Why leave a US ATS
Three reasons keep coming up: data sovereignty (CLOUD Act, your candidates' CVs outside Europe), dependence on a vendor whose roadmap and terms you don't control, and a per-seat cost that climbs fast.
For a French SMB hiring regularly, all three weigh in — especially in regulated sectors.
Sovereignty: criterion #1, and how to check it
Ask where the data is physically hosted, who the host is and the nationality of its parent company. A European datacenter is not enough if the vendor is subject to the CLOUD Act.
A genuine French alternative hosts in France, under European jurisdiction, with EU sub-processors only.
Compliance: GDPR AND the AI Act, not one without the other
GDPR frames data processing; the AI Act classifies CV-screening AI as high-risk, with the main Chapter III obligations applicable from 2 December 2027. A good alternative documents candidate information, retention, transparent scoring criteria and human oversight.
Simplicity and price: don't swap one bloated tool for another
Many US ATS are oversized for an SMB. Look for simplicity (first job live in minutes) and all-inclusive pricing rather than per-seat billing that penalises collaboration.
aiKip, the sovereign alternative
aiKip is a French ATS hosted in France (outside the CLOUD Act), with documented GDPR measures and scoring built around human oversight. All-inclusive pricing, guided setup and a customizable career page, with white-label on Max.
The point is not to have "less" than a US ATS, but to have the essentials — sovereign and without needless complexity.
Frequently asked questions
Why prefer a French ATS?
To keep candidates' data under European jurisdiction (outside the CLOUD Act), obtain documented GDPR and AI-governance measures, and often get clearer pricing than per-user billing.
Is a French ATS less powerful?
No. The essentials (open distribution feeds, AI scoring, career page and pipeline) are there. The difference is mainly sovereignty and simplicity, not capability.
How do I migrate from an existing ATS?
Start from an export of active jobs and applications, then scope the transfer with aiKip. Self-service CSV import is not available today.