employee data management, e-signatures.
**Consider if:** You don’t already have an HR system.

## My recommendation

If you want one practical choice: **JazzHR**.
If most of your hiring is hourly production labor: **Workstream**.
If you also need HR management beyond recruiting: **BambooHR**.

For a 75-person manufacturing company, I’d shortlist **JazzHR, Workstream, and BambooHR**, then choose based on whether your bigger need is applicant tracking, hourly hiring, or broader HR administration.


ATS for a small agency that hires seasonally

For a small agency that hires seasonally, look for an ATS that is easy to turn on/off, supports high-volume applicants, and does not lock you into expensive annual contracts.

### Best ATS options to consider

#### 1. **Workable**
Good all-around ATS for small teams hiring in bursts.

**Best for:** Agencies that need job posting, applicant tracking, interview scheduling, and collaboration.
**Pros:** Easy to use, strong job board distribution, good templates.
**Watch out:** Can get pricey if you only hire a few months per year.

#### 2. **Breezy HR**
A strong option for seasonal or small-agency hiring.

**Best for:** Simple pipeline management and quick hiring workflows.
**Pros:** Visual pipeline, automation, interview scheduling, candidate messaging.
**Watch out:** Some features require higher-tier plans.

#### 3. **JazzHR**
Affordable and popular with small businesses.

**Best for:** Agencies that want a straightforward ATS without too much complexity.
**Pros:** Good value, customizable workflows, job posting tools.
**Watch out:** Interface is less modern than some competitors.

#### 4. **Zoho Recruit**
Good if you want flexibility and lower cost.

**Best for:** Staffing-style agencies or teams that manage lots of candidate records.
**Pros:** Affordable, customizable, CRM-like features.
**Watch out:** Setup can take more effort.

#### 5. **Indeed Employer / Indeed Hiring Platform**
Useful if most seasonal applicants come from Indeed.

**Best for:** Fast seasonal recruiting and high applicant volume.
**Pros:** Large candidate pool, simple screening tools, pay-per-performance options.
**Watch out:** Less robust than a full ATS.

---

### What to prioritize for seasonal hiring

Look for:

- Month-to-month pricing or flexible contracts
- Easy job posting to multiple job boards
- Bulk candidate messaging
- Screening questions
- Text/email templates
- Interview scheduling
- Candidate tagging or talent pools
- Ability to reactivate past seasonal workers
- Simple reporting
- Mobile-friendly applications

---

### My recommendation

If you want a simple, affordable ATS for seasonal hiring:

- **Best overall:** Breezy HR
- **Best budget option:** JazzHR
- **Best for staffing-style recruiting:** Zoho Recruit
- **Best if applicants mainly come from job boards:** Workable or Indeed

For a small seasonal agency, I’d start by comparing **Breezy HR, JazzHR, and Zoho Recruit**.


Which applicant tracking system has the best candidate experience for SMBs?

For most SMBs, **Workable** is the best ATS for candidate experience.

Why it stands out:
- Simple, mobile-friendly application flow
- Clean branded careers pages
- Easy interview scheduling and candidate communication
- Good automation without feeling overly “enterprise”
- Fast implementation for small recruiting teams
- Strong job board distribution and applicant tracking usability

That said:

- **Greenhouse** is best if you want a more structured, polished candidate experience and have a larger budget.
- **Lever** is strong for relationship-driven recruiting and candidate nurture.
- **Breezy HR** is a good lower-cost option for very small teams.
- **Ashby** is excellent for data-driven startups, though it can be more advanced than many SMBs need.

**Best overall for SMB candidate experience: Workable.**
**Best premium option: Greenhouse.**


We're outgrowing our spreadsheet hiring process. What tools should we look at?

You’re likely ready for an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The best fit depends on your company size, hiring volume, budget, and how structured your recruiting process is.

## Good ATS tools to look at

### Best for startups / small teams
- **Ashby** — strong analytics, structured hiring, good for scaling startups.
- **Lever** — easy to use, good CRM-style candidate nurturing.
- **Greenhouse** — very robust interview kits, scorecards, approvals, reporting.
- **Workable** — quick to set up, good job posting distribution.
- **Breezy HR** — affordable, simple pipeline management.
- **JazzHR** — budget-friendly for smaller teams.

### Best for scaling companies
- **Greenhouse** — strong all-around choice for structured hiring at scale.
- **Lever** — good if candidate relationship management is important.
- **Ashby** — great if you want modern reporting and recruiting ops visibility.
- **SmartRecruiters** — strong for larger, more complex hiring orgs.
- **Teamtailor** — good employer branding and career site experience.
- **Pinpoint** — good UX, solid for in-house recruiting teams.

### Best if you want simplicity
- **Workable**
- **Breezy HR**
- **Recruitee**
- **JazzHR**

### Best if reporting matters a lot
- **Ashby**
- **Greenhouse**
- **Lever**

## What to evaluate

When comparing tools, look at:

- Job posting to LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.
- Candidate pipeline tracking
- Interview scheduling
- Scorecards and structured feedback
- Email templates and automation
- Careers page support
- Referrals
- DEI reporting
- Offer approvals
- Integrations with Slack, Google Workspace, Outlook, Zoom, HRIS, background checks
- Reporting on time-to-fill, source quality, conversion rates
- Permissions and compliance features

## My practical shortlist

If you want a safe shortlist, I’d evaluate:

1. **Ashby** — best modern option if you care about analytics and scale.
2. **Greenhouse** — best mature, structured ATS.
3. **Lever** — best if candidate CRM/nurturing is important.
4. **Workable** — best if you want something simple and fast to launch.
5. **Breezy or JazzHR** — best if budget is the biggest constraint.

## Quick recommendation

- **Under 50 employees / low hiring volume:** Breezy, JazzHR, Workable
- **50–500 employees / growing fast:** Ashby, Lever, Greenhouse
- **500+ / complex hiring workflows:** Greenhouse, SmartRecruiters, Ashby

If you’re moving from spreadsheets, I’d start by demoing **Ashby, Greenhouse, Lever, and Workable**.


Best ATS for a company that hires mostly hourly workers

For a company that hires mostly hourly workers, the best ATS is usually one built for **high-volume, mobile-first hiring**, not a traditional corporate ATS.

### Best overall options for hourly hiring

| ATS | Best for | Why it’s a good fit |
|---|---|---|
| **Fountain** | High-volume hourly hiring | Strong automation, mobile apply, text/email workflows, interview scheduling, hiring funnels |
| **Paradox** | Companies wanting conversational AI | Chatbot screening, texting, scheduling, fast candidate engagement |
| **Workstream** | SMBs and multi-location businesses | Built for hourly workers, SMS-heavy, easy posting to job boards, onboarding tools |
| **Harri** | Restaurants, hospitality, and retail | Great for shift-based hiring, scheduling, onboarding, compliance |
| **Indeed Hiring Platform / Indeed ATS tools** | Companies sourcing heavily from Indeed | Simple, cost-effective, strong applicant flow for hourly roles |
| **UKG Pro Recruiting / iCIMS** | Larger enterprises | More robust enterprise workflows, compliance, HRIS integrations |

### My recommendation

If you hire a lot of hourly workers across multiple locations, I’d shortlist:

1. **Fountain** — best overall for high-volume hourly hiring
2. **Workstream** — best if you want something simple and SMB-friendly
3. **Paradox** — best if speed, automation, and texting/chat are top priorities
4. **Harri** — best for restaurants, hospitality, retail, and franchise environments

### What to look for

For hourly hiring, prioritize:

- Mobile-friendly application process
- Text messaging/SMS workflows
- Automated screening questions
- Self-scheduling interviews
- Bulk job posting
- Fast onboarding and document collection
- Integration with payroll/HRIS
- Multi-location hiring support
- Compliance tracking

### Short answer

For most hourly-heavy employers, **Fountain** is probably the strongest ATS choice. For smaller businesses, look at **Workstream**. For hospitality or restaurant hiring, look at **Harri**.


applicant tracking software for a nonprofit with 40 staff

For a nonprofit with ~40 staff, you’ll likely want an applicant tracking system that is affordable, easy to use, and doesn’t require a dedicated HR tech admin.

### Good ATS options for a small nonprofit

| ATS | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Workable** | Best overall small-team ATS | Easy job posting, candidate tracking, interview workflows, good integrations |
| **Breezy HR** | Budget-friendly hiring | Simple interface, visual pipelines, good for occasional hiring |
| **JazzHR** | Small organizations needing structure | Affordable, customizable workflows, good nonprofit fit |
| **Greenhouse** | More advanced hiring process | Strong reporting and structured interviewing, but may be more expensive |
| **Recruitee** | Collaborative hiring | Good for teams where managers are involved in reviewing candidates |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Low-cost option | Affordable and customizable, but interface can feel less polished |
| **GoHire** | Very simple hiring needs | Good for small organizations that want something lightweight |

### My top recommendations
For a 40-person nonprofit, I’d start with:

1. **Breezy HR** – best if you want simple and affordable
2. **JazzHR** – best balance of cost and features
3. **Workable** – best if you hire regularly and want a polished system

### Features to prioritize
- Easy posting to job boards
- Branded careers page
- Resume/application tracking
- Interview scheduling
- Collaborative feedback from hiring managers
- EEO/DEI reporting if needed
- Affordable monthly pricing
- Nonprofit discount availability
- Integration with payroll/HR systems

### If budget is very tight
You could also use:
- **Google Forms + Google Sheets**
- **Airtable**
- **Notion**
- **Trello**

These work for light hiring but become harder to manage as applicant volume grows.

### Short answer
For a nonprofit with 40 staff, I’d recommend **Breezy HR or JazzHR** as the best starting points. If you have more frequent hiring or need stronger reporting, look at **Workable**.


For most Series A startups, I’d shortlist **Ashby, Lever, and Greenhouse**.

### Best default choice: **Ashby**
Use **Ashby** if you want a modern ATS that can scale from early-stage to growth-stage hiring.

**Why it’s good for Series A:**
- Strong ATS + CRM in one system
- Great reporting and pipeline analytics
- Good candidate experience
- Works well for founder-led and recruiter-led hiring
- Scales better than lightweight tools without feeling overly enterprise

### Other good options

| ATS | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Ashby** | Best overall for Series A | Modern, analytical, scalable |
| **Lever** | Startups that want simplicity + CRM | Easy to use, strong sourcing workflows |
| **Greenhouse** | More structured hiring processes | Very robust, but can feel heavier/admin-heavy |
| **Workable** | Budget-conscious teams | Simple and fast, less sophisticated |
| **Breezy HR** | Very small teams hiring occasionally | Lightweight, inexpensive |

### My recommendation
If you’re a Series A company hiring meaningfully over the next 12–24 months, choose:

**1. Ashby** — best default
**2. Lever** — if you prioritize ease of use and CRM
**3. Greenhouse** — if you already have a People/Recruiting team and want structured process at scale

Avoid overbuying enterprise tools too early, but don’t use spreadsheets or a barebones ATS if you expect to hire 20+ people in the next year.


Simple hiring software for a small business owner who does their own recruiting

For a small business owner doing their own recruiting, you’ll want a simple ATS/applicant tracking system that helps you post jobs, collect applications, track candidates, and schedule interviews without much setup.

### Best simple hiring software options

1. **Workable**
   - Best overall for small businesses
   - Easy job posting to multiple boards
   - Candidate tracking, interview scheduling, email templates
   - Good if you hire regularly

2. **Breezy HR**
   - Very user-friendly
   - Visual pipeline: Applied → Phone Screen → Interview → Offer
   - Has a free plan for limited needs
   - Great for owners who want something simple

3. **JazzHR**
   - Good for small businesses with occasional hiring
   - Job posting, candidate management, interview notes
   - Affordable compared with larger ATS tools

4. **Zoho Recruit**
   - Good budget option
   - Works well if you already use Zoho products
   - More customizable, but slightly less simple

5. **Indeed Employer**
   - Best if you mainly hire through Indeed
   - Post jobs, receive applicants, message candidates
   - Simple and familiar, but less robust as a full ATS

### My recommendation

If you want the easiest setup: **Breezy HR**
If you want the best all-around small business tool: **Workable**
If you want the cheapest/simple route: **Indeed Employer** or **Zoho Recruit**

For a solo business owner, I’d start with **Breezy HR** or **Indeed**, then upgrade only if hiring becomes more frequent.


Which ATS is best for collaborative hiring with a small team?

For a small team focused on collaborative hiring, **Workable** is often the best overall ATS.

Why it’s a strong fit:
- Easy for hiring managers and interviewers to use
- Built-in interview kits and scorecards
- Team comments, evaluations, and candidate timelines
- Good job posting distribution
- Scales well if your hiring grows

If you want something simpler and more affordable, consider **Breezy HR**. It’s very visual, easy to set up, and works well for small teams using pipeline-style hiring.

Other good options:
- **Greenhouse** — best if you want structured hiring and can handle a higher cost
- **Lever** — good for relationship-based recruiting and collaboration
- **JazzHR** — solid budget-friendly option for smaller companies

My recommendation:
**Choose Workable if you want the best balance of collaboration, usability, and scalability. Choose Breezy HR if you want the simplest small-team ATS.**


Best applicant tracking system for a restaurant group

For a restaurant group, the best ATS is usually one built for **high-volume, hourly, multi-location hiring**—not a generic corporate ATS.

### Best overall: **Workstream**
**Best for:** Multi-location restaurant groups hiring hourly staff quickly.
**Why:** Text-to-apply, automated screening, interview scheduling, onboarding, location-level workflows, and good tools for GMs who need to hire fast.

### Best for larger restaurant groups: **Harri**
**Best for:** Enterprise restaurant/hospitality groups.
**Why:** Strong hospitality focus, applicant tracking, onboarding, workforce tools, compliance, and multi-unit management.

### Best for very high-volume hiring: **Fountain**
**Best for:** Chains with constant applicant flow and many hourly roles.
**Why:** Great automation, candidate workflows, SMS communication, and fast screening.

### Best if you rely heavily on Indeed: **Indeed Hiring Platform**
**Best for:** Smaller or mid-sized groups wanting simplicity and volume.
**Why:** Easy job posting, applicant management, and interview scheduling, especially if Indeed is your main source of candidates.

### Best for premium/white-collar + hourly mix: **Greenhouse**
**Best for:** Restaurant groups hiring corporate roles plus some field roles.
**Why:** Excellent structured hiring and reporting, but less tailored to hourly restaurant hiring.

## My recommendation
If you’re a restaurant group with multiple locations, I’d start by demoing:

1. **Workstream** – best balance for restaurant hourly hiring
2. **Harri** – best if you’re larger/enterprise hospitality
3. **Fountain** – best if hiring volume is very high

Look for features like SMS texting, mobile apply, automated screening, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, multi-location permissions, and integrations with your payroll/POS/HR system.


What recruiting software works well for remote-first small companies?

For remote-first small companies, the best recruiting software is usually lightweight, collaborative, and strong on scheduling, async feedback, scorecards, and integrations with Slack/Google/Microsoft.

### Good options to consider

| Software | Best for | Why it works well for remote-first small teams |
|---|---|---|
| **Breezy HR** | Small teams wanting an easy ATS | Simple pipelines, scorecards, email templates, interview scheduling, video interview support, good value |
| **Workable** | Small companies hiring regularly | Strong job posting distribution, candidate sourcing, structured interviews, good collaboration tools |
| **Recruitee** | Collaborative hiring teams | Clean interface, hiring team workflows, career site builder, referrals, flexible pipelines |
| **Ashby** | Data-driven startups | Excellent analytics, structured hiring, scheduling, sourcing, automation; better if you expect to scale |
| **Lever** | Startups focused on sourcing + ATS | Strong CRM-style candidate nurturing, collaborative feedback, good integrations |
| **Greenhouse** | Companies that want structured hiring | Excellent scorecards, interview kits, DEI reporting, process consistency; can be more than a tiny team needs |
| **JazzHR** | Budget-conscious small businesses | Affordable ATS basics: job posting, candidate tracking, interview notes, workflows |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Small companies already using Zoho | Cost-effective, customizable, integrates with Zoho apps, decent automation |
| **Teamtailor** | Employer branding + candidate experience | Great career pages, candidate communication, team collaboration, attractive UI |
| **Homerun** | Design-conscious remote startups | Beautiful job pages, simple workflows, good for smaller teams prioritizing brand |

### My top picks by situation

- **Best overall for remote-first small companies:** **Breezy HR** or **Recruitee**
- **Best for startups planning to scale:** **Ashby**
- **Best structured hiring process:** **Greenhouse**
- **Best value/budget option:** **JazzHR** or **Zoho Recruit**
- **Best for sourcing-heavy hiring:** **Lever** or **Workable**
- **Best employer-branding experience:** **Teamtailor** or **Homerun**

### Features to prioritize

Look for:

- Slack/Google Workspace/Microsoft 365 integrations
- Easy scheduling across time zones
- Structured scorecards and interview kits
- Async feedback and hiring team comments
- Candidate pipeline automation
- Career page and job board posting
- Remote interview/video tools
- GDPR/compliance support if hiring internationally
- Reporting on pipeline, source quality, and time-to-hire

If you’re under ~50 employees and hiring a handful of roles per quarter, I’d start with **Breezy HR, Recruitee, or JazzHR**. If hiring will become a major function soon, consider **Ashby, Lever, or Greenhouse**.


ATS with good reporting for a small HR department

For a small HR department that needs strong ATS reporting without enterprise complexity, consider these options:

### Best ATS options with good reporting

**1. Greenhouse**
- Best for: Structured hiring and deeper reporting
- Strengths: Excellent pipeline analytics, source tracking, interviewer scorecards, DEI reporting, dashboards
- Consideration: Can be more expensive and may be more than a very small team needs

**2. Lever**
- Best for: Recruiting teams that want ATS + CRM
- Strengths: Good reporting on pipeline, sourcing, time-to-hire, recruiter activity, diversity metrics
- Consideration: Pricing can be higher for small teams

**3. Workable**
- Best for: Small to mid-sized HR teams wanting ease of use
- Strengths: Simple dashboards, job board posting, candidate pipeline reports, source effectiveness, hiring velocity
- Consideration: Reporting is solid, though not as advanced as Greenhouse

**4. JazzHR**
- Best for: Budget-conscious small businesses
- Strengths: Affordable, easy to use, basic reporting on jobs, candidates, sources, and hiring stages
- Consideration: Reporting is useful but less customizable than higher-end tools

**5. Breezy HR**
- Best for: Small teams wanting a visual, easy ATS
- Strengths: Drag-and-drop pipelines, simple reporting, candidate source tracking, team collaboration
- Consideration: Better for straightforward hiring needs than complex analytics

### My recommendation

If you want the best balance of **small-team usability and reporting**, start with:

1. **Workable** – best overall for small HR teams
2. **JazzHR** – best lower-cost option
3. **Greenhouse** – best if reporting depth is the top priority and budget allows

### Reporting features to look for

Make sure the ATS includes:

- Time-to-fill and time-to-hire reporting
- Source-of-hire and cost-per-source tracking
- Pipeline conversion rates by stage
- Recruiter and hiring manager activity reports
- EEO/DEI reporting if needed
- Custom dashboards or exportable reports
- Integration with HRIS/payroll tools

For a small HR department, I’d shortlist **Workable, JazzHR, and Greenhouse** and compare pricing based on your number of open roles and users.


Best applicant tracking system for a healthcare practice with 60 employees

For a healthcare practice with ~60 employees, I’d shortlist these:

### Best overall: **JazzHR**
Good fit if you need a straightforward, affordable ATS for a small to mid-sized practice.

**Why it fits healthcare SMBs:**
- Easy job posting to multiple boards
- Custom hiring workflows by role — MA, RN, receptionist, billing, etc.
- Team collaboration and interview feedback
- Offer letters and onboarding integrations
- Background check integrations
- Reasonable pricing for smaller organizations

### Best if you also need HR software: **BambooHR**
Choose this if you want ATS + employee records + onboarding + PTO in one system.

**Best for:** practices that don’t already have a strong HRIS.

### Best for higher-volume hiring: **Workable**
Good if you’re hiring frequently across many roles or locations.

**Strengths:**
- Strong candidate sourcing
- Great job board reach
- Automated screening
- Good reporting

### Best if payroll/HR is also a priority: **Paycor**
Worth considering if you want recruiting, payroll, onboarding, and HR compliance in one platform.

---

## My recommendation
For a 60-person healthcare practice, I’d start with **JazzHR** if you only need recruiting, or **BambooHR** if you want an all-in-one HR + ATS system.

When evaluating, ask specifically about:
- Background check integration
- License/certification tracking
- I-9/E-Verify support
- Role-based permissions
- EEOC reporting
- Data security/SOC 2 compliance
- Integration with your payroll or HR system

Avoid large enterprise healthcare systems like symplr/HealthcareSource unless you’re doing high-volume, multi-site clinical hiring.


What's the easiest applicant tracking system to learn?

The easiest ATS to learn is usually **Breezy HR** or **JazzHR**.

- **Breezy HR**: Very beginner-friendly, visual drag-and-drop hiring pipeline, easy to learn quickly.
- **JazzHR**: Simple interface, good for small businesses, not overly complex.
- **Workable**: Also easy to use, with more features and better scalability.
- **Greenhouse**: Not the easiest, but one of the best to learn if you want a widely used professional ATS skill.
- **Lever**: User-friendly and common in tech recruiting.

If you want the **easiest overall**, choose **Breezy HR**.
If you want the **best ATS to learn for recruiting jobs**, choose **Greenhouse** or **Lever**.


Recommend an ATS that also does onboarding for a small company.

For a small company, I’d recommend **BambooHR** as the best all-around ATS with onboarding.

**Why BambooHR**
- Built for small to midsize companies
- Includes applicant tracking, job postings, candidate management
- Strong onboarding workflows/checklists
- Offer letters, e-signatures, employee records, PTO, basic HRIS
- Easier to administer than larger enterprise ATS tools

**Good alternatives**
1. **Workable** — Better if you do a lot of hiring and want a stronger ATS, with onboarding/HR features available.
2. **Rippling** — Best if onboarding needs to include payroll, benefits, app access, devices, and IT provisioning.
3. **Gusto** — Good if you already use or want payroll + simple hiring/onboarding, but it’s less robust as an ATS.

**My pick:**
If you want a straightforward small-company system: **BambooHR**.
If recruiting volume is the priority: **Workable**.
If onboarding automation/payroll/IT setup is the priority: **Rippling**.


Which applicant tracking systems have the best pricing for companies under 100 employees?

For companies under 100 employees, the best-priced applicant tracking systems are usually the ones that charge by job posting or have affordable small-business tiers rather than enterprise-style per-employee pricing.

### Best-value ATS options for companies under 100 employees

| ATS | Why it’s good for small companies | Typical pricing fit |
|---|---|---|
| **Zoho Recruit** | One of the most affordable full ATS options; good for small HR teams | Free/low-cost plans; strong value |
| **Workable** | Easy to use, polished, good job board distribution | Best if you hire regularly but not at enterprise scale |
| **Breezy HR** | Good interface, pipelines, automation, free tier available | Strong for startups and small teams |
| **JazzHR** | Built for small and mid-sized businesses; simple pricing | Often one of the better SMB ATS deals |
| **Recruitee** | Good collaborative hiring features | Affordable for teams doing consistent hiring |
| **Manatal** | Low-cost ATS with AI-style sourcing features | Very budget-friendly for small companies |
| **Freshteam by Freshworks** | Good HR + ATS combo for smaller businesses | Attractive if you also need basic HR tools |
| **Greenhouse** | Excellent system, but often pricier | Better if recruiting is a core function |
| **Lever** | Strong CRM + ATS, but typically more expensive | Better for scaling companies with active sourcing needs |

### Best low-cost picks

If price is the main concern, I’d shortlist:

1. **Zoho Recruit** — best overall budget ATS
2. **Manatal** — very affordable and feature-rich
3. **Breezy HR** — great small-business usability, good free/entry plans
4. **JazzHR** — solid SMB-focused pricing
5. **Freshteam** — good if you want ATS plus basic HR features

### Best free or near-free options

- **Breezy HR** — free plan for very small hiring needs
- **Zoho Recruit** — free/low-cost options
- **Freshteam** — may offer free or entry-level plans depending on region and features
- **Indeed Employer tools** — not a full ATS, but can be enough for very light hiring

### My recommendation

For a company under 100 employees:

- Choose **Zoho Recruit** if you want the lowest-cost full ATS.
- Choose **Breezy HR** if ease of use matters most.
- Choose **JazzHR** if you want a straightforward small-business recruiting platform.
- Choose **Manatal** if you want strong features at a low monthly cost.
- Choose **Workable** if you want a more polished system and can spend a bit more.

If you hire only a few roles per year, start with **Breezy HR, Zoho Recruit, or JazzHR**. If you are hiring every month, **Workable or Recruitee** may be worth the higher cost.


For a small company, the best ATS depends on hiring volume and budget. Here are strong options:

| ATS | Best for | Why it’s good for small companies |
|---|---|---|
| **Workable** | Best overall | Easy to use, strong job posting, candidate tracking, interview tools |
| **Breezy HR** | Best budget-friendly option | Simple pipeline view, good free/low-cost plans, quick setup |
| **JazzHR** | Best for growing teams | Affordable, customizable workflows, good collaboration tools |
| **Greenhouse** | Best if you want a premium system | Excellent structured hiring and reporting, but more expensive |
| **Lever** | Best for recruiting + CRM | Good for relationship-based hiring and talent pipelines |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Best low-cost ATS | Affordable, integrates well with Zoho apps, decent automation |
| **Recruitee** | Best for team collaboration | Clean interface, collaborative hiring, good employer branding tools |

### My top recommendation
For most small companies, I’d recommend **Breezy HR** or **JazzHR** if you want affordability and ease of use.

If you expect to hire frequently and want more advanced features, go with **Workable**.

### Quick guide
- **Hiring only a few roles per year:** Breezy HR or Zoho Recruit
- **Hiring regularly:** JazzHR or Workable
- **Need advanced reporting and structured interviews:** Greenhouse
- **Need candidate relationship management:** Lever or Recruitee


What hiring software do 20-person companies use?

20-person companies usually use lightweight, affordable recruiting tools rather than enterprise ATS platforms. Common options include:

### Common hiring software for 20-person companies

| Use case | Software companies often use |
|---|---|
| Simple applicant tracking | **Breezy HR**, **Workable**, **JazzHR**, **Recruitee**, **Homerun** |
| More polished startup ATS | **Ashby**, **Lever**, **Greenhouse** |
| HR + hiring combined | **BambooHR**, **Gusto**, **Rippling**, **HiBob** |
| Very low-volume hiring | **Google Sheets**, **Airtable**, **Notion**, **Trello** |
| Job posting / sourcing | **LinkedIn**, **Indeed**, **Wellfound**, **ZipRecruiter** |
| Scheduling interviews | **Calendly**, **Google Calendar**, **Microsoft Outlook** |
| Assessments | **TestGorilla**, **HackerRank**, **Codility**, **Criteria** |

### What many 20-person companies actually do

If they hire only a few people per year, they often use:

- LinkedIn or Indeed for sourcing
- Email for candidate communication
- Google Sheets or Airtable to track candidates
- Calendly for scheduling

If they are hiring regularly, they usually adopt a small-business ATS like:

- **Breezy HR**
- **Workable**
- **JazzHR**
- **Recruitee**
- **Ashby**

### Best fit by situation

- **Cheapest/simple setup:** Google Sheets + LinkedIn + Calendly
- **Best lightweight ATS:** Breezy HR or JazzHR
- **Best for fast-growing startups:** Ashby, Lever, or Greenhouse
- **Best if you want HR/payroll too:** Gusto, BambooHR, or Rippling

For a 20-person company, I’d usually start with **Breezy HR, Workable, JazzHR, or Ashby**, depending on hiring volume and budget.


I run a 120-person construction firm. What applicant tracking system fits us?

For a **120-person construction firm**, I’d shortlist **3–4 ATS options** depending on how you hire:

| Best fit | ATS | Why it fits construction |
|---|---|---|
| **Best overall for construction** | **Arcoro** | Built for construction/contractors. Good for field hiring, compliance, onboarding, and HR workflows. Strong choice if you hire laborers, operators, project managers, supers, etc. |
| **Best easy-to-use general ATS** | **Workable** | Simple, polished, strong job posting, texting, interview workflows, and candidate tracking. Good if you want a modern ATS without overcomplicating things. |
| **Best budget-friendly option** | **JazzHR** | Solid ATS for small/mid-sized businesses. Good for basic recruiting, job ads, candidate tracking, and collaborative hiring. |
| **Best if you want payroll/HR bundled** | **Paycor Recruiting** or **Paylocity Recruiting** | Good if you already use or want to use their payroll/HR platform. Keeps recruiting, onboarding, payroll, and employee records connected. |

### My recommendation
If most of your hiring is **field/trades/construction-specific**, start with **Arcoro**.

If you want something simpler and more flexible, especially for a mix of office and field roles, look at **Workable**.

If cost is the biggest concern, consider **JazzHR**.

### Must-have features for your firm
Make sure the ATS has:

- **Mobile-friendly applications** — many field candidates apply from phones.
- **Text messaging** — critical for trades hiring.
- **Easy job posting to Indeed/ZipRecruiter/etc.**
- **Referral tracking** — employee referrals are huge in construction.
- **Onboarding forms** — I-9, W-4, direct deposit, handbook acknowledgments.
- **Background check/drug screen integrations**
- **Hiring manager access** for project managers/superintendents.
- **EEO/compliance reporting** if you do public-sector or government work.

### Short answer
For a 120-person construction company, I’d put **Arcoro first**, **Workable second**, and **JazzHR third**. If you already use **Paycor, Paylocity, ADP, or BambooHR**, also evaluate their recruiting module before buying a separate ATS.


Best ATS for high-volume retail hiring at a small chain

For a small retail chain doing high-volume hiring, the best fit is usually an ATS built for hourly workers, texting, fast screening, and multi-location workflows.

### Best overall: **Workstream**
Best for small chains hiring cashiers, sales associates, stockers, shift leads, etc.

**Why it fits retail:**
- Text-message based recruiting
- Mobile-friendly applications
- Automated screening questions
- Interview scheduling
- Multi-location job posting
- Good for walk-in/QR code recruiting
- Designed for hourly, high-volume hiring

### Best budget-friendly option: **Homebase Hiring**
Best if you already use or want scheduling/time-clock tools.

**Good for:**
- Small retail teams
- Posting jobs quickly
- Basic applicant tracking
- Integrating hiring with scheduling and onboarding

### Best for very high volume: **Fountain**
Best if you have lots of applicants across many locations and need automation.

**Good for:**
- Automated applicant funnels
- Screening at scale
- Background checks/onboarding workflows
- Franchise or multi-site operations

### Best simple SMB ATS: **JazzHR**
Best if you want a traditional ATS that’s affordable and easy to manage.

**Good for:**
- Centralized applicant tracking
- Interview collaboration
- Job board posting
- Small HR teams

### Best if you rely heavily on Indeed: **Indeed + Indeed Hiring Platform**
Best if most candidates come from Indeed and you want simple applicant management.

**Good for:**
- Fast candidate flow
- Sponsored jobs
- Basic screening
- Simple setup

## Recommendation
If you’re a small retail chain hiring frequently for hourly roles, start with **Workstream**. It’s more purpose-built for retail/high-volume hiring than a general ATS.

If budget is the main concern and you also need scheduling/time tracking, choose **Homebase**. If you’re hiring at much larger scale across many locations, look at **Fountain**.


What applicant tracking system should I choose if I only hire a few people a year?

If you only hire a few people a year, I’d avoid a full enterprise ATS and choose a lightweight/free option.

**Best default choice:** **Breezy HR**
- Good for very small hiring teams
- Simple pipeline view
- Free/low-cost options
- Easy candidate tracking without much setup

**If you want the cheapest practical ATS:** **Zoho Recruit**
- Low-cost plans
- Solid basic ATS features
- Good if you may hire a bit more later

**If you hire only 1–2 roles a year:** you may not need an ATS at all. Use:
- Google Forms + Google Sheets
- Trello/Notion pipeline
- Indeed or LinkedIn’s built-in applicant tracking

My recommendation: **Use Breezy HR if you want a real ATS; use Google Sheets/Trello if hiring is very occasional.**


Modern alternatives to legacy applicant tracking systems for SMBs

Here are modern alternatives to legacy applicant tracking systems for SMBs, grouped by best fit:

## Strong all-around SMB ATS platforms

### 1. **Workable**
Best for SMBs that want a polished, easy-to-use ATS with strong job posting, candidate management, and interview workflows.

**Good for:** Growing teams, distributed hiring, straightforward setup
**Strengths:** Job board distribution, structured hiring, automation, integrations

### 2. **Breezy HR**
A modern, visual ATS with drag-and-drop pipelines and simple collaboration tools.

**Good for:** Small businesses that want simplicity
**Strengths:** Kanban-style hiring pipeline, candidate communication, affordable plans

### 3. **JazzHR**
A popular SMB-focused ATS with strong core recruiting features at accessible pricing.

**Good for:** Cost-conscious SMBs
**Strengths:** Job posting, resume tracking, interview scheduling, offer management

### 4. **Recruitee**
A collaborative hiring platform built for teams that want modern workflows without enterprise complexity.

**Good for:** SMBs with multiple hiring managers
**Strengths:** Careers site, team collaboration, automation, reporting

### 5. **Teamtailor**
A modern ATS with a strong employer branding and careers site focus.

**Good for:** Companies that care about candidate experience and brand
**Strengths:** Career pages, recruitment marketing, automation, candidate nurturing

## More advanced modern ATS options

### 6. **Greenhouse**
A leading structured hiring platform, often used by scaling companies.

**Good for:** SMBs planning to scale quickly
**Strengths:** Structured interviews, scorecards, integrations, reporting
**Watch out:** Can be more expensive and process-heavy for very small teams

### 7. **Lever**
Combines ATS and CRM-style candidate relationship management.

**Good for:** Companies doing proactive sourcing
**Strengths:** Talent pipelines, candidate nurturing, sourcing workflows

### 8. **Ashby**
A modern, analytics-heavy recruiting platform popular with high-growth startups.

**Good for:** Data-driven hiring teams
**Strengths:** ATS, CRM, scheduling, analytics, automation
**Watch out:** May be more than a very small business needs

## Lightweight or HR-suite options

### 9. **Zoho Recruit**
Flexible and affordable, especially if you already use Zoho products.

**Good for:** Budget-conscious SMBs and staffing firms
**Strengths:** Customization, automation, CRM-style workflows

### 10. **Freshteam by Freshworks**
Combines basic ATS and HR features.

**Good for:** SMBs wanting recruiting plus simple HR management
**Strengths:** Applicant tracking, employee data, onboarding

### 11. **BambooHR**
Primarily an HRIS with applicant tracking built in.

**Good for:** SMBs that want HR and hiring in one system
**Strengths:** Employee records, onboarding, simple recruiting

### 12. **Rippling Recruiting**
Part of the broader Rippling workforce platform.

**Good for:** SMBs already using or considering Rippling
**Strengths:** Recruiting integrated with HR, payroll, IT, onboarding

## Best choices by use case

| Need | Good options |
|---|---|
| Simple and affordable ATS | Breezy HR, JazzHR, Zoho Recruit |
| Best all-around SMB ATS | Workable, Recruitee |
| Strong employer branding | Teamtailor, Homerun |
| Structured hiring | Greenhouse, Workable |
| Startup/high-growth recruiting | Ashby, Lever, Greenhouse |
| ATS plus HRIS | BambooHR, Freshteam, Rippling |
| Recruiting CRM/sourcing | Lever, Ashby, Workable |

## What to look for in a modern SMB ATS

Prioritize platforms with:

- Easy job posting to multiple job boards
- Clean candidate pipeline management
- Interview scheduling and email automation
- Collaborative feedback and scorecards
- Custom careers page
- Good candidate experience on mobile
- Integrations with email, calendar, HRIS, Slack, background checks, and assessments
- Reporting on source quality, time-to-hire, and pipeline conversion
- Transparent pricing that fits SMB hiring volume

## Shortlist recommendation

For most SMBs replacing a legacy ATS, start by evaluating:

1. **Workable** — best general-purpose modern ATS
2. **Breezy HR** — best simple and affordable option
3. **Recruitee** — best for collaborative hiring
4. **Teamtailor** — best for employer branding
5. **Greenhouse or Lever** — best if you are scaling aggressively or need more structure


Best applicant tracking system for a professional services firm under 100 people

For a professional services firm under 100 people, the best overall ATS is likely **Workable**.

### Best overall: **Workable**
**Why it fits:**
- Easy for non-HR hiring managers to use
- Strong job posting to LinkedIn, Indeed, Google Jobs, etc.
- Good interview scheduling, scorecards, candidate pipelines, and email templates
- Works well for firms hiring across consulting, finance, legal, marketing, accounting, or advisory roles
- More polished than many small-business ATS tools without being enterprise-heavy

**Best for:** A growing professional services firm that wants a reliable, easy-to-adopt ATS with strong all-around functionality.

---

## Good alternatives

### **JazzHR**
**Best budget option**
- Lower-cost and simple to implement
- Good for firms with moderate hiring volume
- Less sophisticated reporting and workflow depth than Workable

**Choose JazzHR if:** cost matters most and you want something simple.

---

### **Breezy HR**
**Best for ease of use**
- Very visual, drag-and-drop pipeline
- Good candidate communication tools
- Nice for small teams without a dedicated recruiting function

**Choose Breezy if:** you want the easiest system for partners/managers to actually use.

---

### **Greenhouse**
**Best if you expect rapid growth**
- Excellent structured hiring, scorecards, reporting, and process consistency
- Stronger for scaling organizations
- More expensive and may be overkill under 100 people

**Choose Greenhouse if:** hiring quality, process discipline, and future scale are top priorities.

---

### **Lever**
**Best for relationship-based recruiting**
- Strong candidate relationship management features
- Good for firms that recruit from networks, referrals, and passive candidates
- Often more than a small firm needs

**Choose Lever if:** you rely heavily on networking and long-term candidate nurturing.

---

## My recommendation

For most professional services firms under 100 employees:

1. **Workable** — best overall balance
2. **Breezy HR** — best if simplicity is the priority
3. **JazzHR** — best lower-cost option
4. **Greenhouse** — best if you are scaling aggressively

If you want a safe choice, go with **Workable**. It is robust enough to professionalize hiring but not so complex that partners and hiring managers will avoid using it.


What ATS has the best mobile experience for small business hiring?

For most small businesses, **Workable** is one of the best ATS options for mobile hiring.

Why it stands out:
- Strong **mobile-friendly candidate application experience**
- Good **recruiter mobile app** for reviewing candidates and collaborating
- Easy job posting to multiple boards
- Simple enough for small teams but scalable as hiring grows
- Good automation without feeling too enterprise-heavy

Good alternatives:

| ATS | Best for |
|---|---|
| **Workable** | Best overall mobile experience for SMB hiring |
| **Breezy HR** | Easiest, most visual mobile-friendly pipeline |
| **JazzHR** | Affordable small-business hiring |
| **Zoho Recruit** | Budget-conscious teams already using Zoho |
| **Greenhouse** | More structured hiring, but often heavier for small businesses |

My recommendation:
If you want the best balance of **mobile experience, ease of use, and small-business practicality**, choose **Workable**. If you want something simpler and more lightweight, look at **Breezy HR**.


Which applicant tracking system is best value for money for a small company?

For most small companies, **Zoho Recruit** is usually the **best value for money** ATS.

Why:
- Affordable compared with Workable/Greenhouse/Lever
- Good core ATS features: job posting, candidate pipeline, email templates, interview scheduling, resume parsing
- Scales reasonably as hiring grows
- Integrates well with Zoho, Google Workspace, Outlook, LinkedIn, etc.
- Has a free/low-cost entry point for very small teams

Good alternatives depending on your needs:

| ATS | Best for | Value verdict |
|---|---|---|
| **Zoho Recruit** | Budget-conscious small businesses | **Best overall value** |
| **Breezy HR** | Simple, visual hiring pipeline | Great if ease of use matters most |
| **JazzHR** | Small businesses hiring regularly | Good fixed-price option |
| **Workable** | Companies hiring more often and needing stronger features | Better product, but usually pricier |
| **Manatal** | Low-cost ATS with AI-style matching features | Strong budget alternative |
| **Greenhouse / Lever** | Scaling companies with structured recruiting | Excellent, but often overkill for small companies |

My recommendation:

- If you hire **occasionally**: start with **Breezy HR** or **Zoho Recruit**
- If you want the **lowest-cost capable ATS**: choose **Zoho Recruit**
- If you hire **multiple roles every month**: consider **Workable**
- If you want a clean, simple SMB tool: consider **JazzHR**

Overall: **Zoho Recruit is likely the best value-for-money ATS for a small company.**


What is the best applicant tracking system for a 50-person company?

For a **50-person company**, the best ATS is usually **one that is simple to adopt, affordable, and strong enough to handle growth without enterprise complexity**. Based on the sources you provided, **Breezy HR, Workable, and JazzHR** are the most relevant fits for this size, with **Workable** the strongest general-purpose choice for a growing 50-person team and **Breezy HR** a strong overall SMB pick.[1][6][13]

A practical way to choose:

| ATS | Best fit for a 50-person company | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|
| **Workable** | Growing SMBs that want a polished, structured ATS | Cited as a good fit for growing teams and for companies hiring about 10–50 roles per year.[6] |
| **Breezy HR** | Teams that want ease of use and a straightforward ATS | Named “best overall ATS software” in one comparison and also recommended for small businesses.[13][7] |
| **JazzHR** | Budget-conscious companies with lighter hiring needs | Frequently recommended for small businesses and startups.[7][17] |
| **Greenhouse** | Companies with more structured hiring and process discipline | Strong for mid-market and enterprise, but may be more than many 50-person teams need.[6][9] |
| **Freshteam** | Teams that want ATS plus broader HR functions | Free up to 50 employees in one cited source, making it attractive if you also want HR features.[7] |

If you want the **single best default recommendation**, I’d pick **Workable** for a 50-person company because it is specifically positioned for growing SMB teams and avoids the heavier setup of enterprise-oriented tools.[6] If your main goal is **lowest cost**, choose **JazzHR**; if your main goal is **simplicity and a highly usable interface**, choose **Breezy HR**.[7][13][17]

If you want, I can narrow this down to the **best ATS by budget, by ease of use, or by whether you need HR/payroll too**.


The **best ATS for small business hiring** depends on your priorities, but **Breezy HR** is the most consistently recommended general pick for small businesses because it’s built for small teams, has an intuitive pipeline, job posting to many boards, built-in video interviewing, and automation without per-user pricing[1]. If you want an alternative with *broader hiring support*, **Dover** is also highlighted as a strong overall choice for small businesses[3].

A practical short list:

- **Breezy HR** — best all-around for small businesses; strong ease of use and automation[1]
- **Dover** — best if you want recruiting software plus hiring support[3]
- **Spark Hire** — best if you want native video, reference checks, and headcount-based pricing[5]
- **Gusto** — best if you want ATS plus onboarding/payroll/compliance in one system[6]
- **Manatal** — best for budget-conscious startups that want AI features[13]

If you want the simplest answer: **choose Breezy HR** unless your priority is *all-in-one HR/payroll* or *hands-on hiring support*[1][6][3].


We're a 30 person startup and hiring is a mess in spreadsheets. What applicant tracking system should we buy?

For a **30-person startup**, I’d shortlist **Ashby**, **Breezy HR**, and **Workable**. If you want the best *startup-scale* option, **Ashby** is the strongest fit; if you want the easiest and most budget-friendly setup, **Breezy HR** is the clearest pick; if you want the fastest out-of-box experience, **Workable** is a good alternative.[1][9][13]

- **Ashby**: best for scaling startups that want recruiting, scheduling, automation, and reporting in one system.[1][9]
- **Breezy HR**: best for small businesses on a budget; it has a drag-and-drop pipeline, one-click posting to 50+ job boards, video interviewing, and automation, with plans starting at $157/month and unlimited users.[1][13]
- **Workable**: best for quick setup and strong candidate tracking; it’s repeatedly positioned as an all-in-one ATS with broad job-board integrations and AI-assisted matching.[4][9][13]

If your team is still hiring relatively lightly and hates admin work, **Breezy HR** is usually the safest buy because it keeps pricing simple and avoids per-user fees.[1][13] If you expect to keep growing and want a system you won’t outgrow quickly, **Ashby** is the better long-term choice.[1][9]

A practical rule:
- Choose **Breezy HR** if you want **simple, affordable, unlimited-user ATS**.[1][13]
- Choose **Ashby** if you want **best-in-class startup workflow and analytics**.[1][9]
- Choose **Workable** if you want **fast implementation and broad integrations**.[4][9][13]

If you want, I can turn this into a **3-option buyer’s recommendation** with pricing, pros/cons, and a “best for your startup” final pick.


Recommend an applicant tracking system for a company with under 100 employees.

For a company with **under 100 employees**, my default recommendation is **BambooHR** if you want an ATS that can grow with you and also cover broader HR needs.[6][9] If you want a more ATS-focused, budget-friendly option, **JazzHR** or **Breezy HR** are strong small-business choices.[10][11][17]

- **Best overall for under 100 employees:** **BambooHR** — positioned as a small-business ATS that works well as the company grows, and it is also an HR suite with applicant tracking.[6][9]
- **Best budget-friendly ATS:** **JazzHR** — repeatedly highlighted as a good fit for SMBs and smaller hiring teams.[10][17]
- **Best for ease on a tight budget:** **Breezy HR** — listed as a small-business option with a free plan and affordable paid pricing.[11]
- **Best for startups needing customization:** **100Hires** — recommended for startups needing customizable tools, with starting pricing noted at $99/month.[9]

If you want a simple decision rule:
- Choose **BambooHR** if you want *one system* for hiring plus HR.
- Choose **JazzHR** if hiring is your main need and you want something straightforward.
- Choose **Breezy HR** if budget is the biggest constraint.
- Choose **100Hires** if you want more customization for a startup-style workflow.[6][9][10][11]

If you want, I can also narrow this down to the **best ATS for your budget, hiring volume, or industry**.


For an **affordable ATS for SMBs**, the strongest low-cost options are **Zoho Recruit**, **Breezy HR**, **JazzHR**, and **Manatal**. The best choice depends on whether you want a **free plan**, **lowest paid price**, or **best value for a small team**.[3][9][18]

| ATS | Starting price | Best for | Notes |
|---|---:|---|---|
| **Zoho Recruit** | **Free** plan; paid starts around **$25/user/month** | Very tight budgets, especially if you need a free option | Good budget pick; pricing varies by plan and source.[3][9][10] |
| **Breezy HR** | **Free** tier; paid from about **$157/month** | SMBs that want a simple visual pipeline | Solid free tier, but paid plans jump above some competitors.[1][9][10] |
| **JazzHR** | About **$75–$83/month** | Small teams wanting a low-cost full ATS | Often cited as one of the cheaper dedicated ATS options.[1][3][5][9] |
| **Manatal** | About **$15/user/month** | Teams that want a low-cost paid ATS with more features | Frequently described as the cheapest full-featured paid ATS.[3][9][18] |
| **JuggleHire** | **$79/month** flat | Very small teams wanting simple setup | Flat pricing can be attractive for SMBs with multiple users.[4] |
| **AvaHR** | About **$99/month** flat | SMBs wanting predictable monthly pricing | Often positioned as affordable and feature-rich.[8] |

If you want the **cheapest viable option**, start with **Zoho Recruit** or **Breezy HR** if a free tier is enough.[3][9][10]
If you want the **best paid value**, **Manatal** is repeatedly described as the cheapest full-featured paid ATS at around **$15/user/month**.[3][9][18]
If you want a **simple, predictable monthly bill**, **JazzHR**, **JuggleHire**, or **AvaHR** are common SMB picks.[1][4][5][8]

A practical rule of thumb from the results is that SMB ATS pricing often falls anywhere from **free** to about **$75–$190/month** for capable paid tools, with higher-end platforms costing more.[1][8][14][19]

If you want, I can narrow this down to the **best ATS for 1–5 employees**, **best free ATS**, or **best ATS for hiring from LinkedIn/Indeed**.


What ATS do small companies actually use?

Small companies usually use **lightweight, SMB-friendly ATS tools** rather than enterprise systems. The names that come up most often in small-business-focused roundups are **Breezy HR, JazzHR, Zoho Recruit, BambooHR, Workable, Recooty, and AvaHR**.[2][3][4][6][7][13][16]

What “actually use” tends to split into a few patterns:

- **Very small teams / startups:** **Breezy HR, JazzHR, Zoho Recruit, Recooty, AvaHR, and 100Hires** are commonly recommended because they are simpler to set up and priced for lean teams.[1][2][4][6][10][13]
- **Companies that want ATS + HR in one system:** **BambooHR** and **Rippling** show up often because they bundle recruiting with broader HR features.[2][7][16]
- **Teams that hire more regularly and want more depth:** **Workable, Lever, Greenhouse, and Ashby** appear as the more scalable options, though they are often positioned as moving beyond the smallest-company use case.[3][4][7][9][11]

A practical way to think about it is:

| Small company need | Common ATS choices |
|---|---|
| Cheapest/simple setup | JazzHR, Recooty, 100Hires, JuggleHire |
| Best-known SMB ATS | Breezy HR, Zoho Recruit, Workable |
| All-in-one HR + recruiting | BambooHR, Rippling |
| More advanced hiring workflows | Lever, Greenhouse, Ashby |

If you mean **what small companies use most in practice**, the repeated pattern across the results is **Breezy HR, Zoho Recruit, JazzHR, BambooHR, and Workable**.[2][4][13][16][17] If you want, I can narrow this to **the best ATS for a 5-person company, 20-person company, or 50-person company**.


I need to hire 10 people this quarter and have no recruiting software. What should I get?

If you need to hire **10 people this quarter** and have **no recruiting software**, the best first purchase is a lightweight **ATS (applicant tracking system)** that also handles job posting, candidate tracking, scheduling, and team feedback in one place.[1][2][11]

For your situation, the safest default choice is **Breezy HR** if you want something simple and low-friction, or **JazzHR** if you want more guided setup and a low monthly cost.[3][5] If you want a more feature-rich platform and are willing to pay more, **Workable** is commonly recommended for SMBs because it combines ATS, sourcing, video interviewing, and HR functions.[2][4]

A practical way to choose:

- **Breezy HR** — best if you want a visual pipeline and automation, and possibly a free tier to start quickly.[3][5][8]
- **JazzHR** — best if you want a beginner-friendly setup and low monthly pricing.[4][5]
- **Workable** — best if you want an all-in-one, more scalable system with sourcing and broader hiring tools.[2][4]
- **Zoho Recruit** — best if affordability is your top priority.[4]
- **Recruit CRM** — worth considering if you want a highly rated free option or are already using CRM-style workflows.[2][14]

If you are hiring mostly through inbound applicants, an ATS alone is usually enough.[11][17] If you expect a lot of unqualified resumes, add a **skills assessment tool** or use a platform with screening features, since several small-business reviews recommend tools like TestTrick for filtering at volume.[8]

My recommendation for a team hiring 10 people this quarter:
- Start with **Breezy HR** if budget is tight and you want to get live fast.[3][5][8]
- Choose **Workable** if this hiring push is strategic and you want stronger sourcing and collaboration tools.[2][4]
- Choose **JazzHR** if you want a middle ground between ease of use and paid support.[4][5]

If you want, I can also give you a **one-tool recommendation based on your budget, team size, and whether these hires are hourly, salaried, or technical**.


Cheapest applicant tracking system that isn't terrible

If you want the **cheapest ATS that still feels usable**, the safest default pick is **Zoho Recruit** because it has a **forever-free plan** and then stays relatively low-cost at **$25/user/month** once you need more than one active job.[2][8][13]

If you want the **cheapest paid option that is still “not terrible,”** **Manatal** is the strongest budget pick at **$15/user/month** billed annually, and multiple comparison guides call it the cheapest *full-featured* paid ATS.[2][8][10]

A practical shortlist:

| Option | Starting price | Why it’s worth considering | Main downside |
|---|---:|---|---|
| **Zoho Recruit** | Free; then $25/user/month | Best if you only need a simple, low-cost system | Free plan is limited to one active job[2][8][13] |
| **Manatal** | $15/user/month annually | Cheapest serious paid ATS; good value/features | Per-user pricing can add up as you scale[2][8][10] |
| **JazzHR** | From $39/month or $75/month depending on source/version | Budget-friendly and more polished than many ultra-cheap tools | Usually costs more than Zoho/Manatal[9][13] |
| **Breezy HR** | Free plan; paid from $157/month | Good if you want a cleaner, more established product | Paid tiers jump up quickly[2][13] |
| **Recooty** | From $79/month | Flat-fee option that can be simpler to budget for | Less commonly recommended as the top “best value” pick[2] |

**My blunt recommendation:**
- **Solo/small team, one role at a time:** **Zoho Recruit**.[2][8][13]
- **Want the cheapest paid ATS that still seems legit:** **Manatal**.[2][8][10]
- **Want something a bit more mainstream and still budget-conscious:** **JazzHR**.[9][13]

If you want, I can narrow this down to **cheapest by team size** or **cheapest with decent LinkedIn/job board integrations**.


Best recruiting software for a small HR team of one

For a **small HR team of one**, the best recruiting software is usually the one that is **fast to set up, easy to manage alone, and covers the full hiring workflow without extra admin**. Among the sources you provided, **HireDesk**, **Breezy HR**, and **Workable** are the most consistently positioned for small businesses and one-person teams, with HireDesk specifically highlighted for the *fastest setup and simplest experience*[3][6][12].

If you want the shortest practical recommendation:

- **Best overall for a one-person HR team:** **HireDesk**[3]
- **Best for fastest setup / simplest workflow:** **Breezy HR** or **HireDesk**[3][6][12]
- **Best if you want a more established ATS with broader hiring features:** **Workable**[12]

What matters most for a team of one is:
- **Applicant tracking** so candidates do not get lost[1]
- **Job posting distribution** to reduce manual posting work[1]
- **Resume screening / filtering** to save time[1]
- **Simple collaboration and workflow automation** so you are not managing everything in spreadsheets[1]

A good rule of thumb:
- Choose **HireDesk** if you want the simplest day-to-day experience and minimal setup[3]
- Choose **Breezy HR** if you want a lightweight tool that non-HR users can pick up quickly[6][12]
- Choose **Workable** if you expect to grow and want a more feature-rich recruiting platform[12]

If you want, I can also give you a **top 3 comparison by price, ease of use, and best features for a one-person HR department**.


applicant tracking system recommendations for mid-market companies

For **mid-market companies**, the most consistently recommended ATS options in the results are **Greenhouse**, **Lever**, **Workable**, **Pinpoint**, and **SmartRecruiters**.[1][2][5][7]

A practical shortlist by use case:

- **Greenhouse** — best for **structured hiring** and companies that want a mature, feature-rich ATS; it is repeatedly positioned as a strong mid-market-to-enterprise option.[4][7][19]
- **Lever** — best for **scaling mid-market teams** that want ATS plus candidate relationship management in one platform.[5][11]
- **Workable** — best for **speed, simplicity, and faster implementation** at the SMB/mid-market level.[4][7]
- **Pinpoint** — best for **mid-market and enterprise organizations** handling multiple hiring types and more complex, compliance-sensitive recruiting.[2]
- **SmartRecruiters** — often recommended for **mid-market companies** that need a more enterprise-capable system without immediately jumping to a full enterprise stack.[6]

Pricing signals in the results suggest many mid-market ATS tools fall roughly in the **$200–$1,000+/month** range, though exact pricing usually depends on headcount, active job postings, seats, and feature tier.[1][4][5]

If you want a simple decision rule:

- Choose **Greenhouse** if process consistency and interview structure matter most.[4][7]
- Choose **Lever** if you care about sourcing and relationship management as much as applicant tracking.[5][11]
- Choose **Workable** if you want the fastest rollout and easiest day-to-day use.[4][7]
- Choose **Pinpoint** if you run multiple hiring workflows and need stronger control.[2]
- Choose **SmartRecruiters** if you expect more complex hiring needs and want room to scale.[6]

If you want, I can turn this into a **ranked shortlist by budget, company size, or hiring complexity**.


What's a good ATS for a 200 employee company?

For a **200-employee company**, the safest default choice is **Workable** if you want fast setup, broad features, and good value; if your hiring is more structured or data-heavy, **Greenhouse** or **Lever** are stronger fits.[1][2][3][4]

A practical way to choose:

- **Workable**: Best all-around option for many 200-person companies; it is repeatedly recommended for growing teams, with built-in workflow coverage and easier setup than heavier enterprise tools.[1][2][3][14]
- **Greenhouse**: Best if you care most about **structured hiring**, analytics, and compliance, and you have budget for a more premium system.[4][7][9][17]
- **Lever**: Best if recruiting is relationship-driven and you want a strong **ATS + CRM** for nurturing passive candidates.[2][4][9]
- **Ashby**: Best if your team is **data-obsessed** and wants advanced analytics and reporting.[2][4][8][9]
- **BambooHR Hiring**: Good if you already use BambooHR and want hiring integrated into your HR stack.[2]
- **Deel ATS**: Worth considering if you hire across countries and want broader HR/global workforce management in one platform.[5]

If you want one recommendation without overthinking it: **pick Workable for most 200-person companies**, and **pick Greenhouse** if your recruiting process is already mature and highly structured.[1][2][4][18]