Choosing the right Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can be a game-changer for any company’s recruitment success. Whether you're a growing startup or a well-established business, an ATS ensures your hiring process is streamlined, efficient, and effective. But with so many options available, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. In this guide, we explore the best ATS platforms in 2025 and show you why Zepply.ai is emerging as one of the smartest, most innovative alternatives on the market.

What Is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is a software platform that assists companies in handling recruitment from start to finish. It automates the posting of job ads, collects applications, parses resumes, filters candidates based on pre-set criteria, and tracks their journey through the hiring process. A great ATS goes beyond resume storage; it’s a central hub for collaboration, decision-making, and automation that transforms recruitment into a strategic asset.

What to Look for in an ATS

When choosing an ATS, ease of use and functionality are critical. Key features include intuitive setup, automation tools for job ad distribution, strong candidate tracking, integration with job boards and HR systems, support for team collaboration, and the ability to generate clear hiring insights through analytics. Some systems specialize in structured interviewing, while others focus more on pipeline nurturing or employer branding.

A Detailed Look at the Best ATS Platforms in 2025

Greenhouse

Greenhouse is a powerhouse in the enterprise hiring space. Known for its structured hiring workflows, scorecards, and deep integrations, it’s ideal for organizations that need consistency and scale. The platform emphasizes DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) tools, enabling companies to run fair and measurable hiring processes. However, its enterprise-grade power also means a higher cost and steeper learning curve, which can make it less appealing for smaller businesses or teams without a dedicated HR department.

Pros:

• Advanced structured interviewing and scorecards

• Excellent DEI features

• Scalable for large hiring teams

Cons:

• High cost

• Complex to set up and manage

Lever

Lever stands out for its CRM-style approach to recruiting. It not only tracks applicants but also helps build long-term relationships with passive candidates. With intuitive pipeline tools, automated nurture campaigns, and excellent analytics, Lever is popular among companies that invest heavily in talent engagement. However, its depth comes with a slightly more complex setup, and it's often seen as more suitable for mid-sized companies than early-stage startups.

Pros:

• Great for long-term relationship building with candidates

• Excellent analytics and reporting tools

• CRM and ATS in one

Cons:

• Mid to high pricing

• Learning curve for smaller teams

Workable

Workable is known for its simplicity and accessibility. It provides an excellent all-around feature set, from job ad distribution to interview scheduling. It’s particularly strong for SMBs looking for an easy entry point into structured recruitment without enterprise complexity. However, while it covers most essentials well, its automation and AI capabilities don’t go as far as newer tools.

Pros:

• Easy to set up and use

• Affordable pricing options

• Covers all standard ATS needs

Cons:

• Limited AI-driven features

• Some features require upgrades

Breezy HR

Breezy HR is a strong choice for smaller companies or those recruiting for multiple entry-level roles. Its drag-and-drop hiring pipeline and visual dashboards make the hiring journey more transparent and engaging. Built-in video interviews and SMS communication are a bonus. Still, Breezy’s strengths lie in ease-of-use rather than deep automation or analytics.

Pros:

• User-friendly and visual interface

• Built-in communication tools

• Ideal for entry-level hiring

Cons:

• Lacks advanced analytics

• Limited customization

JazzHR

JazzHR is tailored to startups and budget-conscious organizations. Its user-friendly interface allows for customizable workflows and collaborative decision-making. It’s a great starter ATS, particularly for companies just beginning to structure their hiring. However, JazzHR may lack the advanced automation and machine learning tools that high-growth companies might need as they scale.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly pricing

• Simple to use

• Customizable workflows

Cons:

• Limited automation tools

• No AI-driven candidate scoring

Zoho Recruit

Zoho Recruit is part of the larger Zoho suite, making it an ideal solution for businesses already using Zoho tools. It offers end-to-end hiring capabilities, from resume parsing to AI-powered candidate recommendations. While its functionality is robust, its interface can feel overwhelming to teams without technical expertise. Customization is a strength, but also a potential hurdle for teams looking for plug-and-play simplicity.

Pros:

• Highly customizable

• Strong AI recommendations

• Seamless integration with Zoho ecosystem

Cons:

• Overwhelming for non-technical users

• Requires setup time

Recruitee

Recruitee offers an intuitive, clean interface with strong employer branding tools. It supports international and remote hiring, making it great for distributed teams. Multi-language options and candidate pipeline visualizations are useful, but some advanced sourcing and automation features may require third-party add-ons.

Pros:

• Excellent branding tools

• Great for remote and international hiring

• Easy collaboration features

Cons:

• Add-ons needed for deeper functionality

• Less focus on automation

Teamtailor

Teamtailor excels in employer branding and candidate experience. It allows companies to build beautiful career pages and nurture talent pipelines directly from the ATS. It's ideal for companies that want to make a strong first impression on candidates. However, if you’re looking for extensive automation or deep reporting, Teamtailor might not cover all the bases without extra tools.

Pros:

• Beautiful career site builder

• Great for employer branding

• Intuitive interface

Cons:

• Limited automation capabilities

• Lacks advanced analytics

Zepply.ai — The Future of Fast, Automated Hiring

Unlike traditional ATS platforms that focus primarily on tracking, Zepply.ai reimagines the recruitment process from the ground up. Designed with small businesses, digital-first teams, and high-volume recruiters in mind, Zepply.ai automates the entire top-of-funnel process—starting from job ad creation to candidate screening.

The platform uses artificial intelligence to instantly generate professional job listings optimized for performance. Once published, your ads are automatically distributed to multiple free job boards, including Google Jobs and Indeed. The system then pre-screens applicants using smart filters, allowing hiring managers to focus on top matches instead of digging through stacks of resumes.

The best part? Zepply.ai requires no complex setup, no training, and no integrations to get started. It’s built to launch in minutes and scale with you.

Pros:

• AI-powered job ad creation and distribution

• Instant setup with no technical skills required

• Automated applicant filtering and ranking

Cons:

• Newer platform still building some integrations

• Best suited for SMBs and growth-focused teams

Final Comparison at a Glance

Final Thoughts

Most ATS platforms offer variations of the same structure—resume intake, pipeline tracking, and communication tools. But in today’s hiring landscape, speed and automation matter more than ever. While Greenhouse, Lever, and others provide powerful enterprise functionality, they often come with longer setup times, higher costs, and complex configurations.

Zepply.ai focuses on what most businesses really need: a simple, smart way to attract, filter, and hire candidates without friction. It’s not just an ATS. It’s a full recruitment engine designed for the modern hiring team.

Try Zepply.ai Free Today

• No credit card required

• Launch job campaigns in minutes

• Automate your entire recruiting funnel

Start now: app.zepply.ai/start