AI screening tools are no longer a luxury reserved for enterprise HR teams. In 2025, small businesses, especially those juggling high-volume hiring or lean recruiting teams, are increasingly turning to AI to help them evaluate candidates faster, more fairly, and more consistently. But not all tools are built the same.
We’ve reviewed six of the most compelling AI screening tools on the market. Some help you source talent, others automate the interview process, and a few do both. This guide unpacks what makes each solution stand out, how they work, what they cost, and who they’re best for.
1. Truffle: The best AI interview tool for fast, fair screening
Truffle is designed for small teams who don’t have time to review resumes or schedule dozens of calls. It uses structured one-way video interviews and AI to do the heavy lifting.
What it does:
• Automatically generates interview questions
• Analyzes candidates' video responses
• Flags red flags, analyzes fit, and writes an executive summary
• Eliminates manual resume screening and scheduling
Best for:
Retailers, restaurants, healthcare providers, and fast-moving teams with <200 employees hiring hourly or frontline roles.
What makes it different:
Instead of just recording interviews, Truffle actually “understands” them. It tailors questions to your role using a one-minute intake and provides instant summaries with match scores and risk alerts.
Pricing:
Starts at $99/month with a free trial option. Includes a set number of interviews per plan.
Notable integrations:
Works with Greenhouse, Workable, Breezy HR, Slack, Gmail, and others via native and Zapier connections.
Why we like it:
It’s refreshingly simple and highly focused. Rather than layering on every possible feature, Truffle sticks to what small businesses actually need: speed, clarity, and real insight into candidate fit.
2. Paradox (Olivia): Best for high-volume hourly hiring with chat-based screening
Paradox’s AI assistant, Olivia, turns job applications into a chat conversation. It can screen, schedule, and onboard candidates via SMS or web chat—no forms, no friction.
What it does:
• Conducts AI-powered chat interviews 24/7
• Screens candidates with knockout questions
• Automates scheduling, reminders, and FAQs
• Includes gamified assessments for personality traits
Best for:
Franchises, hospitality chains, logistics companies, or anyone hiring hourly workers at scale.
What makes it different:
Paradox is entirely conversational. Olivia handles everything from first contact to job offer without needing recruiter intervention. It’s mobile-first and built for speed.
Pricing:
Custom enterprise pricing. No public plans or free tiers. Most implementations begin with a demo and a pilot phase.
Notable integrations:
Certified partner with Workday, SAP, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Taleo, and ADP. Also integrates with Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
Why we like it:
While pricey, Paradox is unmatched when it comes to high-volume, frontline hiring. Its chatbot feels human, and it’s one of the few tools that managers at store level can use from their phones.
3. Eightfold AI: Most powerful for skills-based matching and long-term workforce planning
Eightfold isn’t just a screening tool: it’s a full-blown talent intelligence platform trained on more than a billion profiles.
What it does:
• Parses resumes and infers hidden/adjacent skills
• Delivers match scores using deep learning
• Identifies talent for current, future, or internal roles
• Powers diversity reporting, internal mobility, and workforce forecasting
Best for:
Mid-size businesses with ambitious hiring goals or strategic workforce planning needs.
What makes it different:
Its AI goes far beyond keywords. It can infer likely skill proficiencies based on job history, recommend upskilling paths, and identify “non-obvious” top candidates.
Pricing:
Enterprise-level pricing, customized per organization. Typically suitable for firms hiring 100+ people per year.
Notable integrations:
Connects with major ATSs (Workday, iCIMS, Taleo, Greenhouse) and LinkedIn. Offers open APIs for custom workflows.
Why we like it:
Eightfold isn’t for everyone, but if you want AI that helps you compete for talent like the Fortune 500 do—and have the budget to back it up—it’s arguably the smartest engine on the market.
4. HireVue: Best all-in-one assessment suite with deep AI pedigree
HireVue is a pioneer in video interview software and AI assessments. It now includes games, coding challenges, and structured interviews in one platform.
What it does:
• Conducts asynchronous interviews and live video interviews
• Offers coding, cognitive, and personality tests
• Transcribes responses and flags insights (but no facial recognition)
• Automates scheduling and invites
Best for:
Enterprise or mid-size teams hiring for complex roles—technical, managerial, or government positions.
What makes it different:
HireVue’s AI focuses on what’s said, not how it’s said. It avoids analyzing tone or facial expressions to reduce bias and increase fairness.
Pricing:
Starts around $35,000/year, typically used by companies with 2,500+ employees. Occasionally offers smaller-scale packages.
Notable integrations:
Works with Greenhouse, SmartRecruiters, Taleo, Workday, and more. Calendar and SSO integration included.
Why we like it:
It’s enterprise-grade and highly validated. For teams that need robust screening across hard and soft skills—especially in regulated or global environments—HireVue is the gold standard.
5. Humanly.io: Best AI assistant for lean recruiting teams
Humanly’s AI doesn’t just screen; it helps throughout the funnel. It chats with candidates, automates interview scheduling, and even assists during interviews.
What it does:
• Screens candidates via SMS, chat, and email
• Lets candidates self-schedule interviews
• Transcribes and summarizes real interviews
• Highlights conversation topics and sentiment
• Sources passive talent via Chrome extension
Best for:
Small HR teams juggling sourcing, screening, and scheduling without dedicated coordinators.
What makes it different:
Humanly’s interview co-pilot joins real-time calls and provides interviewer guidance—an edge few tools offer at this level.
Pricing:
Not public. Reported to be more affordable than tools like Paradox. Typically charged per recruiter seat or hiring volume.
Notable integrations:
Connects to Greenhouse, Lever, Jobvite, Workday, and more. Syncs with Google/Outlook and LinkedIn.
Why we like it:
Humanly feels like an extra pair of hands for SMB recruiters. Its bias-mitigation features and DEI metrics are standout extras for the price.
6. Fetcher: Best for proactive sourcing and automated outreach
Fetcher turns your sourcing into a set-it-and-forget-it flow. Instead of waiting for applicants, it finds and contacts top candidates for you.
What it does:
• Identifies passive candidates via AI + human review
• Sends personalized outreach emails
• A/B tests and tracks engagement
• Provides CRM and funnel analytics
• Highlights diversity metrics in your pipeline
Best for:
Startups and growing teams that need talent but don’t have sourcing bandwidth.
What makes it different:
Fetcher combines AI with a real human researcher who quality-checks candidates. It learns your preferences over time and gets smarter with each role.
Pricing:
Starts at $149/month per recruiter for the Growth plan. More features (like outreach automation) at $249/month.
Notable integrations:
Works with Greenhouse, Lever, Gmail, Outlook, and Slack. Calendar and ATS syncing included.
Why we like it:
For the price of a LinkedIn Recruiter seat, you get a full sourcing engine. And unlike most databases, Fetcher follows up with candidates automatically so you don’t have to.
How to choose the right AI screening tool
Each of these AI screening tools solves a slightly different problem. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to guide your decision:
