Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for Contractors

Hiring and onboarding platform that automates compliance forms for small teams with hourly workers.

Editor's takeHomebase automates the collection of W-4s, I-9s, and other new-hire forms before day one, cutting back-office paperwork. Forbes calls its interface a paragon of simplicity compared to typical HRIS tools. The tradeoff shows up when a business grows. Adding a second location moves the price from free to $24.95-$99.95 a month per site.

An AI-powered ATS and CRM for recruitment agencies with GPT-4 tools and an unlimited free trial.

Editor's takeRecruit CRM pairs core ATS and CRM functions with GPT-4 tools for job descriptions and candidate summaries, plus a Chrome extension for LinkedIn sourcing. It holds a 4.8 rating on G2 and 4.9 on Capterra, backed by 24/7 live chat support that averages under two minutes to respond. Its free trial has no time limit and needs no credit card, though agencies wanting deep native integrations beyond Zapier's 5,000+ connections, or full Kanban control on mobile, will hit some limits.

Mobile-friendly ATS for construction hiring with text-to-apply and automated compliance onboarding.

Editor's takeApplicantStack leans into text-to-apply, letting construction laborers apply by SMS instead of filling out a desktop form, a real fit for a mobile-first workforce. Pricing is fully public and starts at $29.99 a month with no setup fees, unusual transparency for ATS software. The interface is the tradeoff, with reviewers repeatedly calling it dated compared to newer competitors.

Applicant tracking system for contractors that syncs new hires directly into certified payroll and union reporting.

Editor's takePayPro solves a specific problem, getting hired contractors correctly classified for prevailing wage and union pay from day one. Its 1992 founding and 95% client retention back its enterprise credibility. Setting up the onboarding workflows takes real effort, and pricing stays behind a sales call.

AI-powered recruiting and HR platform combining a 400-million-profile sourcing engine with applicant tracking and employee management.

Editor's takeWorkable blends applicant tracking with lightweight HRIS features, and its AI sourcing tool searches a 400-million-profile pool to recommend candidates automatically. It holds ISO 27001, ISO 27017, SOC 2 Type II, and SOC 3 certification, a strong stack for a mid-market tool. Pricing starts around $299 a month for 20 employees but climbs with headcount, and features like texting ($90/month) and video interviews ($120/month) cost extra.

A construction-first applicant tracking system with kiosk-mode field hiring and deep Sage, Procore integrations.

Editor's takeArcoro targets construction and federal contractors with Kiosk Mode for job-site applications and automated OFCCP and EEOC compliance reporting. Its certified integrations with Sage, Viewpoint, and Procore go deeper than generalist ATS platforms. The mobile app is a real weak point, with consistent user reports of crashes and login loops, and the interface still shows its age from merged legacy products.

All-in-one HR and applicant tracking platform built for small and mid-sized business hiring.

Editor's takeBambooHR wraps applicant tracking into a broader HRIS, so hiring managers work from resume parsing to onboarding e-signatures in one place. Its integration marketplace covers over 125 apps, from Checkr background checks to Greenhouse, and the platform carries SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR compliance. The catch is cost visibility: pricing requires a sales quote, third-party sources put it around $12 to $22 per employee monthly, and core add-ons like payroll (US employees only) and time tracking cost extra.

ATS with automated knock-out questions, branded job boards, and deep ADP/UKG integrations.

Editor's takeHR Cloud Recruit ATS leans on deep, API-based integrations with ADP Workforce Now and UKG, which cuts double data entry for mid-market HR teams. It holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating on G2, and reviewers repeatedly single out the support team as a strength. The product lacks native video cover letters, and full pricing stays behind a custom quote.

Enterprise applicant tracking system unified with Workday HCM, used by most Fortune 500 firms.

Editor's takeWorkday Recruiting shares one data model with Workday HCM, so a hire flows straight into onboarding without re-entering data, and it now runs at more than 60% of Fortune 500 companies. Security matches that scale too, with ISO 27001, 27017, and 27018 certification. The cost is steep though. Implementation alone typically runs $100,000 to $500,000 or more, and G2 reviewers describe the interface as not easy to use.

Construction-first ATS with AI resume analysis, credential checks, and ERP integrations.

Editor's takeLumber builds compliance into the hiring flow itself, verifying licenses through its BuilderFax acquisition. It raised $15.5 million in a Series A led by Foundation Capital, with Tishman Speyer joining in. The mobile app draws complaints for demanding Always location access and occasional crashes.