13 Best ATS for Startups: Ashby, Greenhouse, Lever, & More

Introduction

When it comes to growing a startup, one of the crucial aspects is hiring the right talent. As you might be the only hiring manager at a startup, when recruitment needs begin to increase, it becomes essential to incorporate an applicant tracking system (ATS) into your tech stack. An ATS can streamline the hiring process by providing user-friendly job applications, integrated interview scheduling, automated status update emails, and offer letters. By using an ATS, you can stay organized throughout the hiring process and create a smooth and memorable experience for your candidates.

In this article, we’ll be looking at the 13 best ATS for startups and small companies, including Ashby, BambooHR, Breezy HR, Bullhorn, Comeet, GoHire, Greenhouse, JazzHR, JobVite, Recruitee, Recruiterbox, Smart Recruiters, and Workable. We’ll cover each system’s features, costs, pros, and cons, as well as some tips on how to choose the best applicant tracking systems for your business.

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What is an ATS?

An ATS is a software for recruiters and employers to track candidates throughout the recruiting and hiring process. ATS systems are designed to streamline the hiring process by automating many of the manual tasks traditionally associated with recruitment, such as screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and tracking applicant progress.

Why ATS is important for Startups

ATS have become an essential tool for hiring managers and recruiting teams in today’s job market. This is especially true for startups that need to manage their recruitment process effectively while also staying on budget. Here are some reasons why ATS is important for startups:

1. Time-saving: An ATS can automate many of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks involved in recruitment, such as resume screening and candidate tracking. This frees up recruiters’ time to focus on other important tasks, such as building relationships with candidates.
2. Cost-effective: ATS can be cost-effective because it can help reduce the cost-per-hire by automating and streamlining recruitment processes. By investing in an ATS, startups can keep their hiring process lean and agile by eliminating the hidden cost of manual labors like resume screening and interview scheduling. 
3. Improved Candidate Experience: Keeping track of all job applications with a one-person team is close to impossible. By ensuring that candidates are kept up-to-date throughout the hiring process in a timely manner, ATS can help provide a better candidate experience and strengthen your company’s reputation.
4. Better Data Management: Building an internal system that tracks the entire hiring process is unfeasible for startups. Therefore, finding an ATS that can keep talent acquisition-related data is crucial. Some TA data that can be tracked with ATS include applicants per opening, time to fill, yield ratio, offer acceptance rate, and more.

Without further ado, let’s dive in and look at some of the top applicant tracking systems for startups.

Ashby: Features, costs, pros, and cons

Ashby is an ATS platform designed to streamline the recruitment process for small and medium-sized businesses. Here are some of its features:

Ashby Main Features

• Customizable Recruitment Workflow: Ashby allows businesses to create a customized recruitment workflow that aligns with their hiring process. They can configure each step of the recruitment process, such as job posting, candidate screening, and interview scheduling, to fit their specific needs.
• Job Posting: With Ashby, businesses can post their job openings on various job boards and social media platforms, reaching a broader pool of candidates.
• Candidate Screening: Ashby automates resume parsing and candidate screening, making it easier for businesses to identify the most qualified candidates.
• Interview Scheduling: The platform streamlines the interview scheduling process by allowing businesses to schedule interviews with candidates directly from the platform.

Ashby Costs

Ashby offers a 14-day free trial for new customers, after which pricing starts at $69 per month for up to 10 active jobs. Additional job postings can be purchased for $5 each. Custom pricing is available for larger companies with more complex needs.

Ashby Pros

• Customizable recruitment workflow
• Automated candidate screening
• User-friendly interface
• Excellent customer support

Ashby Cons

• Limited integrations with other HR tools
• Limited reporting capabilities
• No mobile app

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BambooHR: Features, costs, pros, and cons

BambooHR is an all-in-one HR software solution that includes an ATS module. Here are some of its features:

BambooHR Main Features

• Job Posting: BambooHR allows businesses to post job openings on their website and various job boards, reaching a wider pool of candidates.
• Candidate Screening: The platform automates resume parsing and candidate screening, making it easier for businesses to identify the most qualified candidates.
• Interview Scheduling: BambooHR streamlines the interview scheduling process by allowing businesses to schedule interviews with candidates directly from the platform.
• Customizable Recruiting Pipeline: The platform enables businesses to create a customized recruiting pipeline that aligns with their hiring process, making it easier to manage and track candidates.

BambooHR Costs

BambooHR does not provide pricing information on its website. Instead, interested companies are encouraged to contact the sales team for a custom quote.

BambooHR Pros

• Comprehensive HR solution
• Customizable application forms
• Good customer support
• Integration with multiple job boards
• Collaborative hiring tools

BambooHR Cons

• No free trial
• Higher pricing than some other ATS solutions
• Limited customization options for job postings
• No mobile app

Breezy HR: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

Breezy HR is a modern applicant tracking system (ATS) designed to streamline the hiring process for small businesses and startups. It offers a variety of features to help employers manage job postings, applicant tracking, and team collaboration.

Breezy HR Main Features

• Job posting: Breezy HR allows users to post jobs to over 50 job boards with just one click. It also offers customizable career pages that can be tailored to fit the employer’s branding.
• Applicant tracking: Breezy HR’s applicant tracking feature lets users easily manage and organize candidate profiles, resumes, and job applications in one place. It also includes a candidate database and a search function for quick access to candidate information.
• Team collaboration: Breezy HR includes a feature for team collaboration, allowing users to communicate and collaborate with team members on job postings, candidates, and hiring decisions. It also offers an interview scheduling tool that integrates with Google Calendar.

Breezy HR Costs

Breezy HR offers several pricing plans to fit different business needs, including a free plan for small businesses with basic recruiting needs. Their paid plans start at $149 per month and include additional features such as advanced reporting and integrations with other HR tools.

Breezy HR Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Collaboration tools
• Customizable career pages

Breezy HR: Cons

• Limited customization
• Limited integrations

Bullhorn: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

Bullhorn is an ATS platform designed for staffing and recruitment agencies. It offers a range of features to help staffing agencies manage job orders, candidate sourcing, and placements.

Bullhorn Main Features

• Job orders: Bullhorn allows staffing agencies to manage job orders, including creating job postings and tracking job applications.
• Candidate sourcing: Bullhorn’s candidate sourcing feature allows staffing agencies to search for candidates in their database, social media, and other sources.
• Placements: Bullhorn allows staffing agencies to track the placement of candidates, including onboarding and payroll management.

Bullhorn HR Costs

Bullhorn’s pricing is not publicly available, as it is tailored to the needs of each individual staffing agency. However, Bullhorn offers a free trial for interested businesses.

Bullhorn HR Pros

• Designed specifically for staffing and recruitment agencies
• Sourcing features include advanced search and filtering options
• Wide range of integrations with other HR and staffing tools

Bullhorn HR Cons

• Limited functionality for non-staffing businesses
• Advanced features and capabilities may require more training and experience

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Comeet HR: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

Comeet HR is an ATS platform designed to simplify the recruitment process for startups and small businesses. It offers various features to streamline the hiring process, such as customizable hiring workflows, automated interview scheduling, and a centralized dashboard to manage candidate profiles.

Comeet Main Features

• Applicant tracking: Manage and track applicants throughout the recruitment process.
• Job posting: Post job openings to multiple job boards and social media platforms with just one click.
• Automated scheduling: Schedule interviews quickly and easily, without the need for back-and-forth emails.
• Collaborative hiring: Collaborate with team members and external recruiters to make better hiring decisions.
• Reporting and analytics: Track recruitment metrics and get insights into your hiring process.

Comeet HR Costs

Comeet HR offers flexible pricing plans based on the size of your team and the number of job openings. The pricing starts at $110 per month for up to five job openings and two active users. The company also offers a 14-day free trial to test the platform before committing to a subscription.

Comeet HR Pros

• Customizable hiring workflows to tailor the recruitment process to your needs
• Automated interview scheduling to save time and effort
• Centralized dashboard to manage candidate profiles, interview notes, and feedback
• Collaborative hiring tools to involve team members in the hiring process
• Candidate engagement tools to communicate with candidates and keep them updated
• Reporting and analytics to track recruitment metrics and improve hiring performance

Comeet HR Cons

• Limited integrations with other HR software and job boards
• Some users have reported occasional glitches in the software

GoHire: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

GoHire is a cloud-based ATS platform that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It offers various features to streamline the hiring process, such as automated job postings, customizable hiring workflows, and an applicant tracking system to manage candidate profiles.

GoHire Main Features

• Applicant tracking: Manage and track applicants throughout the recruitment process.
• Job posting: Post job openings to multiple job boards and social media platforms with just one click.
• Automated scheduling: Schedule interviews quickly and easily, without the need for back-and-forth emails.
• Collaborative hiring: Collaborate with team members to make better hiring decisions.
• Reporting and analytics: Track recruitment metrics and get insights into your hiring process.

GoHire Costs

GoHire offers three pricing plans: Basic, Professional, and Enterprise. The Basic plan is free for up to three job openings and one user. The Professional plan starts at $79 per month for up to 10 job openings and two users. The Enterprise plan offers custom pricing for larger teams and advanced features.

GoHire Pros

• Affordable: GoHire is one of the more affordable ATS platforms on the market, making it a great choice for startups and small companies with limited budgets.
• Easy to use: The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for users with limited technical knowledge.
• Automated scheduling: GoHire’s scheduling feature saves time and eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails.
• Collaborative hiring: The platform allows for collaboration between team members, making it easier to make better hiring decisions.

GoHire Cons

• Limited integrations with other HR software and job boards
• Some users have reported occasional glitches in the software

Read More: How to Hire a Technical Recruiter to Source Great Developer Candidates

Greenhouse: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

Greenhouse is an ATS platform designed to help organizations of all sizes manage their recruitment processes. It is a user-friendly platform with robust features that can help companies attract and hire top talent.

Greenhouse Main Features

Greenhouse applicant tracking software has several features that make it a standout ATS platform for startups and small businesses:

1. Customizable career pages: Greenhouse allows companies to create branded and customizable career pages that showcase their culture, values, and job openings. This can help to attract and engage potential candidates.
2. Job posting and candidate management: Greenhouse enables companies to post job openings on various job boards and social media platforms. It also provides a centralized platform for managing candidate applications, scheduling interviews, and sending out automated emails.
3. Collaborative hiring: Greenhouse allows team members to collaborate on the recruitment process, with features such as assigning tasks, rating candidates, and leaving feedback.
4. Data-driven insights: Greenhouse provides real-time analytics and reporting on recruitment performance, helping companies to identify areas of improvement and make data-driven decisions.

Greenhouse Costs

Greenhouse offers a tiered pricing model, with three main plans:

1. Essential: This plan starts at $6,500 per year and includes basic features such as candidate management, job posting, and analytics.
2. Advanced: This plan starts at $9,500 per year and includes additional features such as custom scorecards, email templates, and integrations with other HR tools.
3. Expert: This plan starts at $12,500 per year and includes advanced features such as automated workflows, custom reporting, and a dedicated customer success manager.

Greenhouse Pros

• Customizable career pages
• Collaborative hiring features
• Data-driven insights
• Robust reporting and analytics
• User-friendly interface

Greenhouse Cons

• Higher pricing compared to some other ATS platforms
• Limited customization options for some features

JazzHR: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

JazzHR is an all-in-one recruiting software that helps businesses to find and hire the right talent quickly. It offers features such as job posting, applicant tracking, and interview scheduling. 

JazzHR Main Features

• Job Posting: JazzHR enables you to create job posts and share them on job boards, social media platforms, and your company’s careers page.
• Resume Parsing: JazzHR’s resume parsing technology can quickly scan resumes and extract relevant information to create candidate profiles.
• Applicant Tracking: JazzHR provides a centralized dashboard that enables you to manage your candidates throughout the recruitment process.
• Interview Scheduling: You can use JazzHR to schedule interviews and send reminders to candidates automatically.

JazzHR Costs

JazzHR offers three pricing plans: Hero, Plus, and Pro. The Hero plan starts at $39 per month, Plus at $219 per month, and Pro at $329 per month. Here are some pros and cons of JazzHR:

Jazz HR Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Robust resume parsing technology
• Affordable pricing plans for small businesses
• Integrates with popular job boards and HR tools

Jazz HR Cons

• Limited customization options for job posting templates
• No mobile app available

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Jobvite: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

Jobvite is another popular ATS platform that is designed to help companies attract, engage, and hire top talent. It offers a range of features that can help streamline the recruitment process, making it a good fit for startups and small businesses.

Jobvite Main Features

1. Job posting and candidate management: Jobvite allows companies to post job openings on various job boards and social media platforms. It also provides a centralized platform for managing candidate applications, scheduling interviews, and sending out automated emails.
2. Automated workflows: Jobvite offers customizable workflows that can automate various tasks such as candidate screening, interview scheduling, and offer letters.
3. Collaborative hiring: Jobvite allows team members to collaborate on the recruitment process, with features such as assigning tasks, rating candidates, and leaving feedback.
4. Mobile app: Jobvite offers a mobile app that enables recruiters and hiring managers to manage the recruitment process on the go.

Jobvite Costs

Jobvite offers three pricing plans: Hire Essentials, Hire Professional, and Hire Enterprise. The Hire Essentials plan starts at $400 per month, Hire Professional at $850 per month, and Hire Enterprise at custom pricing. Here are some pros and cons of Jobvite:

Jobvite Pros

• Comprehensive recruitment platform
• Strong candidate sourcing features
• Customizable job posting templates
• Integrates with popular job boards and HR tools

Jobvite Cons

• Expensive pricing plans for small businesses
• No free trial available

Lever: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

Lever is an all-in-one ATS platform that streamlines recruitment processes and automates manual tasks. It allows recruiters to source, interview, and hire candidates quickly and efficiently. Here are the main features of Lever:

Lever Main Features

1. One-click sourcing: Lever has a browser extension that allows recruiters to easily source candidates from various platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Github.
2. Collaborative hiring: Lever enables recruiters and hiring managers to collaborate throughout the recruitment process, from reviewing resumes to conducting interviews.
3. Advanced reporting: Lever provides advanced reporting capabilities that help recruiters track their recruitment metrics and make data-driven decisions.
4. Automated scheduling: Lever integrates with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook to automate interview scheduling, reducing the need for manual coordination.
5. Diversity and inclusion: Lever has built-in features that help recruiters promote diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices, such as removing bias from job descriptions and tracking diversity metrics.

Lever Costs

Lever offers different pricing plans based on the needs of the organization. Its plans include:

• Starter: $499/month for up to 10 job postings
• Professional: $899/month for up to 20 job postings
• Business: custom pricing for larger organizations

Lever Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
• One-click sourcing feature saves time and effort
• Collaborative hiring feature improves communication and teamwork
• Advanced reporting feature provides valuable recruitment insights
• Automated scheduling feature simplifies the process

Lever Cons

• Higher pricing compared to some of its competitors
• Limited customization options

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Recruitee: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

Recruitee is an all-in-one hiring platform that helps companies attract, automate, and manage candidates. It’s suitable for startups and small companies that need a cost-effective ATS with powerful features.

Recruitee Main Features

• Easy-to-use dashboard with customizable widgets and drag-and-drop functionality.
• Automated job posting to multiple job boards and social media platforms.
• Advanced sourcing tools, such as Chrome extension, LinkedIn integration, and talent pools.
• Collaborative hiring with user roles, feedback, and scorecards.
• Branded career site with a mobile-responsive design.
• GDPR and EEOC compliant data management.

Recruitee Costs

Recruitee HR offers four pricing plans, including Free, Lite, Pro, and Enterprise. The Free plan is suitable for startups and small companies with basic hiring needs, while the Enterprise plan is for larger companies with more advanced features. The Lite plan starts at $79 per month, and the Pro plan starts at $149 per month, with a 7-day free trial for both plans.

Recruitee Pros

• User-friendly interface with customizable workflows.
• Rich integration with multiple job boards, HR tools, and communication channels.
• Affordable pricing with transparent feature sets.
• Advanced analytics and reporting for recruitment metrics.
• Excellent customer support with live chat, email, and knowledge base.

Recruitee Cons

• Limited customization for the career site and application forms.
• No mobile app for iOS or Android devices.
• Limited branding options for emails and notifications.

SmartRecruiters: Features, Costs, Pros, and Cons

SmartRecruiters is a cloud-based ATS that offers end-to-end recruitment solutions for businesses of all sizes. It’s suitable for startups and small companies that need scalable and intuitive ATS with AI-powered features.

SmartRecruiters Main Features

• One-click job posting to 200+ job boards, including Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn
• AI-powered resume screening with customizable criteria and feedback
• Collaborative hiring with team collaboration, hiring stages, and analytics
• Automated interview scheduling with candidates and interviewers
• Branded career site with a mobile-responsive design and candidate journey
• GDPR and CCPA compliant data management

SmartRecruiters Costs

SmartRecruiters offers three pricing plans, including Essential, Advanced, and Premium. The Essential plan is suitable for startups and small companies with basic recruitment needs, while the Premium plan is for larger companies with more advanced features. The Advanced plan starts at $299 per month, and the Premium plan is custom-priced based on the company’s needs.

SmartRecruiters Pros

• Modern and intuitive user interface with advanced search and filtering options.
• Powerful AI and machine learning capabilities for sourcing and screening.
• Scalable platform with unlimited users and job postings.
• Excellent integration with multiple HR tools and communication channels.
• Advanced reporting and analytics for recruitment performance.

SmartRecruiters Cons

• Expensive pricing for advanced features and customization.
• Limited customization options for the career site and application forms.
• Limited support for non-English languages.
• Limited branding options for emails and notifications.

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Recruiterbox: Features, costs, pros, and cons

Recruiterbox is an ATS designed for small and medium-sized businesses that help them manage their hiring process more efficiently. It offers a range of features to help recruiters source, track, and hire top talent. Here are the main features of Recruiterbox:

Recruiterbox Main Features

• Customizable career page: Allows companies to brand their job postings and tailor the application process to their needs.
• Resume management: Helps recruiters manage resumes and track candidates through the hiring process.
• Automated job board posting: Automatically posts job openings to various job boards to increase the number of applicants.
• Collaboration tools: Allows hiring managers and recruiters to collaborate and communicate throughout the hiring process.
• Reporting and analytics: Provides insights into the hiring process to help recruiters identify areas for improvement.

Recruiterbox Costs

Recruiterbox offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs. The pricing plans are based on the number of active job openings and start at $199 per month for up to 10 active job openings.

Recruiterbox Pros

• Customizable career page
• Automated job board posting
• Collaboration tools
• Affordable pricing
• Easy-to-use interface

Recruiterbox Cons

• Limited customization options
• No option for video interviewing
• Limited integration options

Workable: Features, costs, pros, and cons

Workable is an ATS designed for small and medium-sized businesses that help them manage their hiring process more efficiently. It offers a range of features to help recruiters source, track, and hire top talent. Here are the main features of Workable:

Workable Main Features

• Customizable career page: Allows companies to brand their job postings and tailor the application process to their needs.
• Resume management: Helps recruiters manage resumes and track candidates through the hiring process.
• Automated job board posting: Automatically posts job openings to various job boards to increase the number of applicants.
• Collaboration tools: Allows hiring managers and recruiters to collaborate and communicate throughout the hiring process.
• Reporting and analytics: Provides insights into the hiring process to help recruiters identify areas for improvement.

Workable Costs

Workable offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs. The pricing plans are based on the number of active job openings and start at $99 per month for up to 1 active job opening.

Workable Pros

• Customizable career page
• Automated job board posting
• Collaboration tools
• Affordable pricing
• Wide range of integrations

Workable Cons

• Limited customization options
• No option for video interviewing

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Conclusion

Choosing the right ATS for your startup can be a daunting task, but it is essential to ensure that you can hire the best talent effectively and efficiently. The ATS services we discussed in this article are some of the best in the market and offer unique features that cater to the needs of startups. 

From Ashby’s user-friendly interface to Breezy HR’s AI-powered recruiting tools, each ATS platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it’s crucial to analyze your company’s needs, budget, and hiring process before making a decision.

Remember, the ATS platform you choose will not only affect your recruitment process but also impact your employer brand, candidate experience, and overall company culture. Therefore, invest time and effort in selecting the right ATS, and don’t hesitate to ask for help or seek professional advice.

We hope that our comprehensive guide has provided valuable insights into the best ATS services for startups and small companies. By choosing the right ATS, you can streamline your recruitment process, save time and resources, and hire the best candidates for your organization.

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