Many recruitment agencies face a common dilemma: should they invest in Final Round for interview preparation and AI coaching, or Distill for CV formatting and anonymisation? The answer often isn’t one or the other, but how each tool fits into your workflow and addresses distinct needs.
TL;DR comparison table
| Feature / Aspect | Final Round | Distill |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Interview prep + AI coaching | CV formatting + anonymisation |
| Intake method | Platform-based candidate workflow | Email-first CV intake |
| ATS integration | Supports interview scheduling & feedback | Exports CVs formatted for ATS upload |
| Anonymisation | Supports blind hiring workflows | Strips personal data from CVs |
| User seats | Pricing not publicly listed | Unlimited seats included |
| Retention of candidate data | Platform stores candidate info | Zero retention; processes CVs and deletes |
| Pricing | Contact Final Round for quote | Transparent, fixed monthly pricing |
| Ideal for | Agencies focusing on interview prep and coaching | Agencies handling high-volume CV formatting and anonymisation |
| Overlap | Limited—complementary tools | Limited—complementary tools |
What Final Round actually does
Final Round positions itself as a platform for interview preparation and AI-driven coaching. Its public materials describe it as a solution to streamline candidate interviews, improve hiring decisions, and reduce bias through structured guidance and feedback.
Key points about Final Round’s offering:
- Interview workflow management: Scheduling, feedback collection, and interview scorecards.
- AI coaching: Provides interview tips and candidate performance insights.
- Blind hiring support: Helps reduce unconscious bias by anonymising interview stages.
- Candidate engagement: Allows candidates to practise interviews and receive coaching through the platform.
Final Round appears to focus on improving candidate experience during the interview and helping hiring managers make better decisions, rather than handling CV intake or formatting.
Pricing details are not publicly available. Agencies must contact Final Round directly for quotes, which likely vary based on agency size and usage.
What Distill actually does
Distill’s core function is to handle the messy backend of CV processing: formatting CVs to client ATS specifications and anonymising sensitive candidate data. It was built for recruiters who send 20+ CVs a week and need consistent, compliant submissions without manual rework.
Key features of Distill:
- Email-first intake: Forward CVs to a dedicated Distill email; the platform formats and anonymises automatically.
- Anonymisation: Strips names, contact details, photos, and graduation years to support blind hiring.
- ATS-ready output: Converts CVs into clean Word documents formatted to client specs.
- Zero data retention: Processes CVs and deletes them immediately, limiting compliance risks.
- Unlimited user seats: No extra cost for adding recruiters or consultants.
- Speed: Formats CVs in under 30 seconds, reducing admin time considerably.
Distill does not handle interviews, candidate coaching, or sourcing workflows. It focuses purely on getting CVs client-ready, compliant, and anonymised.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Final Round | Distill | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core function | Interview prep + AI coaching | CV formatting + anonymisation | Complementary, not overlapping |
| Candidate data intake | Candidates upload or invited to platform | Recruiters forward CVs via email | Distill is email-first; Final Round is platform-based |
| ATS formatting | No direct CV reformatting indicated | Automatic formatting to client specs | Distill specialises here |
| Anonymisation/blind hiring | Supports blind interview stages | Strips personal data from CVs | Both support blind hiring but at different stages |
| Data retention | Stores candidate info for ongoing use | Zero retention; deletes after processing | Distill lowers compliance risk |
| User seats | Unknown; likely charged per user or seat | Unlimited included | Distill offers simpler pricing |
| Pricing transparency | Not publicly listed | Transparent monthly fees | Distill’s pricing visible on pricing page |
| Candidate coaching | AI-driven interview prep and feedback | None | Final Round’s unique offering |
| Interview scheduling | Included | Not available | Final Round focuses on interview workflow |
Pricing breakdown
Final Round does not publish pricing. Agencies must contact their sales team for a quote. This makes budgeting less straightforward, particularly for smaller agencies or those cautious about platform commitments.
Distill offers clear, fixed monthly pricing with unlimited CV processing and unlimited user seats. This model suits agencies with fluctuating volumes or multiple recruiters needing access without extra cost.
If pricing transparency and predictable costs matter, Distill holds an advantage.
Which agency type fits which tool
Final Round suits agencies that:
- Prioritise improving interview quality and candidate coaching.
- Run structured interview workflows and want AI insights.
- Manage blind hiring beyond CV screening, focusing on interview bias.
- Are comfortable managing a candidate-facing platform.
Distill suits agencies that:
- Need to send compliant, formatted CVs to multiple clients quickly.
- Want to anonymise CVs at submission to support blind hiring.
- Seek a low-touch, email-forward process without storing CV data.
- Require clear pricing and unlimited user licences for their teams.
Most agencies will find value in using both tools side-by-side. Distill handles the CV formatting and anonymisation upfront. Final Round takes over during the interview and coaching phases.
Migrating from Final Round to Distill (or running both)
If your agency currently uses Final Round for interview prep but struggles with CV formatting or anonymisation compliance, introducing Distill can relieve that burden.
Distill requires no integration with Final Round. Simply forward CVs to Distill’s dedicated email before uploading candidate details into Final Round or your ATS.
For agencies considering dropping Final Round’s interview coaching, be aware that Distill does not replace interview scheduling or AI feedback. Distill focuses solely on the CV intake and formatting layer.
Running both tools in tandem is common. Distill improves the quality and compliance of CV submissions, while Final Round manages candidate engagement and interview workflows.
FAQ
Can Distill replace Final Round entirely?
No. Distill focuses on CV formatting and anonymisation. Final Round’s interview prep and coaching capabilities are outside Distill’s scope.
Does Final Round offer CV formatting or anonymisation?
Final Round supports blind hiring during interviews but does not handle CV formatting or bulk anonymisation for ATS submissions.
Is Distill easy to use alongside Final Round?
Yes. Distill’s email-forward process fits before or alongside Final Round without integration complexity.
What about data privacy?
Distill deletes CVs after processing, reducing compliance risk. Final Round stores candidate data for coaching and scheduling.
How do pricing models compare?
Final Round’s pricing is not public. Distill offers transparent monthly fees with unlimited seats and CV processing.
If your agency routinely submits CVs to clients requiring strict formatting and anonymisation, Distill simplifies compliance and saves admin time. Try Distill free and see how it fits into your workflow alongside your interview prep tools.