The 10 Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in 2025

One of the biggest challenges for HR professionals is finding and hiring top talent in a competitive job market. This is especially true for businesses that are rapidly growing or expanding into new markets. Traditional hiring methods can be time-consuming and inefficient, leading to delays in filling critical roles.

That’s where an Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can make a significant difference. By automating many of the tasks involved in the hiring process, an ATS can save time, reduce costs, and improve the overall candidate experience. However, choosing the right ATS can be daunting, as there are many options available on the market.

In this list, we’ll explore the top 10 ATS solutions available in 2024, along with their key features and benefits. We’ll also discuss the challenges that organizations often face when implementing ATS and how a reliable outsourcing partner can help overcome these hurdles.

Key Takeaways

• A Strategic Tool for Scalable Hiring: An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is more than just a résumé parser; it is a strategic infrastructure that organizes, tracks, and scales the entire hiring process. It provides hiring managers with greater control and real-time visibility, which is essential for managing a high volume of candidates.
• Candidates Must Optimize Their Résumé for the Algorithm: To successfully pass through an ATS, candidates must tailor their CV. This includes using a simple file format like a Word document, mirroring the exact keywords and phrases from the job description, and using standard, clear headings for sections like “Work Experience” and “Skills.”
• An ATS Helps Expose Inconsistencies, Not Detect Lies: An ATS does not function as a “lie detector,” but it makes it much easier for human recruiters to spot dishonesty. The system creates a digital trail, can flag discrepancies between different versions of a candidate’s résumé, and may cross-reference information with external databases.
• Enhances Collaboration with Offshore Staffing Agencies: When an offshore staffing company utilizes an ATS, it provides significant benefits to its clients. These include improved candidate quality through better filtering, a faster recruitment process, enhanced data security and legal compliance, and better overall communication.

What is an Applicant Tracking System?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is often misunderstood as just software that screens résumés. In reality, it’s the infrastructure that keeps your entire hiring process structured, transparent, and scalable. Instead of drowning in emails and spreadsheets, an ATS organizes every application, tracks progress across each hiring stage, and ensures no great candidate gets overlooked.

You might worry that using technology makes hiring feel impersonal. The opposite is true. An ATS strengthens the candidate experience by sending timely updates, automating follow-ups, and standardizing evaluations so every applicant is treated fairly. That professionalism reflects on your brand and attracts stronger remote talent.

Another concern many leaders have is control. Fearing they’ll lose visibility once hiring is outsourced or digitized. With an ATS, you gain more control, not less. Dashboards show you where every candidate stands, how quickly roles are moving, and which skills are surfacing most often. You’re not waiting for status updates. You see them in real time.

Ultimately, an ATS gives you both speed and quality. Automated shortlisting accelerates hiring, structured workflows reduce bias, and compliance is built in across markets. The result: you scale faster, cut inefficiencies, and consistently secure the best remote professionals without sacrificing candidate experience or business oversight.

How Do I Pass My CV Through ATS?

Understanding how to navigate an applicant tracking system requires thinking like the technology itself. These systems don’t read resumes the way humans do; they parse information through algorithms that look for specific patterns, keywords, and formatting structures.

The foundation of ATS compatibility starts with your file format choice. While PDFs might look more polished, many applicant tracking system platforms struggle with complex PDF formatting, especially those with graphics, tables, or unusual fonts. A simple Microsoft Word document using standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman ensures the system can read every character correctly.

Keyword optimization becomes your strategic advantage when you understand how the applicant tracking system evaluates relevance. The software compares your resume against the job description, searching for exact matches of required skills, job titles, and qualifications. This means you need to mirror the language used in the posting. If the job requires “project management,” don’t just list “managed projects”—use the exact phrase “project management” to trigger the algorithm’s recognition.

Your resume structure determines whether the applicant tracking system can properly categorize your information. Use clear, standard headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills” rather than creative alternatives like “Career Journey” or “Learning Adventures.” The system needs to understand where to file each piece of information within its database structure.

The skills section deserves particular attention because most applicant tracking system platforms weight this area heavily in their scoring algorithms. Create a dedicated skills section that includes both hard skills (specific software, certifications, technical abilities) and relevant soft skills mentioned in the job posting. However, avoid keyword stuffing—list skills you actually possess, as human recruiters will eventually verify these claims.

Contact information placement affects whether the applicant tracking system can properly identify and store your details. Place your name, phone number, email, and location at the top of the document in a simple format. Avoid headers or footers for this information, as some systems struggle to extract data from these areas.

1. Recruitee

• Features: User-friendly ATS designed to help businesses of all sizes streamline their hiring process. Offers a variety of features, including candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding.
• Pros: Affordable pricing, easy to use, and integrates well with other HR systems.
• Cons: May lack some advanced features compared to larger ATS providers.
• Pricing: Starts at $79/month per hiring manager.

Recruitee is a top ATS option. Its main highlights are ease of use, affordability, and customization for both the HR professionals and the hiring managers. It provides candidates great user experience and integrates well with existing tools. It also has digestible analytics. If you’re looking for an ATS that’s efficient and effective, Recruitee is a solid choice that has generated the hires needed by the clients served by Penbrothers, an HR expert building remote teams in the Philippines.

2. Greenhouse

• Features: Advanced features such as AI-powered candidate sourcing, customizable workflows, and integration with other HR tools.
• Pros: Ideal for larger enterprises, offers a high level of customization, and strong focus on candidate experience.
• Cons: Can be more expensive than other options, and the learning curve may be steep for smaller businesses.
• Pricing: Starts at $125/month per hiring manager.

3. RecruiterBox

• Features: Cloud-based ATS with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Offers a variety of features, including candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding.
• Pros: Affordable pricing, easy to learn and use, and integrates well with other HR systems.
• Cons: May lack some advanced features compared to larger ATS providers.
• Pricing: Starts at $89/month per hiring manager.

4. Zoho Recruit

• Features: Part of the Zoho suite of business applications, offering a comprehensive set of features for talent acquisition.
• Pros: Affordable pricing, integrates well with other Zoho applications, and offers a variety of customization options.
• Cons: May be less intuitive for users who are not familiar with the Zoho ecosystem.
• Pricing: Starts at $25/month per user.

5. Lever

• Features: Modern ATS designed to improve the candidate experience. Offers features such as AI-powered candidate sourcing and a mobile-friendly interface.
• Pros: Strong focus on candidate experience, offers advanced features, and integrates well with other HR tools.
• Cons: Can be more expensive than other options, and the learning curve may be steep for smaller businesses.
• Pricing: Starts at $159/month per hiring manager.

6. iCIMS

• Features: Leading provider of talent acquisition solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of features for businesses of all sizes.
• Pros: Established reputation, offers a wide range of features, and strong customer support.
• Cons: Can be more expensive than other options, and the interface may be less intuitive for some users.
• Pricing: Contact sales for pricing information.

7. JazzHR

• Features: Cloud-based ATS designed for small to medium-sized businesses. Offers a variety of features, including candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding.
• Pros: Affordable pricing, easy to use, and integrates well with other HR systems.
• Cons: May lack some advanced features compared to larger ATS providers.
• Pricing: Starts at $39/month per hiring manager.

8. SmartRecruiters

• Features: Modern ATS designed to improve the candidate experience. Offers features such as AI-powered candidate sourcing and a mobile-friendly interface.
• Pros: Strong focus on candidate experience, offers advanced features, and integrates well with other HR tools.
• Cons: Can be more expensive than other options, and the learning curve may be steep for smaller businesses.
• Pricing: Contact sales for pricing information.

9. Taleo

• Features: Leading provider of talent acquisition solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of features for businesses of all sizes.
• Pros: Established reputation, offers a wide range of features, and strong customer support.
• Cons: Can be more expensive than other options, and the interface may be less intuitive for some users.
• Pricing: Contact sales for pricing information.

10. Workable

• Features: Comprehensive suite of features, including candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, onboarding, and analytics.
• Pros: User-friendly interface, affordable pricing, and excellent customer support.
• Cons: Limited customization options for larger enterprises.
• Pricing: Starts at $99/month per hiring manager.

Can ATS Detect Resume Lies?

The relationship between an applicant tracking system and resume accuracy is more nuanced than most people realize. While the software itself doesn’t function as a lie detector, it creates a digital trail that makes verification easier and inconsistencies more apparent during the hiring process.

Modern applicant tracking system platforms store and organize candidate information in ways that reveal patterns over time. If you apply to multiple positions within the same company or industry, the system may flag discrepancies between different versions of your resume. Employment dates that don’t align, job titles that change between applications, or skills that appear and disappear can trigger closer scrutiny from human reviewers.

The integration capabilities of advanced applicant tracking system solutions enable automatic cross-referencing with external databases. Some systems connect with LinkedIn profiles, education verification services, or professional licensing databases. When your resume claims a degree from a specific university or certification from a professional organization, the system may automatically attempt verification through these connected services.

However, the primary detection mechanism isn’t the applicant tracking system itself—it’s the structured data the system provides to human recruiters. By organizing candidate information consistently, the software makes it easier for hiring managers to spot inconsistencies during interviews or reference checks. Your resume becomes a searchable database record that recruiters can quickly cross-reference with your verbal responses or reference feedback.

The automated screening features of an applicant tracking system can inadvertently expose resume inflation. If you claim expertise in software or skills that don’t align with your stated experience level or industry background, the system’s scoring algorithms may flag these inconsistencies for human review. For example, claiming advanced expertise in enterprise software while listing only entry-level positions might trigger additional scrutiny.

The most effective approach involves honest optimization rather than fabrication. Focus on presenting your actual skills and experience using language that aligns with job requirements. The applicant tracking system will efficiently surface your genuine qualifications to recruiters who can then evaluate your authentic fit for the role.

4 Benefits of Using an ATS with an Offshore Staffing Company

When an offshore staffing company uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), it offers several benefits to its clients. Here are the top four:

1. Improved Candidate Quality and Fit

An ATS allows offshore staffing companies to thoroughly screen and assess candidates based on the client’s specific requirements. By automating the filtering of applications and using advanced algorithms to match skills, experience, and qualifications, the ATS ensures that only the most suitable candidates are presented to clients. This leads to better hiring outcomes, reducing turnover and improving long-term fit.

2. Faster Recruitment Process

With an ATS, offshore staffing providers can streamline the recruitment process, automating many manual tasks like resume parsing, job posting, and scheduling interviews. This results in a faster time-to-hire, which is crucial for clients looking to fill roles quickly. The efficiency gained allows companies to meet staffing needs promptly, minimizing any disruptions to their operations.

3. Enhanced Compliance and Data Security

An ATS helps offshore staffing companies stay compliant with global hiring regulations, such as data privacy laws (e.g., GDPR), by securely managing candidate information. For clients, this ensures that they avoid legal issues and remain in compliance with relevant employment laws. The ATS can also automate reporting and documentation, ensuring a transparent and auditable recruitment process.

4. Better Communication and Collaboration

The ATS facilitates smooth communication between the offshore staffing company, candidates, and the client. It often includes collaborative features like shared dashboards, progress reports, and others. 

By partnering with a reputable offshore staffing company in the Philippines that utilizes an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), you can benefit from all these advantages. Our team of experienced recruiters will leverage the power of an ATS to identify and present the most qualified candidates, streamline the hiring process, ensure compliance, and foster effective communication.

Frequently Asked Questions