10 Best Recruiting Software UK for 2025 | HIROS
Dec 20, 2025
Hiring in 2025 looks very different from only a few years ago. Skills shortages, hybrid work and fast-moving salary expectations all put pressure on talent teams. The right technology makes the difference between scrambling for applicants and building a steady pipeline of qualified, engaged candidates. In this guide we review the best recruiting software available to UK organisations today, focusing on GDPR readiness, native integrations with British job boards and practical AI features that cut time-to-hire. Each platform below has been vetted through independent user reviews and market studies, so you can shortlist with confidence.
Top 10 Recruiting Software for UK Businesses in 2025
How we identified the best recruiting software
To create a fair and useful short-list, we compared more than 30 widely used applicant tracking systems (ATS) and talent acquisition suites against five clear criteria.
UK compliance and localisation (built-in GDPR workflows, Reed.co.uk or Totaljobs posting, local support teams).
Depth of automation (AI sourcing, CV parsing, interview scheduling and analytics).
User satisfaction on G2 and Capterra plus consistency of updates.
Flexible scalability for start-ups up to FTSE-listed groups.
Transparent pricing and free trials or demos that let you test before committing.
The ten vendors that follow scored highest across all five points and therefore earn a place in our 2025 ranking of the best recruiting software.
The 10 best recruiting software options for UK businesses
1. Workable – fastest adoption for UK SMEs
Most small and medium companies we speak with need to post jobs quickly, screen hundreds of CVs and keep hiring managers in the loop. Workable delivers that with an intuitive interface and AI-powered candidate recommendations that surface 50 percent more relevant profiles in early testing. Diversity analytics, structured interview guides and pre-built GDPR consent templates help you stay compliant without extra plug-ins. A free 15-day trial lets you see value before you upgrade and its clear monthly plan appeals to finance teams that dislike long contracts.
Ideal for: scaling tech firms, retail chains and professional-services boutiques that hire 5–50 roles per month.
2. iCIMS – enterprise-grade analytics and integrations
If you manage talent acquisition across multiple legal entities or global regions, iCIMS brings the controls you need. Recruiters love the predictive analytics dashboard that flags bottlenecks in real time, while HR IT teams value out-of-the-box connectors to SAP, Workday and SuccessFactors. The suite also covers onboarding and internal mobility, creating a single experience from applicant to employee. Customer success managers based in London and Manchester provide local support and guidance on ever-changing UK employment law.
Ideal for: large organisations and public bodies handling high-volume or multi-brand hiring.
3. Hiros – collaborative hiring with embedded expert insights
Our own platform, Hiros, steps into the top three because it adds something unique to the traditional ATS model: instant access to a vetted network of industry experts who can validate job descriptions, interview scorecards or market-rate salary bands before you hit publish. Recruiters launch an expert call directly from the dashboard, turning weeks of research into a same-day task (and cutting costly mis-hires). The system offers AI shortlisting, GDPR-secure candidate messaging and a no-code career site builder, all wrapped in transparent pay-as-you-grow plans.
Book a personalised demo to test Hiros with your next open role.
Ideal for: scale-ups and mid-market companies that value data-driven job design and stakeholder collaboration.
4. Zoho Recruit – modular power on a budget
Zoho Recruit slots neatly into the existing Zoho ecosystem (CRM, People, Payroll) but also works fine as a stand-alone ATS. UK recruiters appreciate one-click posting to Totaljobs and CV-Library and the ability to switch on only the modules they need, keeping costs predictable. Custom fields, automated offer letters and a handy mobile app round out a strong value proposition for growing companies that want flexibility without the enterprise price tag.
Ideal for: start-ups, boutique agencies and consultancies with fluctuating hiring volumes.
5. Breezy HR – visual pipelines new users love
Breezy HR replaces spreadsheets with drag-and-drop candidate cards that update in real time, making it a favourite for founders who juggle hiring alongside other duties. Automated interview reminders, SMS messaging and self-service scheduling reduce back-and-forth emails. Built-in video interviews (with optional recording) save time when roles are scattered across the UK. Plans remain affordable even as headcount rises, which explains the platform’s strong Capterra rating for value for money.
Ideal for: small in-house teams taking their first steps away from manual hiring.
6. Greenhouse – structured hiring champion
Greenhouse keeps every interviewer on the same page with custom scorecards and trigger-based reminders that nudge busy stakeholders to submit feedback. The DE&I suite anonymises CVs and tracks funnel diversity so you can report on progress rather than hope for it. Large UK brands also like Greenhouse’s ability to create consistent processes across multiple locations, which speeds up compliance audits.
Ideal for: companies that value data-backed, repeatable hiring decisions at scale.
7. Bullhorn – the agency powerhouse
Staffing agencies operating across finance, healthcare or IT swear by Bullhorn’s integrated CRM plus ATS approach. Recruiters can pipeline candidates, log calls, track placements and invoice clients without leaving one window. Unlimited record storage supports high-volume temp work and a UK support centre answers configuration questions within local office hours. Automation add-ons accelerate redeployment, a key margin driver for contract agencies.
Ideal for: recruitment and staffing agencies managing thousands of candidates.
8. Elevatus – AI-driven shortlisting for high volume
Elevatus combines deep-learning matching with automated assessments, video interviews and onboarding in a single cloud platform. Talent acquisition leaders report up to 70 percent faster shortlists on hard-to-fill roles, thanks to a proprietary ranking engine that checks skills, culture fit and salary expectations. Its no-code career site builder allows you to spin up branded microsites for graduate programmes or regional campaigns in minutes.
Ideal for: enterprise teams and universities facing seasonal hiring spikes.
9. iSmartRecruit – chatbot engagement and global reach
With AI chatbots that keep candidates warm around the clock and multi-language support for cross-border hiring, iSmartRecruit stands out for international recruitment agencies. The platform’s analytics suite visualises recruiter performance and predicts time-to-fill, giving managers hard numbers to coach their teams. Flexible monthly plans let you scale licences during busy quarters and dial back when demand dips.
Ideal for: agencies and HR consultants recruiting across different geographies.
10. JobDiva – analytics for specialist staffing
JobDiva focuses on staffing verticals where compliance and documentation can slow down placements. Advanced resume parsing reads complex technical CVs in seconds and auto-creates candidate profiles. Dashboards surface margin per recruiter and fill rate per client, enabling data-driven account management. Multilingual support and regular UK product webinars keep distributed teams aligned.
Ideal for: specialist staffing firms in IT, healthcare or engineering.
Feature comparison at a glance
Rank | Software | Key strengths for UK users | G2 rating | Starting plan
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Workable | AI sourcing, diversity analytics, GDPR templates | 4.5 | £99 per job (approx) |
2 | iCIMS | Enterprise analytics, deep HRIS integrations | 4.4 | Quote based |
3 | Hiros | Direct sourcing, collaborative hiring | New entrant | Pay-as-you-grow |
4 | Zoho Recruit | Modular pricing, UK job board integrations | 4.5 | £20 per user |
5 | Breezy HR | Visual pipeline, built-in video interviews | 4.6 | £49 per month |
6 | Greenhouse | Structured scorecards, DE&I tracking | 4.4 | Quote based |
7 | Bullhorn | CRM plus ATS for agencies, unlimited records | 4.3 | Quote based |
8 | Elevatus | AI shortlisting, no-code career sites | 4.7 | Quote based |
9 | iSmartRecruit | 24/7 chatbot, global language support | 4.9 | £240 per month |
10 | JobDiva | Deep analytics, multilingual parsing | 4.7 | Quote based |
Mid-funnel advice – choosing the right platform for your needs
Even the best recruiting software fails if it does not match your workflow. Before booking demos, map out your top three hiring pain points: sourcing reach, scheduling bottlenecks or compliance reporting. Then build a requirements checklist that covers integrations, user roles, data retention limits and expected job volumes for the next 18 months. During a trial period, measure actual gains in recruiter time saved, not just feature counts. If you plan to scale headcount rapidly, prioritise vendors with modular pricing like Hiros or Zoho Recruit so budgets stay in sync with hiring cycles.
Frequently asked questions on recruiting software in 2025
Do SMEs really need an ATS?
Yes. The average UK vacancy now receives more than 100 applications. An ATS centralises CVs, automates GDPR consent and gives hiring managers one place to evaluate candidates, which shortens decision time by up to 40 percent.
How important is AI in recruitment software?
AI does not replace human judgement, but it speeds up repetitive tasks such as CV parsing, skill matching and interview scheduling. Tools like Elevatus and Workable report shortlist generation that is twice as fast as manual screening.
Is UK GDPR compliance different from EU GDPR?
The UK retained GDPR after Brexit but added the UK Data Protection Act. Good recruiting software therefore includes UK-specific legal templates and data deletion rules to avoid fines.
What metrics should I track post-implementation?
Start with time-to-hire, cost-per-hire and quality-of-hire. Mature teams layer in candidate experience scores and diversity funnel ratios to guide continuous improvement.
Final thoughts
Recruiting in the UK has never been more competitive, yet the right technology can reclaim hours for strategic work and improve candidate quality in the process. Whether you need Workable’s out-of-the-box simplicity, iCIMS’s enterprise analytics or the collaborative edge of Hiros, the ten platforms above represent the best recruiting software choices for 2025. Explore the free trials, test against your workflow and do not hesitate to engage our team through the Hiros blog for deeper insights on building a future-proof hiring stack.
