A free tracker is only useful if it fits how you apply. Compare the workflow before moving your live applications.
Compare Teal, Huntr, Simplify, Notion, Google Sheets, Trello, and ApplyArc by workflow, current plan source, and clearest limitation. ApplyArc Free stores up to 100 saved jobs and includes 5 AI generations each month.
The short version
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Table of contents
- Seven Free Job Tracker Options at a Glance
- Teal: Best for a Resume-First Workflow
- Huntr: Best for Browser-Led Job Saving
- Simplify: Best for Faster Application Forms
- Notion: Best for a Tracker You Build Yourself
- Google Sheets: Best for a Familiar Spreadsheet
- Trello: Best for a Bare Kanban Board
- ApplyArc: Best for Tracking Plus Job-Search AI
- How to Choose Without Starting Over Twice
- How We Compared These Options
- Frequently asked questions
Short answer. Pick by your bottleneck. Teal suits a resume-first search, Huntr is strong for browser saving, Simplify focuses on faster forms, and Notion, Google Sheets, and Trello are DIY systems. ApplyArc fits a dedicated tracker plus job-search AI: the account stores 100 saved jobs and includes 5 AI generations each month.
Publisher disclosure. We make ApplyArc, so weigh our view accordingly. This list is not a ranking. Every competitor links to its official product or plan page. We do not assign invented scores or freeze competitor prices that may change.
Seven Free Job Tracker Options at a Glance
| Option | What it is built for | Free access | Main trade-off | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teal | Resume building with job tracking attached | Free plan published; check current limits | The workflow is resume-led | Teal plans |
| Huntr | Browser-led job saving and tracking | Free plan published; check current limits | Plan prices and allowances use US dollars | Huntr plans |
| Simplify | Job discovery and faster application forms | Check the current product access | AI tailoring for CVs and cover letters needs Simplify+ | Simplify product |
| Notion | A custom database you build yourself | Free plan published for individual use | You create and maintain the job-search system | Notion plans |
| Google Sheets | A manual spreadsheet | Available with a Google account | No job-specific workflow or reminders by default | Google Sheets |
| Trello | A general Kanban board | Free plan published | No job-specific fields or writing tools | Trello plans |
| ApplyArc | Dedicated application tracking plus 18 AI tools | 100 saved jobs and 5 AI generations each month | Browser saving is still waitlist-only | ApplyArc plans |
Free allowances change. Use the linked vendor page before moving your live applications or paying for an upgrade.
Teal: Best for a Resume-First Workflow
Teal combines a resume builder, keyword matching, job tracking, and a browser extension. It makes sense when the resume is the centre of your search and the tracker supports that work.
The trade-off: Free and paid feature limits can change, and the workflow remains resume-led rather than covering every application task.
Check Teal's current plan page.
Start with the tracker limits you can verify
100 saved jobs and 5 AI generations each month. No card required.
Huntr: Best for Browser-Led Job Saving
Huntr is a mature application tracker with job clipping, boards, contacts, and resume tools. It suits people who want to save roles from the browser and keep a structured pipeline.
The trade-off: Pricing and allowances are presented in US dollars. Check the live plan page rather than relying on an old comparison.
Check Huntr's current plan page.
Simplify: Best for Faster Application Forms
Simplify centres its browser workflow on job discovery, saved roles, and application autofill. It fits a search where repetitive forms are the main bottleneck.
The trade-off: AI tailoring for CVs and cover letters needs the paid Simplify+ plan.
Check Simplify's current product page.
Start with the tracker limits you can verify
100 saved jobs and 5 AI generations each month. No card required.
Try the free trackerNotion: Best for a Tracker You Build Yourself
Notion can become a capable tracker through databases, board views, dates, and templates.
The trade-off: Reminders, application fields, and reporting all depend on your setup.
Check Notion's current plan page.
Start with the tracker limits you can verify
100 saved jobs and 5 AI generations each month. No card required.
Google Sheets: Best for a Familiar Spreadsheet
Google Sheets is enough when you want rows, filters, and complete control without learning another product. A simple sheet can track company, role, date, status, contact, and next action.
The trade-off: Every update and reminder is manual unless you build extra formulas or automation.
Trello: Best for a Bare Kanban Board
Trello gives you cards and columns without forcing a particular job-search method. Create stages such as Saved, Applied, Interview, and Offer, then move each role across the board.
The trade-off: It is a general project board. Job descriptions, contacts, application writing, and search analytics need custom fields or another tool.
Check Trello's current plan page.
ApplyArc: Best for Tracking Plus Job-Search AI
ApplyArc connects a visual application board to 18 AI tools for resumes, cover letters, interview prep, salary conversations, and follow-ups.
Free account:
- Up to 100 saved jobs
- 5 AI generations each month
- Visual Kanban board
- Notes, reminders, and basic job insights
Paid account: £19/month for unlimited AI generations, subject to fair-use guardrails, and up to 500 saved jobs.
The trade-off: ApplyArc's Chrome extension is still waitlist-only. Jobs are added from the dashboard today.
See ApplyArc's current plans and limits.
How to Choose Without Starting Over Twice
Choose the product that fixes your main bottleneck:
| Your bottleneck | Start with |
|---|---|
| Building and tailoring a resumeCompare → | Teal |
| Saving roles from the browserCompare → | Huntr |
| Repetitive application formsCompare → | Simplify |
| Building a custom databaseCompare → | Notion |
| Keeping a familiar manual list | Google Sheets |
| Using a simple visual boardCompare → | Trello |
| Tracking, writing, interview prep, and follow-ups in one account | ApplyArc |
Before committing, add three real applications, change one status, set one follow-up, and export your data. That small trial reveals more than a long feature checklist.
How We Compared These Options
We reviewed each vendor's public product and plan pages on 19 July 2026. We compared workflow fit, published free access, browser capture, job-search writing support, and the clearest limitation.
This is an editorial comparison, not a controlled speed or accuracy test. ApplyArc's limits come from the product configuration. Competitor limits deliberately point to live source pages because they can change without notice.
Want the tracker, not another comparison?
Product and plan sources checked on 19 July 2026. ApplyArc publishes this guide. Competitor features and limits may change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free job tracker app?
Pick by your bottleneck. Teal suits a resume-first search, Huntr is strong for browser saving, Simplify focuses on faster forms, and Notion, Google Sheets, and Trello are DIY systems. ApplyArc fits a dedicated tracker plus job-search AI: its free account stores up to 100 saved jobs and includes 5 AI generations each month. We make ApplyArc, so weigh our view accordingly.
How many jobs can I track for free?
Each vendor publishes its current free allowance on the official plan page linked in this guide. Check those live sources because free limits change. ApplyArc stores up to 100 saved jobs on Free.
Is a spreadsheet good enough for tracking applications?
Yes, if you will keep it updated. A dedicated tracker becomes more useful when you want status views, reminders, role-specific notes, and application writing in the same place.
Do free job trackers include AI?
Huntr publishes AI features and plan limits on its plan page; check Teal's plan page for its current AI features. Notion, Google Sheets, and Trello are general work tools rather than job-search AI products. ApplyArc includes 5 AI generations each month across its 18 tools.
What should I test before moving my applications?
Add three real roles, change a status, set a follow-up, and export your data. Also check whether the free plan keeps the fields and history you need after any upgrade prompt.
Adrian George
Founder & Engineer, ApplyArc
Adrian builds and ships ApplyArc end-to-end. He writes about the engineering behind the product, the guards that catch AI tells, the eval harness, and the rewrites that keep cost and latency down.
Start with the tracker limits you can verify
100 saved jobs and 5 AI generations each month. No card required.
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