Blind hiring software aims to remove bias by hiding candidate details. But agencies often find these tools don't cover every angle of compliance, workflow, or CV formatting. That's why many look beyond blind hiring software for solutions that better fit their operational needs and client demands.
TL;DR: Blind hiring software helps reduce bias by masking candidate info, but agencies need broader tools for CV formatting, ATS compatibility, and compliance. Distill complements blind hiring tools by cleaning and formatting CVs automatically. This guide compares seven alternatives, highlights their strengths and gaps, and helps you pick what fits your agency's workflow and compliance needs.
Why agencies look beyond blind hiring software
Blind hiring software primarily focuses on hiding candidate identifiers such as names, photos, addresses, or education details. Recruitment agencies face more complex challenges:
- ATS compatibility: Many blind hiring tools don't format CVs to ATS specs. Poor formatting leads to parsing errors, which wastes recruiters' time.
- Workflow integration: Agencies need tools that slot smoothly into existing processes, not add extra steps or complexity.
- Compliance requirements: GDPR, Equality Act 2010, and other regulations require careful handling of personal data. Blind hiring tools vary in how they manage data minimisation and GDPR compliance.
- Candidate experience: Some tools can frustrate candidates by removing context recruiters need to assess fit accurately.
- Cost and flexibility: Not all blind hiring software suits every agency's size or budget, especially if they require multiple add-ons or custom setups.
Because of these gaps, agencies often combine blind hiring software with other tools that better handle anonymisation, CV formatting, or compliance workflows.
Comparison table of blind hiring software alternatives
| Tool | Blind Hiring Focus | ATS Compatibility | Workflow Integration | Pricing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distill | CV anonymisation and formatting | High — formats clean CVs | Easy email-forward workflow | From £XX per month (see /pricing) | Strips name, email, phone, photo, graduation year; outputs ATS-ready Word docs |
| Applied | Blind hiring and structured assessments | Moderate | Built-in candidate screening | Pricing not publicly listed | Focuses on structured interviews and bias reduction |
| GapJumpers | Blind auditions and skills tests | Low | Standalone workflow | Pricing not publicly listed | Skills-based testing, less on CV formatting |
| Blendoor | Blind hiring and diversity analytics | Moderate | Integrates with some ATS | Pricing not publicly listed | Adds analytics to blind hiring, but limited CV formatting |
| Unitive | Blind CV screening | Moderate | Some ATS integration | Pricing not publicly listed | Uses AI to anonymise CVs, but may require manual cleanup |
| Pymetrics | Gamified candidate assessments | Low | Separate from ATS | Pricing not publicly listed | Focus on behavioural assessments, not CV handling |
| Open Blind Hire (Free, open-source) | Basic anonymisation | Low | DIY integration | Free | Limited features, requires manual setup |
Distill (where it fits)
Distill isn't a blind hiring tool in the traditional sense. It focusses on preparing CVs for blind hiring by stripping personal identifiers. Name, email, phone, photos, and graduation year — before submission. It also re-formats CVs to meet specific ATS requirements, reducing parsing errors that cost recruiters time.
Distill fits well alongside blind hiring software that handles candidate screening or bias mitigation. Where many blind hiring tools struggle with messy CV formatting or incomplete anonymisation, Distill automates the cleaning process, making your submissions more compliant and ATS-safe.
Distill's workflow is simple: forward an email with CVs; Distill returns anonymised, formatted Word documents ready for your client or ATS. This saves hours spent manually editing CVs and prevents costly formatting mistakes.
Five commercial alternatives — strengths and gaps
Applied
Strengths:
- Combines blind hiring with structured interviewing and assessment.
- Encourages consistent candidate evaluation beyond CVs.
Gaps:
- ATS compatibility is moderate; CV formatting issues can remain.
- Pricing isn't transparent.
- Less focus on CV anonymisation details like phone or graduation year removal.
GapJumpers
Strengths:
- Strong on skills-based, blind auditions.
- Useful for roles where skills matter more than CV history.
Gaps:
- Minimal integration with ATS.
- Doesn't format CVs or handle anonymisation beyond basic blind auditions.
Blendoor
Strengths:
- Adds diversity analytics on top of blind hiring.
- Some ATS integrations.
Gaps:
- CV formatting and anonymisation are limited.
- Pricing and setup details are unclear.
Unitive
Strengths:
- AI-driven CV anonymisation.
- Some ATS integration.
Gaps:
- AI may miss nuanced personal data, requiring manual checks.
- Not a broad CV formatter.
Pymetrics
Strengths:
- Behavioural and gamified assessments to reduce bias.
- Separate from CV screening, good for complementing blind hiring.
Gaps:
- No CV anonymisation or formatting.
- Low ATS compatibility.
Free / open-source alternative
Open Blind Hire is a free, open-source option that provides basic CV anonymisation. It removes obvious personal details but lacks advanced formatting or ATS compatibility features.
Use this if your agency has the resources to manage manual formatting and workflow integration. It's not a plug-and-play solution and requires technical setup.
How to choose
When evaluating blind-hiring-software alternatives, consider:
- What problem are you solving? Is it bias reduction, CV formatting, ATS parsing, or compliance?
- How does it fit your workflow? Will it add steps or simplify your process?
- ATS compatibility: Does the tool output CVs that parse cleanly in your clients' systems?
- Compliance: Does it handle GDPR and Equality Act considerations adequately?
- Budget: Can you afford the subscription, and does it justify the time saved?
- Complementarity: Many agencies use Distill alongside blind hiring tools to cover CV formatting and anonymisation thoroughly.
No single tool covers everything. Combining a blind hiring platform with Distill's formatting and anonymisation improves submission quality and compliance.
FAQ
Q: Can blind hiring software fully replace manual CV anonymisation? A: Not yet. Most blind hiring tools focus on masking names and photos but miss details like phone numbers or graduation years. Manual or automated formatting tools like Distill remain necessary.
Q: Will blind hiring software hurt candidate experience? A: Some tools remove context that helps recruiters assess fit, which can frustrate candidates if feedback is delayed or unclear. Balancing anonymisation with meaningful assessment is key.
Q: Are blind hiring tools GDPR compliant by default? A: Compliance varies. Agencies should verify how each tool processes and stores personal data. Blind hiring software is one part of a broader GDPR strategy.
Q: How much does Distill cost? A: Pricing starts from £XX per month. See /pricing for details.
Q: Can I use Distill with any ATS? A: Yes. Distill outputs standard Word documents formatted for ATS compatibility, working with most systems.
If you're sending 20+ CVs weekly to clients using blind hiring or ATS systems, Distill automates anonymisation and formatting to save time and reduce errors. Try Distill free and see how it fits your workflow.