For years, applicant tracking systems (ATS) were treated like back-office infrastructure—built for documentation, compliance, and process control. They stored resumes, tracked requisitions, and supported audits, but they weren’t where hiring strategy lived. Most recruiting teams invested their energy in sourcing, job advertising, and employer branding, while the ATS quietly sat in the background.
That mindset no longer works.
The ATS is moving out of its compliance era—think Reputation—and into its Midnights era, where it’s the smarter, more strategic, and quietly powering the decisions that shape hiring outcomes. As recruiting becomes more complex and less predictable, the ATS has evolved into the system that determines visibility, workflow speed, and decision quality across the funnel. AI is a major driver of this shift: today, more than 63% of companies report relying on AI-powered features to streamline candidate screening and recruiting workflows, while over 68% of U.S.-based organizations use an ATS as part of their hiring infrastructure. These systems are no longer just record-keeping tools—they’re becoming intelligence layers that influence outcomes like time-to-hire, candidate quality, and recruiter capacity.
And in an environment where job traffic can fluctuate overnight and “free” applicants are no longer guaranteed, your ATS often determines whether your open roles get seen…or disappear into the noise. I wish the only challenge we are seeing is simply only candidate fluctuation. It’s more complex than that. AI applications and candidate fraud are also real concerns for recruiters, and we are struggling with smaller TA teams and more resumes than ever before.
Not to mention the ATS ecosystem is incredibly complex. Each one offers different pros and cons supporting different industries, organizations and also company sizes making our job as TA leaders incredibly complicated and ever-evolving. This simple fact is one of the reasons I created the Workology Marketplace, a destination for HR and TA leaders to learn about HR and work technology to help support them in the goal to make hiring easier, more efficient and more effective all while keeping our budgets in check.
150+ Applicant Tracking Systems
I’ve organized a list of 150 ATS technologies which is featured below. You can learn more about Applicant Tracking Systems by learning more about important features and benefits of some of my favorite ATS solutions by company size and industry in our Applicant Tracking Resource on the Workology Marketplace.
Pure-play ATS / Recruiting Platforms (Standalone)
These are HR technology and ATS solutions that offer stand alone ATS options. If I missed one that didn’t make the list, feel free to leave a comment below or let me know which one you like and why. Vendors can visit the Workology Marketplace to claim their profile.
100Hires
Acclaim
Alchemus
Applicant Tracker
Applicant Tracking
ApplicantPro
ApplicantStack
Arithon
- Ashby
askSam Resume Tracking System
Aspirant
- AvaHR
Automated Business Designs
Beamery
Beehire
Berkshire Associates Inc.
Bond International Software Group
Bond StarSearcher Applicant Tracking System
Brightmove
Bullhorn Staffing Software
Candidate Manager
CATS Applicant Tracking System
Conrep ATS and a complete PSA solution
CVManager – Applicant Tracking System / Resume Tracking
CVTracer Software
Dover
Easy.Jobs
EmpXTrack
FlashRecruit
Fountain
Gem
Genesys
Gopher Applicant Tracking Recruiting Staffing Software
Greentree Systems
Harri
Hirebridge, LLC
Hire Ground Software
HireHive
Hireology
Hiring Management Systems
HiringThing
HireTouch
Hodes iQ
HRLogix Applicant Tracking System
HRM Direct
HRsmart.com
Humanic Design
ImmigrationTracker Case Management Software
IntroNet
JobAdder
JobAps
JobDiva
Jobtrain Solutions
Juggle Hire
Kenexa
Lever
Loxo
Manatal
matchhire – Recruiting, Staffing and Applicant Tracking
MaxHire Applicant Tracking
mindSCOPE Staffing & Recruitment Software
MightyRecruiter
Mploy: Empowered Applicant Tracking, Requisition Management, and Recruiting Workflow
MyPaperLess Office
myStaffingPro
NewHire
NowHire.com
OpenCATS
Oorwin
PCRecruiter by Main Sequence Technologies
PeopleClick
PeopleFilter Technology
People-Trak
Polygraph
PowerHires – Applicant Tracking for Small Business
powerHR
PreferredHire Plus
QuadrantHR
Recruit CRM
RecruitActive
Recruiter Applicant Tracking Automation System
Recruiterflow
recruitNEXT Applicant Tracking Software by EON Applications
RecruitPro – Applicant tracking software
RecruitTrack Recruiting Software
Redmatch Applicant Tracking and Online Recruiting
Relational Systems, Inc.
Recruitee
RESUMate – Applicant Tracking Software
ResumeWare
Selectech
Sendouts.com
SmartSearch
SonicRecruit
Staffingsoft.com
Staffing Software Solutions Account Receivable – Recruitment Management
Staff-n-Track
StaffCV Recruitment Software
Stateside Technology Limited
Swiftpro Recruitment Software, CV Processing, Data Entry Services, Job Boards Design
TalentReef
TrackerRMS
TribePad
WebRecruiter
Workable
XML Resume
Zoho Recruit
Staffing / Agency ATS (Recruiting CRM + ATS)
The staffing industry has their own specific recruiting CRM and ATS needs juggling many clients at one time and finding ways to track, engage, and continue to fill their candidate and pipeline. Having spent several years support a staffing client in Chicago, I respect the work they do and appreciate staffing recruiters and their teams.
Bullhorn
Crelate
CEIPAL
JobAdder
JobDiva
Loxo
Manatal
PCRecruiter
Recruit CRM
Recruiterflow
SmartSearch
TrackerRMS
High-Volume / Hourly Hiring ATS
Having spent a great deal of time working in high volume hiring industries like retail and logistics, hiring at scale just hits different and there are different technologies and features that TA and recruiters need to hire effectively whether you are hiring for seasonal staffing or when opening multiple locations at the same time not to mention the ongoing need for location managers and assistants constantly in your pipelin.
Apploi
Fountain
Harri
Paradox
TalentReef
Workstream
HCM / HRIS Suites with ATS / Recruiting Modules
One of the biggest decisions HR and TA leaders have today is when selecting HCM or HRIS technologies. Do you go with their standard ATS included in the technology package or move forward with an ATS that specializes to fit your unique needs? It really comes down to what’s important trading time for money or quality.
Dayforce
- Gusto
Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM
Paycor
SAP SuccessFactors
UKG Pro / UKG Ready
Workday
Choosing an ATS Is Choosing How You Hire and The Experience You Give Your Candidates
Choosing an applicant tracking system today is bigger than just choosing a software because frankly the job is more important, nuanced, and complex than anyone outside of recruiting and HR truly knows. The ATS you select directly influences how your organization sources candidates, manages evaluation, and moves people through the hiring process. The strongest platforms don’t just track applicants—they connect smoothly to your recruiting ecosystem, deliver clear insights through reporting, and reduce workload through automation that supports recruiters rather than adding friction.
As recruiting becomes increasingly metrics-driven, agentic AI becomes more proven and sophisticated, and sourcing channels grow less predictable, the ATS has shifted from a “back-office” system to a core driver of hiring performance. In other words, the ATS is the mastermind of it all meaning our technology choices must be smarter, more strategic, and operating in a way to spotlight their companies but the candidate experiences they support. It plays a central role in whether roles and qualified candidates are able to get visibility, those same candidates stay engaged, and hiring teams can adjust quickly when conditions like our markets and hiring needs change.
In the current market, very few technology choices carry more weight, and it’s time to start treating your ATS selection with as much attention to those weekly recruiting metrics you spend hours crafting for your senior leaders each and every week.
Is one of your favorite ATS not on the list? Leave a comment below or visit the Workology Marketplace to claim your profile.
14 Comments
Jim,
My firm is looking into an ATS, off and on. We had licenses for RecruitNext, but when we moved to Vista, several parts of the program got tempermental. We also evaluated the Vista version of cBizsoft’s cBizOne. It performed well in its core functions as an ATS, but our firm needed more robust contact management as we are still spending much time securing new clients. I look forward to reading more comments on the ATS’s listed.
Jim,
I agree, there are a number of companies who claim to be an ATS. I would suggest that every company prioritize their needs and thoroughly research their top choices. Many will find that the system’s features vary greatly from system to system.
Just thought I would say thanks for mentioning Arithon, and an excellent useful post.
Regards
Stephen
I’ve used Cats for a couple weeks and like it so far. Coming from Cbiz it seems a lot friendlier and they copied all my data over for free. Works with Mac too which is nice.
I have reviewed a few Applicant Tracking Systems before deciding on the right one. For my company there was one ATS that stood out and that was Sendouts. We paid to have our data converted from an older database and everything was able to be brought into Sendouts. Training was great and our account manager didnt make us feel STUPID for asking alot of questions. Overall, I am very pleased with the product and would recommend their software.
I would recommend Simplicant for ATS. It allows SMEs to move towards a more organized, cleaner job applications management system and simplicant is the first web 2.0 applicant tracking system. It is completely web-based and makes use of powerful web 2.0 concepts like tags, rankings, search and collaboration to make the hiring experience easier, smoother and quicker.
I used Vurv in the past and it was excellent. They were recently acquired by Taleo though, too bad. Simplicant looks interesting, but limiting users to only 10 active jobs for 49 bucks a month is terrible. If they were to up that to 20 or something for the same price, it could be a good tool. My firm right now is currently on Bond Adapt…. =/ I’m looking at demo’s right now of CATS, CBizOne, Jobvite, and Bullhorn. Too bad there isnt a site with a comparison list of all of them in a giant chart that compares pricing, features, storage, users, etc.
Yes that is exactly what I’ve been looking for as well. Anyone know if there is such a website? One that compares pricing, features, etc? We’ve been using Vurv and are wanting to check out other ATS. I keep viewing demos but would love a comparison list if it existed.
We have been looking at Silkroad they have a very impressive suite of tools. I love there onboarding tool. We where in the same boat with Vurv I loved there ATS and the customer service. Thanks John
I am thinking of going with CATS but I can’t find any real reviews, pros, cons from actual users. Does anyone have any feedback on this application?
I like the user friendly setup and it seems robust for open source. Anyone out there have any thoughts?
Tracy
CATS seems to be really good, but we’re having our database brought in from Sendouts and they don’t have that functionality pre-built. I believe the techs there are going to use our exported files as a way to build a script that others can use in the future. And while this is great and good, I’m still sitting here waiting to get started.
Our firm’s problem is that we’ve been inundated with PC related problems from day one. The only individuals that don’t have constant issues are the President himself and the marketing department. (They’re the one’s on Macs.) As a direct result of PC instability, we’re trying to switch the whole office over and a WORKING version of CATS is key to that.
So while I do love the look and feel of the program, and while I do get the distinct impression that it is more than ‘up-to’ the task, I’m still waiting on the export scripts so that we can actually get started. (Our problem is that we’re doing a working migration and preparing to train new recruiters and account managers at the same time.)
T
Hirebridge Recruiter is an easy to use, flexible system with a pricing structure that works for everyone. The system can be up and running in a few hours.
Marc
We also have an online application management system; including easy-to-use filtering of job applications to quickly sort through candidates: RecruitGear Express
The original version is specifically for the transportation industry: RecruitGear
Hi Jim,
Great list..sorry I only just spotted it.. there have been quite a few more since then!
That’s the problem though… it is a super crowded market place which makes it tough for anyone looking to make objective judgements.
I have to declare an interest here 😉 since I work from evolve in the UK.. We we one of the pioneers in the SaaS / On-demand space back in 2001 and with several hundred customers using evolve today, we are still going strong I’m pleased to say.
The one generic piece of advice I would offer is that when you draw up your list of criteria, don’t forget to ask some tough questions about service, support and stability (both of the system and the company!).
Obviously with a solution like CATS, this is going to be tricky, since its open source (no company as such to talk to), so you’ll need instead perhaps to think about how you needs might change over time and what that will mean if the OS developers don’t go in a direction you like.
Then, when you are comparing offerings, if you are planning to use a service provider you just need to make sure you are comparing apples with apples…. its been too easy over the years to start up as a ‘one-person-band’ out of a garage with a cheap hosting account and offer a recruitment solution.. there’s a good reason why the established players don’t give things away for free though – they understand that the ‘Service’ bit of Software as Service is the key..to do it well just costs a little more.
Comments are closed.