Top 10 applicant tracking systems for your small business in 2025
Integrating technology-based systems in business is one of the newest trends in the developing market competition.
With various digital platforms designed to streamline processes in the organization, including recruitment-related tasks, many industry leaders now consider it one of the top priority programs for innovations.
Like user-friendly software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms, small businesses today are also adapting to an advanced hiring process.
One of these is the applicant tracking system that automates and streamlines the hiring and selection process of the organization.
Although innovation entails additional expense, software providers share these opportunities for all. Most recruitment automation providers today offer cost-efficient platforms for applicant tracking systems.
List of top applicant tracking systems
How does applicant tracking system integration work in a small business?
As the name indicates, the applicant tracking system is a new technological wave focusing on an organization’s recruitment process automation.
Although it focuses on the selection and management of candidates for a job posting, the totality of its function also encompasses other service areas, including:
- Automation of recruitment task
- Centralize applicant data
- Integration with existing office tools
- Automated communication system
- Automated recommendation and data analysis
These features are essential for a small business with limited resources. Automation will help lessen the operational costs of hiring additional personnel and performing manual tasks.
Essential criteria for choosing an applicant tracking system for your small business
With countless applicant tracking system (ATS) providers on the market, selecting the right one for your small business can feel overwhelming.
To help narrow down your options, here are the key features and criteria to look for:
1. Simple and user-friendly interface
Small businesses often operate with lean HR teams—or even outsource recruitment altogether to save on costs. That’s why an intuitive, easy-to-use interface is critical.
Your team should be able to learn the system quickly without requiring extensive training. The faster your staff adapts, the sooner you can streamline your hiring process
2. Cost-efficient
Budget is a top concern for small businesses, so it’s important to choose an ATS that offers the right balance of features and affordability.
Look for solutions that meet your current needs without overpaying for complex tools you won’t use. Focus on the core functionalities that support your hiring process without unnecessary add-ons that drive up the price.
3. Scalability and integration capability
Your business may be small today, but growth is always the goal.
A good ATS should scale with you and integrate smoothly with your existing tools, such as payroll software, HR platforms, or communication tools.
As new technologies emerge, a scalable and integration-ready system ensures you can adapt without needing to start over.
Top 10 applicant tracking system for small business
Let’s know more about the top applicant tracking system in the market that can help your small business grow:
1. Breezy HR
Founded: 2014
Location: Florida, USA
Breezy HR is an all-in-one shop for applicant tracking services, talent sourcing, and recruitment automation. It is popular for hiring teams because of its user-friendly and easy-to-navigate interface.
From job posting to sourcing and tracking applicants, this service provider offers flexible and customizable automated platforms to ensure candidates have an excellent hiring experience.
2. Lever
Founded in: 2012
Location: Colorado, USA
Lever one of the top-notch applicant tracking systems introduced by Employ. It combines the function of applicant tracking with candidate management relationship tools, providing a better candidate experience.
This firm is also a business partner for other in-demand recruitment management services like process automation, data analytics, and recruitment marketing.
3. Transformify
Founded in: 2015
Location: London, UK
Transformify is an expert in recruitment management services, particularly in applicant tracking systems and payroll automation. It also introduces one-click job posting and AI-powered analytics for clients.
Since its inception in 2015, this company has transformed many small businesses by helping them attract highly competent talents backed with unique recruitment solutions and compliant hiring strategies..
4. Greenhouse
Location: Washington, USA
Founded in: 2020
Specializing in applicant tracking systems, this talent acquisition software provider helps businesses stay advantageous in the competitive recruitment market.
It offers a software application with a unique feature where the HR team can closely monitor the updates and progress of applicants. The Greenhouse’s fully automated systems bridge the gap between hiring teams and job seekers.
5. Trakstar Hire
Founded in: 2010
Location: Washington, USA
Trakstar Hire is also an innovator for the effective recruitment process coupled with its applicant tracking software, which elevates manual encoding and records tracking of talent acquisition teams.
Startups and small businesses prefer Trakstar because it promotes a more efficient and organized hiring and recruitment process.
6. Recruitee
Founded in: 2015
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Recruitee offers an advanced applicant tracking system to aid small businesses with collaborative and effective recruitment workflow.
It introduces process automation for candidate sourcing, a customizable pipeline, and an AI-driven candidate management tool. Recruitee promotes team collaboration to ensure the acquisition of best-fit talents.
7. Zappyhire
Founded in: 2018
Location: Kerala, India
Zappyhire offers an AI-powered recruitment automation platform, particularly for intelligent applicant tracking services. It provides companies with predictive analytics to ensure the hiring of top candidates.
It designs a user-friendly interface that seamlessly integrates the current recruitment system of its clients from various industries, including startups and small businesses.
8. JazzHR
Founded in: 2009
Location: Colorado, USA
JazzHR developed a handy and user-friendly SaaS platform specializing in applicant tracking, making it a top choice for small businesses and startup enterprises.
The design of its tools is capable of allowing promotion of both internal and external job vacancies from its affiliates and other job portals.
9. CareerPlug
Founded in: 2007
Location: Texas, USA
CareerPlug helps small businesses simplify hiring processes through its intuitive applicant tracking system and other recruitment services, including job posting and interview scheduling.
This company connects top talents to the right businesses while helping HR teams improve hiring decisions and reduce time-to-hire. Its automated processes give an ideal experience for all aspiring applicants.
10. VIVAHR
Founded in: 2016
Location: Arizona, USA
VIVAHR is one of the top-performing job marketing platforms in the recruitment industry today. It allows its client partners to attract highly competent candidates for their job postings through customizable templates.
It has a simple interface software and is cost-efficient, making it suitable for a small business that wants to start its transition to automation.
Advantages of an applicant tracking system in your small business
Aside from cost-efficient and streamlined processes, applicant tracking systems have other benefits that benefit small businesses.
Here are some of its advantages that can motivate your business to start using the system:
1. Enhanced candidate experience
With an applicant tracking system, candidates experience a well-organized and professional hiring process, from submission of applications to sending electronic feedback.
These features allow the organization to attract and retain top talents from different fields of specialization.
2. Improved collaboration
The capability of applicant tracking systems to generate evaluations, feedback, and insights from candidates using artificial intelligence promotes better understanding and more informed decisions.
It is vital to build the proper dynamics and harmonization between the hiring staff and top leaders to draw a clear direction in implementing recruitment-related activities.
3. Data-driven Insights
One of the most powerful features of applicant tracking systems is the ability to share relevant reports and analytics that contribute to determining the effectiveness of recruitment in a small business.
Through these insights, areas of improvement are identified in real time, backed with key metrics and data interpretations that optimize the organization’s current strategy.
Why small businesses need an Applicant Tracking System
As more small businesses recognize the importance of efficient hiring, the demand for ATS solutions continues to rise.
These tools modernize outdated recruitment methods, offering a smoother and more engaging experience for both employers and candidates.
By automating the hiring process—from resume screening to interview scheduling and document management—an ATS ensures candidates are thoroughly evaluated while reducing administrative load. It’s an innovative step toward more structured, consistent, and scalable recruitment.
While implementing an ATS may involve upfront costs, the long-term benefits. These include faster hiring cycles, better-quality hires, and improved organizational performance. These benefits far outweigh the initial investment.
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