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As you begin your search for hiring tech, you’ve likely encountered Greenhouse and Ashby. While both are popular options, they’re far from your only choice.
This guide gives you everything you need to choose an applicant tracking system with confidence and clarity. And, to continue your search on the right track, we’ve also included Lever (our top ATS pick) in our analysis.
Lever vs. Ashby vs. Greenhouse
| Lever | Greenhouse | Ashby | |
| Centralized Features | ✓ Built as a unified ATS + CRM | CRM is an add-on module | Lacks robust engagement tools |
| User Interface (UI) | ✓ An intuitive UI made for every role on the hiring team | UI built primarily for recruiters | Lacks comprehensive functionality |
| Scalability | ✓ Can grow with your needs, from SMB to Enterprise | Less agile and able to grow with your business | Primarily made for small to mid-size teams |
| Analytics and Reporting | ✓ Offers Visual Insights with interactive and predictive dashboards. | Limited and often clunky | Powerful, but has a steep learning curve |
| Integrations | ✓ Offers 300+ native integrations that are easy to implement without manual work | The extensive integration ecosystem can become unwieldy | Relies heavily on Zapier for integrations |
| AI and Automation | ✓ Built-in AI features for interview management, workflows, and more | Most AI features depend on integrations | Limited flexibility with customizing automations |
Top ATS for high-growth teams: Lever
If Lever wasn’t already part of your hiring tech search, it should be! This robust system has everything you need to grow without compromises.
Advantages
- Centralized ATS + CRM. Why choose separate platforms when you can get all the functionality in one place? Lever has CRM and ATS features in the same core platform—no integrations or add-ons required.
- Unbeatable UI. Greenhouse is overbuilt, and Ashby is too simple—but Lever strikes just the right balance. Use our platform’s user-friendly visual pipelines to improve collaboration and understand where your hiring efforts stand.
- Scalability that supports growth. Lever is built for ambitious, high-growth organizations, meaning it scales with you over time. You can easily upgrade your account seats and add more job openings.
- Advanced, actionable analytics. Your data is only usable if you can understand it. Unlike Ashby and Greenhouse, Lever makes it easy to find the most relevant data to your hiring goals in a fraction of the time.
- Powerful, purposeful integrations. You shouldn’t have to give up the tools you know and love! With Lever’s integrations, you can connect all sorts of tools, from HRIS and payroll platforms to background check tools and internal communications software.
- AI and automation that accelerate hiring. Lever’s AI and automation tools empower your organization to achieve more, faster. We’re a leader in the AI hiring space, from our AI Companions for interviews, sourcing, and screening to our configurable workflows.
Our verdict
With Lever, you get more than an ATS—you get a comprehensive hiring suite at your fingertips. Our platform empowers high-growth teams to move beyond traditional ATS boundaries and build a strategic talent pipeline from a single source of truth. With Lever, you can transform your hiring process from a series of disjointed tasks into a cohesive, collaborative pathway to the best talent.
Ready to get started with Lever? Check out our interactive product demo below!
2. Ashby
Ashby is known for its simple, yet powerful recruiting features, especially for small teams. That’s why it landed the #2 spot on this list. But be sure to consider these advantages and drawbacks of Ashby before deciding to move forward:
Advantages
- The interface is straightforward, appealing to newer hiring teams
- Offers powerful analytics, especially given its otherwise simple interface
- Has integrated ATS and CRM capabilities
Disadvantages
- Despite its seemingly simple interface, users report a steep learning curve
- Ashby offers limited customization options
- Some users report that the UX isn’t intuitive
Our verdict
While Ashby offers substantial functionality for its scope, its simplicity and inability to scale meaningfully hold it back.
3. Greenhouse
Greenhouse has been a mainstay in the ATS space due to its comprehensive integration ecosystem and full-cycle recruiting tools. However, many hiring teams have moved on to other, more streamlined applicant tracking solutions.
Advantages
- Greenhouse is more scalable than Ashby and works best for SMB looking to scale
- The platform’s comprehensive integration ecosystem enhances connectivity
- It supports every logistical aspect of the applicant tracking process
Disadvantages
- Many users report limited customization options for its scope
- CRM features aren’t included in the main platform, making connecting with candidates harder
- Users report that the platform isn’t user-friendly and that navigation is confusing
Our verdict
Though Greenhouse offers tools to manage fundamental applicant tracking tasks, its clunky interface makes it feel like a solution of the past. Modern hiring teams likely won’t find Greenhouse helpful beyond core ATS functionality.
Ashby vs. Greenhouse: FAQ
Why choose an alternative to Greenhouse or Ashby?
Greenhouse and Ashby aren’t the best choices for ambitious teams with mid-to-high volume hiring needs. However, Lever balances raw power and capabilities with a streamlined, user-friendly interface. Most importantly, you want to find the best-fit solution the first time around—Greenhouse and Ashby simply don’t offer the long-term value and scalability that Lever does.
How can we pick our next ATS?
Reading this guide is a great start, but you should take other factors into account when choosing an ATS, such as:
- Long-term value/scalability
- User experience
- Your implementation timeline
- Your team’s capacity and training needs
- Platform-specific features, like UX, integrations, and automation
How fast can we implement these tools?
Specific implementation timelines vary by solution and your team’s capacity. You should work with the customer success team to create an implementation plan that suits your needs. However, you should expect implementation to take at least a few weeks, so avoid planning any activities that require immediate use of the platform.
How much does Lever cost?
Reach out to Lever’s product specialists to get a custom quote for your needs.
Ready to Power Your Hiring Momentum?
See how Lever empowers you to build strong candidate relationships at every stage of the hiring process.
