Overview

Applied’s central proposition is to reduce bias in recruiting by organizing hiring around skills and providing data throughout the process. Its mix of assessment creation, AI-supported tasks and job-description analysis reaches beyond a single screening tool. The practical trade-off is that prospective buyers need to speak with the team to understand fit, pricing and product connections.

The company says it has been acquired by Phenom. Applied features customer testimonials from SSAFA, HarperCollins and Comic Relief. It also offers a DEI metrics dashboard and inclusive recruiting capabilities, which make it relevant to teams measuring or improving how they hire.

Key features

Skills-based hiring and AI assistance

Hiring teams can use AI to generate skills, questions, assessments, interviews and scoring rubrics. The system can also parse CVs, assist with response scoring and flag text that appears AI-generated. These tools can help teams build more consistent assessments, but they are not a substitute for judgment: Applied’s policies say hiring outcomes must receive meaningful human oversight, with managers reviewing results and making final decisions.

Job-description analysis

The Job Description Analysis Tool can analyze and update descriptions and generate consistent versions. That gives teams a way to bring more consistency to role definitions before assessment begins, although it does not replace the broader work of setting relevant skills and evaluation criteria.

Security and payments

Applied says it complies with UK data security requirements, including GDPR and the EU AI Act, and holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification. Its security policy describes 128-bit SSL for browser traffic and AES-256 for sensitive stored data; that policy dates to June 2018, so buyers with current security-review requirements should confirm the controls directly. Payments are processed by Stripe, and Applied says it does not collect or process card details.

Pricing

Applied is paid, with custom pricing. A free trial is available for some features, while others are presented in an interactive tour with the team. This is a sensible route for buyers who want to assess the workflow before committing, but it offers no published plan comparison or self-serve price point for budget screening. Teams should book a demo or contact Applied for product and pricing information.

Platforms

Applied supports web and API access. Its AI policy confirms API-based access and says further information is available on request. The platform also says it integrates with many products, but does not name them; teams dependent on a particular ATS or HR system should verify compatibility before choosing it.

Who it's for

Applied is a stronger fit for teams that want skills-based assessments, structured hiring workflows and AI assistance under human review, particularly those also working on inclusive recruiting or DEI measurement. It is less compelling for buyers who require transparent, fixed pricing, a named integration list or a fully self-directed evaluation before speaking with a vendor.

Pros and cons

Pros: Skills assessments, interview generation and scoring support cover multiple stages of recruiting rather than a single task.
Pros: Human review is an explicit safeguard: managers retain responsibility for hiring decisions rather than delegating them solely to AI.
Pros: Job-description analysis, a DEI metrics dashboard and inclusive recruiting features broaden its usefulness beyond candidate screening.
Cons: Custom pricing and feature-dependent trial access make early cost and product comparisons harder.
Cons: Unnamed integrations leave teams to confirm whether the platform fits their existing stack.
Cons: The security policy’s stated encryption details are dated June 2018, making a current security review prudent.

Alternatives

For a broader set of options, browse Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Software.

Equitabl is a paid API and web option for teams focused on pay-gap or skill analytics; its Pay gap analytics plan is 1.50 USD per month, billed per employee per week, and its Skill analytics plan is 5.00 USD per month, billed per employee.
Salary.com Pay Equity is worth considering when pay equity is the main requirement; it offers an annual license for 1–10 employees at a price not listed and a CompAnalyst® Pay Equity plan at 9000.00 USD per year for 1–10 employees.
Mathison is another paid, web-based option with pricing on request.
Fair HQ is a paid, web-based alternative.
Affirmity Employment Law Navigator is a paid web product with pricing by request.
Benevity Employee Groups offers custom-scoped pricing for organizations looking for an employee-groups product.
CommunityCliQ is a paid web option with pricing provided through a vendor demo.
Diversio is a paid web alternative with contact-based Optimo and on-demand workplace training plans.

Verdict

Applied is a good fit for teams seeking skills-based recruiting, AI-assisted assessment and inclusive-hiring tools in one platform, with human managers retaining final authority. Choose it when that combination matters more than immediate price transparency or a clearly named integration catalog; look elsewhere if either is a firm requirement before a sales conversation.

	Applied	Equitabl
Free plan	No	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	—	$1.50/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, Web	api, Web
DEI metrics dashboard	Yes	—
Inclusive recruiting	Yes	—
Free plan	—	No

Applied vs Equitabl

Applied

Equitabl