Toggl Hire Review - Skills Testing That Doesn't Make Candidates Rage Quit
Skills testing platforms have a terrible reputation. Most are clunky, take way too long, ask irrelevant questions, and make candidates want to throw their laptops out windows.
Toggl Hire is trying to fix this. It's a skills assessment platform focused on quick, practical tests that actually measure job-relevant abilities—without wasting candidates' time or recruiters' sanity.
The verdict: It's refreshingly simple, affordable, and effective for screening candidates based on actual skills instead of keyword-stuffed resumes.
What Toggl Hire Actually Does
Toggl Hire is a pre-employment skills testing platform:
Pre-built skill tests: 200+ ready-made tests covering common roles and skills—marketing, sales, customer support, software development, data analysis, writing, accounting, etc.
Custom test creation: Build your own tests with multiple choice, open-ended questions, file uploads, or video responses.
Auto-grading: Objective questions grade automatically. Subjective answers (essays, case studies) require manual review.
Candidate ranking: System ranks candidates by test performance. Shows top performers first so recruiters review the best candidates immediately.
ATS integration: Integrates with major ATS platforms—Greenhouse, Lever, BambooHR, Workable. Can also be used standalone.
Branded candidate experience: Customize tests with your company branding, logos, and messaging.
Anti-cheating features: Webcam proctoring, time limits, question randomization, tab-switching detection. Not foolproof but reduces obvious cheating.
What Makes It Actually Good
Tests are short: Most tests take 10-15 minutes, not 60-90 minutes like some platforms. Candidates can complete them on lunch breaks without blocking entire afternoons.
Questions are practical: Tests focus on real job tasks, not academic trivia. Marketing tests ask candidates to write email subject lines or analyze campaign data, not recite textbook definitions.
Mobile-friendly: Candidates can take tests on phones or tablets. Actually works well on mobile—not just technically accessible.
Fast to set up: Pre-built tests can be deployed in minutes. Pick a test template, customize a few questions if desired, send to candidates.
Affordable pricing: Starts at $20/month for small teams. Even enterprise pricing is reasonable compared to competitors like HireVue or Criteria.
Clean interface: Intuitive for both recruiters and candidates. No extensive training needed to use effectively.
What It Lacks
Not for complex assessments: This isn't for coding challenges, lengthy case studies, or multi-hour technical evaluations. It's designed for quick screening, not deep technical validation.
Limited advanced proctoring: Anti-cheating features are basic compared to dedicated proctoring platforms. Webcam monitoring is available but not as sophisticated as Proctorio or HireVue.
Subjective grading still manual: Essay questions, case studies, and open-ended responses require human review. No AI-assisted grading like some competitors offer.
Video interview limitations: Video response questions exist but platform isn't designed as a comprehensive video interviewing tool. If video interviews are your primary screening method, dedicated platforms like Spark Hire work better.
Reporting is basic: Candidate ranking and pass/fail data are clear, but advanced analytics are limited. No deep psychometric analysis or predictive validity studies.
Pre-Built Test Library
Toggl Hire offers 200+ ready-made tests covering common roles:
Marketing: Content marketing, digital marketing, SEO, social media management, email marketing, copywriting.
Sales: Inside sales, account management, business development, customer success.
Customer support: Customer service, technical support, help desk.
Software development: Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, React, Node.js, SQL, front-end, back-end.
Data and analytics: Data analysis, Excel, SQL, data visualization, business intelligence.
Administrative: Executive assistant, office management, scheduling, data entry.
Finance and accounting: Bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, financial analysis, QuickBooks.
Design: Graphic design, UX/UI design, Adobe Creative Suite.
Tests are regularly updated based on user feedback and evolving job requirements.
Pricing Breakdown
Toggl Hire uses straightforward, transparent pricing:
Starter: $20/month for up to 50 test invites per month. Good for small teams with occasional hiring needs.
Growth: $100/month for up to 500 test invites per month. Includes ATS integrations and premium support.
Scale: $300/month for unlimited test invites. Add-ons available for advanced features.
Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations. Includes dedicated support, custom contracts, additional security features.
No per-candidate charges—you pay for test invitations, not completions. Significant cost advantage over platforms that charge $10-30 per assessment.
Integration Options
Toggl Hire integrates with major recruiting tools:
ATS platforms: Greenhouse, Lever, BambooHR, Workable, JazzHR, SmartRecruiters. Send tests automatically when candidates reach certain pipeline stages.
Zapier: Connect to 5,000+ apps via Zapier. Build custom workflows without API development.
API access: Custom integrations possible via API on higher-tier plans.
Integration quality is generally solid—data flows reliably, setup is straightforward.
Real User Feedback
From G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius:
Positive:
- "Candidates actually complete the tests. Our completion rate is 85%+."
- "Dramatically reduced time spent screening unqualified resumes. We only interview candidates who pass skills tests."
- "Affordable. We're paying $100/month vs. $500+ for previous assessment platform."
- "Setup was incredibly easy. Had tests deployed within an hour of signing up."
- "Pre-built tests are surprisingly good. We use them with minimal customization."
Negative:
- "Not suitable for complex technical assessments. Works for screening, not deep evaluation."
- "We still need to manually review essay-style answers—no AI grading assistance."
- "Anti-cheating features are basic. Sophisticated cheaters could probably game the system."
- "Reporting could be more detailed. We export data and analyze in Excel."
- "Video question functionality exists but isn't as robust as dedicated video interview platforms."
How It Compares To Alternatives
Criteria Corp: More scientifically validated assessments, better psychometric rigor. Also more expensive and tests take longer.
TestGorilla: Similar concept, larger test library. Comparable pricing and features. Choice often comes down to specific test content preferences.
HireVue Assessments: More comprehensive platform with video interviewing and game-based assessments. Significantly more expensive and complex.
Codility (for tech roles): Dedicated platform for coding assessments with sophisticated code evaluation. Better for technical hiring, but limited to software development roles.
Wonderlic: Classic cognitive ability testing with strong validity research. More academic/abstract, less job-specific than Toggl Hire's practical tests.
Best Use Cases
What Toggl Hire is perfect for:
- High-volume hiring where resume screening is overwhelming (customer support, sales, marketing)
- Eliminating obviously unqualified candidates before phone screens
- Validating skills claimed on resumes (Excel proficiency, writing ability, basic coding)
- Small-to-mid size companies wanting affordable skills testing without enterprise complexity
- Roles where a 10-15 minute practical test reveals core competency
What it's not ideal for:
- Senior/executive hiring where assessments feel inappropriate
- Deep technical evaluation requiring 2-4 hour coding challenges
- Roles where skills testing could alienate top candidates (highly competitive markets)
- Organizations needing extensive psychometric validation and predictive analytics
- Complex, multi-stage assessment processes requiring sophisticated proctoring
The Bottom Line
Toggl Hire is excellent at what it's designed to do: quick, practical skills screening that's easy to use and affordable. It won't replace comprehensive technical assessments or in-depth evaluation, but it's fantastic for initial screening.
Rating: 8/10 - Excellent for what it does (quick, practical skills screening), affordable, and easy to use. Not meant for complex assessments, but that's not the point.
Sources:
AI-Generated Content
This article was generated using AI and should be considered entertainment and educational content only. While we strive for accuracy, always verify important information with official sources. Don't take it too seriously—we're here for the vibes and the laughs.