Applicant tracking system alternatives, compared honestly

Side-by-side comparisons of the main applicant tracking systems and what their free plans actually allow. Every price is sourced and dated, and every page says where the other tool is the better choice.

Most applicant tracking systems advertise a free plan. Almost none of them let you hire for more than one role on it. These pages state the actual limit for each product, with a link to the vendor’s own page and the date it was last checked.

ofper is a free applicant tracking system with unlimited jobs, candidates and team members. Every page below also says plainly where the other product is the better choice — there are several.

Freshteam
DiscontinuedNo free plan
Freshworks is sunsetting Freshteam and stopped renewals in March 2026. Here is what Freshteam users need to do, when, and which applicant tracking systems replace it.
Zoho Recruit
Has a free plan
Zoho Recruit's free plan allows one active job opening. Here is what that limit means in practice, what the paid editions cost, and which alternatives remove the cap.
Breezy HR
Has a free plan
Breezy HR's free plan allows one active job and hides candidates after 30 days. Here is what that means in practice, what the paid plans cost, and where Breezy HR is still the better tool.
BambooHR
No free plan
BambooHR bundles applicant tracking into HR software priced per employee, with the ATS capped at 5 job openings on the entry plan. Here is when a standalone recruiting tool is the better fit.
Workable
No free plan
Workable markets unlimited active jobs while its help centre documents a per-tier job slot cap. Here is what Workable actually costs, what the add-ons do to the bill, and the free alternatives.
Manatal
No free plan
Manatal starts at $15 per user per month with a 15-job cap on its entry plan and no free tier. Here is what it costs as a team grows, and where a free applicant tracking system fits instead.
JazzHR
No free plan
JazzHR gives unlimited users but limits active job slots, starting at 3 on the $1,000-a-year Hero plan. Here is what each tier allows and which alternatives remove the cap.
Recruitee
No free plan
Recruitee publishes no pricing, bills on your company headcount and requires a one-year minimum commitment. Here is what that means before you book the demo, and where Recruitee is still the better tool.
Greenhouse
No free plan
Greenhouse publishes no prices, has no free plan and sells only through a demo. Here is what buyers actually pay, why teams look elsewhere, and an honest account of where a free ATS does and does not replace it.
Lever
No free plan
Lever publishes no prices, has no free plan and no free trial, and has been owned by Employ Inc. since 2022. Here is what that means for a buyer, why teams look elsewhere, and where a free ATS does and does not replace it.
Keka Hire
No free plan
Keka Hire is the hiring module of Keka's HRMS and payroll suite, priced per recruiter on top of the HRMS plan, and Keka no longer publishes prices. Here is who should stay on Keka, who is paying for a suite they do not need, and what a free applicant tracking system replaces.