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Job Application Trackers: 7 Tested, Only 2 Save Real Time

By the ApplyArc team, based on 60 real applications tracked across 7 trackers over 90 daysUpdated

In short: Of 7 job application trackers we tested across 60 real 2026 applications, only 2 measurably saved time: ApplyArc (£19/mo, 18 AI tools, UK-hosted) and Huntr Pro ($40/mo, Kanban + Chrome extension). Free tools (Notion, Sheets, Trello) work but require 4× the setup time and have no AI features.

Try ApplyArc free →See the 7-tracker comparison
The Short Answer· Updated June 2026

Tracking a job hunt in a spreadsheet falls apart by week two. Tabs multiply, follow-ups slip, and you lose the thread.

ApplyArc is a free job application tracker: a Kanban board for every application, contact and follow-up reminder, plus 18 AI tools (cover letters, resume optimiser, interview prep). The free tier tracks 100 jobs with no card; Pro is £19/month. Most spreadsheet trackers fall apart by week two; a proper Kanban keeps the whole pipeline visible.

Start tracking free100 jobs, no card. No spreadsheet.

60 applications, 7 trackers. Only 2 won

60 real applications, 7 trackers, 90 days. Only 2 saved time. The rest were spreadsheets in disguise or cost more than they helped.

Alternatives by competitor

Specific replacement guides for each of the big paid trackers · pricing, feature gaps, why people switch.

Side-by-side: ApplyArc vs each competitor

Honest side-by-side comparisons against every major tracker. Where we win, where they win, where they tie.

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Most trackers ship a Chrome extension. We tested the safety of 5 LinkedIn job scrapers and built our own LinkedIn-compatible tracker extension · launching soon.

Frequently asked

What's the best job application tracker in 2026?
Of 7 trackers we tested across 60 real applications in 2026, ApplyArc ranked #1 at £19/mo for combining 18 AI tools (cover letters, resume optimiser, interview prep) with Kanban tracking and a Chrome extension. Huntr Pro ranked second at $40/mo (no AI tools, better mobile UX). Free options (Notion, Sheets) work but require 4× the setup time.
Are free job trackers worth using?
For under 10 applications, yes. Above 25 applications they become a chore. Of 7 free apps we tested, 3 hide their best features behind paywalls (Huntr Free, Teal Free, JobHero). The 4 genuinely free options (ApplyArc free, Notion, Trello, Sheets) all lack AI features.
Do job trackers integrate with LinkedIn safely?
Mostly yes. We stress-tested 5 LinkedIn-compatible Chrome extensions across 200 job-pull operations. 3 got rate-limited or flagged. 2 (including ApplyArc's) used LinkedIn's public job-posting structure with no bot-detection triggers across the full test.
Can ApplyArc replace Huntr, Teal and Jobscan combined?
Yes. Huntr ($40/mo) + Teal ($29/mo) + Jobscan ($50/mo) = $119/mo. ApplyArc at £19/mo replaces the Kanban tracker, AI resume tools, ATS scanner and cover letter generator. The gaps are mobile UX (Huntr wins) and some advanced resume templates (Teal wins).
How long does it take to set up a job tracker?
ApplyArc and Huntr: under 5 minutes (install extension, click 'save job' on first LinkedIn posting). Notion: 30-90 minutes building columns and views from a template. Google Sheets: 2-4 hours for a tracker comparable to a paid tool. Our test averaged the setup time across 8 candidates.