<p>The best applicant tracking systems in the UK for 2026 help recruiters, HR teams and staffing agencies manage candidates, automate hiring workflows and make faster, more informed recruitment decisions. A modern <a href="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/applicant-tracking-system">Applicant Tracking System (ATS)</a> should support job posting, candidate tracking, AI-powered matching, interview management, reporting and GDPR-conscious data handling.</p><p>For UK hiring teams, the right ATS is no longer just a place to store CVs. It should improve candidate experience, reduce manual admin, support collaboration between recruiters and hiring managers, and integrate with essential tools such as job boards, email, calendars and HR systems.</p><p>This guide was updated for 2026 to help UK recruiters compare ATS platforms based on features, pricing visibility, AI and automation capabilities, integrations, scalability, user experience and suitability for different hiring needs.</p>