How we rank: Applicant tracking systems
The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of the factors below. Each factor is the weighted average of its metrics; each metric is calculated from one published fact. Missing facts score zero, and a service is ranked only when enough of its Score is backed by facts.
A service is ranked only when at least 70% of its Score is backed by verified facts.
Hiring features 35%
Whether the ATS posts a job to many external job boards at once (weight 2), has a careers page builder (weight 1), interview scheduling with calendar sync or candidate self-booking (weight 1), interview scorecards or structured evaluation forms (weight 1), a candidate CRM with talent pools or nurture campaigns (weight 1) and a documented API (weight 1). The fact shows that a feature exists on some plan, not that the cheapest plan has it: check the note under each fact.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Posting to many job boards | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Careers page builder | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Interview scheduling | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Interview scorecards | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Candidate CRM and talent pools | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Public API | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Privacy, security and compliance 30%
An ATS stores CVs and personal data of every applicant, so this factor carries 30%. Built-in GDPR tools such as consent capture, retention rules or automatic deletion (weight 2), a current SOC 2 report or ISO 27001 certificate for the vendor or its group (weight 2), single sign-on (weight 1), the option to keep data in the EU (weight 1) and tools to collect or report EEO and diversity data (weight 1). We record the vendor's statement; we do not audit it.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| GDPR tools (consent, retention) | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| SOC 2 or ISO 27001 | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Data stored in the EU | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| EEO and diversity data tools | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Price transparency 20%
Many ATS vendors sell only through a sales call. We give points for publishing prices on the official pricing page (weight 1) and for a permanent free plan (weight 1). The monthly price of the cheapest paid plan with monthly billing, as visible text on the pricing page, scores on a scale from $0 (100 points) to $300 or more (0 points) (weight 2). Plans are priced per recruiter, per company size or as a flat fee, so the price is an entry ticket, not a like-for-like comparison. Annual-billing prices, prices drawn only by a script and prices we would have to calculate are not used; a free trial is not a free plan.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Published price | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Cheapest paid plan, monthly billing | Linear from 0 (100) to 300 (0) — lower is better |
| Free plan | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Track record 15%
How long the company has been running: 20 years or more scores 100 (weight 2), and whether it publishes a public status page with incidents (weight 1).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Founded | Full score at 20+ years |
| Public status page | Yes = 100, No = 0 |