Last Updated on June 29, 2025 by Ewen Finser
When you’re running a small business, hiring the right people isn’t just important, it’s everything. But finding those people efficiently? That’s where your applicant tracking system (ATS) comes in. The wrong one can feel like you’re wrangling spreadsheets in a thunderstorm, while the right one keeps your hiring clean, fast, and affordable.
So, I’ve rounded up the best alternatives, starting with the one I know and like best: NinjaGig.
A Quick Look: Best ATS Alternatives to Freshteam
Tool | Best For | Pricing (Monthly) | Key Features | Free Trial? |
NinjaGig | Flat-rate simplicity for small businesses | $49 flat-rate | Unlimited apps, job board posting, compliance features | 14 days |
Workable | Growing teams with budget flexibility | From $149 | AI sourcing, 200+ job boards, built-in assessments | 15 days |
BambooHR | HR teams needing more than just an ATS | Quote-based ~$12–$22 per user | Onboarding, PTO, hiring, payroll, employee benefits | 7 days |
Greenhouse | Data-driven, structured hiring | Quote-based ~$6K–$10K per year | DEI tools, analytics, interview kits, 300+ integrations | No |
Ceipal | Recruitment teams needing automation + CRM | From $24 per user | AI ranking, CRM, VMS, integrations, DEI tools | Yes |
Calamari | Time-off tracking with hiring workflows | From $1.50 per user modular | PTO, attendance, onboarding support (no full ATS) | 14 days |
Applaud | HR teams focused on employee experience | Quote-based | HR workflows, onboarding, experience layer for HR systems | No |
Breezy HR | User-friendly pipelines and job board tools | From $189 | Scorecards, messaging, team collaboration tools | Free plan |
** Pricing may vary based on team size or billing cycle.
Why Look Beyond Freshteam?
Freshteam, part of the Freshworks suite, is a solid ATS, especially for companies already using Freshworks products like Freshdesk or Freshsales. It offers a clean interface, intuitive workflows, and basic applicant tracking at a reasonable price for very small teams.
But for growing small businesses, Freshteam often starts to show its limitations:
- Restrictive free tier: The free plan supports only three job postings and lacks advanced collaboration or automation tools.
- Feature gating: Critical tools like interview scheduling, offer management, and integrations with external calendars or HRIS platforms are locked behind higher-tier plans.
- Per-employee pricing model: Costs can escalate quickly as your team grows, since pricing is based on employee count, not just ATS usage.
- Limited flexibility: Compared to more robust ATS tools, Freshteam lacks deeper customization and some modern features like AI-powered sourcing or built-in assessments.
If you’re a small business with more than a few open roles, or if you plan to grow your team over time, you may find that Freshteam becomes more limiting (and expensive) than it first appears.
That’s why many small to medium businesses (SMBs) are switching to tools that offer flat pricing, more features up front, and better long-term value.
1. NinjaGig
Best for: Small businesses that want everything in one plan
NinjaGig is the go-to solution for businesses that want hiring tools without the enterprise bloat or sticker shock. From local gyms to cleaning services, it’s designed to support real-world small businesses hiring part-time or high-turnover roles.
The best part? You don’t need to decode tiered pricing or choose between basic and premium features. For $49 flat per month, you get unlimited everything: job postings, applicants, and access to all features. You can create branded application pages, syndicate listings to top boards like Indeed and Google Jobs, and customize your application forms for any role.
Compliance matters, especially in healthcare, food service, or security, and NinjaGig helps track application retention policies and data management practices. It’s also ideal for seasonal hiring thanks to its pause-anytime flexibility. The platform is clean, intuitive, and doesn’t require an HR background to use.
Key Features:
- Unlimited job postings and applicant submissions
- Job board syndication (Indeed, Google, Jooble)
- Mobile-friendly application portal
- Built-in compliance support
- No contracts or tiered pricing
2. Workable
Best for: Growing teams with complex hiring needs
Workable combines powerful features with a user-friendly design, making it an ideal ATS for teams that are scaling and want tools that grow with them. If your business is expanding into multiple locations or hiring frequently across different roles, Workable keeps everything organized.
You get AI-powered sourcing that scans millions of online profiles, plus customizable templates for job descriptions, emails, and interviews. It also supports internal hiring and referrals with built-in tracking.
Collaboration is smooth with role-based access, interview scorecards, and approval chains. Managers can leave comments, schedule interviews, and review resumes all in one place.
And once you’re ready to hire, integrations with tools like DocuSign and background check services keep things moving fast. While it’s not the cheapest option, the value is there for growing teams ready to invest in smarter hiring.
Key Features:
- AI-powered sourcing and resume screening
- Integrated video interviews and assessments
- Job board distribution to 200+ platforms
- Chrome extension for sourcing
- Custom reports and dashboard
3. BambooHR
Best for: Small HR teams needing more than just hiring tools
BambooHR is a full-service HR suite with a lightweight ATS included, making it a smart choice if you’re managing much more than just hiring. You can post openings, track candidates, and onboard new hires, all while managing payroll, time-off, and performance reviews in the same platform. This creates a smooth transition from applicant to employee, reducing repetitive data entry and manual processes.
For small HR teams or office managers who wear multiple hats, BambooHR is a serious time-saver. You can automate approval flows, track employee milestones, and even generate org charts.
It’s especially helpful for remote teams with its e-signatures, mobile app, and self-service portals that empower employees to manage their own information. If you’re ready to move away from spreadsheets and duct-taped HR processes, BambooHR gives you structure and clarity.
Key Features:
- Applicant tracking with job board syndication
- Seamless onboarding and employee record creation
- PTO and time tracking
- Payroll and benefits tools
- Mobile-friendly interface
4. Greenhouse
Best for: Structured hiring at scale
Greenhouse is built for companies that treat hiring as a core business function. Its strength lies in standardization and data. From custom interview kits to DEI dashboards, it helps hiring teams build repeatable, inclusive processes that scale with growth. The platform allows detailed configuration for each role, assigning interviewers, aligning on candidate criteria, and creating scorecards to ensure consistency.
You’ll also get robust analytics to evaluate hiring bottlenecks, conversion rates, and long-term outcomes. If your team uses multiple systems, Greenhouse’s massive integration network (300+) ensures it plays nicely with payroll, HRIS, and sourcing tools.
While the learning curve is steeper and pricing is higher, small teams with high-stakes hiring needs may find the investment worthwhile, especially in tech, healthcare, or finance.
Key Features:
- Scorecards, structured interviews, and automation
- DEI tools and anonymized resume reviews
- 300+ integrations and robust API access
- Advanced dashboards and custom metrics
5. Ceipal TalentHire
Best for: Automation-first recruiting and CRM
Ceipal TalentHire is a favorite among staffing agencies and internal recruiters alike. It blends ATS with CRM, giving you the tools to manage both candidates and clients from the same system. You can create AI-powered shortlists, score applicants, and set up automated messaging to reduce manual outreach. Its resume parsing is fast, and sourcing integrations include Dice, Monster, CareerBuilder, and LinkedIn.
But Ceipal goes beyond hiring; it includes workforce management features like shift scheduling, compliance tracking, and onboarding workflows. With DEI analytics and audit trails, it’s also a great fit for regulated industries. Pricing starts around $24 per user per month, with tiered options based on your needs. For high-volume recruiting, Ceipal automates nearly everything without losing control or visibility.
Key Features:
- End-to-end recruitment automation
- AI-driven candidate ranking
- Built-in CRM and outreach tools
- DEI and compliance tracking
- Vendor Management System (VMS)
6. Calamari
Best for: Teams managing PTO and attendance (not a full ATS)
Calamari isn’t a traditional applicant tracking system, but it’s incredibly useful for teams that already have an ATS and need lightweight HR automation. Its PTO tracking module allows you to manage various time-off policies, create approval flows, and sync everything to shared calendars. The time and attendance tracking module supports clock-ins via mobile app, web, QR codes, or Slack.
You can also use Calamari to simplify onboarding by assigning tasks, uploading documents, and notifying managers automatically. While you’ll still need a separate ATS for recruiting, Calamari fills an important gap for growing teams that want to tighten up their HR operations without investing in a full HRIS.
Key Features:
- PTO tracking and leave approvals
- Onboarding workflow support
- Time and attendance tracking
- Integrates with communication platforms
7. Applaud
Best for: Elevating your employee experience
Applaud helps HR teams create seamless employee experiences across all stages of the lifecycle. From pre-boarding to promotions, its customizable interface makes interacting with HR processes feel more like a well-designed app and less like an internal tool. It works by layering on top of your existing systems so you don’t have to rip and replace your current ATS or HRIS.
Managers can use Applaud to set up workflows for common tasks: onboarding, offboarding, benefits enrollment, and feedback cycles. Personalized dashboards help employees find the info they need quickly, and mobile access makes everything work on the go.
While it’s not an ATS replacement, it’s the missing link between hiring and retention, and it’s a powerful upgrade for people-first companies.
Key Features:
- Personalized HR workflow builder
- Integration with existing HRIS and ATS tools
- Employee experience design tools
- Onboarding, feedback, and compliance workflows
8. Breezy HR
Best for: Teams that value visual pipelines and easy collaboration
Breezy HR is a user-friendly ATS with a modern interface and drag-and-drop pipelines. It’s easy to set up, which makes it a popular pick for small businesses doing DIY hiring. The platform includes email templates, messaging, and calendar syncing for interviews. The free plan is functional for basic hiring, and it includes job board syndication, a careers page, and candidate management tools.
That said, once you grow beyond basic needs, like wanting automation, texting, or advanced analytics, you’ll need to jump to a paid tier. Add-ons can pile up quickly, so it’s important to budget carefully. Breezy is excellent for teams that want a good-looking tool that’s easy to use, but it’s not always the most scalable or affordable long-term.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop hiring pipelines
- Job board syndication
- Candidate scorecards and messaging
- Interview scheduling and calendar integrations
Final Thoughts
Freshteam has its strengths, but for many small teams, it’s more software than you need, at a price that doesn’t quite match. If you’re hiring a few people a month, navigating complex plans and pricey add-ons can get old fast.
NinjaGig stands out for simplicity, affordability, and full access from day one. But depending on your needs, Workable, Greenhouse, or Ceipal might offer the flexibility or automation you’re looking for. For businesses managing broader applicant processes and HR functions, BambooHR, Calamari, or Applaud add serious value outside of hiring too.
The bottom line? Choose the tool that works best for your workflow, not just the one with the biggest feature list.
If you’re ready to try a smart, small-business-friendly platform, NinjaGig’s 14-day trial is a great place to begin.