What AI assistants actually recommend when buyers ask about self-hosted applicant tracking systems — measured on a rolling 4-week window across 4 engines, published as open data.
Updated 2026-09-17 · 28 sampled answers · rolling 4-week window · methodology
Rankings are measured from sampled AI answers — never editorial, never paid. Orbator builds AI-visibility tooling; when Orbator itself appears in any category, it is measured by the same rules as everyone else.
Measured by Orbatormethodology owner Henrik Tellewindow ends Sep 17, 2026
Sample: 28 AI answers · Window: Aug 20, 2026 – Sep 17, 2026 (4-week rolling) · trend vs prior 4 weeks (91 answers)
Samples by engine: GEMINI 7 (last run Sep 8, 2026) · CHATGPT 7 (last run Sep 8, 2026) · CLAUDE 7 (last run Aug 21, 2026) · PERPLEXITY 7 (last run Sep 8, 2026) · GROK 0 (last run Aug 20, 2026 — stalest)
How these numbers are made: sampling design · prompt provenance · what counts as a mention · what we cannot see
On the record: This ranking is frozen as a dated snapshot every day. View this category's history to see what entered and left the ranking and when, or read what the engines actually said on a given day.
Across 28 sampled AI answers from 4 engines, OpenCATS is recommended most often — appearing in 75% of recommendations, followed by Recruitment (71.4%) and OrangeHRM (42.9%).
This is a measurement of share of voice across 4 AI engines — not an editorial pick. See the full ranking below.
Orbator asked Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity buyer questions about self-hosted applicant tracking systems and sampled 28 answers between Aug 20, 2026 and Sep 17, 2026. Recommendation share counts the answers that recommended or listed a product, so a passing mention or a warning adds nothing to it. A category publishes once it holds at least 20 independently sampled answers in the window. Read the full methodology or download this ranking as CSV.
The prompts in this category split between data-residency questions, cost-driven alternatives to cloud recruiting tools, and the mechanics of running a hiring pipeline yourself. Which of those a buyer is actually asking changes the answer.
OpenCATS led the best_in_category prompts at 88.9% of 18 sampled runs, the recommendation prompts at 88.9% of 18 runs, and the alternatives prompts at 88.9% of 9 runs. Recruitment led comparison prompts at 55.6% of 9 runs, where the question contrasted a high-volume recruitment team against a small in-house HR team. Docker led problem_solving prompts at 77.8% of 9 runs, alongside Recruitment at 77.8%.
Only one product in the top five carries a verified price. Docker is listed at Pro: $11 a month, $9 a year (free tier available), last verified 2026-09-05. For the rest, shortlist on the prompt that matches the hire you are staffing for.
| # | Product | Share | Trend | Engines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | opencats.org | 75% 95% CI 56.6–87.3% 21 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 42.9% | — | GEMINI 100%CHATGPT 57.1%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 85.7% | Claim |
| 2 | Recruitment | 71.4% 95% CI 52.9–84.7% 20 mentions · avg pos 3.9 first pick 15% | — | GEMINI 100%CHATGPT 71.4%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 57.1% | Claim |
| 3 | orangehrm.com | 42.9% 95% CI 26.5–60.9% 12 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 8.3% | — | GEMINI 71.4%CHATGPT 42.9%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 42.9% | Claim |
| 4 | erpnext.com | 42.9% 95% CI 26.5–60.9% 12 mentions · avg pos 5.3 first pick 16.7% | — | GEMINI 71.4%CHATGPT 42.9%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 5 | odoo.com | 35.7% 95% CI 20.7–54.2% 10 mentions · avg pos 5.6 first pick 10% | — | GEMINI 85.7%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 6 | horilla.com | 35.7% 95% CI 20.7–54.2% 10 mentions · avg pos 6.7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 57.1%CHATGPT 28.6%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 7 | rabbithr.co | 32.1% 95% CI 17.9–50.7% 9 mentions · avg pos 7.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 100%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 8 | frappe.io | 28.6% 95% CI 15.3–47.1% 8 mentions · avg pos 1.7 first pick 50% | — | CHATGPT 71.4%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 9 | candidats.net | 28.6% 95% CI 15.3–47.1% 8 mentions · avg pos 5.1 first pick 12.5% | — | GEMINI 85.7%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 10 | postgresql.org | 28.6% 95% CI 15.3–47.1% 8 mentions · avg pos 6.7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 57.1%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 11 | reqcore.com | 25% 95% CI 12.7–43.4% 7 mentions · avg pos 2.4 first pick 42.9% | — | CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 57.1% | Claim |
| 12 | docker.com | 21.4% 95% CI 10.2–39.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 4.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 42.9% | Claim |
| 13 | ERPNext HRMS | 21.4% 95% CI 10.2–39.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 6.8 first pick 16.7% | — | GEMINI 71.4%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 14 | mysql.com | 17.9% 95% CI 7.9–35.6% 5 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 60% | — | GEMINI 42.9%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 15 | sentrifugo.com | 17.9% 95% CI 7.9–35.6% 5 mentions · avg pos 6.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 57.1%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 16 | OrangeHRM Community | 17.9% 95% CI 7.9–35.6% 5 mentions · avg pos 7.2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 57.1%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 17 | OrangeHRM Community Edition | 17.9% 95% CI 7.9–35.6% 5 mentions · avg pos 7.2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 57.1%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 18 | openhrms.com | 14.3% 95% CI 5.7–31.5% 4 mentions · avg pos 9.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 57.1% | Claim |
| 19 | OpenATS | 14.3% 95% CI 5.7–31.5% 4 mentions · avg pos 10.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 42.9%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 20 | microsoft.com | 7.1% 95% CI 2–22.6% 2 mentions · avg pos 14 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 21 | nginx.org | 7.1% 95% CI 2–22.6% 2 mentions · avg pos 14.5 first pick 50% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 22 | hiregnome.com | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 23 | JobOps | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 24 | tailwindapp.com | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 25 | aws.amazon.com | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 26 | greenhouse.io | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 27 | freeats.com | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 6 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 28 | SpotAxis | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 6 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 29 | getbootstrap.com | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 30 | cal.com | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 15 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 31 | ubuntu.com | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 27 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 32 | Frappe Cloud | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 33 | Frappe HRMS | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 34 | ats-oss.org | 3.6% 95% CI 0.6–17.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
Reading the numbers: Share is a point estimate on 28 sampled answers, so each row also shows its 95% CI — the Wilson score interval around that share. When two products' intervals overlap, the gap between them isn't statistically meaningful at this sample size. First pick is the share of a product's recommending answers where it was named first, which separates “always mentioned” from “usually the top recommendation”. Full methodology.
Independence: Orbator customers are badged for disclosure. Customer status does not affect prompts, sampling, extraction, or ranking — see the methodology. Your product on this list? Claim it to see the prompts behind your rank and track it weekly.
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Head-to-head pages for products ranked in Self-hosted applicant tracking systems. Each one sets out sourced facts side by side, plus which product AI assistants recommend more, engine by engine.
OpenCATS leads on the prompt about open-source alternatives to expensive cloud-based recruiting and hiring platforms, recommended in 100% of the 9 answers to that prompt in the 4-week window to 2026-09-05. Across the category it was recommended in 36 runs and listed in 11, with 7 context mentions and 1 warned against. Engine spread runs from 100% of Grok's 7 answers down to 64.3% of Claude's 14 answers and 64.3% of ChatGPT's 14 answers.
Recruitment also reached 100% of the 9 answers to the open-source alternatives prompt in the same window. Its breakdown shows 24 runs recommended and 12 listed, plus 12 context mentions and 2 warned against. Grok recommended it in 85.7% of 7 answers, the high mark; ChatGPT and Perplexity sat at 42.9% of 14 answers each.
Reqcore is strongest on the startup prompt about hiring the first 20 people, recommended in 77.8% of those 9 answers. Elsewhere it was recommended in 21 runs and listed in 7, with 14 context mentions and 2 warned against. Grok recommended it in 85.7% of 7 answers against 28.6% of Claude's 14 answers.
Docker leads the self-hosting pipeline prompt covering job postings, resume parsing and interview scheduling, recommended in 100% of those 9 answers. It was recommended in 16 runs and listed in 8, with no runs warning against it. Grok recommended it in 100% of 7 answers, ChatGPT in 14.3% of 14 answers, the widest engine spread in the category at 85.7. Pricing is listed as Pro: $11 a month, $9 a year (free tier available).
ERPNext leads the prompt on integrating with self-hosted HR management software, recommended in 100% of those 9 answers. Outside that prompt its recommendation share was 38.1% of 63 sampled answers in the window to 2026-09-05, with 14 runs recommended, 10 listed, 12 context mentions and 2 warned against. Grok recommended it in 85.7% of 7 answers, Claude in 21.4% of 14.
All five engines recommended the same product most among the top five. OpenCATS led for Claude across its 14 answers, Gemini across its 14, Grok across its 7, ChatGPT across its 14 and Perplexity across its 14. No split at the top of this category in the 4-week window to 2026-09-05.
The disagreement sits lower down. Docker ranges from 14.3% of ChatGPT's 14 answers to 100% of Grok's 7 answers, a spread of 85.7 points, the widest in the top five. Grok also recommended OpenCATS in 100% of its 7 answers, against 64.3% of ChatGPT's 14. A buyer testing a shortlist against a single assistant will see a narrower field than the pooled 63 sampled answers show.
This is the first measured window on record for self-hosted applicant tracking systems. It runs 2026-08-08 to 2026-09-05, 28 days, and covers 63 sampled answers across 5 engines. There is no prior window to compare against, so no entries, exits or share changes are reported yet.
The current standings: OpenCATS at 74.6% recommended (n = 63), Recruitment at 57.1%, Reqcore at 44.4%, then Docker and ERPNext level at 38.1% each. OpenCATS was also mentioned in 55 of the 63 runs, the widest coverage in the top five. Recruitment took the highest first-recommendation rate at 41.7%, ahead of OpenCATS at 29.8%. Confidence intervals are wide at this sample size, with OpenCATS spanning 62.7 to 83.7. The next window will show whether the order holds.
Every number on this page is measured from sampled answers, and those answers are kept. The archive holds dated excerpts of what each engine answered, never full answers. Read the answer archive for self-hosted applicant tracking systems to see the excerpts by date and engine, or view the ranking history to see what entered and left this ranking and when.
Across 28 sampled AI answers from 4 engines (Aug 20, 2026 to Sep 17, 2026), OpenCATS is recommended most often for self-hosted applicant tracking systems, appearing in 75% of recommendations, followed by Recruitment (71.4%). This is a measurement of what AI assistants recommend, not an editorial verdict.
ChatGPT recommends Recruitment most often for self-hosted applicant tracking systems. It appears as a recommendation in 71.4% of ChatGPT's sampled answers in this window (Aug 20, 2026 to Sep 17, 2026). Other engines answer differently. The per-engine breakdown in the ranking shows each one.
Orbator samples AI answers to buyer questions across 4 engines and counts how often each product is recommended. No product pays for placement. The self-hosted applicant tracking systems ranking is based on 28 answers in the current 4-week window (Aug 20, 2026 to Sep 17, 2026). Full methodology is published at https://www.orbator.io/ai-index/methodology.
Verified facts for the most-recommended products — each sourced and dated. No editorial scoring, just the data side by side.
| OrangeHRMorangehrm.com | Odooodoo.com | Horillahorilla.com | PostgreSQLpostgresql.org | Dockerdocker.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starter: Free ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | Custom: $49 a month (free tier available) ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | Managed Cloud: $7 a month (free tier available) ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | — | Pro: $11 a month, $9 a year (free tier available) ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 |
| Features | HR Administration ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | Accounting ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | Payroll & salary processing ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | reliability ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | Docker Desktop ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 |
| Platforms | API ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | API ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | Docker ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | — | Windows ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 |
| Integrations | Microsoft 365 ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | FedEx ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | Google Workspace ↗ sourceverified Sep 5, 2026 | — | — |
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