A free applicant tracking system (ATS) will allow your recruitment team to try out software functionality without the pressure of making a purchase. You can determine which ATS features are most necessary for your hiring operations and even test multiple options before finalizing a specific product.
In this article, we alphabetically list three top-rated free ATS software, based on verified software reviews. Read more.
All the products in this article are dedicated ATS tools that offer features such as job boards, interview management, and candidate selection to streamline hiring processes for organizations.
1. Loxo
Loxo is an applicant tracking platform that helps organizations streamline their recruitment lifecycle. Its built-in candidate relationship management (CRM) functionality enables recruitment teams to build a talent database and track all communication and applicant information from a centralized dashboard.
The software allows recruiters to conduct background checks on applicants, build career pages, post job descriptions, track the status of candidate applications, and generate custom reports via a unified ATS platform.
Free features*Hiring manager portal: Provide your hiring managers a dedicated portal where they can create job requisitions, view shortlisted candidates, request stakeholder feedback, submit approvals, and track recruitment activity in real time.
Chrome extension/importing: Access a Chrome browser extension that lets you import candidate data from third-party hiring and social media platforms.
Drag-and-drop candidate pipelines: Use a drag-and-drop editor to create custom candidate pipelines wherein you can move applicants up or down the recruitment funnel based on their interview results.
Customer support options: Chat, email, and help center
Who should consider Loxo?
Loxo is worth considering for businesses looking for a free ATS solution with no limits on user seats. Its free plan offers candidate management, job boards, basic resume parsing, and candidate search capabilities—all of which make it easier for recruitment teams to identify, engage, and hire talent.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Pro tip
Check the data security and compliance measures the free ATS tool offers, including encryption, access control, and compliance with data protection regulations. Additionally, ensure the software aligns with your organization’s data security requirements and policies.
2. TurboHire
TurboHire is another applicant tracking and recruitment automation platform on our list. Its resume parsing feature automatically converts candidate applications into smart cards that filter candidates based on their years of experience, previous roles, and skills. This feature enables HR teams to track down the most relevant and qualified candidates in their talent database without manually assessing candidate profiles.
The software uses a rediscover algorithm to retarget passive candidates automatically. Recruiters can also schedule interviews in bulk and view upcoming interview schedules through a centralized dashboard. Additionally, the software allows hiring teams to create scorecards for each candidate after the interview.
Free featuresAI-based careers page: Build an AI-powered careers page to create and promote job openings. This feature uses AI-based skills matching to analyze resumes and find ideal candidates.
Hiring reports: Generate custom hiring reports on job management and recruitment activities. You can use the reports to identify bottlenecks in your hiring process, such as time-consuming resume reviews and delays in onboarding, and optimize them for better returns.
Automated email management: Use ready-made email templates to create and schedule applicant emails for the recruitment process and manage candidate communication. Job opening mail, job offer mail, rejection mail, and reference check mail are a few of the templates available.
Customer support options: Email and phone
Who should consider TurboHire?
Recruitment teams and staffing agencies that heavily rely on LinkedIn can consider TurboHire. Its free plan offers a LinkedIn extension that allows recruiters to extract candidate contact information, source candidates directly to job openings, and add candidate profile data directly to their resume bank.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Ready to hire a recruiting agency for your business needs? Browse our list of companies in the following areas:
3. Zoho Recruit
Similar to Loxo, Zoho Recruit is a dedicated ATS and recruitment platform with candidate relationship management capabilities. Its comprehensive ATS functionality includes resume parsing, automated job board posting, resume storage, and interview scheduling.
The software enables recruitment teams to design an SEO-friendly careers page to list job openings with complete descriptions and accept applications. The page is mobile friendly, so candidates can even apply from their phone or tablet.
Free featuresJob board: Enhance visibility for job openings by directly publishing on popular job boards such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Adzuna.
Custom tagging: Use up to 50 custom tags to track candidate data and group similar types of candidates based on their experience, previous roles, skills, etc.
Zapier integration: Integrate the software with work automation tool Zapier to connect with a wide range of apps without any code. This feature helps automate multiple ATS tasks such as scheduling interviews, parsing resumes, and sending candidate emails.
Customer support options: Chat, email, and phone
Who should consider Zoho Recruit?
Zoho Recruit can be a suitable choice for recruitment and HR teams looking for a free ATS tool that can manage every part of the recruitment process—from creating job requisitions and scheduling interviews to finding matching candidates. Its free plan offers a resume parser, a careers site, a centralized database for candidate and client data, interview management, and candidate communication management to streamline the entire hiring process.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Device compatibility
Pro tip
Consider your organization’s growth and scalability potential, and evaluate whether a product can accommodate future expansion or handle increased candidate sourcing and recruitment volumes within your budget. Even when choosing a free plan, explore the upgrade options and pricing plans offered by the vendor to ensure future scalability.
What is the cost to upgrade from free ATS software to a paid one?
An ATS software upgrade can be as low as $15 per user, per month, or all the way up to $99+ per user, per month, depending on various factors—features, number of recruiters and applicants, scheduling options, and integrations for HR and team communication tools. Most ATS software solutions typically include the following pricing plans:
Free trials: No-cost trial plans ranging from 15 to 30 days, giving users access to either all or limited features of the software to test functionality. These are ideal for businesses that wish to try out a tool before purchasing it.
Free versions: Free software plans offer basic features and/or limited premium feature access. These are ideal for small businesses or individuals on a budget.
Entry-level plans: Start at $15 per month and offer limited ATS functionality such as applicant tracking, interview scheduling, employee management, and team communication. These are a good option for small businesses or teams with basic applicant tracking needs.
Mid-tier plans: Range from $23 to $61.5 per month and offer advanced features such as e-signature integrations, unlimited job postings, and talent insights dashboard. These are ideal for businesses that have outgrown basic recruitment tools but don’t require the full range of functionality and scalability offered by enterprise-level ATS tools.
High-end plans: May cost upward of $99 per month. In addition to basic and midrange features, these offer HR and compliance management, policy management, and priority customer support. They are ideal for large enterprises with dedicated recruiting teams for various departments.
Hidden costs associated with free ATS software
Here are some potential hidden costs associated with free ATS software:
Limited storage and functionality: Most free ATS solutions provide access to limited storage space and software functionality. If you need more storage or the full range of ATS functionality, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid version or purchase additional storage separately.
Support limitations: Most free ATS solutions provide limited customer support options. If your team usually encounters technical issues or needs real-time assistance, you might have to purchase dedicated support or upgrade to a paid version that offers premium support.
Customizations and integrations: If your business is looking to rebrand the ATS software and customize it according to preference, you’ll have to pay extra. Such customizations come at a cost. Most free ATS tools have limited customization options and offer few third-party integrations.
Frequently asked questions when selecting free ATS software
Do you provide bulk emailing with your free plan?
While most free ATS software plans limit the number of candidates you can manage or the number of jobs you can post on job boards, they should at least offer bulk emailing so you can send emails to multiple candidates and make communication more effective.
Can I personalize outreach messages?
Look for a free tool that offers custom templates for outbound emails and outreach messages to help personalize your communication with candidates as well as improve candidate experience with your organization.
Are there any usage restrictions or limitations in the free version?
Most free ATS solutions provide access to limited storage, software functionality, job postings, user access, and candidate management capabilities. Before finalizing any product, check whether the limitations of its free plan align with your organization’s recruitment needs.