Talent Approved vs Testlify
Both run skills assessments and both generate tests with AI. The clearest differences are the free tier and billing model, and whether you build a test per role or pick from a large ready-made library.
At a glance
| Talent Approved | Testlify | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay per completed candidate | Subscription + per-candidate credits |
| Commitment | None | Monthly or annual subscription |
| Charged when a candidate… | completes the test | starts the test |
| Credits | Never expire | Expire each billing cycle |
| Free option | 3 free candidates, no card | 7-day trial; no permanent free plan |
| Test source | AI-generated per role | 3,500+ library + AI builder |
| AI test generation | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-built library | None (by design) | 3,500+ tests |
| Proctoring | Always-on screen replay + optional continuous webcam | Proctoring options |
| Candidate languages | 14 | 15+ |
| ATS / SSO | Not offered | Paid add-ons |
Start free, and pay on completion
Testlify doesn't have a permanent free plan - you evaluate it with a 7-day trial, then move to a monthly or annual subscription, and credits are consumed when a candidate starts an assessment.
Talent Approved gives you 3 free candidate credits with no card, no subscription, and credits that never expire - and a credit is only used when a candidate completes the test. For low-volume or spiky hiring, that means you can run real tests before paying anything and never carry a subscription between roles.
A custom test vs a 3,500-test library
Testlify's strength is breadth: thousands of ready-made assessments across thousands of roles. If you want to grab a pre-built, validated test off the shelf and send it quickly, that catalog is hard to beat.
Talent Approved has no library by design. Magic Create writes the test for your exact role from a prompt or job description, and you can paste in questions you already have. That's ideal when off-the-shelf tests feel too generic, and less convenient if you'd rather pick from a big catalog than generate and review your own.
Proctoring and candidate experience
Talent Approved records the full session as a replay and can record the webcam and microphone continuously when you enable it, with the candidate's consent; integrity signals are flagged on the timeline. Testlify also offers proctoring options - if proctoring depth is critical for your roles, evaluate both against your exact requirements.
On reach they're similar: Talent Approved localizes the full candidate experience into 14 languages, Testlify into 15+. Both let candidates take the test in a browser without creating an account.
So which should you pick?
Choose Talent Approved if…
You want to start free, pay only when candidates finish, and build a test tailored to the role rather than pick from a library - with no subscription to carry between hires.
Choose Testlify if…
You want the broadest ready-made test library across many roles, are fine with a monthly subscription, and prefer selecting pre-built assessments over generating your own.
Frequently asked questions
Does Testlify have a free plan?
Testlify offers a 7-day free trial but no permanent free plan. Talent Approved gives every new workspace 3 free candidate credits with no card and no subscription.
When am I charged - on start or completion?
Testlify consumes a credit when a candidate starts an assessment. Talent Approved only charges when a candidate completes, so abandoned attempts don't cost you.
Does Testlify also generate tests with AI?
Yes. Testlify has an AI assessment builder that generates tests from a title, description, or skills, alongside its large library. Talent Approved generates a standalone test per role with no library dependency.