Greenhouse is the best applicant tracking system for most growing companies in 2026, and JazzHR is the best pick for small businesses hiring on a budget. Greenhouse makes structured hiring the default, with scorecards and interview plans that keep every candidate evaluation consistent.
Ashby fits startups that want an ATS, recruiting CRM, scheduling, and analytics in one product. Workable is the easiest full-featured option for small HR teams that post jobs often. Lever suits teams that source passive candidates, and Manatal works well for recruiting agencies.
Count your hiring volume before you shop. A company that fills 10 roles a year and one that fills 200 need very different tools, and annual contracts make a wrong guess expensive.
Our top pick
Greenhouse
Structured hiring that keeps every interview fair and consistent.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best for startups
Best for small HR teams
Best on a budget
Best for recruiting agencies
How we ranked these tools
We scored each system on five criteria: fit for its intended hiring team, depth of hiring workflow features, pricing and value, ease of use, and support. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing, and public user reviews. We did not accept payment for placement. Prices reflect published rates as of October 2026, so confirm the current price with the vendor before you buy.
The 6 best applicant tracking systems
1. Greenhouse
Best for growing companies that want structured hiring
Our rating4.7 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
Greenhouse is the applicant tracking system many growing companies adopt once hiring becomes a team effort. It builds structured hiring into every job, with interview plans, scorecards, and approval steps that keep evaluations consistent across interviewers. It connects to a large marketplace of job boards, assessment tools, and HR systems. Greenhouse sells Core, Plus, and Pro plans, but pricing is customized to hiring volume and complexity, so you need a demo to get a number. Very small companies may find it more process than they need.
Pros
- Structured hiring with scorecards and interview kits
- Large integration marketplace
- Strong pipeline reporting
Cons
- No published pricing
- More process than a very small company needs
Key features
- Interview plans and scorecards
- Job posting and career pages
- Hiring approvals
- Pipeline reporting
2. Ashby
Best for startups that want ATS, CRM, and analytics in one
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$400 / month
Free planNo
Ashby combines an applicant tracking system, recruiting CRM, interview scheduling, and analytics in one product, which saves fast-growing startups from buying several tools. Its reporting is deep for an ATS, so recruiting leads can answer pipeline questions without exporting data. The Foundations plan costs $400 a month for companies with up to 100 employees, with 10% off for annual commitments. Larger companies need a quote for the Plus and Enterprise plans. The long list of settings takes time to learn.
Pros
- ATS, CRM, scheduling, and analytics together
- Published price for companies up to 100 employees
- Deep built-in reporting
Cons
- $400 a month is high for occasional hiring
- Larger plans are quote-only
Key features
- Applicant tracking
- Candidate sourcing CRM
- Interview scheduling
- Recruiting analytics
3. Workable
Best for small HR teams that hire often
Our rating4.5 / 5
Starting price$299 / month
Free planFree trial
Workable is a full-featured ATS that small HR teams can run without a dedicated recruiter. You post a job to multiple boards in a few clicks, screen candidates with built-in AI tools, and manage interviews from one pipeline. The Standard plan costs $299 a month, Premier costs $599, and pricing scales by employee count. A 15-day free trial covers the full platform, and every paid account starts with 3,000 AI credits. Video interviews, texting, and assessments are premium add-ons.
Pros
- Easy job posting to many boards
- 15-day free trial
- AI screening tools included
Cons
- Video, texting, and assessments cost extra
- Price rises with company size
Key features
- Multi-board job posting
- AI candidate screening
- Interview scheduling
- Hiring pipeline reports
4. Lever
Best for teams that source passive candidates
Our rating4.4 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
Lever, now part of Employ, combines an applicant tracking system with a recruiting CRM in one product it calls LeverTRM. That pairing suits teams that build talent pools and nurture passive candidates over months, not just teams that post jobs and wait. Add-ons cover candidate insights, AI screening, and onboarding. Lever does not publish prices and provides custom quotes on request. Smaller companies that mainly post jobs may pay for CRM features they will not use.
Pros
- ATS and recruiting CRM in one system
- Good tools for nurturing talent pools
- Add-ons for screening and onboarding
Cons
- No published pricing
- CRM depth is wasted on simple hiring
Key features
- Candidate nurture campaigns
- Applicant tracking
- Interview feedback
- Hiring analytics
5. JazzHR
Best for small businesses hiring on a budget
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting price$1,000 / year
Free planNo
JazzHR is a straightforward ATS built for small businesses that hire a few roles at a time. The Hero plan costs $1,000 a year, billed annually, which is far less than most competitors charge. The Plus and Pro plans add more features at $3,480 and $5,508 a year. You get job posting, a careers page, candidate pipelines, and interview scorecards. Its interface is plain next to newer tools, and companies that hire at volume will outgrow the entry plan quickly.
Pros
- Low annual price on the Hero plan
- Covers the core hiring workflow
- Simple for first-time users
Cons
- Advertised prices require annual billing
- Fewer advanced features than larger platforms
Key features
- Job posting and careers page
- Candidate pipeline
- Interview scorecards
- Candidate email templates
6. Manatal
Best for recruiting agencies
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting price$15 / user / month
Free planFree trial
Manatal is an AI-assisted recruiting platform built for recruitment agencies and in-house teams that want a low per-user price. It combines applicant tracking with a CRM for client accounts, and its AI recommends candidates for each open job. The Professional plan costs $15 per user per month billed annually, or $19 billed monthly. A 14-day free trial needs no credit card. Its reports and integrations are lighter than those of Greenhouse or Ashby, so larger in-house teams may outgrow it.
Pros
- Low per-user price
- 14-day free trial without a card
- CRM features for agency clients
Cons
- Lighter reporting than premium tools
- Fewer integrations than the leaders
Key features
- AI candidate recommendations
- Client and contact CRM
- Job posting
- Candidate pipeline
Compare the top applicant tracking systems
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse | Growing companies that want structured hiring | Custom pricing | No | 4.7 |
| Ashby | Startups that want ATS, CRM, and analytics in one | $400 / month | No | 4.6 |
| Workable | Small HR teams that hire often | $299 / month | Free trial | 4.5 |
| Lever | Teams that source passive candidates | Custom pricing | No | 4.4 |
| JazzHR | Small businesses hiring on a budget | $1,000 / year | No | 4.3 |
| Manatal | Recruiting agencies | $15 / user / month | Free trial | 4.2 |
How to choose an applicant tracking system
Size the tool to your hiring volume
If you fill fewer than 20 roles a year, a low-cost ATS such as JazzHR or Workable covers what you need. Companies hiring dozens of people across several teams benefit from the structure and reporting in Greenhouse or Ashby.
Decide who runs hiring
A dedicated recruiter gets value from a CRM, sourcing tools, and deep analytics. An office manager who posts jobs part time needs a clean pipeline and simple scheduling. Choose for the person who will use the system every day.
Look at what costs extra
Video interviews, texting, assessments, and AI screening are add-ons on several platforms. List the features you need before demos, then ask each vendor for a quote that includes all of them.
Check the connection to your HR system
When a candidate accepts an offer, their data should move into your HR system without retyping. Confirm the ATS integrates with your HRIS or payroll tool before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
What is an applicant tracking system?
An applicant tracking system, or ATS, is software that manages hiring from job posting to offer. It collects applications from job boards and your careers page, moves candidates through interview stages, and stores feedback, so everyone involved in hiring works from the same information.
How much does an applicant tracking system cost?
ATS pricing starts at about $1,000 a year for JazzHR’s Hero plan. Workable starts at $299 a month, Ashby at $400 a month for companies with up to 100 employees, and Manatal at $15 per user per month. Greenhouse and Lever quote prices on request based on hiring volume.
What is the best ATS for a small business?
JazzHR is the best ATS for a small business hiring a few roles a year, because the Hero plan costs $1,000 annually. Small businesses that hire often and want AI screening and multi-board posting get more from Workable, which offers a 15-day free trial.
Is Greenhouse or Lever better?
Greenhouse is better for companies that want structured, consistent interviews and strong pipeline reporting. Lever is better for teams that source and nurture passive candidates, because its CRM is built into the same product. Both quote prices on request, so get proposals from each before you decide.
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