ATS Software: The Complete Buyer's Guide for 2025

Choosing ATS software is one of the most important hiring decisions you'll make. The right applicant tracking system saves hours every week, improves candidate experience, and helps you hire better people faster. The wrong one creates frustration, slows you down, and costs money you could spend elsewhere.

The problem? There are 500+ ATS options in the market, ranging from free tools to $100K/year enterprise platforms. Vendors make similar claims. Features sound identical. Pricing is often hidden behind "contact sales" buttons.

This guide cuts through the noise. We'll explain exactly what ATS software does, how to evaluate your options, and which tools work best for different company sizes and hiring needs—with real pricing included.

TL;DR: For small businesses (1-50 employees), JuggleHire offers the best value at $19/month. For mid-size companies, Workable or Greenhouse provide more advanced features. For enterprises, Lever or Greenhouse with full implementation is the industry standard.

#What is ATS Software?

ATS software (Applicant Tracking System software) is a tool that helps companies manage their entire hiring process—from posting jobs to extending offers. Think of it as CRM for recruiting: it tracks every candidate, every interaction, and every stage of your hiring pipeline.

#What ATS Software Actually Does

#Who Needs ATS Software?

You definitely need ATS software if:

• You're hiring 5+ people per year
• Multiple team members are involved in hiring
• You're losing track of candidates or applications
• Scheduling interviews takes more than 5 minutes
• You want data on what's working in your hiring process

You might not need full ATS yet if:

• You're making 1-2 hires per year
• One person handles all recruiting
• You're comfortable with spreadsheets + email

Related: What is an Applicant Tracking System?

#Types of ATS Software

#By Deployment

Recommendation: Cloud/SaaS is the right choice for 95% of companies. It's easier to set up, automatically updated, and more affordable.

#By Company Size

#By Specialty

#Key Features to Look For

#Must-Have Features (Every ATS Needs These)

1. Job Posting & Distribution

• Create and edit job listings
• Post to multiple job boards with one click
• Branded career page for your website
• Social media sharing

2. Candidate Management

• Centralized applicant database
• Resume parsing (automatic data extraction)
• Custom hiring stages/pipeline
• Search and filter candidates

3. Team Collaboration

• Multiple user accounts
• Shared candidate profiles
• Interview feedback collection
• Notes and activity history

4. Communication Tools

• Email templates
• Bulk messaging
• Automated status updates
• Calendar integration for scheduling

5. Basic Reporting

• Pipeline overview
• Time-to-hire tracking
• Source effectiveness
• Hiring activity reports

#Nice-to-Have Features (Depending on Needs)

#ATS Software Comparison: 15 Top Options

#Quick Comparison Table

#Top ATS Software Reviews

#1. JuggleHire — Best for Small Businesses

JuggleHire is built specifically for small businesses and startups upgrading from spreadsheets or Google Forms. It's the simplest ATS on the market, with a learning curve of about 10 minutes.

Strengths

• Extremely affordable: Starts at $19/month
• Easiest to use: No training required
• Quick setup: Live in 10 minutes
• All essential features: Everything SMBs need, nothing they don't
• Unlimited team members: No per-user pricing

Limitations

• Limited advanced features (by design)
• No built-in video interviews
• Fewer integrations than enterprise tools

Pricing

Best For

Small businesses (1-50 employees) making their first 1-25 hires per year who want simplicity over feature bloat.

Try JuggleHire Free →

#2. Workable — Best for Growing Companies

Workable balances ease of use with more advanced features, making it ideal for companies outgrowing basic tools but not ready for enterprise platforms.

Strengths

• AI-powered candidate sourcing
• 200+ job board integrations
• Built-in video interviews
• Strong mobile apps

Limitations

• Gets expensive quickly
• Some features locked to higher tiers
• Learning curve steeper than basic ATS

Pricing

Best For

Growing companies (50-500 employees) who want AI sourcing and are willing to pay for it.

Related: Workable Alternatives

#3. Greenhouse — Industry Standard for Enterprises

Greenhouse is what most companies "graduate" to when they need enterprise-grade recruiting infrastructure. It's powerful, comprehensive, and the most widely used ATS among funded tech companies.

Strengths

• Most structured hiring framework
• 400+ integrations
• Best-in-class compliance features
• Strong reputation with recruiters

Limitations

• Expensive ($6,000+ per year minimum)
• Complex—requires training
• Long implementation time

Pricing

• Starting at $6,000/year
• Custom pricing based on size and needs
• Implementation fees additional

Best For

Companies (200+ employees) with dedicated HR/recruiting and need for structured hiring processes.

#4. Lever — Best for Data-Driven Teams

Lever combines ATS with CRM functionality, letting you nurture passive candidates while tracking active applicants.

Strengths

• CRM + ATS in one platform
• Excellent analytics
• Nurture campaigns for passive talent
• Strong diversity features

Limitations

• Custom pricing only (no transparency)
• Can be complex to set up
• More expensive than alternatives

Pricing

• Custom pricing (typically $3,000-10,000/year)
• Based on company size and features

Best For

Companies (100-1,000 employees) that want to build talent pipelines and have data-driven recruiting.

#5. Ashby — Best for Analytics-Focused Teams

Ashby is newer to the market but popular with startups who want deep analytics without enterprise complexity.

Strengths

• Best-in-class custom reporting
• Modern, intuitive interface
• Strong scheduling automation
• API-first architecture

Limitations

• Less established than competitors
• Fewer integrations (growing)
• Higher starting price

Pricing

• Starting at $300/month
• Custom pricing for larger teams

Best For

Series A+ startups (50-500 employees) who prioritize data and analytics in recruiting.

#6. BreezyHR — Best Built-in Video

BreezyHR includes video interviewing natively, eliminating the need for separate tools like Zoom or HireVue.

Strengths

• Built-in live + async video
• Visual Kanban pipeline
• Affordable pricing
• Good automation features

Limitations

• Interface can feel cluttered
• Limited analytics
• Support response times vary

Pricing

Best For

Remote companies who want video interviewing without additional tools.

Related: BreezyHR Alternatives

#7. JazzHR — Best Budget Option

JazzHR provides solid ATS fundamentals at the lowest price point for full-featured systems.

Strengths

• Very affordable
• Core features work well
• Easy to set up
• Good customer support

Limitations

• Dated interface
• Limited advanced features
• Basic reporting only

Pricing

Best For

Budget-conscious companies who need real ATS features at minimum cost.

Related: JazzHR Alternatives

#How to Choose the Right ATS Software

#Step 1: Define Your Requirements

Ask yourself:

1. How many people will you hire this year? (1-10, 10-50, 50+)
2. How many people will use the ATS? (1, 2-5, 5+)
3. What's your monthly budget? ($0-50, $50-200, $200+)
4. What features are must-have vs nice-to-have?
5. Do you have compliance requirements? (EEOC, GDPR, etc.)

#Step 2: Match to Company Size

#Step 3: Evaluate Key Criteria

Rate each ATS you're considering on:

#Step 4: Take Free Trials

Most ATS offer free trials (typically 14 days). Use this time to:

• Post a real job
• Have candidates apply
• Move candidates through stages
• Test team collaboration
• Generate a report

#Step 5: Check References

Ask the vendor for customers similar to you. Ask those references:

• What's working well?
• What's frustrating?
• Would you choose this again?
• How responsive is support?

#ATS Software Pricing Guide

#Understanding ATS Pricing Models

#Hidden Costs to Watch For

1. Implementation fees: $1,000-50,000 for enterprise tools
2. Training costs: $500-5,000 for team training
3. Integration fees: Some charge for connecting other tools
4. Support tiers: Premium support often costs extra
5. Add-on features: Video, assessments, background checks
6. Overage charges: Exceeding job/user/candidate limits

#Price Comparison by Company Size

#ATS Software Implementation

#Typical Implementation Timeline

#Implementation Checklist

Before Launch:

• [ ] Define your hiring stages
• [ ] Create email templates
• [ ] Set up user accounts and permissions
• [ ] Configure career page
• [ ] Connect job boards
• [ ] Import existing candidates (if applicable)
• [ ] Set up calendar integration

During Launch:

• [ ] Post first job
• [ ] Invite team members
• [ ] Test candidate application flow
• [ ] Test internal workflows
• [ ] Verify email deliverability

After Launch:

• [ ] Monitor for issues
• [ ] Gather team feedback
• [ ] Optimize templates and workflows
• [ ] Set up reporting dashboards

#Frequently Asked Questions

#What is the best ATS software for small businesses?

JuggleHire is the best ATS for small businesses, offering all essential features at $19/month with no complexity or steep learning curve. For companies wanting more advanced features, Workable at $149/month is a good step up.

#How much does ATS software cost?

ATS software ranges from free (very limited) to $10,000+/month (enterprise). Typical costs:

• Small business: $19-100/month
• Mid-size: $150-500/month
• Enterprise: $500-5,000+/month

#What's the difference between ATS and HRIS?

ATS focuses specifically on recruiting and hiring—posting jobs, tracking candidates, managing interviews. HRIS (Human Resource Information System) handles broader HR functions—employee records, benefits, payroll, time-off. Some platforms (like BambooHR) combine both.

#Can I switch ATS software?

Yes. Most ATS allow you to export candidate data. The challenge is re-training your team and rebuilding workflows. Choose an ATS you can grow with for 2-3+ years to minimize switching costs.

#How long does ATS implementation take?

• Simple ATS (JuggleHire): 10 minutes to 1 day
• Standard ATS (Workable): 1-5 days
• Enterprise ATS (Greenhouse): 1-3 months

#Do I need an ATS if I only hire occasionally?

If you're hiring fewer than 5 people per year and one person manages recruiting, you might be fine with spreadsheets. But even light hiring benefits from organization—JuggleHire at $19/month is less than an hour of recruiter time.

#Conclusion

The right ATS software depends on your company size, hiring volume, and budget. Don't overspend on features you won't use, but don't underspend on a tool that will frustrate your team.

Our recommendations:

• Small businesses (1-50 employees): JuggleHire at $19/month—simple, affordable, everything you need
• Growing companies (50-200): Workable at $149-299/month—more automation and AI features
• Larger companies (200+): Greenhouse—industry standard with full compliance features

Ready to upgrade your hiring? Try JuggleHire free for 14 days—no credit card required, setup takes 10 minutes.

#More ATS Resources

• What is an Applicant Tracking System?
• Best Applicant Tracking Systems for Small Businesses
• Free Applicant Tracking Systems
• Best ATS for Startups
• How to Choose the Right Recruitment Software