Top 8 Plum alternatives to assess applicants’ behavior and cognitive abilities

Plum is a behavioral assessment platform that helps employers hire the best candidates for each role and identify growth opportunities for their workforce.

It doesn’t feature technical skills tests but aims to predict candidates’ job performance based on their soft skills and traits. Assessments identify ten recurring cognitive and behavioral patterns.

To use the platform, you need to perform a job analysis for each role and then invite candidates to take a test measuring their personality traits, cognitive abilities, and collaboration skills. Although the platform is a convenient option for many, it comes with its own limitations, which might justify looking for alternatives.

To help you pick the right software for your hiring needs, we’ve compiled a list of the best 8 Plum alternatives, looked into the pros and cons of each, and gathered information on their pricing.

Plum’s limitations: Why look for an alternative to Plum?

Most hiring professionals like Plum and get meaningful insights from the platform’s assessments. That said, we identified a few limitations that might make it a sub-optimal choice for some.

Results might not always be reliable

According to users, test results from Plum can sometimes be hit or miss. This can be frustrating because you need solid, dependable insights to make the best hiring decisions. For the best results, you might need to use Plum in combination with another platform – or simply switch to a different tool altogether.

Lack of transparency in selection criteria

Plum might feel like a bit of a black box at times; understanding how results were calculated and what they’re based on can be tricky.

This lack of clarity can make it hard to explain your decisions to other members of your hiring team or feel confident in the choices the platform is suggesting. It's always nicer to know the "why" behind a recommendation, right?

Lack of detailed reporting for each role

When it comes to reports, some users are reporting that Plum’s candidate reviews sometimes feel too general. As a hiring manager, you need in-depth insights to make the best decision for each unique position, not just a one-size-fits-all overview.

Lack of role-specific tests

Plum is focused on behavioral assessments, so it doesn’t offer technical skills tests. This means that for some roles, you might need to use a different platform to evaluate candidates’ proficiency in specific technologies or programming languages, for example.

Tailored, role-specific assessments which other platforms offer enable you zero in on exactly what you need.

1. TestGorilla: Best for its comprehensive skills assessments

If you’re looking for a talent assessment software tool that features cognitive ability assessments, personality tests, and technical, role-specific evaluations, TestGorilla is a top choice.

You can use it to hire for any role, from Python developers to SEO managers and from B2B account managers to chefs. You can combine up to five skills tests in a single assessment and gain deep insights into candidates’ technical and soft skills. This well-rounded evaluation helps identify top talent better than resumes or behavioral assessments alone.

Similarly to Plum, you can use the platform to evaluate your existing workforce’s skills and create talent maps, helping you identify skill gaps and manage employees’ career growth.

Find out how the two platforms compare in our TestGorilla vs. Plum evaluation.

G2 rating: 4.5/5

Pros:

• Over 400 tests for any role and skill, including technical proficiency, language skills, cognitive ability, and more

• Asynchronous video interviews

• Excellent customization options, which enable you to enhance the candidate experience

• A Free forever plan with five free skills tests

• Strong anti-cheating measures, such as IP based location tracking, snapshots, and full-screen tracking

• Automated reporting and analytics

• Flexible pricing options

Cons:

• No live video interviews

Free trial: Yes, free plan

Pricing: Starting at $75/month; free plan available

TestGorilla’s flexible pricing options make it a top choice for small businesses and large organizations alike

2. The Predictive Index: Best for its behavioral assessments

The Predictive Index’s main focus is talent optimization, but the platform can be a solid choice for your hiring needs, as well. For recruitment, you need to use the PI Hire module (also known as Validated Hiring).

Similarly to Plum, the platform focuses on behavioral assessments and helps you define what cognitive abilities and behavioral traits are essential for each role. Its assessments are very intuitive and easy to take, which is something that candidates are often mentioning in their reviews of the platform. However, if you need a more comprehensive tool that you can use to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality traits, and hard skills, the Predictive Index might not be your best bet. If you want to assess applicants’ role-specific skills and knowledge, TestGorilla might be a better choice.

Check out how the two match up in our comparison of the Predictive Index and TestGorilla.

G2 rating: 4.8/5

Pros:

• Behavioral, cognitive, and cultural alignment assessments

• Unlimited users

• Intuitive and easy-to-navigate user interface

• Strong reporting and analytics features

• Leadership and employee development modules

• 24/7 support, including phone support

Cons:

• Relatively expensive (starting at nearly $5,000 annually)

• Its learning curve is steeper than of other platforms

Free trial: Yes, for 7 days

Pricing: Starting at $4,950 annually

3. eSkill: Best for its range of skills tests

If you’re looking to hire across many different roles, eSkill is a good choice. It has a wide range of tests adapted to the needs of different industries, from logistics to retail and from hospitality to IT.

The platform feels somewhat outdated and could use a redesign, but candidates like it overall.

You can build assessments featuring a few tests, customized questions, and asynchronous video interviews, similarly to TestGorilla. Curious about how they stack up? Check out our TestGorilla vs. eSkill review.

eSkill offers a variety of tests, even for highly technical roles

G2 rating: 4.5/5

Pros:

• More than 800 tests for a range of roles and industries

• Good customization options

• Asynchronous video interviews

Cons:

• Outdated user interface and design

• No pricing information on the website

Free trial: Yes

Pricing: No information available on its website

4. HireVue: Best for AI-powered video interviews

If you’re looking to implement AI into your talent assessment processes, HireVue might be a platform worth considering. It’s an AI-powered software tool that records and analyzes applicants’ responses to time-limited questions and evaluates suitability for job roles based on their expressions, voice, vocabulary, and body language.

HireVue enables you to build custom interviews easily

While the creators tout this as a means to reduce hiring bias, it's worth noting that not all candidates may feel comfortable with this approach. It’s worth mentioning that AI can sometimes introduce or perpetuate societal biases, so you need to be cautious when implementing AI-assisted recruitment tools.

See how HireVue compares to TestGorilla and check out the best HireVue alternatives, if you’d like to explore more options.

G2 rating: 4.1/5

Pros:

• AI-enabled video assessments that save time and efforts

• Job-specific interviews you can customize based on your all needs

• A simple and intuitive interface

Cons:

• Among the most expensive options on the market, with prices starting at $35,000

• Some candidates might not like the idea of being assessed by an AI

• No free trial

Free trial: No

Pricing: Starting at $35,000

5. VidCruiter: Best video platform with automated reference checks

If you’re looking for a platform that enables you to make automated video interviews and reference checks, VidCruiter is a good choice. With it, you can schedule all your calls with applicants, do live interviews, and manage asynchronous video assessments.

But what makes the platform stand out is its automated reference checks that you can do without exchanging endless emails or calling applicants’ past employers. You simply send them a questionnaire via the platform and get their feedback, which you can then use to make better hiring decisions.

 Checking references is often a tedious and time-consuming process, but VidCruiter enables you to simplify it

G2 rating: 4.8/5

Pros:

• Easy, automated reference checks

• Live video interviews and asynchronous interviews

• Excellent security and compliance

• High user ratings and good customer support

Cons:

• No free trial and no pricing information on its website

Pricing: Custom pricing, contact sales for more information

Free trial: No

6. Mercer Mettl Assessments: Best for its strong proctoring

Mercer Mettl Assessments offers a wide array of skills tests – but what makes it unique is its anti-cheating measures. If these are a top priority for you, this platform is a solid choice.

It’s used by businesses and educational institutions alike and features an anti-cheating system with a few levels of measurements to help you guarantee the integrity of your assessments:

Mercer Mettl Assessments features strong anti-cheating measures, such as email and ID verification, record options, and live proctoring

Similarly to TestGorilla – and contrary to Plum – the platform enables you to perform an in-depth evaluation of applicants’ hard and soft skills.

Want to know how the two compare? Check out our Mercer Mettl Assessments vs TestGorilla review.

Mercer Mettl has a rather steep learning curve, however, especially if you’re planning to set custom tests.

G2 rating: 4.4/5

Pros:

• Lots of skills tests for hard and soft skills alike

• Among the best proctoring features on the market

• Good customer support, including live chat and phone assistance

• Comprehensive solution for all your hiring needs

Cons:

• The platform isn’t as intuitive as others

• Custom assessments require effort to build

Free trial: Yes

Pricing: Custom pricing, contact sales for more information

7. TestDome: Best for its wide variety of tests

TestDome is a great tool for evaluating both hard and soft skills across a variety of roles. With it, you can hire sales staff, accountants, software developers, designers, and more. It’s not possible to create entirely custom tests, but you can customize existing tests to fit your hiring needs.

TestDome claims that some of its questions are AI-resistant. Indeed, some candidates might try to use AI during skills assessments, giving them an unfair advantage – so, using a platform with strong anti-cheating measures is key.

According to TestDome, some of its questions are AI-resistant

Another advantage of TestDome is its flexible pricing. You only pay for the number of assessments you need to make, which is a good option for smaller businesses.

On the downside, TestDome's test library isn’t as big as TestGorilla’s, and it doesn’t cover personality traits and behavior. For more insights, check out how TestDome stacks up against TestGorilla or explore the best alternatives to TestDome.

G2 rating: 4.5/5

Pros:

• Among the most affordable options on the market, with per-candidate pricing

• Lots of role-specific tests

• Coding interviews and assessments

Cons:

• You cannot invite candidates in bulk

• No behavior and personality tests

Free trial: Yes

Pricing: $20 per candidate for a minimum of 5 candidates

8. iMocha: Best for its vast test library

If you’re looking for a platform that you can use to assess almost any skill you can think of, iMocha is a good choice. It has one of the largest test libraries on the market, boasting assessments for more than 3,000 skills.

iMocha features a wide variety of skills tests you can use to hire for any role

Similarly to TestGorilla and the Predictive Index, you can also use it for talent management, for example to identify skill gaps at your company or help your employees upskill and grow.

Hiring managers and candidates alike find its user interface very intuitive and easy to navigate. Plus, it’s one of the few platforms that offers HR managed services.

However, it falls short on quality control. There are no limits on question exposure and tests’ accuracy can be a hit or miss. If that’s a top priority for you, you might need to consider some of the available iMocha alternatives on the market.

G2 rating: 4.4/5

Pros:

• A vast test library with more than 3,000 skills tests, including technical and cognitive assessments

• Phone customer service

• Intuitive user interface

• Asynchronous and live interviews

Cons:

• No pricing information available on the website

• No free plan or free trial

Free trial: No

Pricing: No information on the website; contact sales for more information

Find the best platform for your recruitment needs

To build a skills-first hiring process, you need the right talent assessment platform that helps you evaluate candidates’ abilities accurately and objectively.

Although Plum is a strong choice if you’re looking for behavioral assessments, it does little in the way of assessing candidates’ actual skills and knowledge – and for a balanced evaluation, you need both.

TestGorilla offers not only a wide test library featuring more than 400 skills tests, but also provides excellent branding and customization features, and a stellar candidate experience.

Sign up for a free live demo to see if our platform is the right fit for your hiring needs – or jump right in and check out our Forever free plan to see for yourself how easy hiring can be, if you have the right tools at hand.