Best ATS Systems for Small Business (2025 Guide)

Hiring the right people is one of the most important jobs in any small business. But doing it manually — sorting resumes, emailing candidates, and tracking interviews — can take a lot of time. That’s where an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) helps.

This guide will explain what an ATS is, why small businesses should use it, and the best ATS systems for small businesses in 2025.

What Is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software that helps you manage your hiring process. It keeps all the candidate information in one place and makes it easier to:

• Post job openings to many websites at once
• Receive and organise resumes automatically
• Track where each candidate is in the hiring process
• Schedule interviews
• Send offer letters

In simple words, an ATS helps a small business hire faster, smarter, and with less effort.

Why Small Businesses Need an ATS

Many small businesses in India still hire people using email and Excel sheets. That may work for one or two job posts, but it becomes messy when you start hiring more often.
Here’s why using an ATS can make a big difference:

1. Saves Time

You don’t have to check hundreds of resumes manually. The ATS filters and sorts applications automatically.

2. Keeps Everything Organised

All candidate information — CVs, emails, interview notes — stays in one place.

3. Improves Hiring Quality

ATS systems often have tools like resume ranking, keyword search, and skill scoring, helping you find the best fit.

4. Helps with Team Collaboration

Multiple team members can review and comment on candidates in one system.

5. Creates a Better Experience for Candidates

When candidates get timely responses and updates, it builds a good image of your company.

6. Affordable and Easy to Use

Modern ATS platforms are cloud-based. You don’t need IT support or big budgets. Most offer monthly plans suitable for small businesses.

How to Choose the Best ATS for Your Small Business

Before jumping into the list, let’s understand what to look for. Here are a few important points:

Best ATS Systems for Small Business in 2025

Let’s now look at the top ATS software that small businesses are using globally and in India.

1. Zoho Recruit

Best for: Small businesses that want an easy-to-use, affordable, and all-in-one hiring tool.

Zoho Recruit is one of the most popular ATS systems for small and medium businesses. It is made by Zoho — an Indian company known for simple, affordable software.

Key Features:

• Post jobs to LinkedIn, Naukri, and many job boards with one click
• Resume parsing (reads CVs automatically and saves key info)
• Custom hiring stages and workflows
• Email and SMS notifications
• Free plan for one recruiter

Pricing: Starts at around ₹1,000 per user per month (with a free plan available).

Why Small Businesses Like It:
It’s simple, supports local job portals, and comes from a trusted Indian brand.

2. Manatal

Best for: Businesses that want AI-powered features and an attractive interface.

Manatal is a modern ATS that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help you find the best candidates faster.

Key Features:

• AI-based candidate scoring and recommendations
• Drag-and-drop pipeline view (like Trello)
• LinkedIn and job board integration
• CRM tools to manage candidate relationships
• Candidate data enrichment (adds social profiles automatically)

Pricing: Starts around $19 per user per month (approx. ₹1,600).

Why Small Businesses Like It:
Manatal looks clean, works on mobile, and is perfect for startups or digital companies.

3. BambooHR

Best for: Businesses that want hiring + HR tools in one platform.

BambooHR is not just an ATS — it’s a full HR software that helps manage employee data, onboarding, and payroll along with hiring.

Key Features:

• Job posting and applicant tracking
• Digital offer letters and onboarding
• Employee records and HR reports
• Time-off management and attendance tracking

Pricing: Custom pricing based on employee count.

Why Small Businesses Like It:
It saves time by combining HR and hiring tasks into one easy dashboard.

4. JazzHR

Best for: Small businesses that want powerful recruiting features at low cost.

JazzHR focuses on recruitment only. It’s perfect for small businesses that don’t need big HR systems.

Key Features:

• Unlimited users (so your whole team can collaborate)
• Custom hiring stages
• Job posting to multiple job boards
• Candidate rating and interview scheduling
• Reporting and analytics

Pricing: Starts at $39 per month (approx. ₹3,200).

Why Small Businesses Like It:
You get a full professional ATS at an affordable rate.

5. Workable

Best for: Growing businesses that want automation and analytics.

Workable is used by both startups and large companies. It helps automate hiring tasks and gives insights into your hiring performance.

Key Features:

• One-click job posting to 200+ sites
• AI-powered resume screening
• Team collaboration tools
• Interview scheduling and video interviews
• Analytics dashboard

Pricing: Starts at $149/month (approx. ₹12,000) for up to two active job posts.

Why Small Businesses Like It:
It’s very powerful and helps track performance, though slightly expensive for very small teams.

6. iSmartRecruit

Best for: Indian small businesses and recruitment agencies.

iSmartRecruit is designed especially for small and medium-sized businesses and agencies in India.

Key Features:

• Multi-job posting
• Resume database management
• AI-based resume matching
• Custom hiring pipelines
• Client and vendor management (for agencies)

Pricing: Starts at around ₹2,000 per user per month.

Why Small Businesses Like It:
Local support, easy to customise, and suitable for businesses that hire frequently.

7. Rippling

Best for: Companies looking for HR + IT + Payroll + Hiring in one tool.

Rippling is more than an ATS. It’s a full business operating system that helps manage employees, payroll, devices, and software — along with hiring.

Key Features:

• Job posting and tracking
• Onboarding automation
• Employee record management
• Payroll and compliance management

Pricing: Custom quotes based on company size.

Why Small Businesses Like It:
If you plan to grow quickly and want to manage everything in one platform, Rippling is worth it.

Comparison Table – Best ATS Systems for Small Business

How an ATS Helps Your Business Grow

An ATS does more than track resumes. It becomes a foundation for your company’s growth. Here’s how:

1. Better Hiring Decisions

With all candidate data in one place, you can make faster, fairer, and better hiring decisions.

2. Professional Image

Even a small company can look professional to candidates by sending updates and scheduling interviews automatically.

3. Saves Money

You spend less on job ads and wasted hiring time. Most ATS tools offer affordable monthly plans.

4. Data for Future Hiring

You can build a database of candidates for future roles. You won’t have to start from zero each time.

5. Compliance and Record Keeping

Most ATS platforms store hiring data safely and help you follow data-protection laws.

Is an ATS Secure?

Yes. Most modern ATS systems are cloud-based with security features like:

• Encrypted candidate data
• Admin controls for user access
• Regular data backups

If your company handles sensitive candidate details, make sure the ATS follows GDPR or local data protection standards.

Tips to Get the Most Out of an ATS

1. Start Small: Begin with 1–2 users and add more later.
2. Use Templates: Most ATS tools have ready-made job posting and email templates.
3. Automate Follow-Ups: Set auto-emails for rejections or updates.
4. Train Your Team: Make sure everyone using the ATS knows how to review and comment on candidates.
5. Measure Results: Track how long it takes to fill a job or where your best candidates come from.

Final Thoughts

For a small business, every hire matters. An Applicant Tracking System makes the process faster, more organised, and more professional.

If you’re just starting out, Zoho Recruit or Manatal are great first choices. If you want more HR control, BambooHR or Rippling can help.

The best ATS system is the one that fits your team size, hiring frequency, and budget. Try free trials, test the interface, and see which feels right for your business.

FAQs About ATS Systems for Small Business

1. Is an ATS only for big companies?
No. Many ATS tools are built specifically for small and medium businesses with simple pricing.

2. Can I use an ATS for free?
Yes. Zoho Recruit and some other platforms offer free plans or trials.

3. How long does it take to set up an ATS?
Most cloud-based systems can be set up in less than one day.

4. Does an ATS post jobs on LinkedIn and Naukri?
Yes. Many modern ATS tools integrate with these platforms.

5. Can I manage interviews through the ATS?
Yes. Most systems allow scheduling, feedback collection, and reminders directly inside the dashboard.