NTRVSTA wrote this Spark Hire vs Willo comparison. We make a competing product, so we only use facts from Spark Hire's and Willo's own sites and public news, and we include a third option at the end.
Spark Hire vs Willo is a common shortlist for smaller teams that want candidates to answer screening questions on their own time instead of booking phone screens. Both are one-way, asynchronous tools with AI summaries and published prices. The split is in what comes with the video: Spark Hire can be your whole ATS, while Willo focuses on flexible answer formats, a large question library and identity checks.
The short answer
Pick Spark Hire if you are a US small or mid-size business that wants one vendor for applicant tracking, AI resume review and video interviews, or a flat-price video tool with unlimited jobs on an annual plan. Pick Willo if you want pay-per-role pricing without a contract, written and multiple-choice answers alongside video, 1,500+ ready-made assessments, or ID and right-to-work checks. Willo is UK-based and its pricing is in pounds first.
Side by side: Spark Hire vs Willo
Where Spark Hire is stronger
Spark Hire is the better buy if you don't have an ATS yet, or if yours is a spreadsheet. Its Recruit plans put job posting, AI resume review, AI-assisted candidate search, AI-suggested screening questions and video interviews in one system. Recruit Growth adds the behavioral assessment and automated panel scheduling, and an AI notetaker can be added on any tier.
Its standalone video product is also simple to budget at scale. The annual plan covers unlimited jobs and users from $249 a month, so a team running 20 open roles pays the same as one running five. Spark Hire's AI auto-summarizes each response, scores submissions against key factors and transcribes in 50+ languages. Its integration list leans toward US staffing and SMB systems such as Bullhorn, Ceipal, ApplicantPro and ADP.
Where Willo is stronger
Willo gives candidates more ways to answer. Each question can take a video, a written reply, a file upload or a multiple-choice pick, and recruiters can start from 1,500+ ready-made assessments or build their own. Willo Intelligence adds transcripts, summaries, benchmarks and suggested follow-up questions, under its stated principle of "AI-assisted insights, human-led decisions." Interface support covers 18+ languages.
It also handles checks that Spark Hire doesn't list. Willo Verified (shown as Willo Proof add-ons on the pricing page) runs ID, right-to-work and background checks on a credit basis, which is useful for UK employers. On Enterprise, Willo lists ISO 27001, SSO, MFA and 50+ native ATS integrations including Workday, SAP SuccessFactors and Greenhouse. Customers it names include HelloFresh, EDF UK and Toyota GB.
Pricing compared
Both publish prices, which makes this one of the easier comparisons. Spark Hire's video plan is from $299 a month billed monthly (up to 5 jobs and 5 users) or from $249 a month billed annually with unlimited jobs and users. Its ATS plans start at $335 a month (Recruit Pro) and $499 a month (Recruit Growth) on annual contracts, with starting prices for companies up to 50 employees that rise with headcount. More in our Spark Hire pricing guide.
Willo Lite costs £49 per live role per month, shown as $59 in US dollars, pay as you go with no contract, for up to 5 live roles, 150 assessed candidates per role and 5 users. Willo Enterprise starts at £2,999 a year ($3,799), billed annually and payable monthly or quarterly, with 10% off a two-year term and 15% off three years. See our Willo pricing guide.
A rough rule: at three or fewer open roles, Willo Lite tends to cost less per month than Spark Hire's video plan. Past five roles, Lite runs out and the comparison becomes Willo Enterprise against Spark Hire's annual plan.
Who should pick which
- If you need an ATS and video interviews from the same vendor, pick Spark Hire.
- If you only screen for a role or two at a time and dislike contracts, pick Willo Lite.
- If you hire in the UK and need right-to-work checks in the same flow, pick Willo.
- If you want flat pricing across many open jobs, pick Spark Hire's annual video plan.
- If some candidates should answer in writing rather than on camera, pick Willo.
Compare more: NTRVSTA vs Spark Hire, NTRVSTA vs Willo, Spark Hire alternatives, Willo alternatives and the best one-way video interview software.
A third option: NTRVSTA
If a recorded answer is enough to make your first cut, either tool will serve you well and costs less than we do. Carolina, our agentic AI recruiter, is for teams that want a real conversation in round one and help before it.
- Live AI interviews by video avatar or audio that ask follow-ups and adjust difficulty as the candidate answers.
- Sourcing and outreach by email, SMS and WhatsApp, plus ranked resumes with reasons.
- Scheduling for later rounds through Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoom or Calendly.
- A free Starter plan for one role with 10 AI interviews; paid plans on our pricing section.
Questions
Which is cheaper, Spark Hire or Willo?
It depends on how many roles you run. Willo Lite is pay as you go at £49 (or $59) per live role per month, up to five roles. Spark Hire's video plan starts at $299 a month billed monthly or $249 a month billed annually. For one or two roles at a time, Willo Lite usually costs less; for many roles at once, Spark Hire's flat annual plan with unlimited jobs can work out cheaper.
Does Willo have an ATS?
No. Willo is an async screening tool that connects to ATS platforms. On Enterprise it lists 50+ integrations, including Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Greenhouse, iCIMS, Lever and Bullhorn. Spark Hire sells its own ATS (Recruit plans) as well as a standalone video product.
Can candidates answer in writing instead of on video?
On Willo, yes. Willo supports video, written answers, file uploads and multiple choice. Spark Hire's video product is built around recorded video answers, alongside a separate behavioral assessment.
Do Spark Hire or Willo offer a free trial?
Neither lists a free trial on its pricing page. Willo Lite has no contract, so you can pay for one role for one month. Willo also offers 50% off for non-profits.
Want to compare a recorded screen with a live adaptive one? Book a demo or take a sample interview.
Prices above come from each vendor's pricing page on November 1, 2026. Exchange rates and plans change, so confirm before you buy.
