Why do so many ATS platforms charge extra for features that feel essential?

I've been comparing a lot of ATS platforms recently, and one thing keeps bothering me.

The pricing usually looks reasonable at first, but then you realize things like custom hiring pipelines, interview scheduling, advanced filtering, or even basic reporting are locked behind more expensive plans.

I understand companies need different pricing tiers, but some of these features don't feel "premium." They feel like things every hiring team should have access to.

It's actually changed how I'm building my own platform.

I started with an ATS, but the more I spoke with business owners, the more I realized hiring doesn't happen in isolation. Once someone is hired, you're managing employee records, payroll, leave requests, documents, onboarding... and suddenly you're juggling multiple systems.

That's why I've been building those pieces together instead of treating them as separate products. I've also been experimenting with AI to reduce repetitive admin work, and I redesigned the hiring pipeline to work more like a CRM because I found it easier to track candidates visually than the traditional list-based approach.

I'm not saying I've got the perfect solution—I genuinely don't think there is one.

I'm just curious...

If you could change one thing about the ATS or HR software you use today, what would it be?