HiringThing is one of those applicant tracking systems that flies under the radar while quietly serving a loyal base of small businesses, staffing agencies, and HR technology partners. With roughly 29 employees and a focus on simplicity over feature bloat, it occupies a specific niche: companies that want to get hiring organized without drowning in enterprise complexity. It also powers a white-label ATS that other HR platforms resell under their own brand, which is an unusual and genuinely differentiating capability.
We reviewed HiringThing’s current feature set, pricing, integrations, and real user feedback to determine where it excels and where it falls short. Our verdict: it remains one of the most approachable ATS options for teams under 200 employees, but its aging interface and limited advanced capabilities mean growing companies may eventually outgrow it.
What Is HiringThing?
HiringThing is a cloud-based applicant tracking and employee onboarding platform founded in 2012 by Joshua Siler. Headquartered in Bartonsville, Pennsylvania, the company is privately held and operates with a small team of approximately 29 employees. Despite its modest size, HiringThing has carved out two distinct market positions: a direct-to-employer ATS for small and mid-sized businesses, and a white-label applicant tracking platform that HRIS vendors, PEOs, payroll companies, franchises, and staffing agencies can embed into their own software under their own branding.
The platform is sold as two modular products: Applicant Tracking and Employee Onboarding. These can be purchased separately or bundled at a discount. HiringThing is SOC 2 certified and compliant with GDPR and CCPA, with data stored in a PCI-compliant datacenter audited under SAS70 Type II. All connections are 100% SSL encrypted. The platform is English-only and available on web, Android, iPad, and iPhone.
HiringThing Key Features
Job Posting Distribution
HiringThing allows users to post open positions to over 50 job boards from a single interface. This includes free boards like Indeed and Glassdoor, as well as social media channels including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Premium (paid) job board access is available on the Standard plan and above. However, multiple users have noted limitations when it comes to niche or industry-specific job boards, which may require manual posting outside the platform. The Indeed integration specifically has drawn complaints; some users report it only supports sponsored listings through the newer integration method, limiting organic posting options.
Form Builder and SmartForms
The platform includes a drag-and-drop Form Builder that lets hiring managers create custom application forms with automated prescreening questions. SmartForms allow you to tailor what information candidates provide based on the specific role. This is a useful feature for companies that hire across different departments with varying requirements. Unlike some competitors that lock custom forms behind premium tiers, HiringThing includes the Form Builder on all plans, including during the free trial.
Resume Parsing and Keyword Matching
HiringThing automatically parses incoming resumes and enables keyword-based candidate matching. All plans include this capability, which helps recruiters quickly filter large applicant pools. That said, user feedback consistently flags resume parsing accuracy as inconsistent. Some resumes parse cleanly; others require manual correction. Several users have also expressed a preference for viewing resumes in their original formatting rather than the parsed version, noting that the current display sometimes strips formatting in ways that make review harder.
Branded Careers Page with QR and SMS Apply
Each account gets a customizable, branded careers page that can be embedded on your company website. HiringThing has added modern application methods including QR code and SMS-based apply options, which are particularly useful for high-volume, hourly hiring in industries like hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare. The careers page is functional but, like the rest of the interface, reflects an older design aesthetic that some users find dated.
Calendaring and Candidate Self-Scheduling
The platform integrates with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook, and offers candidate self-scheduling. This allows applicants to select interview times from available slots, reducing the back-and-forth email chains that slow down the hiring process. For small teams without dedicated recruiting coordinators, this feature saves meaningful time.
Onboarding Suite
This is where HiringThing has expanded significantly since our last review. The Employee Onboarding module (sold separately starting at $100/month) includes e-signatures, I-9 verification, E-Verify integration, training workflows, disclosure statements, and an employee portal. For small businesses that previously handled new-hire paperwork manually, this is a meaningful step up. The compliance features (I-9, E-Verify, EEO/OFCCP data collection) are included rather than sold as add-ons, which is notable at this price point.
Workflow Automation and Task Management
HiringThing includes workflow automation for multi-site operations, with task management features that help distribute hiring responsibilities across team members. Automated email notifications, customizable rejection and confirmation messages, and applicant tagging all contribute to keeping the process organized. However, users seeking complex approval workflows (such as multi-level requisition approvals) will find these absent. The automation is best described as functional but basic.
Applicant Analytics
The platform’s proprietary Applicant Analytics feature provides reports on time-to-fill, source effectiveness, and overall hiring pipeline health. These analytics are included on all plans. However, the reporting capabilities are limited compared to competitors that offer more granular data visualization, custom report builders, or predictive analytics. For basic hiring metrics, it works. For data-driven recruiting teams that want to slice information multiple ways, it may feel restrictive.
HiringThing Pricing and Plans
HiringThing uses a tiered subscription model based on the number of active job postings, not per-user seats. All plans include unlimited users and unlimited candidates, which is a genuine advantage for companies with multiple hiring managers or collaborative recruiting workflows. The two products (Applicant Tracking and Employee Onboarding) can be purchased separately or bundled at a discount. Plans are billed annually, with monthly billing also available at a higher rate.
| Plan | Starting Price (Annual Billing) | Active Jobs | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $76/month (ATS) | Up to 2 | Unlimited users, basic applicant tracking, Form Builder, online job postings, free job boards, resume parsing, API access, reports/analytics, EEO/OFCCP, SSL encryption |
| Standard | Contact vendor | More than Start | Everything in Start plus paid job board access, phone support, complete hiring solution features |
| Pro | Contact vendor | More than Standard | Everything in Standard plus features for larger companies with sophisticated hiring needs |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom | Custom plan for large-scale recruiting operations |
| Private Label | Custom pricing | Custom | Full white-label ATS for resellers, partners, and platform integrators |
Employee Onboarding starts at $100/month and can be added to any ATS plan or purchased independently. A bundled discount is available when purchasing both products together.
HiringThing offers a free 14-day trial for the ATS (up to 5 active jobs, no credit card required) and a separate 30-day trial for Onboarding (up to 50 workflows and 1 hire). The trial includes premium support, Form Builder, resume import, applicant tagging, email templates, and core features.
Note: Third-party sources list varying starting prices (ranging from $39/month to $99/month), which likely reflect older pricing or different billing configurations. The vendor’s own pricing page confirms $76/month as the current starting price for Applicant Tracking on annual billing. Some users have noted that extras like premium job board postings and background checks carry additional fees beyond the base subscription.
Integrations
HiringThing offers a practical set of pre-built integrations and an open API for custom connections. The integration library is not as expansive as what you will find with larger ATS platforms, but it covers the core categories most small businesses need.
Background Screening: TazWorks, CrimCheck, Verified First, KCB Screening, SRA Screening, and ScreeningONE. The CrimCheck integration has been specifically noted by users as significantly cheaper (reportedly up to 40% less) than alternatives like HireRight.
Video Interviewing: Jobma and Spark Hire. HiringThing does not include built-in video interviewing; these are third-party integrations.
HRIS: BambooHR is the primary HRIS integration listed.
Assessment Tools: Skillfully and Cangrade for pre-employment testing and candidate evaluation.
WOTC Tax Credits: TOA integration for Work Opportunity Tax Credit processing.
Productivity and Communication: Slack, Gmail, Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Google Analytics, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Wufoo.
API: All plans include API access with developer-friendly documentation, enabling custom integrations with internal systems or third-party tools. This is worth highlighting because many competitors restrict API access to higher-priced tiers.
There is no mention of Zapier or Make (Integromat) support in our research, and no dedicated app marketplace exists. If you need connectivity with tools not listed above, the open API is your path forward, which will require development resources.
Customer Support
Customer support is consistently cited as one of HiringThing’s strongest differentiators. The company brands its support offering as “Support Beyond Compare,” and user feedback largely backs up that claim.
Channels: Email and chat support are available on all plans. Phone support is available on the Standard plan and above. An online ticket system is also available.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST. There is no 24/7 or weekend support.
Self-Service: HiringThing maintains a Knowledge Base with articles and FAQs. Training is available at every plan level, and custom implementation assistance is offered.
What users actually say: Support is the area where HiringThing receives its most enthusiastic praise. Users describe the support team as “phenomenally good,” noting response times within minutes for many inquiries. Multiple reviewers specifically mention that the team has implemented custom code changes within 24 hours of a request. For a company of roughly 29 employees, this level of personalized attention is notable and likely reflects the advantage of a smaller vendor that treats each customer relationship seriously. The tradeoff is that this level of service may not scale indefinitely as the customer base grows.
Pros and Cons
Based on our analysis of HiringThing’s feature set, pricing model, user feedback patterns, and competitive positioning, here is where the platform stands out and where it falls short.
Pros
- Unlimited users and candidates included on all plans, making it cost-effective for teams with multiple hiring managers
- Exceptionally responsive customer support with users reporting code changes implemented within 24 hours
- Modular pricing lets you purchase ATS and Onboarding separately or bundled, so you only pay for what you need
- White-label ATS option is a genuine differentiator for HR tech vendors, PEOs, and franchise operators
- Full onboarding suite with e-signatures, I-9, E-Verify, and compliance features included rather than sold as add-ons
- Open API access on all plans, which many competitors restrict to premium tiers
- Quick setup and intuitive interface that requires minimal training for new users
Cons
- Dated, visually outdated user interface that multiple users describe as old and clunky
- Resume parsing accuracy is inconsistent, sometimes requiring manual correction of parsed data
- Limited job board distribution for niche or industry-specific boards beyond major platforms
- Basic analytics and reporting that lack custom report builders or advanced data visualization
- No multi-language support; English only
- Lacks complex workflow capabilities such as multi-level requisition approval chains
- No built-in video interviewing; requires third-party integrations with Jobma or Spark Hire
- Phone support restricted to Standard plan and above; Start plan users get email and chat only
Who Should Use HiringThing?
Small businesses with 5 to 200 employees that need to formalize their hiring process will find HiringThing approachable and affordable. If you are currently managing hiring through spreadsheets, email, or nothing at all, the jump to HiringThing will feel significant. The unlimited user model means you can involve hiring managers across departments without worrying about per-seat costs.
Multi-site operators and franchises benefit from the platform’s workflow automation and task management designed for distributed hiring. The white-label capabilities also make it attractive for franchise organizations that want a consistent hiring experience across locations.
HR technology vendors, PEOs, and staffing agencies looking to add ATS functionality to their existing platform should consider HiringThing’s Private Label offering. The open API and full white-label customization make it one of the few ATS platforms purpose-built for this use case.
Industries that lean on high-volume, hourly hiring (healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, nonprofits) will appreciate the QR code and SMS apply features, straightforward application forms, and compliance tools.
Who should look elsewhere: Companies with more than 500 employees or complex, multi-stage approval workflows will likely find HiringThing too limited. If you need AI-powered candidate sourcing, advanced analytics dashboards, multi-language support, or a modern, candidate-facing experience that reflects a premium employer brand, you will be better served by a larger platform. Teams that rely heavily on niche job boards may also find the posting distribution insufficient.
HiringThing Alternatives
Zoho Recruit
Zoho Recruit offers a free plan for a single active job and paid plans that include more sophisticated automation, custom workflows, and native AI features like candidate matching. It integrates tightly with the broader Zoho ecosystem (CRM, People, Mail), which is a major advantage for existing Zoho users. However, its interface can feel overwhelming due to the sheer number of configuration options, and support quality is less consistently praised than HiringThing’s. Choose Zoho Recruit if you need more advanced automation and already use Zoho products.
ApplicantStack (by Swipeclock)
ApplicantStack targets a very similar audience to HiringThing: small and mid-sized businesses that want simple, affordable applicant tracking. It offers built-in onboarding and strong compliance features. Its job board distribution and email template functionality are comparable. Where it falls short compared to HiringThing is in API openness and white-label capabilities. Choose ApplicantStack if you want a similarly straightforward ATS and prefer its pricing structure.
JazzHR
JazzHR is a more feature-rich ATS at a slightly higher price point, with stronger reporting, more polished candidate experience tools, and a wider integration library. It handles more complex hiring workflows better than HiringThing and offers a more modern interface. However, it charges per user on some plans and can become expensive as your team grows. Choose JazzHR if you need more advanced recruiting features and are willing to pay more per seat.
SmartRecruiters
SmartRecruiters serves mid-market and enterprise companies with a full-featured talent acquisition suite including AI-driven sourcing, CRM capabilities, and a marketplace of pre-built integrations. It is significantly more complex and expensive than HiringThing. Choose SmartRecruiters if you have outgrown small-business ATS tools and need enterprise-grade recruiting infrastructure.
Breezy HR
Breezy HR offers a free plan for a single position and paid tiers with drag-and-drop pipeline management, built-in video screening, automated interview scheduling, and a notably more modern user interface. It is a strong alternative for small teams that prioritize design and candidate experience. It lacks HiringThing’s white-label capabilities and its onboarding module is less developed. Choose Breezy HR if a polished, visual interface matters more to you than white-label flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does HiringThing cost?
HiringThing’s Applicant Tracking starts at $76 per month on annual billing. Employee Onboarding starts at $100 per month and can be purchased separately or bundled at a discount. All plans include unlimited users and candidates. Pricing for Standard, Pro, Enterprise, and Private Label plans requires contacting the vendor.
Does HiringThing offer a free trial?
Yes. HiringThing offers a free 14-day trial for Applicant Tracking (up to 5 active jobs) and a 30-day trial for Employee Onboarding (up to 50 workflows and 1 hire). No credit card is required to start either trial.
Does HiringThing charge per user?
No. All HiringThing plans include unlimited users at no additional cost. Pricing is based on the number of active job postings, not the number of people using the system. This makes it particularly cost-effective for companies with multiple hiring managers.
What job boards does HiringThing integrate with?
HiringThing distributes job postings to over 50 job boards, including Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Free job boards are included on all plans; paid/premium job boards are available on the Standard plan and above. Some users have noted limitations with niche or industry-specific boards.
Does HiringThing have onboarding features?
Yes. Unlike our earlier review noted, HiringThing now offers a full Employee Onboarding module with e-signatures, I-9 verification, E-Verify integration, training workflows, disclosure statements, and an employee portal. This is a separate product starting at $100/month, available standalone or bundled with the ATS.
Is HiringThing suitable for large enterprises?
HiringThing is best suited for small and mid-sized businesses. While Enterprise and Private Label plans exist for larger organizations, the platform’s limited advanced analytics, lack of multi-language support, and basic workflow automation make it a better fit for companies with fewer than 200 employees. Larger enterprises with complex, multi-level approval processes will likely need a more feature-rich platform.
Does HiringThing offer a white-label ATS?
Yes. HiringThing’s Private Label plan allows HRIS vendors, PEOs, payroll companies, franchises, and staffing agencies to embed a fully branded ATS into their own software. This includes full white-label customization and open API access. Pricing for the Private Label plan is custom and requires contacting the vendor.
The Bottom Line
HiringThing earns a 3.9 out of 5 in our assessment. It does several things well: unlimited users on every plan, genuinely excellent customer support, a practical onboarding module, and a white-label offering that few competitors match. For small businesses hiring for a handful of positions at a time, it provides a clean, straightforward path from job posting to new-hire paperwork without unnecessary complexity.
The weaknesses are real but predictable for a small-team product. The interface looks dated. Resume parsing is inconsistent. Advanced analytics, multi-language support, and complex workflow capabilities are absent. If your hiring needs are growing in sophistication, you will eventually bump against these limits. The job board distribution, while covering the major platforms, has gaps for specialized or niche recruiting.
Our recommendation: if you are a small to mid-sized company (under 200 employees) that values simplicity, affordability, and personal support over cutting-edge features and modern design, HiringThing is a solid choice that will serve you well. If you are an HR technology partner looking for a white-label ATS to embed in your platform, it deserves serious consideration. If you need enterprise-grade analytics, AI sourcing, or a modern candidate experience, look at JazzHR, Breezy HR, or SmartRecruiters instead.
