Best hiring assessment software
Compare the best hiring assessment software: TunnelQuiz, TestGorilla, Testlify, Equip, and Criteria, features, pricing, and fit.
In short
TunnelQuiz, TestGorilla, Testlify, Equip, and Criteria all solve the same core problem - testing candidates before you hire them, but each leans into a different strength.
The best hiring assessment software lets you test candidates' real skills, not just their resumes, with proctoring and auto-grading built in.
TunnelQuiz, TestGorilla, Testlify, Equip, and Criteria are five of the most commonly shortlisted platforms for this.
Each one fits a slightly different hiring need - this guide breaks down where each stands out.
TunnelQuiz
TunnelQuiz is a browser-based, no-install assessment platform built for teams that want to launch a proctored hiring test fast, without a lengthy sales cycle.
There's nothing to install for candidates. Everything runs in the browser.
Key features:
- Multiple-choice and written-response questions, shuffled per candidate
- Tab and focus alerts, second-screen detection, copy-paste blocking, fullscreen lock
- Email OTP verification, plus a check-in photo and webcam snapshots from the Essential plan
- Instant auto-grading and shareable, view-only results reports
- Tests you can duplicate and reuse for repeat hiring rounds
- Transparent, credit-based pricing, no custom quote required to get started
Where it fits best: small-to-mid hiring teams and growing companies that want proctored skills testing live within a day, with pricing they can see upfront.
Worth knowing: TunnelQuiz is built for knowledge and concept-based testing (MCQ and written response). It doesn't run live coding execution environments, so teams needing hands-on coding challenges would pair it with a dedicated coding-test round.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Proctoring | Question Library | Pricing Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TunnelQuiz | Tab/focus alerts, second-screen detection, email OTP + check-in photo | MCQ + written response, custom tests you can duplicate | Transparent, credit-based | Fast setup, small-to-mid teams |
| TestGorilla | Webcam monitoring, plagiarism detection | Large pre-built library across skills | Yearly credit pool, billed annually upfront | Teams wanting a big ready-made test library |
| Testlify | Webcam monitoring, browser lockdown | Pre-built + custom assessments | Standard plan, $139/month billed yearly, 100 credits a year | Mid-size teams wanting ATS integrations |
| Equip | Built-in AI proctoring: camera, mic and screen | 100+ skills, coding/Excel/SQL/video response | Monthly plans from ₹2,900; ₹95 a credit per test | High-volume and campus hiring drives |
| Criteria | Optional, priced separately | Scientifically validated aptitude/personality/skills batteries | Custom quote, volume-based | Enterprises wanting validated, defensible assessments |
TestGorilla
TestGorilla is known for its large, ready-made test library spanning cognitive ability, personality, culture fit, and role-specific skills.
It includes webcam monitoring and plagiarism detection for proctoring.
Strength: breadth, a big catalog of pre-built tests across many roles and skill types.
Trade-off: pricing is a yearly credit pool, with Core from $215 a month billed annually upfront and no monthly option, which can get costly for teams running occasional, low-volume hiring rather than continuous testing.
Testlify
Testlify offers both pre-built and customizable assessments, with webcam monitoring and browser lockdown for proctoring.
It's commonly used by mid-size teams that want assessments integrated directly into their existing ATS.
Strength: solid integration ecosystem and a reasonably flexible test builder.
Trade-off: the Standard plan is $139 a month billed yearly ($1,668) for 100 candidate credits a year, about $16.68 a candidate, and unused credits expire at the end of the billing cycle.
Equip
Equip focuses heavily on high-volume and campus hiring, with the ability to combine multiple test types - aptitude, English communication, coding, Excel, SQL, video responses - into a single assessment link.
Its AI proctoring is built in, watching the candidate's camera, microphone and screen, with tab-switch and multiple-monitor detection.
Strength: very broad skill coverage (100+ skills) in one platform, useful for large recruitment drives.
Trade-off: every test costs one credit, ₹95, on monthly plans from ₹2,900, so a candidate who sits two tests uses two credits and costs add up at high volume. The platform also leans more toward breadth of test types than deep customization of any single one.
Criteria
Criteria Corp positions itself around scientifically validated assessments, aptitude, personality, and skills batteries built on established psychometric research, with role-based test recommendations pulled from a database of over 1,000 job types.
Strength: validation and defensibility, useful for larger enterprises that need to justify hiring decisions against legal or compliance scrutiny.
Trade-off: pricing is fully custom and quote-based, with reported annual contracts often running from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, a heavier commitment than most small or mid-size teams need.
How to Choose the Right One
- Want to launch fast with transparent pricing? TunnelQuiz is built for exactly that, no sales call needed to see what it costs.
- Need the biggest pre-built test library? TestGorilla's catalog is hard to beat for breadth.
- Already running an ATS and want tight integration? Testlify is commonly chosen for this.
- Running a large campus or high-volume hiring drive? Equip's multi-skill-in-one-link format is built for scale.
- Need scientifically validated, legally defensible assessments at enterprise scale? Criteria is the more established choice, at enterprise pricing.
None of these are wrong choices - they're built for different hiring situations. Match the platform to your volume, budget, and how fast you need to be live.
The Short Version
TunnelQuiz, TestGorilla, Testlify, Equip, and Criteria all solve the same core problem - testing candidates before you hire them, but each leans into a different strength.
TunnelQuiz stands out for fast, no-install setup and pricing you don't need a sales call to see.
If that's what you're looking for, you can explore TunnelQuiz's features directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best online assessment software for hiring?
It depends on your volume and budget. TunnelQuiz is a strong fit for teams wanting fast, transparent-pricing setup; TestGorilla and Criteria suit teams wanting a bigger pre-built library or enterprise-grade validation, respectively.
Is there pre-employment assessment software with transparent pricing?
Yes, TunnelQuiz uses credit-based pricing you can see without a sales call, unlike most enterprise platforms in this category, which require a custom quote.
Do I need to install software for candidate testing?
Not with every platform. TunnelQuiz runs entirely in the browser with no install required for candidates, which reduces drop-off compared to platforms needing a separate download.
What's the difference between candidate assessment software and an ATS?
Assessment software tests candidate skills directly; an ATS tracks candidates through your hiring pipeline. Many teams use both together, often with the assessment platform integrating into the ATS.
Which hiring assessment tool is best for high-volume recruitment?
Platforms with broad skill libraries and many test types in one link, like Equip, are commonly used for high-volume and campus hiring drives. TunnelQuiz also supports high-volume testing with tests you can duplicate for repeat hiring rounds.