Best Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for Canadian SMBs in 2026

Dec 4, 2025

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Recruiting and applicant tracking should feel simple, not stressful. The right platform lets you post jobs, track candidates, send offers, and onboard from one connected system.

For Canadian small and medium-sized businesses, that often means finding an ATS that is intuitive, compliant, and designed for local hiring needs. Ideally, it also has AI implemented in a responsible way to save recruiters time. We reviewed the top platforms used in Canada today, from global names to local leaders. Here are our picks for the best applicant tracking systems in 2026, starting with our favourite.

1. Collage HR: Best Overall Recruiting ATS (Applicant Tracking System) for Canadian SMBs

We might be a little biased, but we believe Collage HR is the best ATS for Canadian companies. It is built for Canadian hiring teams who want everything connected, from job posting to onboarding.

Best Canadian Applicant tracking system (ATS) Recruiting- Collage HR

Why Collage HR stands out
Collage HR’s built-in applicant tracking system helps you hire faster and smarter. Post jobs, track candidates, send offers, and onboard all from one platform. Every step of the recruiting process and employee journey happens in one place.

Key features

Branded job pages: Create a professional, custom, career site and sync with job boards like Indeed. Create one in seconds and no development work required!
Offer letters: Send professional offers in minutes with your own templates
Candidate database: Store unlimited candidates, track interviews, and search by tags or ratings
AI resume screener: Use AI to summarize, rank, and shortlist candidates in seconds
Automated communication: Set up custom email templates and confirmation messages to save time
Integration with payroll: When you hire an employee, they can be immediately added to payroll - and paid! It’s like magic

Who it’s for
Canadian SMBs that want a single tool for recruiting, onboarding, HR, and payroll. Collage scales from 1 to 1,000 employees with local, bilingual support from real Canadians who care.

Why it’s #1
Collage HR combines recruiting, HR, payroll, and benefits in one Canadian-built platform. You save hours each week and never need to juggle multiple tools or hop between 10 tabs during hiring again.

Case study: how Fresh Deliveries hires 25 staff per month and scaled to 300 people with Collage.

2. Greenhouse

Greenhouse is a recognized name in standalone recruiting software. It’s built for structured hiring and advanced analytics, making it a strong choice for growing teams. Greenhouse also integrates directly with Collage ATS, creating a smooth connection between candidate management and onboarding.

Pros

Powerful analytics and reporting tools
Deep workflow customization
Integration with Collage HR for a connected hiring experience

Cons

Can be expensive for smaller teams
Complex to implement for non-technical users
Limited functionality outside of its ATS

3. JazzHR

JazzHR is a recruiting-first platform designed for small and mid-sized businesses. It integrates seamlessly with Collage ATS, so you can sync candidates and onboard them directly after hiring.

Pros

Simple interface and easy setup
Good level of overall ATS capabilities
Direct integration with Collage ATS

Cons

Expensive as a standalone tool
Less automation than enterprise tools
Limited advanced analytics

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4. Lever

Lever combines an ATS with CRM-style candidate management, helping teams build and nurture relationships with talent. It’s best for companies that want to focus on candidate experience and collaboration.

Pros

Great for relationship-driven recruiting
Collaborative features for hiring teams

Cons

More configuration needed for smaller organizations
Limited Canadian compliance tools
Known to charge a premium price

5. Workable

Workable is a flexible, cloud-based recruiting platform with tools for sourcing, screening, and interviewing candidates. It’s easy to start with and known for its clean user interface.

Pros

Fast setup
Built-in sourcing and AI recommendations

Cons

Limited Canadian compliance
Add-ons can increase cost quickly

6. BambooHR

BambooHR is a well-known HR platform that includes basic ATS functionality. It’s a good option if you already use BambooHR for HR management and want to keep recruiting within the same ecosystem.

Pros

Simple interface
Strong HR functionality

Cons

ATS is basic compared to dedicated recruiting tools
Not optimized for Canadian payroll or compliance

7. Pinpoint

Pinpoint is a modern ATS built for in-house recruiting teams that value design, branding, and candidate experience. It focuses on employer reputation and smooth applicant journeys.

Pros

Clean design and reporting tools
Strong employer branding focus

Cons

Limited Canadian integrations
Smaller global presence

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8. Rippling

Rippling combines HR, IT, and finance into one global system with ATS features included. It’s automation-driven and works best for larger or international teams.

Pros

Robust automation
All-in-one platform

Cons

U.S.-centric
Very expensive
Facing ongoing legal issues with Deel

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9. Employment Hero

Employment Hero (formerly Humi) offers HR, payroll, and recruiting in one platform. It’s now based in Australia but still has a presence in Canada.

Pros

Centralized platform for HR, payroll, and recruiting
User-friendly onboarding tools

Cons

Less focus on Canadian compliance and likely sunsetting its original Canadian first platform
Limited ATS-first functionality

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10. Rise

Rise is a Canadian HR platform that includes payroll, benefits, and simple recruiting tools. It’s best for very small businesses that want everything in one place.

Pros

Canadian company
Easy to navigate

Cons

Limited recruiting automation
Better suited to small teams

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What to Look for in an Applicant Tracking System

When comparing ATS software, focus on:

Ease of use: The platform should simplify your process, not complicate it
AI and automation: Smart screening and ranking save valuable time
Integrations: Choose an ATS that connects with your HR and payroll systems
Analytics: Insights help you improve time-to-hire and candidate quality
Canadian compliance: Ensure support for local laws, bilingual templates, and CRA requirements

Why Collage HR Ranks #1

Most ATS platforms fall into three categories:

Global tools not built for Canadian compliance
Enterprise systems that are too complex and costly
Lightweight tools that don’t scale as your team grows

Collage HR is different. It’s Canadian-built, simple enough for small teams, and powerful enough to scale. With AI-powered recruiting, branded job pages, offer letter templates, candidate tracking, and seamless HR and payroll integration, Collage HR is the clear #1 choice for Canadian businesses.

Book a demo with Collage HR
See how Collage helps Canadian teams recruit, hire, onboard, and pay employees in one simple platform.