Best Applicant Tracking System for Smarter Hiring in 2025

An applicant tracking system helps you hire the right talent faster with better organization and automation.

Overview

Applicant Tracking System Overview

Finding and hiring the right people has never been more critical. With businesses facing increasing competition, finding the best applicant tracking system is key to optimizing recruitment and securing top candidates.

78% of recruiters say recruitment applicant tracking simplifies hiring and boosts productivity.

65% of job seekers prefer applying through streamlined and intuitive ATS platforms.

Businesses using ATS fill positions 55% faster, cutting hiring delays and improving efficiency.

What is an Applicant Tracking System?

It is a tool that helps businesses organize and simplify hiring. It automates recruitment tasks like job posting, resume screening, interview scheduling, and candidate tracking. With an ATS, companies can save time, reduce hiring costs, and make data-driven hiring decisions.

Why Use an Applicant Tracking System?

Hiring the right people is not easy. Sorting through resumes, scheduling interviews, and tracking candidates takes time. This is where a best applicant tracking system comes in. Here is why every business should use one:

No More Resume Overload: An ATS filters and ranks candidates, eliminating resume overload and helping you focus on top talent.

Move Beyond Spreadsheets: An ATS keeps everything organized in one place, making hiring easier and more efficient.

Faster Hiring, Less Waiting: Automate repetitive tasks like job postings and interview scheduling, so you fill positions faster.

Teamwork Made Easy: Hiring managers, HR teams, and recruiters can collaborate, share feedback, and make decisions in real time.

Job Posting in One Click: Instantly share openings on LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job boards—no more manual posting!

Candidates Love It: A simple and mobile-friendly application makes it easy for job seekers to apply and stay excited about opportunities.

Smart Hiring with AI: AI-powered tools improve hiring accuracy by matching top candidates with the best job fits.

Stay Legal & Secure: Avoid compliance headaches with built-in hiring laws and data security features.

Benefits of Applicant Tracking:

Speeds up hiring: An ATS automates tasks like sorting resumes, scheduling interviews, and tracking applications. This reduces manual work and makes hiring quicker and smoother.

Keeps everything organized: All job applications are stored in one system, making it easy for recruiters to find, review, and manage candidates without losing important details.

Improves teamwork: Hiring managers, recruiters, and HR teams can easily share candidate information, leave feedback, and work together in one place.

Saves time by filtering candidates: The system automatically screens resumes and highlights top candidates, so recruiters do not have to go through every application manually.

Provides useful hiring insights: With reports and data, businesses can see what is working in their hiring process and make better decisions for future job openings.

Makes applying easier for job seekers: A good ATS creates a smooth application process, keeps candidates updated, and improves their overall experience.

Helps follow hiring laws: The system ensures that businesses meet legal hiring requirements and avoid potential issues with compliance.

Key Features of the Best Applicant Tracking System

A top-tier Applicant Tracking should include the following features:

1. Resume Screening & Parsing:

A resume screening and parsing feature helps businesses handle large volumes of job applications quickly and efficiently. Instead of sorting through resumes manually, the best applicant tracking system extracts key details like skills, experience, and education, organizing them in an easy-to-read format.

Extracts candidate details automatically: Pulls important information like work history, education, and skills from resumes.

Matches resumes with job descriptions: Uses AI to find the best candidates based on job requirements.

Saves recruiters valuable time: Cuts down hours of manual screening, letting recruiters focus on interviews and hiring.

Improves hiring accuracy: Helps businesses quickly identify top talent without missing strong candidates.

Resume screening and parsing help companies hire faster and focus on top applicants.

2. Job Posting & Distribution:

A strong job posting and distribution feature makes it easy for businesses to share job openings across multiple platforms with just one click. Instead of posting jobs manually on different sites, an ATS automates the process, helping companies reach more job seekers in less time.

Posts jobs on multiple platforms instantly: Shares job openings on career sites, company websites, and job boards all at once.

Connects with top hiring platforms: Works with LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and other job sites to attract more applicants.

Expands reach through social media: Expands reach through social media—automatically sharing job posts on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

Brings in top talent effortlessly: Helps companies find skilled candidates faster without extra effort.

3. Interview Scheduling & Communication:

Managing interviews can be time-consuming, but an ATS simplifies the process by automating scheduling and communication. Instead of sending multiple emails to set up interviews, the system takes care of everything, making it easier for recruiters and candidates.

Sends automatic interview invitations: Notifies candidates and recruiters about interview details instantly.

Syncs with calendars for smooth scheduling: Integrates with Google Calendar, Outlook, and other tools to avoid conflicts.

Reduces no-show rates: Reduces interview no-shows by sending timely reminders to candidates and recruiters

Eliminates back-and-forth emails: Saves time by letting candidates pick available slots, making scheduling hassle-free.

With automated interview scheduling and communication, businesses can conduct interviews faster, reduce scheduling conflicts, and improve the hiring experience for everyone.

4. Customizable Workflows:

A best applicant tracking system lets HR teams tailor the hiring process to their needs. Instead of following a rigid system, recruiters can adjust hiring stages to match their recruitment strategy.

HR teams can create custom hiring stages: adjusting application reviews, interviews, and approvals

Uses simple drag-and-drop tools: Easily rearrange or modify steps without technical skills.

Adapts to different hiring strategies: Supports various recruitment methods, from high-volume hiring to executive searches.

Keeps hiring structured and organized: Ensures every candidate moves through a clear, efficient process.

With customizable hiring workflows, businesses get the flexibility they need to manage recruitment system smoothly while staying organized.

5. Analytics & Reporting:

Making smart hiring decisions requires accurate data. applicant tracking provides detailed reports and insights, helping HR teams understand what is working and what needs improvement. Instead of guessing, companies can use real-time data to refine their hiring strategies.

Tracks key hiring metrics: Monitors important data like time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, and where applicants are coming from.

Helps improve recruitment strategies: Identifies strengths and weaknesses in the hiring process to make improvements.

Shows job posting effectiveness: Analyzes which job boards and platforms bring in the best candidates.

Supports data-driven decision-making: Gives HR teams the insights they need to hire smarter and faster.

With analytics and reporting, businesses can continuously optimize their hiring process, reduce inefficiencies, and attract top talent more effectively.

6. Collaboration Tools:

Hiring the right talent requires teamwork, and the best applicant tracking system makes it easy for recruiters, hiring managers, and HR teams to work together seamlessly. Instead of relying on long email chains or scattered notes, collaboration tools keep everything in one place for better decision-making.

Allows hiring managers to give real-time feedback: Recruiters and HR teams can quickly review and discuss candidates.

Improves team communication: Keeps everyone updated on candidate progress, reducing miscommunication.

Speeds up decision-making: Helps teams agree on top candidates faster with shared evaluations and comments.

Creates a transparent hiring process: Ensures that every team member is on the same page throughout recruitment.

With collaboration tools, businesses can make hiring more efficient, reduce delays, and ensure they choose the best candidates as a team.

7. Compliance & Security:

Protecting candidate data and following legal hiring guidelines are essential for businesses. Applicant Tracking helps companies stay compliant with hiring laws while keeping sensitive information secure. Instead of handling compliance manually, the system ensures that recruitment applicant tracking follows legal and ethical standards.

Ensures GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) compliance: Helps businesses follow global and local hiring regulations.

Keeps candidate data secure: Uses encryption and access controls to protect personal information from unauthorized access.

Maintains legal hiring practices: Ensures fair and unbiased recruitment, reducing discrimination risks.

Reduces legal and security risks: Lowers the chances of data breaches, fines, and hiring-related lawsuits.

With compliance and security features, businesses can confidently hire top talent while protecting candidate information and following legal standards.

How to Choose the Best Applicant Tracking System:

Finding the best applicant tracking system is crucial for streamlining your hiring process.

With so many options available, it is important to choose a system that fits your company’s needs. Here are key factors to consider when selecting the best applicant tracking system:

Ease of Use: A best applicant tracking system should be simple and easy to use. Recruiters and hiring managers should be able to navigate it without needing special training. A clean, user-friendly interface makes the hiring process smoother and more efficient.

Customization: Every company has a different hiring process. A great ATS should be flexible enough to match your unique workflows, job postings, and approval processes. Look for a system that lets you customize job application forms, interview steps, and reporting features.

Integration with HR Tools: Your ATS should work well with the tools you already use, like HR software, payroll systems, and job boards. Seamless integration helps avoid extra work and ensures that all hiring-related data stays in one place.

Cost and Value: Price is important, but the cheapest option is not always the best. Consider what features you are getting for the cost. A good ATS should fit your budget while providing essential tools like automation, analytics, and customer support.

Reliable Customer Support: If something goes wrong or you have questions, fast and helpful customer support is essential. Look for an ATS with 24/7 support, live chat, or a dedicated account manager to help with any issues.

Scalability: As your company grows, your hiring needs will change. Choose an applicant tracking that can handle more job postings, larger hiring teams, and a growing number of applicants over time.

Mobile Accessibility: Hiring does not just happen at a desk. A mobile-friendly ATS lets recruiters review applications, communicate with candidates, and schedule interviews from their phones or tablets. This makes hiring more flexible and efficient.

Automation Features: Applicant tracking should help reduce manual work by automating key hiring tasks. It can screen resumes, schedule interviews, send follow-up emails, and track candidate progress. These automation features save time, improve accuracy, and allow recruiters to focus on selecting the best candidates.

Best Applicant Tracking Systems in 2025

Selecting the best applicant tracking system significantly impacts how businesses attract, assess, and hire top talent. The best ATS solutions offer automation, AI-powered insights, and seamless integrations to improve recruitment applicant tracking. Here are some of the top ATS options for 2025:

1. Workday Recruiting:

Best for large enterprises that need a complete hiring solution.

Uses advanced AI-driven candidate matching to find the best fit.

Fully integrates with Workday’s HR suite for seamless HR management.

Scalable system that supports companies with high-volume hiring needs.

Provides detailed reports and analytics for data-driven hiring decisions.

2. Greenhouse:

Ideal for businesses looking for a structured hiring process.

Offers deep data-driven recruitment insights to improve hiring strategies.

Customizable workflows allow businesses to adjust hiring stages as needed.

Focuses on diversity and inclusion hiring to build fair and equal opportunities.

AI-powered tools help recommend the best candidates for each role.

3. Lever:

Combines ATS and CRM capabilities, helping businesses track and engage candidates.

Designed for talent acquisition teams that need a strong recruitment pipeline.

Includes powerful analytics and reporting tools for better decision-making.

Enhances candidate engagement with automation and communication tools.

Helps businesses build long-term talent pipelines for future hiring.

4. JazzHR:

Perfect for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an affordable ATS.

Simple and easy to use, making it great for teams without technical expertise.

Provides robust collaboration tools to improve teamwork between recruiters and hiring managers.

Allows unlimited job postings, making it easy to scale up hiring when needed.

Automates resume screening to help businesses identify top candidates quickly.

5. iCIMS:

Designed for businesses that need scalability as they grow.

Uses AI-driven automation to streamline hiring and reduce manual tasks.

Offers excellent integration options, working with various HR and payroll systems.

Supports video interviewing, allowing remote hiring and assessments.

Ensures compliance with hiring laws like GDPR and EEOC regulations.

6. Apps365:

Provides an all-in-one solution for managing job postings, candidate tracking, and hiring.

Handles resume screening, schedules interviews, and keeps candidates updated automatically.

Supports seamless integration with job boards, HR recruitment software, and company career pages.

Provides mobile access, enabling hiring teams to manage applications from any location.

Includes AI-powered insights and analytics to help businesses make data-driven hiring decisions.

Ensures secure and compliant hiring by safeguarding candidate data and adhering to industry regulations.

With so many options available, businesses should choose an ATS that fits their specific needs. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, the right system can improve efficiency, save time, and help find the best candidates faster.

Future Trends in Applicant Tracking Systems:

Technology is transforming how companies hire new employees. Modern Applicant Tracking is becoming smarter and more efficient. Here are the key trends shaping the future of ATS:

1. AI & Machine Learning - Smarter Hiring Decisions:

AI scans resumes and automatically matches candidates with job descriptions.

Predicts hiring success by analyzing past recruitment data.

Improves job recommendations by understanding candidate skills and experience.

Helps reduce hiring bias by prioritizing qualifications over keywords.

2. Mobile-Friendly ATS - Hiring on the Go:

Candidates can easily apply for jobs from their mobile devices.

Recruiters and hiring teams can access applications anytime, anywhere.

Mobile-friendly systems ensure a smooth and fast application process.

Sends real-time notifications to keep candidates informed.

3. Predictive Analytics - Data-Driven Recruitment:

Helps companies analyze hiring trends to make better decisions.

Improves workforce planning by predicting future hiring needs.

Provides insights to help companies adjust hiring strategies.

Optimizes recruitment budgets by identifying cost-effective hiring sources.

4. Automated Interviewing Tools - Faster and More Efficient Hiring:

AI-powered chatbots pre-screen candidates and answer their questions.

Video interviews with automated assessments make hiring faster.

Reduces recruiter workload by handling repetitive tasks.

Provides a more personalized and engaging candidate experience.

5. Diversity & Inclusion Features - Building Fair Hiring Practices:

AI removes hiring biases by focusing on skills and qualifications.

Ensures fair screening and evaluation for all candidates.

Helps companies build diverse and inclusive workplaces.

Promotes equal opportunities by reducing bias in hiring.

With these advanced features, ATS platforms are making hiring faster, smarter, and more inclusive. Companies adopting these technologies will gain a competitive edge in attracting top talent.

Conclusion:

The best applicant tracking system simplifies recruitment, improves teamwork, and helps companies hire smarter. Whether you run a small business or a large enterprise, choosing the right ATS can simplify hiring, save time, and help attract top talent.

With AI-powered tools and automation, the future of hiring is becoming more efficient than ever. Investing in the best applicant tracking system in 2025 will give your company a competitive edge in finding and hiring the right candidates.

Ready to transform your hiring process?
Schedule a demo today to discover how an applicant tracking can improve your hiring process!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an ATS make hiring faster?

An ATS helps speed up hiring by handling many tasks automatically. It sorts resumes, ranks candidates based on qualifications, and even posts jobs on multiple sites.

It can also schedule interviews and send updates to applicants. This means less manual work for you and more time to focus on choosing the right person for the job.

Can small businesses use an ATS?

Yes! Many ATS solutions are built for small and mid-sized businesses. They help keep the hiring process organized, even if you have a small HR team or no dedicated recruiter.

With an ATS, you can track applicants, sort resumes, and communicate with candidates—all in one place. It saves time and makes hiring easier.

Will an ATS improve the candidate experience?

Yes! A good ATS makes the hiring process easier and more professional for candidates. It allows them to apply quickly, track their application status, and get updates about their progress.

This helps them stay informed and reduces frustration, making the entire experience smoother and more positive.

How do I choose the best ATS for my business?

To find the right ATS, look for one that is simple to use, fits your budget, and works well with the tools you already have. It should also let you customize features to match your hiring needs.

Check if it has automation to handle repetitive tasks and mobile access so you can manage hiring anytime, anywhere. These features will make the process much easier for you and your team.

Does an ATS replace human recruiters?

No, an ATS does not replace recruiters—it just makes their job easier. It takes care of repetitive tasks like sorting resumes, scheduling interviews, and tracking candidates.

But recruiters are still needed to make final hiring decisions, connect with candidates, and ensure they are the right fit for the company. An ATS is a tool to support recruiters, not replace them.