Pre-employment testing is an invaluable tool to add to your hiring process. It not only gives you deeper insights into candidates but also helps remove unconscious bias from the process. It does this by providing objective data on a candidate’s suitability for a role.
Choosing the right pre-employment testing platform helps you make better, bias-free hiring decisions. It also reduces costly mis-hires and employee turnover.
Two available platforms on the market are TestGorilla and AssessFirst. Both help you assess and understand candidates’ motivations, personalities, and cognitive abilities. But TestGorilla stands out for its specialized tests for hiring developers and customizable features.
Table of contents
- How does TestGorilla work?
- How does AssessFirst work?
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Test libraries
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Functionalities for hiring developers
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Video interviews
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Candidate experience and company branding
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Enterprise and startup friendliness
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Quality control
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Anti-cheating measures
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Reporting and analytics
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Customer support
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Pricing
- TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Ease of use
- Conclusion: TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst
- Streamline your hiring process with pre-employment testing
- ✅ Try TestGorilla now and discover the difference
How does TestGorilla work?
TestGorilla offers a range of aptitude, skills, and personality tests to make your hiring process more accurate, reliable, and fair. You can choose from more than 280 scientifically validated testsOur platform enables you to build an assessment relevant to the role you’re hiring for by choosing from more than 280 scientifically validated tests.
Assessments are quick and easy to create and send out to applicants. Considering that open roles receive an average of 250 candidates, this can save you a great deal of time compared with traditional resume screening. Our tests and assessments are user-friendly and can be attempted on any device, making applicants more likely to complete them.
TestGorilla is a highly customizable pre-employment testing platform. With features like custom video questions and coding challenges, you can make the assessment unique to the role you’re recruiting for.
TestGorilla’s reports present candidate results in an easy-to-understand and insightful way. These evaluations help you make better hiring decisions based on accurate and objective information.
Better hires equal reduced employee turnover. This saves you the expense of running multiple recruitment processes for the same role and continually replacing employees. These cost savings can quickly add up since a bad hire costs an average of 30% of the employee’s annual salary.
How does AssessFirst work?
AssessFirst uses behavioral science and AI to conduct pre-employment testing that supports fairer hiring practices.
It offers three tests to help you identify the candidates most likely to succeed in a role. These assess candidates’ soft skills, including their cognitive ability, personality, and motivation.
Candidates’ test results help you predict their performance better than a resume by showing you both their strengths and areas for improvement.
AssessFirst’s platform includes an AI-powered predictive hiring feature. This assesses your current workforce to determine the necessary criteria for the new role you’re hiring for.
The test results can also help you manage and offer professional development to candidates in existing roles.
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Test libraries
The larger the test library, the more you can tailor an assessment to your open role. It also gives you a more comprehensive picture of a candidate by testing a wider range of skills, attitudes, and knowledge.
TestGorilla’s test library
TestGorilla offers an extensive test library with more than 280 scientifically validated tests. These include tests for:
- Cognitive ability
- Situational judgment
- Personality
- Motivation
- Software and programming
- Languages
You can choose a combination of these to assess a candidate for the skills, personality traits, and general abilities relevant to a particular role.
TestGorilla also offers a range of tests specially designed for job-specific roles, such as merchandise planners, account executives (B2B sales), and purchase managers.
We support our customers and candidates around the world with localized websites in 11 different languages.
AssessFirst’s test library
AssessFirst provides three tests to assess candidates’ soft skills and suitability for a role.
The Shape personality test looks at 20 personality traits. It predicts candidates’ workplace behaviors and the likelihood of succeeding in a role.
The Drive motivation test provides insights into candidates’ motivation across 20 key factors. It also gives you information about candidates’ leadership styles and cultural fit.
The Brain cognitive ability test predicts candidates’ work performance and ability to learn and adapt in the workplace. It also assesses candidates’ learning styles.
AssessFirst’s tests are available in 15 languages.
Test libraries: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| Cognitive ability tests | Yes | Yes |
| Situational judgment tests | Yes | No |
| Job-specific tests | Yes | No |
| Software tests | Yes | No |
| Programming tests (including coding challenges) | Yes | No |
| Language tests | Yes | No |
| Personality tests | Yes | Yes |
| Culture-add test | Yes | Yes |
| Your own custom tests | Yes | No |
| Custom questions within an assessment | Yes | No |
| Test recommendations for each job role | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple tests within an assessment | Yes | Yes |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Functionalities for hiring developers
The global shortage of full-time developers is expected to grow to four million in 2025, and competition among companies to hire developers is fierce. So how can you quickly find the most qualified talent before they take a role at a different business?
Developer skills tests give you insights into candidates’ technical abilities and familiarity with common coding languages and platforms.
Look out for features such as coding and debugging challenges and coding language-specific tests.
TestGorilla’s features for hiring developers
TestGorilla’s test library includes a range of tests specifically designed for hiring developers.
These include:
- Coding and debugging challenges
- 15 coding language-specific tests, including Java, JavaScript, Python, and Ruby tests
- Tests that assess skills in web-development frameworks like Django and React Native
- Custom coding questions to create real-life problems for candidates to solve
Custom coding challenges can be recorded and played back, enabling you to review a candidate’s process and speed.
AssessFirst’s features for hiring developers
AssessFirst doesn’t offer any specific tests for developer-related skills.
Functionalities for hiring developers: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| Web-development frameworks | Yes | No |
| Mobile-development frameworks | Yes | No |
| Algorithmic-thinking challenges | Yes | No |
| Debugging challenges | Yes | No |
| Language-specific concept challenges | Yes | No |
| Your own custom coding challenges | Yes | No |
| Code-playback function | Yes | No |
| Automated scoring | Yes | No |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Video interviews
Around 44% of employers have conducted remote video interviews, and it’s no wonder why. Video interview features are a great way to gain a deeper understanding of your candidates and help compare them. They add value to your hiring process by giving you insights into candidates’ communication skills.
Some platforms offer video features, including one-way interviews and custom video questions.
TestGorilla’s video interviews
TestGorilla lets you create custom video questions within tests. Not only does this provide you with more insights into your candidates, but it also gives them a different way to engage with the process.
In addition to custom video questions, TestGorilla supports one-way video interviews. These are useful prescreening tools for identifying candidates to invite to face-to-face interviews.
Like many of TestGorilla’s features, these video interviews are customizable. You can set the maximum answer length and add your comments to a candidate’s video to aid the recruitment process.
AssessFirst’s video interviews
AssessFirst doesn’t appear to offer any video interview features.
Video interviews: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| One-way video interview | Yes | No |
| Custom video questions | Yes | No |
| Recording of candidates’ attempts | Yes | No |
| Recording and playback on any device | Yes | No |
| Rate and comment on video answers | Yes | No |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Candidate experience and company branding
Research has found that 60% of job seekers report having a poor candidate experience. Furthermore, 72% of those applicants shared their negative experience, either online or directly.
That’s why a pre-employment testing platform should prioritize candidate experience. Reasonable test length, mobile-friendliness, and access to customer support encourage candidates to complete the test.
Also, check for company branding options when considering pre-employment testing platforms. Around 36% of job seekers consider an organization’s brand to be very important when deciding whether to take a position there. The ability to add your company logo and colors, for example, creates a memorable experience for test-takers.
The candidate experience with TestGorilla
TestGorilla includes several features that make assessments easy for candidates to complete, such as mobile-friendliness and enabling candidates to complete tests and assessments on any device.
With tests taking around 10 minutes and most assessments taking less than one hour to complete, candidates don’t feel overwhelmed. TestGorilla also offers extensive help and support so that candidates can complete the tests to the best of their ability.
You can add your company logo, colors, and an intro or outro video to the assessments, leaving a powerful impression on test-takers.
The candidate experience with AssessFirst
AssessFirst takes an e-commerce and entertainment approach to its user experience. Many of its features, like gamified tests and social media integrations, are designed to engage candidates.
An online knowledge center is available to assist candidates, who can take an AssessFirst test on any device. All candidates receive automated feedback from their tests with personalized insights and career advice.
In addition to these features, you can customize tests with your company’s logo and brand colors.
Candidate experience and company branding: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| Your company’s intro or outro video | Yes | No |
| Assessments branded with your company logo and colors | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable invitation and rejection emails | Yes | Yes |
| No login required for candidates | Yes | No |
| Mobile- friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Help and support for your candidates | Yes | Yes |
| Typical assessment length | 30-60 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Qualifying questions before the assessment | Yes | No |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Enterprise and startup friendliness
Make sure your pre-employment testing platform can grow with your organization. This enables you to fully integrate it into your hiring process, no matter the size of your operation.
Look for features that support scaling and enterprise-level recruitment, including ATS integrations, GDPR compliance, and API access.
TestGorilla’s enterprise and startup friendliness
TestGorilla supports the pre-employment testing needs of businesses of all sizes. You can tailor assessments to suit your startup or small business needs. Our Pay-as-you-go plan is designed especially for this.
TestGorilla also includes a range of features that make large, enterprise-level recruitment a breeze. These include ATS integrations, easy file-sharing options, and multiple user controls.
TestGorilla is also GDPR compliant, so you can trust that your organization’s and applicants’ personal data is handled properly.
AssessFirst’s enterprise and startup friendliness
Both startups and enterprise-level businesses can use AssessFirst for their pre-employment testing.
The platform is simple for a one-person hiring team to use and manage.
AssessFirst also supports hiring processes for large enterprises. It lets you add multiple users to the network so that your entire hiring team can directly access results. It also includes bulk actions, like sending follow-up emails, to manage large numbers of candidates.
Enterprise and startup friendliness: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| ATS integrations | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple users and role-based rights management | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple candidate invitation options | Yes | Yes |
| Public link to invite candidates | Yes | Yes |
| Public links for each candidate source | Yes | No |
| Bulk invite candidates (CSV/XLSX upload) | Yes | No |
| Track candidate stages from invited to hired | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Quality control
Stringent quality control measures ensure tests are both reliable and valid, with minimal errors and bias. This means candidates’ results are accurate.
Science-backed tests, extensive quality checks, and frequently replaced questions are some hallmarks of high-quality pre-employment testing.
TestGorilla’s quality-control processes
Before a TestGorilla test goes live, it goes through a 28-step quality-control process. This includes being subject to peer review and review by a psychometrician.
TestGorilla also uses proprietary algorithms to continuously improve each test. It has built-in quality-control features, such as the automatic replacement of questions after a certain number of uses.
TestGorilla is also highly responsive to customer and candidate feedback for improving the testing platform and assessment experience.
AssessFirst’s quality-control processes
AssessFirst’s tests are based on scientific research and developed by psychologists. They have undergone validity, reliability, internal consistency, and sensitivity testing during the development stage. The company also continues to review and improve its tests, updating them on an annual basis
Although AssessFirst doesn’t appear to automatically replace questions, it does use other quality-control measures.
For example, AssessFirst flags if a candidate took longer than 15 minutes to complete the personality test. It also uses algorithms to measure the spontaneity of candidates’ responses.
Quality control: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| Proprietary algorithms that continuously improve the quality of each test | Yes | Yes |
| Extensive quality check before tests go live | Yes | Yes |
| Questions replaced after reaching exposure limit | Yes | No |
| Customer feedback used to improve tests | Yes | No |
| Test-taker feedback used to improve tests | Yes | No |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Anti-cheating measures
According to a report by ProctorU, cheating on online tests increased during the pandemic.
Anti-cheating measures ensure your pre-employment testing remains fair for all candidates. If test-takers research or share questions, this affects the reliability of their results and gives them an unfair advantage over others.
Look out for features such as test time limits, full-screen detection, and screen monitoring.
TestGorilla’s anti-cheating measures
TestGorilla’s anti-cheating measures include inbuilt features such as the ability to disable copy and paste and full-screen detection that flags if a candidate leaves the testing window.
Tests also have a time limit, reducing candidates’ opportunities to copy or share questions or conduct research.
TestGorilla uses several candidate monitoring features, including IP address logging and webcam snapshots (with the candidate’s permission). This helps ensure that only the intended candidate completes the assessment.
AssessFirst’s anti-cheating measures
AssessFirst’s tests are designed to be fair. They don’t take into account any detailed personal information, and candidates’ individual results are contextualized.
AssessFirst generally prevents candidates from retaking a test once it’s been validated, but they can retake them in special circumstances, such as if they completed the test in a different language from their native tongue or under poor conditions.
However, candidates can only do this once and cannot access the questions or their answers from the previous test.
Anti-cheating measures: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| IP address logging (to avoid multiple attempts by the same candidate) | Yes | No |
| Logging of candidates’ location | Yes | No |
| Webcam snapshots (with the option to turn on/off) | Yes | No |
| Full-screen mode detection (to prevent research during the test) | Yes | Yes |
| Randomized questions within the test | Yes | Yes (some tests) |
| Large question pool for each test | Yes (100+) | Yes |
| Questions and answers not visible to employers to protect test integrity | Yes | Yes |
| Time limit on tests | Yes (typically 10 minutes) | No |
| Copy-paste disabled | Yes | No |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Reporting and analytics
Reporting and analytics synthesize candidates’ test results into useful insights for your hiring process. They summarize candidates’ responses for quick interpretation and help you rank them in terms of suitability for the role.
TestGorilla’s reporting and analytics
After candidates complete their assessments, you can access a range of analytics and reports via TestGorilla’s platform. It presents a summary and detailed analysis of each candidate.
Features such as scoring benchmarks make it easy to compare and rank candidates. You can also add your own notes to reports to record your thoughts in real-time and share them with your hiring team later.
These reports are downloadable in PDF or CSV format to easily send to members of your hiring team.
AssessFirst’s reporting and analytics
AssessFirst provides a results summary, detailed report, competency framework, and prediction of success for each candidate. You can view these on the platform or download them as PDFs.
These reports include graphical syntheses to help you quickly understand results. You can also add comments to candidates’ online pages and use predictive models to rank candidates based on their suitability for a role.
AssessFirst provides online guides to help with reading and understanding reports.
Reporting and analytics: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| PDF reports of assessments and individual candidates | Yes | Yes |
| Excel and CSV reports of assessments and individual candidates | Yes | No |
| Comprehensive overview of all current and past candidates | Yes | Yes |
| Scoring benchmarks for candidates (including percentile rank scoring) | Yes | Yes |
| Add your ratings and personal notes for candidates | Yes | Yes |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Customer support
Good customer support should help customers access all the features on offer when first creating an assessment and any necessary troubleshooting down the track.
In addition, pre-employment testing platforms should extend support to the test-taker if they have difficulty completing a test or assessment.
Many platforms offer one or more ways to access customer support, including via live chat, phone, or email.
TestGorilla’s customer support
TestGorilla offers extensive customer support options to aid both customers and candidates throughout the pre-employment testing process.
We provide live chat and email support, and there is an online help center with guides for both customers and candidates and answers to FAQs.
New customers also receive a detailed onboarding tour to ensure they understand how to use all of TestGorilla’s helpful features.
AssessFirst’s customer support
AssessFirst has an inquiry form available on its website for technical support. It also has an online help center with various articles describing how to use certain features.
However, AssessFirst doesn’t appear to offer customer support via live chat or phone.
Customer support: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | |
| Live chat | Yes | No |
| Help center | Yes | Yes |
| Email support | Yes | Yes |
| Training and onboarding tour | Yes | No |
| Phone assistance | No | No |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Pricing
Most pre-employment testing platforms offer monthly subscriptions that give you access to certain features.
Pay close attention to the pricing structure when choosing a platform. Some limit the number of users or candidates under a monthly subscription, whereas others offer free versions or trials.
TestGorilla’s pricing
TestGorilla offers affordable, scalable pricing options, regardless of the size of your organization.
The Free (forever) plan gives you unlimited access to 10 popular tests, including tests for communication and HR fundamentals.
For businesses with greater testing needs, TestGorilla offers three paid plans (billed annually):
- Pay as you go: $312 per year
- Scale: $3,900 per year
- Business: $24,600 per year
TestGorilla also provides personalized quotes for bigger plans, and a free 30-minute live demo.
AssessFirst’s pricing
AssessFirst offers three plans that all allow for unlimited candidate testing:
- Starter: £240 per month (for up to one user)
- Premium: £540 per month + £350 per additional user
- Premium Plus and Elite: Interested customers need to contact AssessFirst for a personalized quote
AssessFirst also offers a free 14-day trial.
Pricing: Comparison chart at a glance
| TestGorilla | AssessFirst | ||
| Plan | Price | Plan | Price |
| Free | $0 | Free trial | £0 |
| Pay as you go | $26 monthly (billed annually) | Starter | £240 monthly (for one user) |
| Scale | $325 monthly (billed annually) | Premium | £540 monthly + £350 per additional user |
| Business | $2,200 monthly (billed annually) | Premium Plus and& Elite | Contact AssessFirst |
TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst: Ease of use
When a pre-employment testing platform is easy to use, your hiring team and candidates are more likely to support it. Look out for features such as easy navigation, an intuitive interface, and clear setup instructions.
TestGorilla’s ease of use
Both customers and candidates alike find TestGorilla an accessible, user-friendly pre-employment testing platform.
Customers describe TestGorilla’s interface as intuitive, making it easy to create and send out your first assessment within minutes. They also appreciate how simple it is to track applicants through the hiring process.
Candidates likewise find TestGorilla’s tests and assessments seamless and enjoyable. With clear instructions, one-click access, and extensive support, its assessments are straightforward to complete.
AssessFirst’s ease of use
AssessFirst was designed to be user-friendly for both customers and candidates. Its interface was recently redesigned with the aim of providing the best possible experience. It’s easy to navigate, add contacts, send out tests, and see candidate results.
Conclusion: TestGorilla vs. AssessFirst
Both TestGorilla and AssessFirst offer online science-backed personality, motivation, and cognitive ability tests to help you find the right candidate for the job. Mobile-friendliness enables candidates to complete tests from anywhere.
However, AssessFirst doesn’t offer a high level of customization, developer-related skills tests, or video features.
For these reasons, TestGorilla is the clear winner when it comes to highly customizable pre-employment testing. You can create assessments specifically for the role you’re hiring for that also reflect your company branding.
TestGorilla offers skills tests designed for hiring developers and video features that elevate insights to the next level. These features make TestGorilla stand out in comparison with other available options.
Streamline your hiring process with pre-employment testing
Incorporating pre-employment testing into your hiring process is an obvious choice. It lets you take a skills-based approach to hiring and removes unconscious bias. What’s more, it helps you save time and money by avoiding costly mis-hires.
Pre-employment testing has consistently been shown to be a more accurate predictor of job success than relying on resumes alone.
Interested in improving your hiring practices with pre-employment testing?
Check out TestGorilla’s pricing plans to find the one that best suits your organization’s needs. If you’d like to try out our platform right away, simply create a free account to get started.
