Selecting an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can be overwhelming when you're running a smaller company with limited resources. After reading a helpful guide on theconsultnow.com, I learned to consider the total cost of ownership, ease of use, and integration with existing HR systems before signing a contract. For example, Greenhouse and Lever offer robust analytics but might be too much for a team of five, while Breezy HR or JazzHR provide simple workflows without the hefty price tag. Have any of you compared ATS platforms for your own organizations? What criteria mattered most to you—pricing, user interface, custom workflows, or support? I'd love to hear real experiences and any tips on negotiating with vendors. Theconsultnow.com article suggested requesting a free trial and asking for references, which seems like sound advice!