Comparison

Distill vs Allsorter: CV Formatting

Compare Distill and Allsorter for CV formatting and anonymisation tailored to UK, ANZ, and EU staffing agencies. See how each tool meets compliance needs.

By Xabi Errotabehere, founder, distill · Updated 12 July 2026

Allsorter helps recruiters speed up shortlisting. But many agencies need more than fast candidate sorting. They want CV formatting, anonymisation, and compliance built into the process. That's why they look for Allsorter alternatives.

TL;DR

Allsorter focuses on speeding up CV-to-shortlist workflows. If you need anonymised, email-first CV formatting with GDPR-friendly data handling, Distill is a top alternative. Other tools like iReformat, RemakeCV, and CVFormatter offer similar formatting but vary in compliance features. Daxtra suits enterprise teams needing advanced parsing and integrations. Most agencies use Allsorter alongside these tools rather than instead of them.

Why agencies look beyond Allsorter

Allsorter is positioned as a sourcing and shortlisting accelerator. Its core value lies in helping recruiters quickly sift through candidates and build shortlists. It doesn't specialise in CV formatting or anonymisation, which are important for agencies working with multiple clients and strict compliance requirements.

Common reasons agencies look beyond Allsorter include:

  • Need for CV anonymisation: Allsorter doesn't strip personal identifiers automatically. Agencies handling GDPR or Equality Act 2010 concerns often want PII removed before sending CVs to clients.
  • Formatting consistency: Recruiters want CVs cleanly formatted to client specs, especially when dealing with ATSs that choke on unusual layouts, tables, or embedded objects.
  • Data retention policies: Some agencies require zero-retention tools that don't store CV data long term. Allsorter's data policies aren't publicly detailed, prompting agencies to consider alternatives.
  • Email-first workflows: Many agencies still rely on email submissions and want formatting tools that fit this flow without forcing candidates or recruiters into new platforms.

Allsorter remains a strong candidate shortlisting tool. But agencies often run it alongside a CV formatting and anonymisation tool to cover the full workflow.

Comparison table

Feature Distill iReformat RemakeCV CVFormatter Daxtra Allsorter
CV formatting Yes, email-first, anonymisation Yes, formatting only Yes, formatting only Yes, formatting only Advanced parsing + formatting No
Anonymisation (PII stripping) Yes, built-in No No No Limited No
Zero-retention data policy Yes No No No Not publicly stated Not publicly stated
ATS compatibility focus High, especially UK/EU Moderate Moderate Moderate High, enterprise ATS integrations N/A
Pricing Transparent, per usage Not publicly listed Not publicly listed Not publicly listed Enterprise pricing Not publicly listed
Target user Agencies needing compliance + formatting Recruiters wanting quick formatting Recruiters wanting quick formatting Recruiters wanting quick formatting Enterprise recruitment teams Recruiters focusing on shortlisting
GDPR compliance support Yes, designed for compliance Basic Basic Basic Advanced Limited

Distill — best for anonymised email-first formatting

Distill stands out for agencies that must anonymise CVs and format them cleanly before passing to clients. It strips names, emails, phone numbers, photos, and graduation years automatically. This built-in anonymisation reduces compliance risk under GDPR and the Equality Act 2010.

Distill works well with email workflows. You forward candidate CVs to Distill's service, and it returns a standardised Word document ready for client submission. Distill follows a zero-retention policy, deleting CV data after processing, which reassures agencies wary of storing PII.

The focus is on UK, Australian, and European recruitment markets, with formatting templates tailored to common ATS quirks. Distill handles tables, columns, and other layout issues that often cause parsing failures.

If your agency sends 20+ CVs weekly to clients needing anonymised, formatted documents, Distill automates this step reliably — letting recruiters focus on shortlisting and client interaction.

iReformat, RemakeCV, CVFormatter — strengths and gaps

These tools position themselves primarily as CV formatting helpers. Their websites emphasise quick formatting fixes, standardisation, and ATS-friendly outputs. None appear to offer built-in anonymisation or strict zero-retention policies.

  • iReformat: Focuses on fast formatting fixes to improve ATS parsing. Pricing isn't publicly listed, indicating a more consultative sales approach. Suitable for recruiters needing a quick fix rather than compliance control.
  • RemakeCV: Similar to iReformat, offers CV reformatting services but without anonymisation features. Pricing is unclear.
  • CVFormatter: Offers formatting focused on ATS compatibility. No mention of data retention or anonymisation policies.

These tools work well if your priority is clean CV layout and ATS compatibility, but you'll need separate steps or tools to handle PII stripping.

Daxtra — enterprise option

Daxtra is an enterprise-grade parsing and CV management platform. It includes advanced CV parsing, semantic search, and integration with major ATSs and CRMs.

Daxtra's parsing engine is highly accurate and supports large-scale recruitment operations. It offers compliant data processing features but is aimed at bigger agencies or in-house recruitment teams with complex workflows.

Pricing is enterprise-level and not publicly listed. It's not targeted at small or medium-sized agencies needing simple formatting and anonymisation.

Use Daxtra if your agency requires deep integration, parsing accuracy, and enterprise support. Distill or other formatting tools can still complement Daxtra for anonymisation or email-first needs.

How to choose

When evaluating Allsorter alternatives, consider these agency needs:

  • Do you need anonymisation built-in? If yes, Distill is the clear choice. Other tools focus on formatting only.
  • Is your workflow email-first or ATS direct? Distill suits email workflows well. Daxtra and Allsorter offer more direct ATS integration.
  • What's your compliance risk tolerance? Distill's zero-retention and PII stripping reduce your GDPR exposure.
  • Pricing transparency: Distill publishes pricing openly. For iReformat, RemakeCV, and Daxtra, you'll need to contact sales.
  • Scale and complexity: For enterprise agencies, Daxtra's parsing and integration capabilities may be necessary.
  • Do you want to keep using Allsorter? Remember, Allsorter is complementary. Many agencies add Distill or others to cover formatting and anonymisation gaps.

FAQ

Q: Can I replace Allsorter entirely with Distill? A: No. Allsorter focuses on candidate shortlisting and sourcing speed. Distill specialises in formatting and anonymisation. Most agencies use them side by side.

Q: Does Distill store candidate data? A: Distill operates a zero-retention policy, deleting CV data after formatting to minimise compliance risk.

Q: Which tools offer anonymisation? A: Currently, Distill is the only tool here with built-in anonymisation. Others focus on formatting only.

Q: Are these tools GDPR compliant? A: Compliance depends on your agency's policies and use. Distill is designed to help with compliance by anonymising CVs and deleting data promptly. Check with your legal advisor.

Q: How do pricing models compare? A: Distill offers transparent, usage-based pricing. Other tools require direct contact for quotes.

If your agency needs anonymised, email-friendly CV formatting alongside shortlisting tools like Allsorter, Distill fits the bill. Try Distill free and see how it streamlines your CV formatting and compliance in one step.