If you’re weighing up Distill vs Backdoor Hires, you’re probably looking at how to handle candidate data anonymisation alongside CV formatting and compliance. Both tools work in the recruitment space but solve different problems. Backdoor Hires focuses on blind hiring workflows and anonymising candidate data to reduce bias. Distill concentrates on formatting CVs to ATS specs and stripping sensitive details before submission. Many agencies run both to cover their bases.
TL;DR comparison table
| Feature | Backdoor Hires | Distill |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Blind hiring workflow + anonymisation | CV formatting + candidate data anonymisation |
| Anonymisation scope | Candidate demographic and identifying data | Name, email, phone, photo, graduation year |
| CV intake method | Platform upload and management | Email-first CV intake |
| ATS compatibility | Integrates with some ATS via API (unclear) | Formats CVs to ATS specs, no direct ATS integration |
| Pricing | Not publicly listed — contact for quote | Transparent, unlimited seats, pay per CV processed |
| User seats | Licence-based per user | Unlimited seats included |
| Retention of candidate data | Retains anonymised candidate profiles | Zero data retention after processing |
| Ideal for | Agencies focused on blind hiring processes | Agencies needing fast, compliant CV formatting and anonymisation |
| Typical use case | Managing bias in recruitment pipelines | Preparing CVs for ATS upload and GDPR compliance |
What Backdoor Hires actually does
Backdoor Hires is positioned as a blind hiring platform designed to reduce unconscious bias in recruitment. Their website describes it as a tool to anonymise candidate data and manage blind hiring workflows. The focus is on removing demographic and identifying information—like names, photos, gender, age, and potentially ethnicity—from candidates’ profiles during the screening process.
This helps recruiters and hiring managers assess candidates purely on skills and experience, aligning with diversity and inclusion goals. The platform likely includes features to manage candidate pipelines anonymously and potentially integrates with ATSs or recruitment CRMs to varying degrees, though exact integration details aren’t publicly listed.
Backdoor Hires appears to provide a central place for agencies to run blind hiring programmes, controlling when and how candidate details are revealed. This reduces bias risk and helps agencies stay compliant with equality regulations. Pricing is not publicly listed—contact them directly for a quote.
What Distill actually does
Distill focuses on the practical side of CV management: formatting CVs to ATS specifications and anonymising candidate data before submission. It strips out sensitive details such as name, email, phone number, photo, and graduation year automatically. Distill is designed to process CVs quickly by email—send a CV to a Distill address, and it returns a cleaned, standardised Word document ready for client submission.
Unlike Backdoor Hires, Distill doesn’t manage blind hiring workflows or candidate pipelines. It doesn’t store candidate information beyond the processing moment; it operates with zero data retention. Distill also offers unlimited seats on a single account, making it cost-effective for agencies with many users who need consistent formatting and anonymisation.
Distill’s strength is removing formatting headaches and compliance risks caused by inconsistent or poorly structured CVs. It’s a tool for agencies that need to submit large volumes of CVs to multiple ATSs that have different parsing quirks.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Backdoor Hires | Distill |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymisation level | Deep anonymisation of candidate demographics and identities | Removal of contact details and sensitive CV elements |
| CV formatting | Basic or none (focus is on data anonymisation) | Extensive formatting to ATS specs, removes tables, fixes fonts |
| Data retention | Retains anonymised profiles for ongoing pipeline management | Zero retention after processing |
| Blind hiring workflow | Core feature — manages blind hiring stages and reveals data | Not supported |
| Intake method | Platform upload and candidate portal | Email submission |
| ATS compatibility | Likely some integration but unclear | No native ATS integration; outputs ATS-friendly Word docs |
| User seats | Priced per user | Unlimited seats included |
| Pricing transparency | Not public, contact for quote | Transparent pricing plans available |
| GDPR compliance support | Supports anonymisation for compliance | Supports anonymisation and data minimisation |
| Ideal use case | Agencies running formal blind hiring programmes | Agencies needing fast, compliant CV formatting and anonymisation |
Pricing breakdown
Backdoor Hires does not publicly list pricing. You’ll need to contact them directly to get a bespoke quote. Pricing is likely licence-based, charging per user or per seat, which can add up for larger teams.
Distill offers transparent pricing on its website. It charges per CV processed, with unlimited user accounts included at no extra cost. This makes it easier to budget if you have a large team handling CV formatting and anonymisation. There are no hidden fees for additional seats.
If you want clear, predictable costs for CV formatting and anonymisation, Distill is the simpler option. If you require blind hiring workflow management, expect to negotiate pricing with Backdoor Hires.
Which agency type fits which tool
Backdoor Hires fits agencies that:
- Run formal blind hiring programmes to reduce bias.
- Want to control candidate data visibility during screening.
- Need a platform to manage anonymised candidate pipelines.
- Have budgets for per-user licences.
- Seek compliance support around equality legislation.
Distill fits agencies that:
- Need to submit large volumes of CVs formatted correctly for multiple ATSs.
- Require fast, anonymised CV output to protect candidate privacy.
- Prefer email-based, low-friction CV intake.
- Want unlimited seats for all team members at a fixed cost.
- Seek zero data retention to minimise compliance risk.
Many agencies use both tools. Backdoor Hires handles the blind hiring workflow and anonymised candidate management, while Distill processes the CVs for formatting and compliance before submission.
Migrating from Backdoor Hires to Distill (or running both)
If you’re switching from Backdoor Hires to Distill, be aware that Distill does not replicate blind hiring workflow features. Distill only handles CV formatting and anonymisation layers. You’ll need alternative tools or manual processes for blind hiring pipelines.
If you want to run both, they complement each other well. Use Backdoor Hires for early-stage candidate anonymisation and workflow management. Then send CVs through Distill before submission to clients or ATSs to ensure formatting and anonymisation standards are met.
Because Distill works via email, it fits easily into existing workflows without platform lock-in. You can automate CV formatting and anonymisation for any candidate that comes through Backdoor Hires or other sources.
FAQ
Q: Can Distill replace Backdoor Hires?
No. Distill focuses on CV formatting and anonymisation, while Backdoor Hires manages blind hiring workflows and deeper candidate data anonymisation.
Q: Does Backdoor Hires format CVs for ATS?
Not as a core function. Their focus is on anonymisation and blind hiring management, not CV reformatting.
Q: Which tool is better for GDPR compliance?
Both help in different ways. Backdoor Hires anonymises candidate demographics to reduce bias and comply with equality laws. Distill removes personal contact details and sensitive data before submission, reducing data footprints and compliance risks.
Q: Can Distill integrate with ATS systems directly?
No native ATS integrations. Distill outputs standardised Word documents that are ATS-friendly. You upload these manually or through your ATS import process.
Q: How many users can use Distill?
Unlimited. Pricing includes unlimited seats on your account.
Q: Is there a free trial for Distill?
Yes, you can start a free Distill trial to test formatting and anonymisation features.
If you send 20+ CVs a week to clients requiring anonymisation and ATS-standard formatting, Distill formats them to spec automatically while stripping sensitive data. Try Distill free to see how it fits your workflow.