Best Free ATS for Startups: Honest Comparison
Compare free ATS options for startups and solo recruiters: job and candidate limits of Breezy HR, Zoho Recruit and TalentsGrid, as of October 2026.
On this page
Startups and solo recruiters want a real applicant tracking system (ATS) without a monthly bill. A few vendors offer a free plan, and each one caps something different: active jobs, candidates, seats or data access.
Key takeaways
Three free ATS plans stood out when we checked vendor pricing pages in October 2026: Breezy HR (1 active position), Zoho Recruit (1 active job) and TalentsGrid (up to 500 candidates, 1 workspace). Manatal and Recruit CRM have no free plan, only a trial. Pick by the limit that hurts you least, then check how you get your data out.
Which free ATS is best for a startup?
The best free ATS is the one whose limit does not match how you hire. If you fill one role at a time, a one-job cap is fine. If you run several searches at once, a candidate cap or a job cap changes the answer.
All competitor facts below come from each vendor’s pricing page, checked in October 2026. Plans change, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you commit.
Free ATS comparison table (as of October 2026)
| ATS | Free plan | Main limit | Paid plans (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breezy HR | Yes, “Bootstrap” | 1 active position or pool; unlimited users; candidate data limited to the last 30 days | Startup from $157/month on annual billing |
| Zoho Recruit | Yes | 1 active job per recruiter license | Prices not listed on the pricing page; 15-day trial of Enterprise |
| TalentsGrid | Yes, forever | 500 candidates, 1 workspace, 3 members, 150 AI credits a month | Pro $4.99/month, Business $29.99/month |
| Manatal | No (14-day trial, no card) | Not applicable | From $15 per user per month on annual billing |
| Recruit CRM | No (30-day trial) | Not applicable | From $95 per user per month |
What to look for in a free ATS
Check five things before you import a single candidate.
- The cap. Active jobs, total candidates, seats or workspaces. Find which one you hit first.
- Data access. Can you export every candidate, and where do the CV files live?
- Pipeline. You need stages you can rename and a board you can drag candidates across.
- Collaboration. Do co-founders or a hiring manager get a seat on the free plan?
- What happens at the limit. Some plans hide older candidates, some block new ones.
Breezy HR free plan
Breezy HR’s free “Bootstrap” plan allows one active position or pool. Its pricing page lists unlimited users, a branded careers site and job board distribution, with candidate data visible for the last 30 days. It suits a company hiring for exactly one role. The first paid tier starts at $157/month on annual billing, a large step up.
Zoho Recruit free plan
Zoho Recruit’s free tier covers one active job per recruiter license, with candidate management, email and interview scheduling. It is a fit if your company already runs on Zoho. Paid Standard and Enterprise tiers allow 10 and 20 active jobs per recruiter license, but the pricing page does not show dollar amounts.
TalentsGrid free plan
TalentsGrid is an AI hiring copilot for freelance recruiters and small teams: it scores each CV against your job with quotes as evidence, turns gaps into interview questions, and keeps your candidate data yours. The Free plan costs $0 and includes up to 500 candidates, 1 workspace, 3 members and 150 AI credits a month. Most AI tasks cost 1 credit.
On data: you choose where CV files are stored, either your own Google Drive or managed storage, and you can export candidates to Excel or CSV and sync reports to Google Sheets. TalentsGrid only sees the files it creates in your Drive. The Google Drive option is on every plan, including Free.
Trade-offs: it is a newer product with less brand recognition, and there is one workspace on Free (Pro gives 5). Its plan limits list no cap on active jobs. It is built for solo recruiters and small teams, not enterprise HR suites. Every AI action waits for your approval. See Free vs Pro vs Business for the full plan table.
What about Manatal and Recruit CRM?
Neither has a free plan, but both offer a trial. Manatal gives 14 days with no card and paid plans from $15 per user per month on annual billing. Recruit CRM gives 30 days and paid plans from $95 per user per month. If you are weighing them against a lighter tool, see our comparisons: Manatal alternative and Recruit CRM alternative.
The hidden costs of a free ATS
A free plan costs you in three places other than money.
- Job caps. One active job means closing a role before you open the next.
- Retention windows. If older candidates disappear from view, your talent pool shrinks every month.
- Lock-in. Data you cannot export is a cost you pay later. We cover this in why candidate data should not be held hostage.
Our recommendation
Choose by situation, and be aware we make one of these tools.
- One role, nothing else: Breezy HR or Zoho Recruit work if you will only ever have one active job.
- Already on Zoho: Zoho Recruit keeps everything in one account.
- Several searches at once, solo or a small team, with Vietnamese or English: TalentsGrid fits, especially if you want CVs in your own Google Drive and a CV score you can defend.
- A paid ATS with a trial: Manatal or Recruit CRM, once you have a team that justifies per-user pricing.
If you start with TalentsGrid, build your hiring pipeline first, then bring in your CVs.
FAQ
Is there a completely free ATS?
Several vendors have a free plan, but each caps something. In October 2026, Breezy HR and Zoho Recruit limit you to one active job, and TalentsGrid limits you to 500 candidates and 1 workspace. No free plan removes every limit, so match the cap to your hiring volume.
How many jobs can I post on a free ATS?
It depends on the vendor. Breezy HR’s free plan allows one active position, and Zoho Recruit’s free tier allows one active job per recruiter license. TalentsGrid’s Free plan does not cap jobs; it caps candidates at 500. Check the current pricing page, because limits change.
Can I export my candidates if I leave a free ATS?
You should confirm this before you sign up. TalentsGrid lets you export candidates to Excel or CSV, sync reports to Google Sheets, and store CVs in your own Google Drive. For other tools, check their help pages for export options and what happens to free accounts after you leave.
Do I need an ATS or can I use a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet works for a handful of candidates. It stops working when you need stage history, scoring and a record of who said what. A free ATS gives you that structure without a monthly bill, and you can still export to a spreadsheet later.
Does TalentsGrid reject candidates automatically?
No. TalentsGrid scores a CV and shows the quotes behind the score, then you decide. Creating or updating candidates and jobs waits for your approval, and AI never accepts or rejects a candidate on its own. Read more about AI CV screening.
Ready to try it? Start free at TalentsGrid. No credit card needed.
