Best Applicant Tracking System for Small Business
Hiring top talent is key for small companies, but sifting through resumes and managing candidates can drain time and resources.
An applicant tracking system for small businesses automates hiring workflows, centralizes and manages applications, schedules interviews and ensures you never miss a qualified candidate—freeing you to focus on growing your business.
the best candidates faster
In this guide, we’ll review and compare top ATS options on the market and explain why 100Hires is the best solution for your needs.
What is an applicant tracking system for small businesses?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) helps you collect, store and process candidate information throughout the hiring process. It’s a central hub for managing job applications and streamlining recruitment workflows.
You can share job openings on different platforms, pick candidates based on their qualifications, set up interviews, and keep communication smooth without manual work.
An ATS improves efficiency and reduces time-to-hire for small companies with limited resources, helping teams identify qualified talent faster.
Small businesses can organize and structure their recruitment process without needing a large HR department, so they can compete for top talent despite having fewer resources than larger companies.
Key features of an applicant tracking system for small business
Selecting the right applicant tracking system (ATS) is key for small businesses that want to hire efficiently without extra complexity. Here are the key features to consider.
Easy-to-use interface
Small businesses need an ATS with intuitive navigation and a minimal learning curve. Look for drag-and-drop interfaces, customizable dashboards, and visual pipelines that allow you to track candidates at a glance.
The setup process should take hours, not days, with templates for job descriptions and email communications to get you started quickly.
Job posting
A quality ATS offers one-click distribution to multiple job boards, including Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and niche industry sites.
This feature should include social media sharing capabilities and customizable career page integration with your company website to deliver a consistent brand experience for applicants.
Candidate sourcing
Advanced resume parsing technology automatically extracts candidate skills, experience, and education into searchable database fields.
AI-powered screening tools can rank applicants based on job requirements, while talent pool features help you maintain databases of qualified candidates for future openings.
Collaboration tools
Effective team collaboration features include shared candidate evaluations, @mentions for team members, structured interview scorecards, and centralized communication logs.
These tools ensure everyone involved in hiring can provide input while maintaining a single source of truth about each candidate's status.
Automation and AI
Smart workflow automation includes triggered email responses to applicants, automated screening questions, and interview scheduling that syncs with team calendars.
AI can spot great candidates from previous applications and suggest skill matches for new roles.
Integration capabilities
Seamless integration with existing tools is key for efficiency. Your ATS should connect with email systems, calendar applications, background check services, onboarding software, and HRIS platforms to create an uninterrupted workflow from application to hire.
Affordability
Small business-friendly pricing structures typically include tiered plans based on hiring volume rather than employee count.
Look for transparent pricing with no hidden fees, monthly billing options instead of annual contracts, and free trials that allow you to test functionality before committing.
Top applicant tracking systems for small business in 2025
Finding the right applicant tracking system (ATS) can help you make an efficient hiring process. In 2025, several standout options have emerged to help you manage candidates effectively.
100Hires
100Hires is an AI-powered and award-winning recruitment software that simplifies the hiring process, eliminating the scattered approach of managing applicants across multiple job boards and email inboxes.
With 100Hires, you get user-friendly tools that help you attract quality candidates, centralize all applicant information in one place, streamline interviews, and make hiring decisions faster.
Setting up is easy and takes no time at all—plus, you don't need a credit card to get started. Many users love how simple the platform is, and even people who aren't tech-savvy find it easy to navigate.
Over 1,300 customer reviews across review platforms show strong user satisfaction among small business hiring managers.
Key features
- Multi-board job distribution: Easily post jobs for free to Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, and other job boards with one click. Track performance in real time and use analytics to improve your recruiting strategy.
- Centralized candidate management: Keep all candidate information organized in one location with clear statuses and a complete interaction history. Minimize duplicate communication and improve the candidate experience through effective relationship management.
- AI-powered recruitment: Automatically generate or use job description templates, application forms, and interview questions using AI. Save significant screening time with AI candidate ranking capabilities.
- Workflow automation: Sync your calendars and emails and set up automated alerts to cut down on manual work. Use knockout questions, spot duplicates in forms in forms, and schedule interviews across time zones easily.
- Advanced candidate Outreach: Import candidates from LinkedIn and GitHub using browser extensions. Optimize your recruitment with email validation, multichannel campaigns, and automated follow-ups.
- Recruitment analytics: Evaluate job board performance to find the best sources for top candidates. Track recruiter productivity metrics and improve your team's efficiency with detailed reports.
- Full customization: Create custom workflows, application forms, and interview questions tailored to each position. Send personalized emails using candidate-specific variables for a customized experience.
- Dedicated support: Access responsive customer assistance for any questions or technical issues. Receive timely and practical solutions from a committed support team.
- Structured evaluation process: Choose top talent with structured interviews and blind evaluations. Automated notifications gather feedback promptly, eliminating the need for manual follow-ups.
- Employer branding: Easily integrate a customizable career site into your website, eliminating the need for manual updates. Highlight your company culture with a seamless, branded experience that draws in top talent.
Pricing
100Hires offers a 7-day free trial to test the platform before committing. This trial provides full access to features with an easy setup process, and no credit card is required.
After the trial expires, you can pick one of the pricing plans that matches your needs. The annual plans come with a 50% discount.
100Hires is an affordable and scalable option for startups, agencies, and SMBs that want to automate hiring without overspending.
The value comes from time savings—users report 72% less time spent on administrative tasks and 96% higher candidate response rates.
Start a free trial to experience the platform.
Workable
Workable is an all-in-one HR solution that offers small businesses tools for finding, hiring, and managing talent.
It combines recruitment marketing, candidate evaluation, and HR management in one platform to streamline your hiring process.
Workable focuses on creating structured and unbiased hiring processes through features like anonymized screening and standardized interview tools.
This user-friendly platform offers sophisticated functionality that scales with your business growth.
Key features
- Job posting and distribution: Post your jobs to over 200 free and premium job boards with a single click to boost visibility. Simplify your hiring process and attract more candidates.
- AI-powered candidate sourcing: Use smart algorithms that analyze your job descriptions and automatically suggest qualified candidates from a database of over 400 million profiles. Create a robust candidate pipeline and cut down on time-to-hire.
- Applicant tracking and workflow management: Bring all candidate data in one easy-to-search platform and customize workflows for each stage of recruitment. Work efficiently, monitor candidate progress, and standardize the hiring process for consistent outcomes.
- Interview scheduling and coordination: Easily integrate with your calendar to schedule interviews and work with hiring managers in real-time. Reduce communication delays and streamline your interview process to hire top talent quickly.
- Candidate evaluation tools: Use customizable interview kits, scorecards, and evaluation forms to compare candidates objectively. Use standardized assessments to improve the quality of your hires.
- Team collaboration tools: Share candidate profiles, leave feedback, and collaborate within the platform so that every member of your hiring team stays in the loop.
- Recruiting analytics and reporting: Make up-to-the-minute reports on time-to-hire, applicant source performance, and recruitment funnel efficiency. Upgrade your recruiting strategy, spot any issues, and improve hiring efficacy.
- Mobile recruiting: Complete your recruiting process with a mobile app. Post jobs, check out candidates, and set up interviews anytime, anywhere.
Pricing
Workable offers different pricing options. How much you pay really depends on how many employees you have and whether you choose a monthly or yearly plan.
If you want to use premium tools such as texting, video interviews or assessments, you must purchase add-ons that increase your monthly expenses.
Lever
Lever combines ATS capabilities with candidate relationship management tools. It lets small businesses streamline their hiring process while providing helpful analytics to improve recruitment strategies.
The platform uses simple terminology that makes candidate tracking and processing straightforward, even for teams with limited recruiting experience.
Lever connects with other HR systems and recruitment tools, making it easy to manage all your recruitment needs and gather hiring data in one place.
Key features
- Multi-channel job posting: Post your jobs to multiple job boards and social platforms from one place and reach a broader candidate pool.
- Candidate relationship management (CRM): Nurture passive candidates and build a talent pipeline for future needs. Engage prospects with personalized outreach.
- Applicant tracking and custom workflows: Centralize all candidate data, customize stages, set up alerts and track progress to keep your process consistent, transparent and efficient.
- Interview scheduling and collaboration: Use built-in scheduling and calendar integrations to reduce administrative delays and improve teamwork.
- Reporting and analytics: Get real-time dashboards and robust analytics to track key recruitment metrics and get insights to improve your process.
- Integrated communication tools: Keep all recruitment communications in one place with in-platform messaging and email integrations. Feedback and candidate interaction are documented and easily accessible.
- Mobile accessibility: Stay agile with a mobile-friendly interface to manage pipelines, schedule interviews and review feedback from anywhere.
- Seamless integrations: Integrate with popular HR systems, background check services and productivity tools to build a connected recruitment ecosystem and eliminate data silos.
Pricing
Lever doesn't publish standard pricing on their website, as costs are typically customized based on your business needs and size.
You'll need to book a demo through their website to get specific pricing information.
Some users on Reddit discussions mention that Lever "can be quite pricey" compared to other ATS options, so budget-conscious small businesses should carefully evaluate the cost-benefit ratio.
Breezy HR
Breezy HR helps small businesses find better candidates faster and with less work. The platform simplifies the whole hiring process, from posting to making offers.
It’s user-friendly and doesn’t require technical expertise. You can access all information from your computer or mobile app and hire from anywhere, even when you’re out of the office.
Key features
- Candidate management: Simplify your recruitment with a dashboard showing all your candidates. Use drag-and-drop pipelines, detailed profiles and communication tools to quickly assess, contact and schedule interviews.
- Automated workflows: Automate repetitive tasks like sending messages, scheduling interviews and advancing candidates with custom questionnaires. Use stage actions and touchless pre-screening to prioritize the top candidates and reduce manual work.
- Diversity and inclusion: Use Incognito Apply to remove bias from candidate profiles and an AI-powered Candidate Match Score to find the best candidates. Create a diverse talent pool, comply and simplify your recruitment.
- Collaborative hiring: Centralize feedback and team conversations in one platform. Engage your team with shared candidate discussions and video screening options to make faster hiring decisions.
- Interview tools: Simplify the interview process with integrated scheduling, self-scheduling for candidates and native video interviews that show resumes and real-time notes. Use structured interview guides to get consistent and fair feedback and step up your candidate assessment.
Pricing
Breezy HR offers flexible pricing plans that include unlimited users, candidates, and customer support. You can use a 14-day trial to test all capabilities before committing.
To access advanced features such as SMS, candidate match scores, or Incognito Apply, you must subscribe to additional packages for each feature, increasing your monthly plan's cost.
Jobvite
Jobvite is a talent acquisition platform that helps companies find and hire top talent. It’s designed for larger businesses, but small companies appreciate its flexible features.
The platform was built with both recruiters and candidates in mind, making the hiring process easier for everyone involved.
Their testimonials highlight how the platform helps target candidates in innovative ways and supports talent acquisition workflows effectively.
Key features
- Automated task management: Automate sourcing and scheduling to free up recruiters to focus on high-value activities. Engage with top talent and reduce time to fill open roles.
- Customizable dashboards and workflows: Customize dashboards and workflows to fit your hiring process.
- Centralized candidate profiles: Have a 360-degree view of candidates with central profiles that capture all interactions and application history.
- Real-time analytics and reporting: Use real-time analytics to track key performance indicators and optimize your talent acquisition strategy.
- Mobile app for hiring managers: Use a dedicated app to stay engaged with the recruitment process. Keep your team connected and responsive with real-time interview scheduling and in-app messaging.
- Video interviewing: Conduct video interviews to screen candidates wherever they are.
- LinkedIn integrations: Use LinkedIn integrations, including Unified Search and Recommended Matches, to supercharge your sourcing.
- Comprehensive onboarding: Support a fully digital onboarding process across devices so new hires are productive from day one.
Pricing
Jobvite doesn't publicly list its pricing on its website, which is common for enterprise-focused recruitment software. You'll need to contact their sales team directly for a custom quote based on your business size and needs.
Quick comparison for applicant tracking systems (ATS)
Below is a feature-by-feature comparison of the top ATs for small businesses.
| Feature | 100Hires | Workable | Lever | Breezy HR | Jobvite |
| Job posting automation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI-powered screening | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Candidate sourcing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable workflows | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing flexibility | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
What is the best applicant tracking system for small business?
Your hiring volume, budget, and technical requirements all play important roles in this decision.
Small businesses focused on improving the candidate experience should look for platforms with user-friendly interfaces and mobile optimization. These features help attract top talent by making your application process smooth and professional.
If you're running staffing agencies or experience high hiring volumes, you'll need robust filtering tools to identify qualified job candidates quickly. Search functionality and AI-powered screening can save you countless hours.
Budget-conscious options offer affordable solutions without sacrificing essential features. They're perfect for startups, growing businesses and recruitment teams who need to manage hiring efficiently.
100Hires stands out as an exceptional choice for small and medium-sized businesses. It lets you hire great people faster and make a great impression as an employer.
With 100Hires recruiting software, you get:
- Easy candidate tracking
- Streamlined screening of candidate resumes
- Workflows you can customize
- Automated candidate feedback
- A hassle-free onboarding experience for new hires
- Budget-friendly pricing options
Let 100Hires do the heavy lifting. Sign up for 100Hires today and experience how the right ATS can upgrade your recruitment efforts!
When to implement an applicant tracking system
Knowing when to adopt the ATS technology is crucial for maximizing its benefits.
Growing hiring needs
Get an ATS when your company hires multiple positions per year. An ATS is necessary when manual processes can’t keep up with your recruitment volume. If you post more than 5-10 jobs per year or get dozens of applications per position, it’s time to get this software.
Inefficient recruitment processes
When your hiring team spends too much time on administrative tasks instead of evaluating candidates, an ATS can help. If you see increasing time-to-hire metrics or can’t track where candidates are in your pipeline, that’s a sign that automation would benefit your workflow.
Communication challenges
Get an ATS when candidates fall through the cracks because of missed follow-ups or inconsistent communication. When multiple team members are involved in hiring decisions but don’t have a centralized system for sharing feedback, an ATS provides the coordination structure you need.
Compliance concerns
As your business grows, keeping up with recruitment documentation becomes more important. An ATS ensures compliance with hiring regulations by standardizing application processes and storing candidate records for the required timeframe.
Strategic growth plans
Get an ATS before a major growth initiative or when developing a more strategic approach to talent acquisition. The system allows you to build and manage talent pools for future positions and create a scalable recruitment infrastructure that grows with your business.
Budget availability
Get an ATS when you can allocate software implementation, training, and optimization resources. Many vendors offer tiered pricing for small businesses, making sophisticated recruitment technology more accessible than ever.
Cost and ROI of an applicant tracking system
Finding the right applicant tracking system for your small business means considering cost and return on investment. Most ATS platforms offer tiered pricing based on your needs.
Basic paid plans typically start around $100 per month, though prices vary based on how many jobs you're posting.
When you're figuring out ROI, don't forget these perks.
You can save time by automating boring manual tasks, which means your hiring process speeds up. You’ll cut down on the cost of hiring by focusing on the right candidates and avoiding extra recruiting expenses. And let’s not forget, you'll find better-quality hires that perform well and stick around longer!
Your hiring volume matters, too. Depending on features and scale, ATS pricing models might go from $250 to $3,000 if you're hiring frequently.
Calculate your current hiring costs before implementation to determine if an ATS is worth it for your business. Track metrics like:
- Time spent reviewing resumes
- Cost of posting to job boards
- Hours spent on collaborative hiring decisions
- Duration of your implementation process
An efficient ATS streamlines your hiring workflows and can transform your recruitment efforts. The upfront cost often pays itself through more efficient operations and better hires.
Conclusion about the applicant tracking system for small business
For small businesses, an ATS is more than just a hiring tool – it’s a time saver, an organizer and a way to attract top talent without the complexity of manual work.
Whether you need job posting integration, automation, AI-powered job descriptions, candidate screening, resume databases or team collaboration features, choosing the ATS can make or break your hiring process.
When choosing an ATS, focus on features, cost and ease of use to make sure it’s right for your business. The best one depends on what matters most to your company.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, AI-powered solution that simplifies hiring from start to finish, 100Hires is a top choice. Get smart automation and one-click job distribution – all for an affordable price.
Start a free trial today.
FAQs about the applicant tracking system for small business
Do small companies use ATS?
Yes, they use applicant tracking systems (ATS), often opting for more affordable, cloud-based solutions for small businesses with simplified features and pricing structures.
What is the most popular applicant tracking system?
100Hires, Workable, and Lever are among the most popular ATS platforms, with 100Hires being the best option.
Is there a free applicant tracking system?
Yes, there are free applicant tracking systems available, including Freshteam's free tier, SmartRecruiters' SmartStart, and open-source options like OpenCATS. These typically offer basic functionality with limitations on job postings or candidate numbers.
Is Excel an applicant tracking system?
No, Excel is not a true applicant tracking system. While it can be used to manually track applicants, it lacks essential ATS features like automated resume parsing, candidate communication tools, and collaborative hiring workflows.
the best candidates faster
