Applicant tracking systems (ATS) overview

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a type of talent acquisition software that provides a centralized system for creating job postings, screening applicant resumes, storing candidate information, conducting interviews, and sharing offer letters. More advanced ATS software applications may feature various capabilities like interview scheduling, applicant database management, job board integrations, automated emails, hiring analytics, and reporting. Hiring agencies, talent outsourcing companies, and human resources (HR) teams use applicant tracking system software to automate traditionally manual recruitment tasks with artificial intelligence and cloud technology. ATS systems sort candidate resumes with natural language processing (NLP) to find applicants with relevant experience and skills. Recruiters can use ATS tools to share interview status updates via email and text, meet Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines, track metrics like time-to-hire, and enhance the overall candidate experience. Some HRMS & HCM software may feature built-in ATS functionality. However, stand-alone ATS applications are ideal for managing diverse talent pools, screening resumes, communicating with candidates, and optimizing the hiring process with rich analytics.

Who uses applicant tracking systems?

Recruitment agencies, enterprises, and small or medium-sized businesses (SMBs) use applicant tracking systems to weed out irrelevant resumes, find qualified candidates with desired skills, and communicate with them throughout the hiring process. ATS solutions serve the following business types: Startups Enterprises Recruitment agencies Small and medium-sized businesses Types of recruitment and hiring professionals who use ATS include: HR managers: Talent leaders of organizations of all sizes rely on applicant tracking solutions to enhance the talent pipeline with efficient candidate sourcing, meet target headcount goals, and optimize hiring costs. Corporate recruiters: A corporate recruiter or talent acquisition specialist responsible for filling open positions uses an ATS platform to source and compare candidates, shorten interview cycles, and manage tasks across the recruiting funnel. Recruitment agency executives: ATS systems are invaluable to recruitment executives, helping them source and hire candidates on behalf of an organization. They rely on ATS to store applicant data, view real-time pipeline progress, and share updates with hiring managers. Diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) officers: ATS also aids DEI practitioners in visualizing and improving the presence of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups within the workforce. Executive search service providers: Executive recruitment agencies filling senior-level positions within companies use ATS systems to attract and convert top talent. Campus recruiters: On-campus and off-campus recruiters are responsible for sourcing and hiring college and university graduates. They use ATS software to manage talent databases and hire for open jobs at different companies. Freelance recruitment consultants: Freelance recruiters also may use ATS tools to manage, analyze, and interview candidates for various positions across organizations.

Types of applicant tracking systems

Below are different industry-specific ATS platforms available in the applicant tracking system software market. Recruitment: ATS solutions tailored for staffing agencies feature intelligent workflows to help them manage job postings and source candidates for multiple clients. These systems also feature email and SMS capabilities to help recruiters communicate with candidates. Government: Central and local government agencies use public sector ATS solutions to maintain candidate anonymity and eliminate recruiting prejudice or bias. These systems also enable shared service team members to support hiring managers during recruitment. Government organizations rely on these systems to meet internal standards, measure DEI progress, and comply with EEOC guidelines. Medical organizations and practices rely on healthcare staffing services to review credentials, verify licenses, assess skills, and run background checks. Hospitality: Leisure and tourism sector players use custom applicant tracking solutions to post on job boards, boost hiring pipelines, pre-screen candidates, and onboard them. Education: ATS platforms enable colleges and universities to create job templates, publish branded careers pages, maximize candidate pool, and boost screening efficiency. Retail: In-house retail recruiting teams turn to these systems to submit job requisitions, source candidates from job search sites, and share real-time updates with applicants. Manufacturing: Manufacturers run background checks, manage payroll, screen tax credit eligibility, and hire applicants based on behavioral assessments and knowledge-based evaluations. Nonprofit: Nonprofit organizations use cloud-based candidate relationship management (CRM) tools or ATS software to craft job ads, attract the right candidates, coordinate hiring across locations, and improve administrative efficiency.

Page 8 | Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): User Reviews from September 2026

Folks HR

Folks HR is a comprehensive, cloud-based HR software ecosystem designed to meet the unique needs of Canadian small and mid-sized businesses. It simplifies every aspect of human resources management, from recruitment and onboarding to employee administration, performance, and payroll, through a suite of connected, intuitive, and secure solutions built for efficiency and compliance. The ecosystem includes four complementary solutions that create a seamless HR experience: Folks HRIS centralizes all employee data in one place, so HR teams can manage records, time off, documents, compliance, and analytics with ease. Folks Performance drives engagement and development through continuous feedback, goal setting, and performance reviews that align individual growth with organizational objectives. Folks ATS is a modern applicant tracking system that streamlines recruitment from job posting to hire. Integrated with LinkedIn, Indeed, and other leading job boards, it helps organizations attract and evaluate top talent efficiently while ensuring a smooth flow of data into Folks HRIS. Folks Payroll is Folks' own payroll software, built for Canadian businesses and seamlessly connected to the rest of the ecosystem. It also offers reliable integrations with major Canadian payroll systems, giving organizations the flexibility to run payroll directly within Folks or sync data with their existing provider, while keeping HR and pay information accurate and consistent. Why Canadian SMBs choose Folks HR Built specifically for Canadian SMBs, Folks HR supports bilingual (English and French) workplaces and aligns with provincial employment standards. The platform is SOC 2 compliant, meeting the highest standards of data security, privacy, and reliability. Unlike enterprise HR suites built for large, complex organizations, Folks HR is designed to be approachable and quick to implement, giving growing teams the functionality they need without the cost, complexity, or long onboarding cycles. And unlike US-based tools retrofitted for the Canadian market, Folks is built around Canadian compliance realities and bilingual requirements from the ground up. Local support and transparent pricing Folks HR is backed by a responsive, Canada-based support team that understands the local HR landscape. Combined with honest, transparent pricing, businesses always know what they are paying for, with no hidden fees or surprises. Built to grow with you By connecting every stage of the employee lifecycle, Folks HR helps organizations reduce administrative work, improve compliance, and deliver a better employee experience. With over 30 integrated features and the flexibility to scale, Folks HR gives Canadian businesses everything they need to manage their people confidently as they grow.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 66

How Do G2 Users Rate Folks HR?

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 9.1/10)
Performance: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
Workflow Building: 5.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
Dashboards: 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Folks HR?

Seller: Folks
Company Website:
Year Founded: 2009
HQ Location: Québec, CA
LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
74 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

Top Industries: Human Resources, Construction
Company Size: 53% Medium, 45% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Folks HR?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros

Users find the user-friendly interface of Folks HR easy to navigate, enhancing their overall experience and efficiency.
Users value the ease of use of Folks HR, finding it simple and efficient for HR management.
Users appreciate the easy management through Folks HR, enhancing efficiency and simplifying HR tasks for businesses.
Users appreciate the easy navigation of Folks HR, making it simple to find needed information effortlessly.
Users praise the simplicity of Folks HR, making it easy to navigate and meet all HR needs efficiently.

Cons

Users find the missing features in Folks HR frustrating, particularly with options available on the website but not in the app.
Users report lack of notifications for employee absence requests, leading to communication gaps within HR processes.
Users often find the learning difficulty in navigating absence features frustrating and confusing.
Users find the navigation confusing, especially when dealing with absence settings in Folks HR.
Users face notification issues with Folks HR, as there's no alert for approved vacation or absence requests.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Folks HR?

"Solution tout-en-un"

Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

— Alexandra C.

Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) - Page 8

How Many Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Products Does G2 Track?

Category Stats (Sep 2026)

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G2 Grid® for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

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