Tools & Software
Best ATS for Startups
in 2026
An honest comparison of Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Workable, and Prepzo. We built Prepzo, so we'll be upfront about that - but we'll be fair about the others too.
According to Capterra, 75% of recruiters use an ATS. With 200+ options on the market, how do you choose?
Greenhouse
The enterprise standard
Best for
200+ employees
Pros
- Most comprehensive features
- 500+ integrations
- Strong DEI tools
Cons
- Expensive
- Steep learning curve
- 6-week implementation
Lever
CRM meets ATS
Best for
Proactive sourcing
Pros
- Strong CRM
- Nurture campaigns
- Clean UI
Cons
- CRM adds complexity
- Limited mobile app
- Opaque pricing
Ashby
Modern & opinionated
Best for
Series A-C startups
Pros
- Best analytics
- Fast modern UI
- All-in-one
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem
- Less customizable
- Newer company
Workable
Quick & practical
Best for
SMBs wanting simplicity
Pros
- Transparent pricing
- Same-day setup
- Video interviews
Cons
- Limited customization
- Basic reporting
- Fewer integrations
Prepzo
AI-native hiring
Best for
AI-powered screening
Pros
- AI interviews included
- Free tier available
- Minutes to setup
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem
- Newer platform
- Fewer enterprise features
5
Platforms compared
$0-$6K
Annual pricing range
1-45
Days to implement
2
With AI screening
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Greenhouse | Lever | Ashby | Workable | Prepzo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI resume screening | Add-on | Add-on | Partial | ||
| AI interviews | Partial | ||||
| Custom workflows | Partial | ||||
| Free tier | |||||
| Self-service setup | Partial | ||||
| Transparent pricing | Partial |
The Bottom Line
Enterprise with budget? Greenhouse is the gold standard.
Growing startup with resources? Ashby is excellent.
Building talent pipelines? Lever's CRM is unmatched.
SMB wanting simplicity? Workable is solid.
Want AI to do the heavy lifting? That's where we built Prepzo.
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