Introduction: Why You Need an ATS in 2026
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that helps companies manage their hiring process from job posting to offer letter. In 2026, with remote work expanding talent pools and competition for candidates intensifying, having the right ATS can make or break your recruiting efforts.
This guide compares the top 8 ATS platforms based on features, pricing, ease of use, and integration capabilities. Whether you're a startup hiring your first 10 employees or an enterprise recruiting hundreds, you'll find the right solution here.
Quick Comparison: Top ATS Platforms 2026
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse | Scaling companies | ~$6,000/year | Demo only |
| Lever | Data-driven recruiting | Custom pricing | Demo only |
| Workable | SMBs | $149/month | 15 days |
| BreezyHR | Small teams | $143/month | 14 days |
| Freshteam | Startups | FREE (50 employees) | Freemium |
| JazzHR | Budget-conscious | $75/month | 21 days |
| Ashby | Modern workflows | Custom pricing | Demo only |
| Recruitee | Collaborative hiring | $224/month | 18 days |
1. Greenhouse: Best for Scaling Companies
Greenhouse is the gold standard for companies serious about structured hiring. Used by companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, and Stripe, it offers the most comprehensive feature set.
Key Features:
- Structured interviewing with scorecards and rubrics
- 700+ integrations including major HRIS and job boards
- DE&I tools for unbiased hiring
- Offer and onboarding management
- Advanced analytics and reporting
Pricing (January 2026):
- Essential: ~$6,000/year (small teams)
- Advanced: ~$12,000/year (growing companies)
- Expert: Custom pricing (enterprise)
Pros:
- Industry-leading structured hiring methodology
- Excellent candidate experience
- Deep integrations (Slack, Workday, etc.)
- Strong compliance and DE&I features
Cons:
- Expensive for small companies
- Steeper learning curve
- No free tier
- Requires annual commitment
Best for: Companies with 50+ employees hiring 20+ roles/year who want a scalable, professional recruiting process.
2. Lever: Best for Data-Driven Recruiting
Lever combines ATS and CRM functionality in one platform, making it ideal for companies that want to nurture talent over time—not just fill immediate openings.
Key Features:
- Combined ATS + CRM in one platform
- Visual pipeline management
- Sourcing and nurture tools
- Advanced DE&I analytics
- Predictive analytics (LeverAI)
Pricing:
- LeverTRM: Custom pricing (starts ~$8,000/year)
- LeverTRM for Enterprise: Custom
Pros:
- Best-in-class CRM for passive candidates
- Beautiful, modern interface
- Strong analytics and reporting
- Excellent candidate nurturing tools
Cons:
- Expensive—no budget-friendly options
- No public pricing (requires sales call)
- Overkill for simple hiring needs
- Better suited for proactive recruiting
Best for: Companies with dedicated recruiters who source passive candidates and want to build long-term talent pipelines.
3. Workable: Best Value for SMBs
Workable offers enterprise features at SMB prices. It's the "you get a lot for what you pay" option in the ATS market.
Key Features:
- AI-powered candidate sourcing
- Video interview recording
- 200+ job board integrations
- Hiring plan templates
- Mobile app for on-the-go recruiting
Pricing (January 2026):
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $149/month | 2 active jobs, AI sourcing |
| Standard | $299/month | Unlimited jobs, video interviews |
| Premier | $599/month | Advanced automation, API access |
Pros:
- Excellent price-to-feature ratio
- AI sourcing finds candidates automatically
- Easy to use—minimal training needed
- Strong job board integrations
Cons:
- Limited customization vs. Greenhouse
- Reporting not as deep
- Per-job pricing can add up
- Fewer enterprise integrations
Best for: SMBs (20-500 employees) who want powerful features without enterprise pricing.
4. BreezyHR: Best for Small Teams
BreezyHR (now part of Wagepoint) offers a visual, drag-and-drop approach to hiring that's perfect for teams new to ATS software.
Key Features:
- Visual pipeline (Kanban-style)
- Automated scheduling
- Background check integrations
- Offer letter management
- Candidate scorecards
Pricing (January 2026):
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Bootstrap | Free | Free |
| Startup | $143/month | $1,194/year |
| Growth | $239/month | $2,394/year |
| Business | $339/month | $3,594/year |
Pros:
- Beautiful, intuitive interface
- Free plan available
- Automated scheduling saves hours
- Excellent video interview tools
Cons:
- Limited for high-volume recruiting
- Fewer integrations than competitors
- Bootstrap plan is very limited
- Reporting is basic
Best for: Small teams (5-50 employees) who want an affordable, easy-to-use ATS with good automation.
5. Freshteam: Best Free ATS
Freshteam by Freshworks offers a genuinely free ATS for companies with up to 50 employees. It's a no-brainer for startups.
Key Features:
- Free for up to 50 employees
- Applicant tracking and parsing
- Job board posting
- Career site builder
- Interview scheduling
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 50 |
| Growth | $1.20/employee/month | 50+ |
| Pro | $2.40/employee/month | 50+ |
| Enterprise | $4.80/employee/month | Custom |
Pros:
- Genuinely free for small companies
- Part of Freshworks ecosystem
- Easy to set up and use
- Good basic features
Cons:
- Limited features on free tier
- Not for complex hiring needs
- Fewer integrations
- Basic reporting
Best for: Startups and small companies under 50 employees who need a free, functional ATS.
6. JazzHR: Most Affordable Paid Option
JazzHR is the budget king of ATS platforms. At $75/month, it's hard to find a more affordable paid option with decent features.
Key Features:
- Unlimited users on all plans
- Custom workflows
- Assessment integrations
- Offer management
- Basic reporting
Pricing (January 2026):
| Plan | Price | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Hero | $75/month | 3 active |
| Plus | $269/month | Unlimited |
| Pro | $420/month | Advanced |
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Unlimited users (great for collaborative hiring)
- Easy to use
- Good for infrequent hiring
Cons:
- Limited on lowest tier (3 jobs)
- Interface feels dated
- Basic reporting
- Fewer automation features
Best for: Budget-conscious companies who hire occasionally and need basic ATS functionality.
7. Ashby: Best Modern ATS
Ashby is the new kid on the block, built by former Lever employees. It combines ATS, CRM, scheduling, and analytics in a modern package.
Key Features:
- All-in-one platform (ATS + CRM + scheduling + analytics)
- Real-time analytics dashboards
- Automated outreach sequences
- Interview scheduling automation
- Modern, fast interface
Pricing:
- Custom pricing (starts around $400/month)
- Sales call required
Pros:
- Most modern interface
- Built-in scheduling (no Calendly needed)
- Excellent analytics
- Fast and intuitive
Cons:
- Newer platform—less proven
- Higher price point
- Fewer integrations (growing)
- Requires sales call
Best for: Modern companies who want an all-in-one recruiting platform with cutting-edge features.
8. Recruitee: Best for Collaborative Hiring
Recruitee emphasizes team collaboration, making it easy for hiring managers (not just recruiters) to participate in the process.
Key Features:
- Hiring manager collaboration tools
- Career site builder
- Two-way calendar sync
- Custom pipelines per role
- Video screening
Pricing (January 2026):
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | $224/month | 5 job slots |
| Scale | $399/month | 10 job slots |
| Lead | Custom | Unlimited |
Pros:
- Excellent collaboration features
- Easy for non-recruiters to use
- Beautiful career sites
- Good candidate experience
Cons:
- More expensive than competitors
- Limited on lower tiers
- Smaller company (less proven)
- Basic analytics
Best for: Companies where hiring managers (not recruiters) drive the hiring process.
Feature Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Greenhouse | Lever | Workable | BreezyHR | Freshteam | JazzHR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| AI Sourcing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| CRM | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Video Interviews | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| DE&I Analytics | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Offer Management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
How to Choose Your ATS
Choose Greenhouse if:
- You're scaling rapidly (50+ roles/year)
- You want structured, unbiased hiring
- Budget isn't the primary concern
- You need enterprise integrations
Choose Workable if:
- You want great features at a fair price
- You're an SMB (20-500 employees)
- You want AI sourcing included
- You prefer simple setup
Choose Freshteam if:
- You have under 50 employees
- You need a free solution
- Your hiring needs are simple
- You use other Freshworks products
Choose JazzHR if:
- Budget is your top priority
- You hire occasionally (not constantly)
- You need basic ATS features
- You have limited HR tech budget
Implementation Tips
- Start with job templates - Create reusable templates for common roles
- Set up structured interviews - Use scorecards from day one
- Integrate your job boards - Connect Indeed, LinkedIn, and niche boards
- Train hiring managers - Brief training improves adoption dramatically
- Configure automated emails - Set up rejection and status update emails
Conclusion
The right ATS depends on your company size, hiring volume, and budget:
- Best Overall: Greenhouse (for companies serious about scaling)
- Best Value: Workable (features at a fair price)
- Best Free: Freshteam (genuinely free for startups)
- Best Budget: JazzHR ($75/month is hard to beat)
- Best Modern: Ashby (all-in-one, cutting-edge)
Most ATS platforms offer free trials or demos—take advantage of them before committing.
Data sources: Official vendor websites and pricing pages. Last verified: January 2026.