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BrightHire vs Criteria

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

Interview intelligence platform.

Pre-employment aptitude testing.

The verdict

Both BrightHire and Criteria are credible recruiting tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

Choose BrightHire if you want a higher overall rating (4.8/5). Interview intelligence platform.

Criteria — Pre-employment aptitude testing.

BrightHire vs Criteria: side by side

DimensionBrightHireCriteria
Starting priceCustomCustom
Free planNoNo
Pricing modelSubscriptionSubscription
Best forTalent Teams, EnterpriseSmb, Enterprise
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Api
Rating4.8/5Winner4.6/5

BrightHire key facts

Vendor
BrightHire
Pricing
Subscription — Custom
Free tier
No
Platforms
Web, Api
Best for
Talent Teams, Enterprise
Editor rating
4.8 / 5
Founded
2019
Headquarters
New York, NY, USA

Criteria key facts

Vendor
Criteria Corp
Pricing
Subscription — Custom
Free tier
No
Platforms
Web, Api
Best for
Smb, Enterprise
Editor rating
4.6 / 5
Founded
2006
Headquarters
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Frequently asked questions

Is BrightHire better than Criteria?

Neither is universally better — BrightHire edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is BrightHire or Criteria cheaper?

BrightHire is the more affordable of the two to get started, at custom. BrightHire starts at custom; Criteria starts at custom.

Can BrightHire replace Criteria?

Yes for most teams — both are recruiting tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.