Choosing an applicant tracking system in India usually comes down to one question: which ATS gives you the features you need at a price that makes sense for your team size? Some tools are free for one recruiter, some charge per recruiter per month in dollars, and some quote only on request. This guide compares affordable ATS software available in India in 2026 on price, free plans, job board coverage, resume parsing, analytics and onboarding, and explains the hidden costs to check before you sign.
Prices in this article were checked in November 2026. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm the current figure on each vendor's website before you buy.
What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is recruitment software that helps you post jobs, collect applications in one place, screen candidates, schedule interviews and make offers. Instead of tracking CVs in email and spreadsheets, your team works from one shared hiring pipeline.
Why Indian Businesses Need Affordable ATS Software
Most Indian startups and SMBs hire every month but cannot justify enterprise software budgets. They also have needs that many global tools ignore:
- Naukri integration, because Naukri is still a primary job board for many Indian roles.
- INR billing with GST invoices, instead of USD card payments.
- High application volumes for entry-level roles, which make resume parsing essential.
- Notice periods and CTC fields in candidate profiles.
- Free seats for hiring managers, so interviewers don't each need a paid licence.
An affordable ATS covering these basics saves more recruiter time than it costs.
Best Affordable ATS Software in India (2026)
OneATS
An ATS built for Indian teams, with resume parsing, interview scheduling, analytics, WhatsApp job sharing and built-in onboarding. Paid plans are priced per user: Growth is ₹799 and Business ₹1,399 per user per month, billed annually plus GST. Business adds 50 active jobs, assisted Naukri posting from your own Naukri employer account and full onboarding. There is a free plan for one user, and interviewers and hiring managers don't need a paid seat. Disclosure: OneATS publishes this blog.
Best for: startups and growing teams that want hiring and onboarding in one tool, a low per-user price and free seats for interviewers and hiring managers.
Consider: it is a newer product, so check its integration list against the tools you already use.
Zoho Recruit
A widely used ATS with separate editions for corporate HR teams and staffing agencies, and a free plan for one recruiter and one active job. Paid plans are priced per recruiter: Zoho lists Standard at US$25 per recruiter per month billed annually, and Indian partner listings put it at about ₹1,250, before GST. See OneATS vs Zoho Recruit.
Best for: teams already using Zoho apps, and agencies that want a mature staffing edition.
Consider: per-recruiter pricing adds up as your team grows, and the free plan is limited.
Keka Hire
The recruitment module of Keka's HR and payroll platform, with job posting (including Naukri), resume parsing, interview scheduling, reports and pre-boarding. Pricing is quote-based. See OneATS vs Keka Hire.
Best for: companies that want recruitment, HR and payroll from one Indian vendor.
Consider: it makes most sense if you also use Keka for HR and payroll; ask for a quote that matches your headcount.
Manatal
A global, AI-assisted ATS with resume parsing, job board posting, a careers page, reports and candidate onboarding. Plans start at $15 per user per month billed annually, with a 14-day free trial and no free plan.
Best for: small teams that want a low per-user price and international job board reach.
Consider: billing is in USD, and Naukri is not listed among its integrations.
Recruit CRM
An ATS and CRM built for recruitment and staffing agencies, with client management and agency workflows. Third-party listings put its plans from about $95 per user per month on annual billing; listed prices vary, so check Recruit CRM's own site.
Best for: agencies that need deep client and candidate relationship management.
Consider: it is priced for agencies, not for small in-house HR teams.
A note on Freshteam: Freshworks is retiring Freshteam, and renewals stop in March 2026. It is no longer a good choice for new buyers. (People Matters report)
ATS Software Comparison: Pricing and Features
| Feature | OneATS | Zoho Recruit | Keka Hire | Manatal | Recruit CRM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ₹799/user/month (annual, + GST) | US$25 (about ₹1,250)/recruiter/month (annual, + GST) | On request | $15/user/month (annual) | About $95/user/month |
| Pricing basis | Per user; interviewers free | Per recruiter | Quote | Per user | Per user |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes (1 recruiter, 1 job) | Check | No; 14-day trial | No; free trial |
| Naukri posting | Assisted, from your Naukri account (Business) | Check plan | Yes | Not listed | Check |
| LinkedIn / Indeed | Yes | Yes | LinkedIn yes; check Indeed | Yes | Yes |
| Resume parsing | Yes | Paid plans | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interview scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Via calendar and activities | Yes |
| Recruitment analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Onboarding | Built in (Business; add-on on Growth) | Check plan | Yes, with Keka HR | Yes | Check |
| Recruiter seats | Pay per user | Pay per recruiter | Quote | Pay per user | Pay per user |
| Billing currency | INR + GST | INR or USD | INR | USD | USD |
"Check" means the feature depends on the plan or edition, or the vendor's public pages don't state it clearly. Ask in your demo.
What Features Should a Low-Cost ATS Include?
What does a low-cost ATS with all features include? At minimum, look for:
- 1Job posting to your careers page, Naukri, LinkedIn and Indeed in one step.
- 2Resume parsing, including bulk upload.
- 3A visual hiring pipeline with custom stages.
- 4Interview scheduling with calendar sync and reminders.
- 5Scorecards for structured interview feedback.
- 6Offer letters and approvals.
- 7Recruitment analytics: time to fill, source of hire and funnel conversion. See ATS analytics.
- 8Onboarding, or a clean hand-off to your HR system.
- 9Free or low-cost seats for hiring managers.
If a cheap plan leaves out parsing, job board posting or analytics, you will pay for it in recruiter hours.
Free ATS vs Paid ATS: Which Is Better?
A free ATS is a good starting point if you hire a few people a year with one recruiter. Most free plans limit you to one user or one active job, and leave out resume parsing, analytics or careers pages.
A paid ATS makes sense once you have more than one recruiter, several open roles at a time, or hiring managers who need to give feedback. The usual trigger is when the free plan's job limit forces you back to spreadsheets.
| Free ATS | Low-cost paid ATS | |
|---|---|---|
| Users | Usually 1 | Several recruiters |
| Active jobs | 1 to a few | Dozens |
| Resume parsing | Often missing | Included |
| Analytics | Basic or none | Standard reports |
| Support | Self-serve | Email, chat or phone |
ATS Pricing in India: Understanding Subscription Models
ATS pricing in India usually follows one of four models:
- Per recruiter (or per user) per month: common with Zoho Recruit, Manatal, Recruit CRM and OneATS's paid plans. The total grows with every user, so check who counts as one: OneATS, for example, doesn't charge for interviewers and hiring managers.
- Per company plan: a fixed monthly price with a set number of jobs and seats. Easier to budget, but you may pay for seats you don't use.
- Per employee: common for HR suites, where recruitment is one module.
- Quote-based: you get a custom price after a demo.
To compare fairly, work out the annual cost for your actual team. For example, for 3 recruiters billed annually, before GST: a plan at about ₹1,250 per recruiter per month costs about ₹45,000 a year; OneATS Growth at ₹799 per user costs about ₹28,800; OneATS Business at ₹1,399 per user costs about ₹50,400. Then compare what each price includes, such as Naukri posting, onboarding and seats for interviewers.
Hidden Costs of Recruitment Software
Check these before signing:
- GST of 18% on top of most listed prices.
- Monthly vs annual billing: monthly plans often cost 20% to 40% more than the annual price per month.
- Interviewer and hiring-manager seats, if they count as paid users.
- Job board costs: Naukri, LinkedIn and Indeed charge for premium postings separately from your ATS.
- Add-ons: extra active jobs, SMS or WhatsApp credits, AI features, or advanced reports.
- Implementation and data migration fees.
- Currency risk on USD-billed tools when the rupee weakens.
How to Choose the Right ATS for Your Business
- 1List your must-haves using the feature checklist above.
- 2Calculate the yearly cost for your real number of recruiters, jobs and hiring managers, including GST.
- 3Check Naukri and job board integrations with your own employer account.
- 4Test resume parsing on 10 of your own CVs during the trial.
- 5Ask how onboarding works, or how hires move to your HR system.
- 6Check support and billing: INR invoices, GST details and response times.
- 7Run a two-week trial on a real open role before you commit.
Startups should prioritise a free plan and a low per-user price. Recruitment agencies should prioritise client management and submissions; see our. Growing teams should check how the price changes as they add recruiters. See ATS for staffing agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best affordable ATS software in India?▼
It depends on your team. OneATS and Zoho Recruit both offer free plans and INR billing; Keka Hire suits companies already using Keka for HR and payroll; Manatal offers a low per-user USD price; Recruit CRM is built for agencies. Compare the yearly cost for your team size.
Is there a free ATS in India?▼
Yes. Several ATS tools, including OneATS and Zoho Recruit, offer free plans. Most free plans limit you to one recruiter or a small number of active jobs.
How much does ATS software cost in India?▼
Low-cost ATS plans in India typically cost about ₹800 to ₹4,000 per user per month on annual billing, before 18% GST. Agency-focused and enterprise tools cost more.
Which ATS integrates with Naukri?▼
Keka Hire lists Naukri posting, Zoho Recruit posts to Naukri through Zwayam Amplify, and OneATS offers assisted posting from your own Naukri employer account on its Business plan. Whichever you choose, check that it works with your own employer account.
Do interviewers and hiring managers need a paid seat?▼
It depends on the tool. Many ATS products charge for every user. OneATS charges only for admins and recruiters; interviewers and hiring managers are free on paid plans. Ask each vendor before you compare prices.
Conclusion
The right affordable ATS is the one that covers your must-have features at a yearly cost that fits your team size, with INR billing and Naukri support if you hire in India. Shortlist two or three tools from this comparison, calculate the real annual cost, and run a trial on a live role.
Editorial Integrity & Sourcing: All articles are authored and verified by our recruitment operations and engineering team, vetted against primary regulatory documentation (such as India's DPDP Act, 2023 and EPFO/ESIC guidelines) and direct job portal APIs before publication.
Pankaj Mukadam is the Head of Product at OneATS. With deep expertise in talent acquisition infrastructure and recruitment operations, he leads product architecture and hiring workflows at OneATS, helping companies streamline recruitment across India and globally.
