Recruiting guide
Best free ATS in 2026: applicant tracking systems with a real free plan
Looking for a free ATS? We compared Hiringly, Zoho Recruit, Breezy HR, Teamio and Recruitis: who has a permanent free plan, what the limits are and when to pay.
30 October 2026 - 4 min read
- free ATS
- best free ATS
- ATS comparison
- Zoho Recruit
- Breezy HR
Key Points
- Of the tools compared, only Hiringly, Zoho Recruit and Breezy HR have a permanent free plan.
- Teamio and Recruitis offer only a trial.
- Only Hiringly includes AI CV screening for free. Elsewhere, AI is a paid extra.
- Free is enough if you hire for a few roles a month and need no integrations.
With recruiting software, "free" often means a 14 or 30 day trial.
We went through the pricing pages of five well-known applicant tracking systems. Status as of October 2026; check current terms before deciding.
Comparison at a glance
Free plans and their limits. | Graphic: Hiringly, source: vendor pricing pages, Oct 2026
| System | Free forever | Main limit | AI for free | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiringly | Yes | 100 AI screenings a week | Yes | Small companies, HR, recruiters |
| Zoho Recruit | Yes | 1 recruiter, 1 job | No | Solo hirers with one role |
| Breezy HR | Yes | 1 active position | No | Small teams |
| Teamio | No, 30-day trial | Paid editions | Not stated | Companies using jobs.cz |
| Recruitis | No, trial | From EUR 205/month | Paid only | Mid-size and larger companies |
The tools one by one
Hiringly
- Free forever: unlimited positions, 100 AI screenings a week.
- AI ranks candidates and lists strengths, gaps and what to check.
- Data in the EU, English and Czech.
- Weaker side: a young product, no job board integrations yet.
- Paid from CZK 499 a month.
Zoho Recruit
- "Forever Free" for 1 recruiter and 1 active job (pricing).
- Candidate management, email, interview scheduling.
- AI only on the paid Standard plan.
- Best for a solo hirer who wants a system to grow into.
Breezy HR
- "Bootstrap" free plan with 1 active position (pricing).
- Full access only to candidates from the last 30 days.
- AI is a paid add-on; paid plans from USD 157 a month.
- Best for small teams with one open role.
Teamio
- A Czech ATS from the group behind jobs.cz and prace.cz.
- Main advantage: direct integration with those job boards.
- 30-day trial on the website, no permanent free plan shown (website).
Recruitis
- A Czech ATS connected to 35+ job boards in CZ and SK, unlimited users.
- Basic plan EUR 205 a month per the comparison on its website.
- AI mainly for writing and translating job ads.
- No free plan.
Is free enough, or should you pay?
A quick decision based on your team's size and needs. | Graphic: Hiringly
If you still track candidates in a spreadsheet, also read Spreadsheets vs. ATS.
5 tips for choosing
What to check before you pick a system. | Graphic: Hiringly
On the data question, see also EU AI Act in recruiting.
FAQ
What is the best free ATS? It depends. For free AI screening and several roles at once, Hiringly. For one role and a large ecosystem, consider Zoho Recruit.
Does Teamio have a free version? According to its website as of October 2026, it offers a 30-day trial, not a permanent free plan.
Is it safe to put CVs into a free ATS? Yes, if the vendor complies with GDPR, signs a data processing agreement and tells you where data is stored.
What is an AI ATS? A system that doesn't just store CVs but reads and ranks them. Details in What is an AI ATS.
Try it for free
Upload the CVs for one open role and within minutes see a ranked shortlist with reasons.