Top 16 applicant tracking systems of 2024
Applicant tracking systems can help companies succeed in a still-competitive hiring market. Learn more about some products to consider as well as their features.
In a still-competitive hiring market, companies must use any advantage they can to find and hire the best candidates, and applicant tracking systems can help them succeed. New capabilities like AI can potentially save recruiters time, and tools like text messaging candidates and asking current employees for referrals can help companies improve their overall recruiting efforts.
Some vendors offer standalone ATSes, while some HR vendors include an ATS module as part of their larger offering. HR leaders should learn about each product so they can make the most informed decision possible about which ATS is right for their company.
Learn more about applicant tracking software and some of the top products on the market.
What are applicant tracking systems?
An applicant tracking system is software for managing the recruiting and hiring process. ATS users have different functionality available to them based on their role in the recruitment process. For example, a recruiter can use the ATS to post a job, review applications, communicate with candidates and offer the job to the top candidate. Candidates can use the ATS to review an organization's job openings and apply to the ones that match their education and experience. Candidates may also use the ATS to communicate with hiring teams and sign offers of employment. Managers will typically review resumes and add notes based on their interactions with candidates.
The market for applicant tracking systems is large, with some vendors focused on providing standalone ATSes and others including the ATS as part of a talent management suite. Standalone systems often have a greater depth of functionality, while suites provide a consistent look and feel across the ATS and the other modules and keep all the HR data in one system.
This article is part of
Ultimate guide to recruitment and talent acquisition
Applicant tracking systems were originally developed to automate the many steps in the recruitment process. Modern ATSes may also provide additional features such as advanced branding options, diversity and inclusion tools, and integration with complementary systems, such as background check services and human resource information system (HRIS) applications.
Vendors increasingly offer AI and machine learning capabilities for tasks such as reviewing resumes, writing job descriptions, identifying top candidates for open positions and communicating with candidates. Reporting and dashboards have also become increasingly sophisticated.
16 of the top applicant tracking systems
The list below consists primarily of companies that focus on the ATS market, so large HR system vendors that include an ATS module within their application do not appear on this list. The list is presented in alphabetical order.
Vendors were chosen based on information from sources such as Capterra, G2 and Gartner as well as vendor websites and the author's personal experience working with HR systems.
1. Avature
Avature was founded in 2005 by the co-founder of HotJobs.com, and the software first focused on engaging candidates and sourcing passive ones. Now Avature users can also automate the hiring process and customize the system to meet their companies' unique needs.
The software also includes functions for contingent workforce management, performance management and succession planning as well as a Recruiting Events Management feature for planning, promoting and tracking the outcomes of recruiting events.
2. Breezy
Breezy has more than 17,000 clients in over 80 countries. The software enables users to communicate with candidates by text and email and offers templates for various HR and talent acquisition interactions.
The system also integrates with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) job sites and offers features to help attract a diverse candidate base, including deleting information like gender from job applications to attempt to prevent bias.
3. ClearCompany
ClearCompany was founded in 2004 as HRM Direct and its talent management suite includes an ATS, onboarding, performance management and employee engagement.
The system supports video interviews and text messaging with candidates and offers English, French and Spanish candidate communication. ClearCompany makes it easy to brand offer letters, even if a company has multiple locations.
The software also includes AI capabilities for processes like writing job descriptions and composing emails.
4. Greenhouse
Greenhouse offers a mobile app version and over 400 prebuilt integrations so the software can connect to a company's HRIS and other applications like Slack and DocuSign.
The software also includes reporting and dashboards to help track the recruitment process, scorecards to attempt to avoid bias in interviews, access to over 1,000 job boards, and an onboarding module.
5. ICIMS
ICIMS's talent acquisition system includes AI capabilities for identifying potential candidates that are already in the database, interacting with candidates through a chatbot, and providing insights across the platform. The system also includes other features that can help develop internal talent, such as tools for communicating with internal candidates.
Through Visier, ICIMS also offers predictive analytics and data visualization tools.
6. JazzHR
JazzHR focuses on small to mid-sized companies and has won awards for its offerings for those audiences.
The company's evaluation system can compare candidates and attempt to reduce bias in the hiring process using scorecards. The software also includes integration with popular calendar applications for interview scheduling and enables an unlimited number of job listings and users, avoiding the need to pay additional fees if a company hires more recruiters.
JazzHR also lets users request and receive referrals from employees' and recruiters' personal networks, track candidates' progress and receive applications by text.
7. Jobvite
Jobvite's ATS lets users add extra functionality, including onboarding features for new hires, chatbots, CRM and video screening, among other additions. AI capabilities include conducting a search of the candidate database to identify and rank previous candidates, sending candidate messages and scheduling interviews with applicants.
Recruiters can receive training and certification using the vendor's Jobvite Academy.
8. LeverTRM
LeverTRM is easy to use and maintain and includes built-in integration to popular HR systems. Users can pull data from multiple LeverTRM sources, such as a candidate profile or job offer, and push it to the company HRIS.
The software also includes integrated candidate relationship management capabilities to help build long-term relationships with candidates who may be a fit for future positions as well as features to help support a company's diversity and inclusion programs, such as evaluating whether the company is meeting its DEI goals.
Lever is owned by Employ, the same vendor behind JazzHR and Jobvite.
9. Manatal
Manatal was founded in 2019, and its software uses AI to develop candidate profiles by mining data from social media and other sites and to offer recommendations about which candidates are the best fit for open jobs.
The progressive web app design lets users access the software on any device, and Manatal is transparent about the system's performance uptime, providing a link on its homepage to a log of software issues and resolutions.
10. Pinpoint
Pinpoint offers multilingual applicant tracking software that includes a built-in onboarding feature to help simplify the process of completing new-hire forms and processes. The system also includes preconfigured integrations with job boards and an employee referral feature.
Users can add any agencies to the system that the company uses to help fill vacancies and can customize the system's requisition approval process.
11. SeekOut
SeekOut was founded in 2016 by former Microsoft executives and engineers. The software uses AI to mine publicly available content on social media and other sources to help recruiters find passive candidates and build internal and external candidate profiles. The AI engine also matches internal and external candidates to open positions.
SeekOut also includes tools to help companies meet their diversity recruiting goals, including the ability to analyze representation among candidates. The system's detailed employee profiles can help employee talent development and support a company's internal mobility program.
12. SmartRecruiters
SmartRecruiters can automate the full talent acquisition process, including recruitment marketing, offer management, onboarding and compliance. The software also offers interview scheduling capabilities and interview scorecards to attempt to avoid bias.
SmartRecruiters' AI can carry out resume screening and a chatbot can communicate through text and WhatsApp. A central inbox captures all candidate communication, regardless of the communication method.
13. Taleo
Founded in 1996 and acquired by Oracle in 2012, Taleo possesses one of the largest client bases in the talent acquisition industry.
Taleo's ATS offers a wide range of configuration options and integrations with third-party vendors. The software uses AI to parse resumes and awards points based on keywords. The software can also assign more points to certain words if necessary.
14. Trakstar
Trakstar is owned by Mitratech, and the vendor's website states that Trakstar has over 3,000 customers. Its talent management suite includes an ATS as well as performance management, learning and workforce analytics modules.
The ATS, Trakstar Hire, can post open positions in multiple locations simultaneously, and the software can parse a candidate email and accompanying resume to automatically create a candidate profile. Users can add a talent sourcing company partner to the ATS, so all recruiting takes place in one system.
15. VidCruiter
VidCruiter's end-to-end interview platform makes it easy to incorporate video into the hiring process, including videos of candidates answering prescreening questions.
Candidates can also use the platform to take online skill tests, with or without a proctor. If candidates complete skills assessments without a live proctor, the software can limit and track candidates' actions. For example, VidCruiter can prevent candidates from pasting in answers and track instances of a candidate switching tabs or applications.
The platform can also help plan virtual events and automate the reference-checking process.
16. Workable
Workable's talent acquisition system includes video interviews, features to assist with company DEI goals, candidate assessments, and an onboarding module. The software also uses AI to search social media sites and identify passive candidates who possess the skills for a posted job.
The system offers six languages, allowing users to expand their talent pool, and can also help translate text, such as candidate communications.
Eric St-Jean is an independent consultant with a particular focus on HR technology, project management and Microsoft Excel training and automation. He writes about numerous business and technology areas.
