Name: ApplicantStack
Rating: 4.393890675241158 (1555 reviews)

ApplicantStack vs ZipRecruiter

100Hires

Indeed for Employers

CEIPAL ATS

100Hires is an applicant tracking system that helps simplify recruitment. With resume parsing, customization, integrations, and a sourcing tool, it's a user-friendly, all-in-one platform for hiring top candidates. With the ATS, users will be able to attract, interview, and hire top talent faster than ever before.

Indeed for Employers is a pay-for-performance recruitment advertising network that helps employers find the right fit, from thousands of company websites & jobs.

CEIPAL ATS is an AI-based unified talent platform designed for staffing firms, corporate teams, healthcare organizations, and GCCs. The system combines applicant tracking system (ATS), vendor management system (VMS), and workforce management capabilities in a comprehensive solution. CEIPAL ATS lets stakeholders streamline the entire recruitment process through AI-driven candidate matching, automated workflows, and integration with major job boards and HR tools.

?Since 2009, 2,500+ companies have chosen ApplicantStack: the affordable, easy-to-use Recruiting and Onboarding system to automate and streamline their process.

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Notifications

Applicant Tracking

Application Management

Approval Process Control

Assessment Management

Background Screening

Boolean Search

Calendar Management

Candidate Management

Candidate Profiles

Candidate Tracking

Careers Page

Collaboration Tools

Communication Management

Compliance Management

Compliance Tracking

Customizable Branding

Customizable Fields

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Dashboard

Data Import/Export

Document Management

Electronic Forms

Electronic Signature

Email Management

Employee Database

Employee Handbook

Employee Management

Employee Profiles

Feedback Management

For Small Businesses

HR Management

Internal HR

Interview Management

Interview Scheduling

Job Board

Job Description Management

Job Management

Job Posting

Job Requisition

Mobile Access

Onboarding

Orientation Workflow Management

Payroll Management

Performance Management

Pipeline Management

Real-Time Reporting

Recruitment Management

Reference Checking

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Resume Database

Resume Parsing

Resume Search

Resume Storage

Role-Based Permissions

Scoring

Search/Filter

Self Service Portal

Social Media Integration

Social Recruiting

Talent Management

Talent Pool

Task Management

Third-Party Integrations

Training Management

Workflow Management

By industry, ApplicantStack reviewers are most commonly professionals in hospital & health care (17%). The most frequent use case for ApplicantStack cited by reviewers is applicant tracking (64% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Most reviewers indicate that ApplicantStack delivers strong value for money and affordable pricing, with essential features included. However, some reviewers feel costs can rise for multiple users and express concerns about extra charges for integrations.

Value for money

ApplicantStack is an applicant tracking tool offering key features such as candidate tracking, applicant tracking, activity dashboard, application management, and job posting, among others.

ApplicantStack

Web-based

Windows

Linux

Breezy

ADP Workforce Now

BambooHR

ZipRecruiter

Workday HCM

iCIMS Hire

Workable

Greenhouse

JobDiva

Monster+

LinkedIn Recruiter

CareerBuilder

ClearCo

Paycor

JazzHR

isolved Talent Acquisition

Zoho Recruit

Starter

Growth

Recruit

Onboard

Bundle

Redundant candidate entries

64% of reviewers feel negative about duplicate applicant management in ApplicantStack. Users say the system often fails to recognize or merge duplicate profiles, resulting in multiple entries for the same candidate. Reviewers indicate this leads to confusion, wasted time, and difficulties tracking candidate history. They mention that searching for applicants can be inefficient, and deleting or consolidating duplicates is not straightforward. Some users highlight that duplicate records can impact reporting accuracy and cause recruiters to inadvertently contact the same candidate multiple times.

Formatting and printing difficulties

39% of reviewers feel negative about ApplicantStack’s document management. Users report issues with document formatting, printing, and uploading, which can lead to wasted paper, rejected files, or unclear images. Reviewers mention that electronic signatures are sometimes unreliable, and finding or organizing documents for specific applicants can be challenging. They say exporting or sharing applications with non-users is not straightforward, and printing forms often results in awkward page breaks or formatting errors. These challenges make document handling less efficient and more cumbersome.

Challenging and limited reporting

50% of reviewers feel negative about ApplicantStack’s reporting features. Users report that generating and customizing reports is often complicated and unintuitive, with limited filtering and export options. Reviewers mention inconsistencies in report data, confusing labels, and a lack of dashboards or analytics tools. They say it can be difficult to extract the information needed for compliance or performance tracking, and some rely on support to build reports. Many users feel the reporting functionality does not meet their needs for tracking multiple users or producing actionable insights.

Outdated and cluttered design

Student

It was a little difficult to switch back and fourth between different people, which obviously cut down efficency.

47% of reviewers feel negative about ApplicantStack’s user interface. Users describe the interface as dated, cluttered, and sometimes confusing to navigate. Reviewers mention that finding specific functions or information can require too many clicks, and the layout is not always intuitive. They say the visual design lacks modern appeal, and the abundance of options can be overwhelming. Some users report difficulties toggling between screens, managing multiple tabs, and dealing with inconsistent formatting. These factors contribute to a less efficient and less enjoyable user experience.

Frequent technical glitches

65% of reviewers feel negative about bugs and issues in ApplicantStack. Users report experiencing system glitches, slow performance, and occasional crashes that disrupt daily operations. Reviewers mention problems with job postings, document formatting, and unexpected errors during updates or transitions. Some users say technical issues can make tasks more time-consuming, such as having to redo entries or troubleshoot errors. They also indicate that certain features are prone to malfunction, requiring additional support or workarounds. These recurring problems are seen as frustrating and sometimes hinder productivity.

Efficient recruitment pipeline management

93% of reviewers feel positive about ApplicantStack’s recruitment features. Users say the software supports high-volume recruiting by centralizing candidate data, enabling easy job posting, and automating communication. Reviewers highlight the value of customizable databases, keyword search, and integrated tools for managing job ads across multiple platforms. They find it helpful for coordinating efforts among recruiters and hiring managers, improving candidate tracking, and reducing manual paperwork. Many users mention that the platform’s organization and automation have made their recruitment processes faster and more effective, especially for small and growing teams.

Comprehensive applicant organization

97% of reviewers feel positive about ApplicantStack’s applicant tracking capabilities. Reviewers appreciate being able to monitor candidates throughout every stage of the hiring process, with features like customizable workflows, note-taking, and status updates. Users find it valuable to have all applicant information centralized and easily accessible, which helps them stay organized and compliant. They say the system simplifies tracking, supports collaboration among team members, and provides helpful reporting tools to identify bottlenecks. Many users highlight the convenience of managing multiple job postings and applicants in one place, reducing paperwork and improving efficiency.

Affordable solution for small businesses

91% of reviewers feel positive about ApplicantStack’s pricing. Users appreciate that the software offers robust features at a cost-effective price point, making it accessible for small and mid-sized businesses. Reviewers say the platform delivers good value compared to more expensive alternatives, allowing them to manage hiring without exceeding their budgets. They note that the pricing structure is straightforward, with no hidden fees, and that the system provides essential applicant tracking and onboarding tools at a reasonable cost. Many users mention that affordability was a key factor in their decision to choose ApplicantStack.

Streamlined hiring coordination

Talent Acquisition Specialist

The technology has greatly expedited the hiring process by streamlining the administration of job ads, tracking of applications, and communication between hiring teams and candidates.

92% of reviewers feel positive about ApplicantStack’s impact on the hiring process. Users report that the platform helps standardize and organize hiring steps, making it easier to manage candidates from application to onboarding. Reviewers value features like customizable workflows, collaborative tools for HR and hiring managers, and automated communication with candidates. They indicate that the system saves time by keeping all relevant information in one place and allowing multiple team members to participate in decision-making. Some users say the platform has transformed previously chaotic processes into efficient, coordinated workflows.

Intuitive and accessible workflow

91% of reviewers feel positive about ApplicantStack’s ease of use. Users say the platform is intuitive and quick to learn, allowing them to manage applications efficiently without a steep learning curve. Reviewers appreciate the straightforward navigation, mobile accessibility, and the ability to find needed information quickly. They indicate that administrative tasks and changes can be completed with minimal effort, and the software is user-friendly for both new and experienced users. Some reviewers note that the system’s design streamlines daily operations, reducing time spent on manual processes and making the overall experience more manageable.

HR Generalist

The use of templates in ApplicantStack ensures that candidates receive consistent communication and are kept informed about the status of their applications PLUS it saves me the time of writing the same communications over and over.

Leadership

Applicant Stack is an enjoyable tool that alerts me when I have a new candidate and provides me with their availability, work history, and resume all in one spot.

Field marketing coordinator

It’s a reliable tool for managing the hiring process, offering helpful features like customizable workflows and seamless candidate communication.

CEO and Founder

Makes a huge difference in efficiency and communication within the team with the transparent notes section, so we can track the entire process with each candidate.

Recruiting Specialist and HR Adm Assist

The ability to text and email to applicants; the stage advancements; the flexibility of choosing the columns needed for processing an applicant; the menu options; ability to make customized reports; ability to select groupings of details needed for daily activities; usually quick response from tech/customer service issues; ability to notate at each stage set so if needed, relevant notes are available

Director

Applicant stack makes it easy to streamline our application process by posting job opportunities for us on multiple sights while integrating the applicants into one place for us to review.

Executive Vice President

Phone numbers entered by applicants are not separated by dashes, so follow up phone calls to numerous applicants is more time consuming to enter the phone number to avoid mistakes.

The fact that some of the pre-built templates have few modification choices makes it difficult to completely customize the system to meet unique demands, which is one feature of ApplicantStack that I liked least.

Overall, ApplicantStack has been a fantastic tool, with excellent customer support whenever needed. If I HAD to come up with a negative (and it's really not), it is that the platform is highly customizable, so the initial setup and configuration can require some trial and error and extra time setting up templates, workflows, etc.

Crisis Outreach Supervisor

We normally have a small number to review at a time (<5) so maybe a place for comments on the dashboard to have some bullet points to separate the applicant's highlights?

IT Specialist

I like being able to see documentation, names of the candidates and being able to maneuver between the pages to get the info I need.

Business Operations Manager

What I like the most from using ApplicantStack is that we can post all our jobs in one place and share it with multiple job boards.

HR Manager

Being able to upload specific documents required for new hires and have them able to fill out and sign electronically.

Care Coordinator Marketing Scheduler

We love how you can change the status for the applicant, so we are all aware of where they are during the hiring/deactivation process.

When posting a job on the job boards, the budget could be higher or lower than the job board itself. If you set your budget at $1000, it was a little confusing to see how far that stretches.

Recruiter

The ability to gather applications, message, applications and complete onboarding all in one app.

AP.Payroll.HR Manager

Also didn't like that there wasn't an option to text/email directly from the system, it would make it much easier to keep track of those if there were an all in one sort of thing.

Supervisor

Appstack also does a better job of weeding out bad applicants.

Office Manager

It also allowed us to put a spanish application online helping us hire with a language barrier.

Effective Candidate Screening: Screening questions and scoring help quickly identify top candidates.

Sr. Vice President

Also, the system does not have the ability for users to store their own personal templates.  

Still, there are certain things that might be done better, including making the reporting tools more user-friendly and offering more customization possibilities.

Concierge

As well lets use put candidates in different stages at all times.

Automatically sends emails to candidates with a click of a button.

Also, creating email templates for acknowledgement of receipt of application and other emails is quite easy.

This helps me present top candidates to hiring managers quickly and then I continue sorting through the rest.

Executive Assistant Administration and HR Designee

I love that I can list the one post and it goes to so many different avenues.

The customizable workflows and communication tools were particularly helpful in streamlining tasks.

Workforce Supervisor

The detailed process on which stage of hiring and which are not complete and have been completed already.

Applicant stack keeps our employment ads active and reposted on multiple job boards.  

Manager and HR Rep

Posting across multiple job boards and hosting our own internal job board.

Senior Executive HR Consultant

The only con I can speak of is that when using the tasks to take notes while interviewing the form does not save as you go along so if there is some sort of disruption or if the interview takes longer than an hour or so you can lose your notes.

Administrator

If you cancel, no past customer service available.

The information does not always update in the system or the system cannot read the resume.

Operations Manager

We love that we can place an ad and it post to other boards with a few clicks.

Deputy Director

Tracking communication and logging detailed notes.

Potential Learning Curve: Trial and error may be needed to configure the system to meet specific needs.

Allows for professional communication with candidates without using personal devices.

Payroll and Accounting

I didn't like the fact that ApplicantStack doesn't have a reference check program or a vendor partner (like Harver).

What I love most about ApplicantStack is that everything is in one spot and you can upload everything you need.

Operations Director

Use for the hiring process, review applications work through hiring process

ApplicantStack vs ZipRecruiter Comparison (2026)

ApplicantStack

ZipRecruiter

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives