Written By: Michael Gardon | Edited By: Mike Jelinek
If you’re ready to hire now, we recommend posting your job opening on ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter has a resume database that allows you to search for employees that would be a great fit and you can get started for free.
Hiring new employees can be tedious, expensive, and fraught with peril. A bad hire can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, plus untold time and aggravation. A good hire, on the other hand, will bring the whole team’s work to the next level.
Best Hiring Platforms
- ZipRecruiter - Best Overall Hiring Platform
- BreezyHR - Best Runner-Up
- Gusto - Best HR Software
- GoodHire - Best Background Checking Tool
- BambooHR - Best Applicant Tracking Software
- SparkHire - Best Video Interviewing Tool
- Interview Mocha - Best Skill Testing Software
- Checkster - Best Reference Checking Software
Hiring platforms make it easier to source, vet, hire, and onboard the best candidates for the job. These tools include job boards, recruiting software, video interviewing tools, applicant tracking software, and background checking tools. There are tools for just about every budget, including yours. Some will even provide several functionalities in one package, streamlining the process.
What Is A Hiring Platform?
In the simplest terms, a hiring platform is any tool that helps your company recruit, interview, research, and hire employees. For example, an applicant tracking system (ATS) organizes candidates and identifies the most qualified applicants for open jobs. Most ATS packages will also guide potential hires through the process, sending automated emails and scheduling interviews.
A good hiring platform can help you keep on top of the zillions of tiny details that go into making the right hire. It can also ease transitions in the process, making it easier to move from posting open jobs to vetting candidates to hiring and onboarding.
To select the best hiring platform, first identify your hiring needs–and don’t be afraid to think bigger. These applications can do more than just sort data and help you make decisions. They can help you move more efficiently through the hiring process, snapping up the best candidates before they can be wooed away by your competitors. Plus, some packages offer multiple tools in one, far reducing the price you’d pay for each separate functionality.
Best Overall Hiring Platforms - Top Platforms That Do It All
In this article, we highlight all of the best hiring platforms. We include everything from job boards, to background checks. But - are there any software options that do it all? Yes! Here are the top two platforms that offer multiple hiring services and packages.
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter is our pick for best job board overall. Employers of all sizes will like the four-day free trial, as well as the advanced analytics and AI recruitment tools available at the higher-tier packages.
Breezy
Breezy is a multipurpose HR tool with video interviewing, applicant management, and background check capabilities.
8 Best Hiring Platforms
Job Boards
Job boards remain popular with both companies and candidates. Over a quarter of employers use job boards as part of their recruiting strategy. However, not all job boards are created equal. Some offer low-cost or even free job posts, either on a trial basis or as an ongoing service. But if you want advanced analytics and integration with your other hiring tools, expect to pay a fee.
- ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter allows you to post listings on over 100 top job sites with one click. This platform offers a four-day free trial, after which employers can choose one of three plans for as little as $249 per month. The higher-tier plans offer features like AI recruitment tools, traffic boost for hard-to-fill jobs, and integration with your ATS.
Read our full review of ZipRecruiter’s hiring platform.
- HomeBase
HomeBase can help you find, hire, and manage hourly workers. Packages are based on location, not hires or employees, and include a variety of tools, from job posting to time tracking to payroll, HR, and compliance.
- Indeed
Indeed is the largest online job search engine with more than 250 million unique monthly visitors. It’s free to post your job listing, but you can sponsor a job starting at $5 per day in order to reach more candidates. You can also design a hiring campaign with Indeed and sponsor jobs directly from your ATS.
Read our full review of Indeed’s hiring platform.
- SimplyHired
SimplyHired is a job search engine that lets you share job posts on over 100 job boards. The twist is that you only pay when you select a candidate to contact. Prices vary depending on the market and industry.
- FlexJobs
FlexJobs focuses on remote, contract, part-time, and other flexible workers. The site offers a variety of tools to help you screen, vet, and interview candidates, including ATS integration, geo-targeting for remote candidates, virtual job fairs, and targeted email blasts. Features vary by package and pricing starts at $399 per month.
Applicant Tracking Software
Applicant tracking system (ATS) software helps filter applicant resumes so employers can identify qualified candidates quickly and accurately. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS.
- Breezy
First-time ATS user? Breezy is a good option for you. Depending on the level of software package you select, Breezy includes real-time analytics, resume parsing, interview self-scheduling, and automated reference checking. The basic package is free.
- BambooHR
BambooHR offers the best overall ATS software for most users, as well as a mobile hiring app, time tracking, payroll, performance management, and more.
- Workable
Small businesses should check out Workable, which offers AI-powered candidate sourcing, integration with Gmail, Outlook, and Zoom, and job posting to over 200 sites around the globe. Packages start at $279 per month, billed annually–or you can elect to pay by the job with no commitment.
Check out our list of the best applicant tracking software.
Video Interview Tools
Eighty-six percent of employers have turned to video interviewing in recent years–for obvious reasons. But even in non-pandemic times, video interviewing offers benefits, including the ability to cast a wide net to find qualified applicants without dropping serious cash on travel stipends. Video interview tools offer recorded or live interviews, analytics, and collaboration features. Zoom could never.
- Breezy
Breezy is full-service recruitment software with video interview capabilities–a great pick if you need applicant management and background check tools as well as video interviewing.
- Spark Hire
Spark Hire is our pick for best overall video interviewing tools for companies of any size. Features include one-way or live interviewing, scheduling and collaboration tools, and analytics and reporting. Packages start at $119 per month and offer a free trial.
- VidCruiter
Want more options? VidCruiter is our selection for best customizable video interviews. Choose asynchronous, live, audio, or video interviews. Other products include skill testing and reference checks.
- MyInterview
Need to keep expenses down? MyInterview offers free video interview software. Only pay if you upgrade to hire for more than one job at a time.
HR Software
Technology is playing an increasingly key role in HR departments at companies of all sizes. HR software helps human resource managers and employers to manage employees, onboarding, company policies, training, payroll, and other aspects of day-to-day business.
- Gusto
Gusto is our pick for the best HR software for payroll services. Plans start at $39 per month plus $6 per month per person and include features like salaries, pay schedules, and more.
- Namely
Namely is focused on HR software for midsized companies. It’s our pick for the best in this class and offers onboarding, time-off tracking, employee and manager self-service, and more.
- Zenefits
The best overall HR software for most users, Zenefits offers automated onboarding, compensation and performance management, and employee engagement surveys, among other features. Packages start at $21 per month per employee.
Check out our list of the best HR software.
Skill Testing Tools
About a quarter of employers use technical skill assessments to gauge employees’ knowledge and competency prior to hiring. Choosing the right tools and support can help make sure your tests accomplish their goal: finding candidates who can do the job starting on day one.
- iMocha
iMocha’s flexible career assessment platform offers over 1,000 skill tests plus coding simulators and live coding interviews. Prices start at $150 per month.
- Glider.ai
Glider.ai features customer-tailored interactive career assessments in simulated work environments. Use their pre-built tests or create your own.
- CodeSignal
CodeSignal is focused on skill assessment testing for tech jobs. Their offerings include a flight simulator for developers, knowledge assessments, and custom test support.
Recruitment Software
Recruitment software helps streamline and automate the recruitment of qualified candidates for your business.
- Breezy HR
Our pick for best overall recruiting software, BreezyHR offers a branded career site, background screening integration, real-time analytics, and multiple recruiting pipelines.
- JazzHR
Looking for recruitment software for your small businesses? Take a look at JazzHR, which offers customizable job applications, employee referral management, and the ability to export candidates to your HRIS.
- Recooty
Recooty is one of the few recruitment software companies with a free plan. Schedule interviews, review applications, and import candidates from different sources.
Check out our list of the best recruitment software.
Background Checking Tools
About 95% of employers conduct background checks and it’s not hard to see why. Failure to identify issues with a candidate’s work or personal history can have major repercussions for your business. Background check software help employers and recruiters easily verify a candidate's identity and check for court records and public databases for other pertinent information.
- GoodHire
Our pick for the best background tools for small businesses, GoodHire offers various background check services with pricing based on annual volume. Services include identity checks, criminal records checks, drug screening, and motor vehicle records search.
- Checkr
Need ATS integration? Checkr integrates with several applicant tracking and human resource information systems (HRIS), including BambooHR, Greenhouse, and Paylocity.
- AccurateNow
AccurateNow is our pick for fast background check results. The service offers three packages ranging from basic to premium. Each level includes Social Security Number trace and address history. Advanced services include seven-year criminal history, employment verification, and more.
Reference Checking Tools
An important step in the hiring process is to verify a candidate's references. Using reference checking software helps streamline the process, saving your team from hours spent tracking down information.
- Checkster
Checkster’s automated reference checking promises to crowdsource high-quality feedback on candidates, mitigating bias, improving diversity, and reducing time-to-hire.
- Xref
Xref’s online reference checking offers a quick turnaround time–30 seconds to submit a request and results in 24 hours.
- Crosschq
Crosschq is our pick for pre-hire candidate assessment and data-driven reference checking. See detailed 360-degree reports that combine peer and manager surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hiring software?
Hiring software is online software used by companies and recruiters to manage the hiring process. Software options include recruiting software, ATS, skill assessment, and interview software.
What is an ATS?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) collects, organizes, and analyzes candidate information. An ATS posts job listings to job boards, filters resumes by keyword, and streamlines the hiring process.
What is an HRIS?
A human resource information system (HRIS) manages and optimizes HR functions like payroll, time tracking, and performance management.
The Bottom Line
The best hiring platforms help employers recruit, connect, assess, and ultimately hire the right candidates. If you have open positions to fill within your company, use the tools above to assist your recruitment and hiring efforts. Ready to hire your next employee? Consider posting your job opening on ZipRecruiter.
