We're on a mission to bring clarity to the complex world of applicant tracking systems. Since 2023, we've been helping HR leaders, talent acquisition professionals, and business owners make informed decisions about their recruiting technology investments.
SystemRatings was born from frustration. After spending years in HR technology consulting, our founders repeatedly witnessed organizations struggling to choose the right ATS. Vendor websites were filled with marketing jargon, comparison sites lacked depth, and genuine user reviews were scattered across dozens of platforms.
We knew there had to be a better way. That's why we created SystemRatings – a comprehensive resource that cuts through the noise with honest, detailed reviews of applicant tracking systems. We don't just skim feature lists; we dive deep into each platform, examining everything from user experience and pricing transparency to integration capabilities and customer support quality.
Our approach is simple: we evaluate each ATS as if we were implementing it ourselves. We consider the needs of different organization sizes, industries, and hiring volumes. We talk to actual users, analyze vendor documentation, test demo environments when available, and track product updates to keep our reviews current.
Ryan brings over 12 years of experience in HR technology implementation and consulting. Before founding SystemRatings, he led talent technology initiatives at three Fortune 500 companies and helped dozens of mid-market organizations modernize their recruiting operations.
He holds an MBA from Northwestern Kellogg and is a certified HR technology specialist. Ryan is passionate about demystifying enterprise software and believes every organization deserves recruiting tools that actually work for their unique needs.
Thomas specializes in evaluating technical architecture, integration capabilities, and data security practices of ATS platforms. With a background in software engineering and eight years working directly with HRIS implementations, he brings a unique technical perspective to our reviews.
He earned his computer science degree from Carnegie Mellon and previously worked as a technical consultant for Workday and SAP SuccessFactors implementations. Thomas ensures our reviews address the critical technical considerations that IT departments care about.
Alexandra focuses on the human side of recruiting technology. She conducts user interviews, analyzes workflow efficiency, and evaluates how well each ATS serves the needs of recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates.
With a master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Washington and six years of UX research experience in enterprise software, Alexandra ensures our reviews reflect real-world usability, not just feature checklists.
Editorial independence is the cornerstone of our credibility. Here's how we protect it:
First, our review process is standardized and systematic. Every ATS is evaluated against the same criteria, using our comprehensive evaluation framework. This consistency prevents favoritism and ensures fair comparisons across platforms.
Second, we diversify our revenue sources. While we may earn affiliate commissions from some vendors, we also generate revenue through premium research reports, consulting services, and educational webinars. This diversification ensures no single vendor relationship can compromise our objectivity.
Third, our editorial team operates independently from our business development team. Reviewers have no knowledge of commercial relationships when conducting evaluations, and business team members have no input on review content or ratings.
Finally, we're transparent about potential conflicts. Any affiliate relationships are clearly disclosed in our reviews. We also maintain a public log of any significant interactions with vendors, including briefings, demos, or sponsored events we attend.
We value feedback from our readers and the HR technology community. Whether you've spotted an error in our reviews, have suggestions for improvement, or want to share your own ATS experiences, we want to hear from you.
You can reach us through our contact form or connect with us on LinkedIn. We read every message and strive to respond within two business days.
For vendors interested in having their ATS reviewed, please note that we don't accept payment for reviews. However, we welcome product demonstrations and access to sandbox environments to ensure our evaluations are thorough and accurate.
Thank you for trusting SystemRatings as your guide through the ATS landscape. We're committed to helping you find the recruiting technology that best serves your organization's unique needs.