What is applicant tracking system software?
An applicant tracking system is software that helps employers organize and manage recruiting tasks. While features vary, most ATS platforms include:
- Resume storage and management
- Job posting tools
- Resume screening using keywords or skills
- Candidate scoring or ranking
- Interview scheduling
- Email automation
- Onboarding features
- Paperless onboarding
With applicant tracking systems, your company can reduce repetitive, time-consuming tasks related to recruiting and hiring. This allows your human resources team to focus on job duties that require a human touch.
Indeed’s ATS Sync integrations allow you to use Indeed with your ATS platform for a faster and easier hiring process. Find out if your ATS integrates with Indeed.
9 free ATS platforms to consider
If you’re ready to try a free version, check out these 2025 ATS tools:
1. BreezyHR
Price: The BreezyHR Bootstrap plan is free. It covers one active open job position and one active candidate pool.
Key features:
- Posting on more than 50 job boards for wide job distribution, helping maximize candidate outreach
- Parsing resumes for quick applicant data processing
- Candidate sourcing tools to expand your applicant pool
BreezyHR is cloud-based software that provides an online knowledge base, video tutorials and weekly webinars, and you can get customer support via email. The software offers standard and customized tags for its resume parsing features to help with candidate selection.
Because the free version only allows one job opening and one candidate, BreezyHR’s Bootstrap plan is suitable for SMBs with limited hiring needs. Many of the advanced features and automation options are only available with paid plans.
2. Dover
Price: This ATS is free for unlimited jobs, users and candidates.
Key features:
- All-in-one platform with built-in sourcing, scheduling, careers page and application review
- Quick review page that allows you to see every candidate in one place
- AI-powered resume screening to help save time in identifying top candidates
Dover’s free ATS is designed to streamline the recruitment and hiring process for startups and in-house recruiting teams for companies with between one and 250 employees. Dover can automatically rank applicants, helping you quickly identify the top matches for your roles. It also integrates with Slack, allowing you to receive notifications about candidates without disrupting your existing workflow.
It also provides tools for tracking and scheduling candidates, as well as a detailed candidate profile view that includes interview stages, notes and communication history to track candidate progress throughout the hiring process, ensuring efficient recruitment management.
3. iKrut
Price: A free version is available, or you can opt for the four-week free trial period for the upgraded version, which allows you to test advanced features.
Key features:
- Job and candidate management tools for streamlined hiring tasks
- Unlimited job board postings to help manage different positions simultaneously, including posting to multiple job boards for a broader reach
- Basic reports help you track the recruitment process
This free software has a wide range of functions, including an easy-to-use ATS with management tools and iKrut customer support. You can post an unlimited number of jobs and have unlimited users. It also lets you post to social networks to reach more candidates.
iKrut is mobile-compatible and features an online interview scheduling tool for convenience. Premium options provide automation features, additional reports and advanced communication tools.
4. Indeed
Price: Employers access free ATS features when they use Indeed to post a job.
Key features:
- Online dashboard for easy candidate management
- Performance reports to gain insight into your job postings
- Branded Career Page for all your Indeed job openings
You can access an online ATS when you use Indeed for your candidate experience. Your employer dashboard has flexible functionality that helps you easily manage your recruitment processes. You can review the status of your jobs, stats on screened applicants, scheduled interviews and job offers.
After the initial ATS screening, the hiring manager or hiring managers review the prescreened resumes to make final hiring decisions. Indeed’s email and interview scheduling options help you communicate with job applicants.
Team collaboration tools are also available, with separate login credentials for other hiring professionals in your organization. Use your Career Page URL on your website in marketing campaigns and on social media to reach a wide pool of candidates.
5. Jobsoid
Price: The Beginner plan is free and includes one user account and unlimited candidates.
Key features:
- One-click job board postings simplify the process
- Branded career site supports marketing strategies
- Compatible with iOS and Android for use with tablets and smartphones
The Jobsoid Beginner applicant tracking system is a free option suitable for startups and small businesses. You get one user account and one job posting with this version. The branded career portal helps strengthen your online presence, and integration with your website is available to help attract more talent. Custom email templates and one-click job board posting eliminate repetitive, time-consuming tasks.
Jobsoid offers limited online support for free customers. It doesn’t provide a free resume scanner in its free plan. However, this resume scanner feature is available with if you choose to upgrade to one of their paid versions.
6. MightyRecruiter
Price: This free end-to-end ATS software has no limitations and no paid versions.
Key features:
- Unlimited features for most key ATS functions
- Dedicated account manager and a variety of other customer support venues
- EEOC data capture for legal compliance and documentation
MightyRecruiter ATS lets you post jobs to multiple job boards simultaneously with customizable job description templates. Social media account posting is also available to connect multiple candidate sources with your ATS.
Screening questions and applicant tracking tools help narrow down your candidate pool to identify quality candidates. These features can also be used to outsource initial screenings, making it easier to manage high-volume hiring.
7. OpenCATS
Price: Free
Key features:
- Works on local, individual computers or a local network with customized access for multiple users
- Allows unlimited job openings, candidates and users
- Ability to brand OpenCATS with your company logo, career pages and emails
OpenCATS is open-source software, which means users can modify the website for free. This allows you to customize the tool for your needs. Because it’s open-source software, users are responsible for managing security and maintenance. OpenCATS doesn’t have a customer support department, so troubleshooting and updates are handled independently.
8. SmartRecruiters
Price: The SmartRecruiters SmartStart plan is free for companies with fewer than 250 employees and up to 10 active job posts.
Key features:
- Branded career website to advertise your business while attracting applicants
- One-click job posting to more than 200 job boards and social media accounts, including Indeed, simplifying the posting of jobs and allowing you to post job openings across multiple platforms
- Resume parsing included
SmartRecruiter’s free SmartStart ATS cloud-based software allows an unlimited number of users to use the system. Active jobs are limited to 10. Candidate database management and scheduling management functions help simplify the application experience, and you can track applicants throughout the hiring process.
SmartStart is also designed to help improve the job seeker experience with features such as one-click applying and tracking progress online.
9. Zoho Recruit
Price: Zoho Recruit is free for managing one active job.
Key features:
- Simple resume search without resume parsing; Zoho Recruit can help identify resume matches for job requirements
- Access to five email templates for candidate communication
- Supports 26 languages, giving international companies more options
Zoho Recruit offers a free, cloud-based ATS plan with limited functionality. Basic candidate management, email management, interview scheduling and contact management are part of its main features.
Upgrading to paid plans gives you access to more features, such as resume parsing and automated emails, and a larger capacity for various features. For example, the standard package increases the number of candidate tags you can create and apply, from 50 in the free version to 250, helping you organize and filter applicants more effectively.
What to look for when choosing applicant tracking system software
Free ATS software may vary in design, features and functionality. When comparing options, consider which platform best supports your hiring needs and workflow. The right ATS can help streamline recruitment, improve candidate management and support your broader talent acquisition strategy.
The following features are especially important to evaluate:
1. Resume parsing and search
Automated resume parsing can save time by extracting and organizing key candidate information. While not all free ATS tools include resume scanners, many offer basic search functionality that can help you quickly find applicants with relevant skills.
2. Filters and tagging
Tagging lets you categorize candidates based on skills, job titles or other attributes. You can then filter applicants by tag to identify those who meet specific criteria. This feature helps organize your applicant pool and simplifies candidate selection.
3. Job posting and candidate sourcing
Explore the job posting and candidate sourcing features of each option. Some platforms make it easy to post to multiple job platforms with one click. Candidate sourcing can be easier with applicant tracking systems that integrate with social media and job boards. This lets you import contact information from those sources to build a candidate pipeline.
With Indeed’s ATS integrations, you can create jobs on your ATS that are automatically included in Indeed’s search results to help expand visibility without requiring additional setup.
4. Communication
Applicant tracking systems that streamline contact with applicants can help with interview scheduling, email integration and automated emails, potentially improving communication and saving time. Regular and clear communication with job seekers helps you build relationships with leads. Effective communication and collaboration with hiring managers can also be important for a smooth recruitment process to ensure candidates are aligned with your HR team.
5. Collaboration
Collaboration tools within an ATS can help HR teams and recruiters share candidate information, notes and feedback in one place. This reduces back-and-forth communication, keeps everyone aligned on candidate status and supports more consistent decision-making when multiple people are involved in the hiring process.
6. Report generation and analytics
Analytics helps you track recruitment metrics through report generation, which may improve with your budgets and strategies for future recruitment efforts. Some ATS platforms also provide a resume screening system, allowing you to evaluate how well candidates’ resumes align with job descriptions and improve your screening process.
7. Career pages
Including company culture insights on your job postings or career pages can also help attract quality candidates. Many applicant tracking systems support branded career pages that automatically update with open roles, helping present a consistent employer brand while simplifying how candidates find and apply for jobs.
8. Mobile integration
ATS integration with iOS and Android apps gives your hiring team flexibility. They can respond and manage the candidate experience from anywhere.
9. User-friendliness
A user-friendly applicant tracking system can make common recruiting tasks faster and easier, such as reviewing applications, moving candidates through stages and communicating with applicants. Intuitive design and clear workflows can also reduce training time and help hiring teams stay organized and efficient.
10. Customer support
When evaluating free ATS options, consider what level of customer support is available, such as help centers, documentation or direct assistance. Some free plans offer limited or no support, which may affect how quickly your team can resolve issues.
Free ATS tools like BreezyHR, Dover, Zoho Recruit, Indeed and others empower small businesses and startups to streamline resume screening, job postings, candidate management and communication without high costs. By evaluating key features, such as parsing, integrations and usability, you can select the best fit to enhance recruitment efficiency and candidate experience.
