Let’s face it—if you’ve ever tried to hire even one person for your company, you already know how overwhelming it can get. There’s the never-ending pile of resumes, that one candidate who keeps emailing you every day, and of course, the dreaded spreadsheet that somehow grows more columns overnight. I’ve been there, sitting at the IT desk in a recruiting office, watching recruiters try to make sense of it all.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to shell out a ton of money to organize your hiring process. These days, there are some really solid free applicant tracking systems (ATS) out there. I rounded up three that keep coming up in my world: Loxo, Giig Hire, and Zoho Recruit. All of these have free versions, and honestly, each has its own vibe. So, which one’s actually worth your time? Here’s my take.
Loxo: Where AI Meets Recruiting (Without the Big Price Tag)
Okay, so Loxo is kind of the cool kid in the free ATS world. It’s part ATS, part CRM, and it’s absolutely packed with AI features. If you’re into automation (or, like me, just want the robots to do some of the heavy lifting), Loxo is a dream.
You can post unlimited jobs, manage endless projects, and even use their Chrome extension to pull in candidates from all over the web. The AI handles a lot of the sourcing and outreach, so if you’re short on time (who isn’t?), this can save you hours. Just a heads-up: while most of it’s free, if you want fancy contact info, you might have to pay a bit extra.
Who’s it for? If you’re running a recruiting desk or a small agency and want your ATS to actually feel smart, give Loxo a whirl.
Ready to see how far AI can take your hiring? Try out Loxo’s free ATS here and put it through its paces—no credit card drama, just pure recruiting power.
Giig Hire: Freelancers and Small Agencies, Rejoice
You know those “Free Forever!” banners you usually don’t believe? Giig Hire actually means it. This one was clearly built for folks who are either freelancing or running a tiny agency on a shoestring budget.
Here’s what I liked: you can post as many jobs as you want, manage as many candidates as you want, and the features go way beyond just tracking applicants. There’s a built-in CRM, a career site builder (no code, promise), CV parsing, and even some AI-powered tools. Plus, you don’t need to enter a credit card just to see if you like it—which is honestly refreshing.
Who’s it for? Freelance recruiters, small agencies, and anyone who wants to keep things simple (and free), but still look like they’re running a real operation.
Curious if Giig Hire is your new secret weapon? Sign up here for free—no strings attached, no card required. Give it a spin and see if it clicks!
Zoho Recruit: For Teams Planning to Grow
Full disclosure: I’ve seen a bunch of companies start with Zoho Recruit just because it plays so nicely with the rest of the Zoho suite. If your company already uses Zoho for email or CRM, the integration here is a real win. The free plan lets you post one job at a time, parse resumes, schedule interviews, and use handy email templates.
But here’s the thing: it’s perfect for tiny teams who are just getting started, but you’ll probably want to upgrade as you grow. Think of it like training wheels for recruiting software. Also, the mobile app is actually decent, which is a rare find.
Who’s it for? Small businesses who are already in the Zoho universe or want something that’ll grow with them.
Want to dip your toe into the Zoho ecosystem? Create your free Zoho Recruit account and see how it fits your workflow—especially if you’re thinking about growing soon.
Quick Comparison: Which Free ATS Wins Where?
I know, you want the highlights. Here’s a side-by-side look (without all the marketing fluff):
| Feature | Loxo | Giig Hire | Zoho Recruit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Duration | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| User Limit | 1 | Unlimited | 1 |
| Job Posting Limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 active job |
| CRM Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Features | Advanced | Moderate | Basic |
| Career Site Builder | No | Yes | Yes |
| Resume Parsing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interview Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email Outreach Tools | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | Yes | No | Yes |
| Integrates with Other Tools | Extensive | Limited | Extensive |
My Take: What’s the Best Free ATS for You?
If you’re looking for a straight answer—sorry, but it really depends! Here’s how I’d break it down:
- Loxo: Perfect for anyone who wants a serious, AI-powered ATS that’ll scale with your team or agency. Great if you love automation.
- Giig Hire: Go for this if you’re a solo recruiter or small agency and just want a forever-free solution that actually has depth.
- Zoho Recruit: Best pick if you’re part of a growing team and already use Zoho for other stuff. It’s a bit limited at first, but the integration is hard to beat.
The bottom line? Don’t overthink it. Try one (or all) of these free options and see which fits your workflow. Worst case, you’ll learn what you don’t want—and that’s a win in my book.
Have you used any of these free ATS tools? Got horror stories or success tales? Drop me a note—I love hearing what’s really working (and what’s not) out there.
