Candidate screening software, compared
Eight tools for screening applicants before the first call: what each one screens, how it scores, what a small team pays each month, and where it falls short.
By The AnswerReel team. Updated .
| Tool | Small team, per month | What it screens | AI scoring | Billing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnswerReel | $39 | One-way interviews by video, voice or text. File questions collect resumes but it never reads them. | 1 to 5 for each criterion you write, with a one-line reason, and the candidate's exact words for any score above 1. No scoring on faces, voice or accent. | Monthly or yearly, cancel anytime |
| CandidReel | $149 | One-way video interviews with screening questions | Weighted criteria you define; every score links back to the transcript excerpt behind it | Monthly or yearly |
| Equip | $60 | Assessments, one-way AI interviews and live voice AI interviews | AI scores each one-way answer question by question | Monthly or yearly (up to 10% off) |
| Flowmingo | $0Candidates see its brand and paid offers | AI interviews recorded on camera, with follow-ups when an answer misses | Each requirement rated 0 to 10 with reasoning; exact transcript phrases can be highlighted | Monthly or yearly (15% off) |
| Hirevire | $149 | One-way video, audio and text interviews, with knockout questions before recording | 1 to 5 against weighted factors you set, with the reasoning shown. Its help docs describe references to the question, not quotes from the answer. | Monthly, quarterly (about 10% off) or yearly |
| Hyring | $129 | One-way and live two-way AI interviews, with pre-screening questions | Fit and technical scores with an AI summary and transcript | Monthly or yearly (20% off) |
| TestGorilla | $374Library video questions only | Skills tests first; video questions and AI interviews on higher plans | Scores come with reasoning; custom AI-scored questions are on Plus | Monthly or yearly |
| Truffle | $119 | Resumes, one-way interviews and skills assessments | A band and percentage for each competency, with reasoning. Timestamped clips of the answer (Candidate Shorts) sit alongside the scores. | Monthly or yearly; Starter is monthly only |
Small team means 3 open jobs, 60 answers a month, 1 recruiter, on the cheapest monthly plan that includes AI scoring, where a vendor has one; otherwise the note under the price says which plan we used. Prices checked on October 20, 2026 from each vendor's own pricing page.
What counts as candidate screening software
Screening is everything between an application arriving and you deciding who gets a real interview. The tools in this space do one or more of these:
- Knockout questions: right to work, location, shift availability, a required license.
- Resume screening: ranking applications against the job description.
- Skills tests: timed tests for typing, coding, language or job knowledge.
- One-way interviews: candidates record answers to a few questions on their own time, and you or an AI review them.
- AI interviewers: an AI holds a live voice or video conversation with the candidate.
Most small teams need two of these, not all five. The table above says which each tool covers. If you are still deciding how to run the first round, start with our five-step candidate screening process.
How we compared them
We read each vendor's pricing page and help center on October 19 and 20, 2026, and priced the same small team on each: three open jobs, 60 candidates a month, one recruiter. Where we couldn't find a feature, we say so instead of assuming it's missing. We make AnswerReel; it is listed in alphabetical order with the rest, and its shortcomings are written out the same way.
AnswerReel
Our own product: one-way interviews answered by video, voice or text, scored against criteria you write, with one AI follow-up per question for every candidate.
- Small team price
- $39 a month. Starter: 60 answers a month, unlimited jobs and seats. $31 a month billed yearly.
- Free plan
- 10 answers a month with AI scoring and follow-ups, kept 30 days
- AI scoring
- 1 to 5 for each criterion you write, with a one-line reason, and the candidate's exact words for any score above 1. No scoring on faces, voice or accent.
- Follow-up questions
- One AI follow-up on each question you choose, for every candidate, about what they said least about
- Answer languages
- English (9 more in testing)
- Integrations
- Zapier, webhooks, REST API and CSV export. No native ATS integrations yet.
Where it's strong
- Every score has a reason, and any score above 1 quotes words you can find in the transcript or typed answer.
- Candidates don't need an account, can retake answers for free, can answer by text, and can opt out of AI and still apply.
- Unlimited jobs and seats on every plan, including free.
Where it falls short
- Brand new, so there are no customer reviews to read yet.
- No native ATS integrations. You connect through Zapier, webhooks, REST API or CSV export.
- It doesn't read resumes and never rejects anyone automatically, which some teams want.
CandidReel
One-way video screening with weighted criteria and scores tied to transcript excerpts.
- Small team price
- $149 a month. Growth: 200 interviews a month. Starter ($79) covers 50.
- Free plan
- 5 interviews a month without AI
- AI scoring
- Weighted criteria you define; every score links back to the transcript excerpt behind it
- Follow-up questions
- We couldn't find AI follow-ups on its site
- Answer languages
- Transcription in 30+ languages; scores and summaries written in English
- Integrations
- Greenhouse, Lever, Bullhorn, JobAdder, REST API and webhooks
Where it's strong
- Scores link to the transcript excerpt behind them.
- Native Greenhouse, Lever and Bullhorn connections.
- A free plan to try the recording side.
Where it falls short
- No AI on the free plan.
- Scores and summaries come out in English whatever the interview language.
- A young product with little outside evidence of track record yet.
Equip
Assessments and AI interviews priced per credit, with one-way interviews at $1 each.
- Small team price
- $60 a month. Standard ($30, 30 credits, 2 seats) plus 30 extra interviews at $1.
- Free plan
- No free plan. 30-day trial with 10 credits.
- AI scoring
- AI scores each one-way answer question by question
- Follow-up questions
- Not in one-way interviews (its docs say so); its live voice interviews ask follow-ups
- Answer languages
- 15 languages for conversational interviews; one-way not stated
- Integrations
- API and webhooks from Premium; Ashby and Slack on Elite
Where it's strong
- Answers by video, audio, text or multiple choice.
- Up to five retakes per question.
- Cheaper than AnswerReel up to 38 interviews a month.
Where it falls short
- Every interview costs a credit, so the price climbs with volume.
- Two seats on the entry plan.
Flowmingo
AI interviews that are free for employers. Candidates may be offered paid extras, such as retaking a question or a feedback report.
- Small team price
- $0 a month. Free, with its branding and optional paid offers shown to candidates; keeps the latest 300 videos for 30 days. Removing the offers costs $0.39 to $0.49 a session.
- Free plan
- Unlimited AI interviews; candidates may see paid offers
- AI scoring
- Each requirement rated 0 to 10 with reasoning; exact transcript phrases can be highlighted
- Follow-up questions
- Asks a follow-up when an answer doesn't address the question
- Answer languages
- 60+ languages
- Integrations
- API, webhooks, MCP, Recruitee and Zoho Recruit plugins. We couldn't find Zapier on its site.
Where it's strong
- Unlimited AI interviews on the free plan.
- Follow-up questions during the interview.
- 60+ languages.
Where it falls short
- On its standard links, candidates sign up with a password.
- Retaking a question is something the candidate pays for.
- Its site describes answers recorded on camera; we couldn't find voice-only or text answers.
Hirevire
One-way video, audio and text interviews with AI scorecards on every paid plan.
- Small team price
- $149 a month. Professional: 5 jobs, 5 users, 100 responses a month. Essentials ($49) allows 1 job and 25 responses.
- Free plan
- No free plan. 7-day trial, no card.
- AI scoring
- 1 to 5 against weighted factors you set, with the reasoning shown. Its help docs describe references to the question, not quotes from the answer.
- Follow-up questions
- You can send follow-up questions after reviewing an answer. They are written and sent by the recruiter.
- Answer languages
- Transcription and AI scoring in 90+ languages; candidate pages in 21
- Integrations
- Zapier, Make, Pabbly, Ashby, Recruitee, Manatal and MCP. Webhooks on the Agency plan only.
Where it's strong
- AI scorecards and transcripts on every paid plan.
- Broad language support for transcription and scoring.
- Can disqualify applicants who miss a must-have condition before they record (a rule you set, not AI).
Where it falls short
- Job, user and response limits on the lower plans. Three open jobs already needs the $149 plan.
- Follow-ups are a separate round you send by hand.
- No free plan.
Hyring
AI interviews with a free plan of 50 interviews a month and a live two-way mode.
- Small team price
- $129 a month. Pro ($79, 50 credits, 10 jobs) plus 10 extra credits at $5. Free allows 1 job.
- Free plan
- 50 interviews a month, 1 job, 1 seat, English only
- AI scoring
- Fit and technical scores with an AI summary and transcript
- Follow-up questions
- Not in one-way interviews (its site says so); its live mode probes based on answers
- Answer languages
- English on Free; 11 languages on Pro
- Integrations
- 5 ATS on Pro; 24 ATS and an API on Business
Where it's strong
- A generous free plan for a single job.
- A live two-way AI interview mode if you want one.
Where it falls short
- The free plan covers one job, in English.
- Extra interviews are bought as credits, which gets expensive at volume.
TestGorilla
Skills tests first, with video questions and AI interviews on higher plans.
- Small team price
- $374 a month. Core at 75 credits a month, library video questions only. Custom AI-scored video questions need Plus, from $694.
- Free plan
- 10 credits a month, about 5 AI interviews
- AI scoring
- Scores come with reasoning; custom AI-scored questions are on Plus
- Follow-up questions
- Video questions are fixed; its AI interviews ask follow-ups live
- Answer languages
- AI interviews can switch language, keeping an English structure
- Integrations
- ATS (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, BambooHR, Ashby) and API on Plus
Where it's strong
- A large library of skills tests.
- A free plan that includes a few AI interviews.
Where it falls short
- Custom AI-scored video questions start at $694 a month.
- Interviews are an add-on to the testing product.
Truffle
One-way interviews, resume screening and assessments on one shared pool of credits.
- Small team price
- $119 a month. Core: 600 credits a month, about 120 interviews at 5 credits each. Starter ($49) stops at about 40 interviews.
- Free plan
- No free plan. 7-day trial with 30 credits, no card.
- AI scoring
- A band and percentage for each competency, with reasoning. Timestamped clips of the answer (Candidate Shorts) sit alongside the scores.
- Follow-up questions
- Its own comparison says follow-up questions aren't possible in a one-way interview
- Answer languages
- Language count not listed on its site
- Integrations
- Native: Ashby, Breezy HR, Bullhorn, JazzHR, Pinpoint, Recruitee, Teamtailor, Workable. Also Indeed, Zapier, REST API.
Where it's strong
- Resume screening, interviews and assessments in one place, with unlimited jobs and users.
- Eight native ATS integrations, including Bullhorn for agencies.
- Unused credits roll over on Core and above.
Where it falls short
- Resumes and assessments draw from the same credits as interviews.
- Starter is a hard cap with no overage.
- Candidates can ask not to be scored by AI, but the employer may close their application.
Which kind of screening fits your roles
Lots of applicants with hard requirements
Put knockout questions first, so nobody records an answer for a job they can't take. Several tools above let you reject on a rule you set, such as a missing license, which is different from rejecting on an AI score.
Skills you can test
For typing speed, software skills or a language, a short test tells you more than an interview answer. The assessment-first tools above are built for that.
Judgment, experience and communication
For customer-facing, supervisory and sales roles, a short one-way interview with two or three questions works better than a test. Write down what a good answer covers before you read any answers, then score every candidate against the same criteria. Our screening interview questions come with those criteria written out, and our AI scoring method shows how we score them. For video tools specifically, see the best video interview software comparison.
Add a one-way interview to your screening
Start from our screening interview questions, or build a scorecard first. The free plan covers 10 answers a month, with AI scoring and follow-ups included.