Video interviews aren't the future anymore. They're the default. According to SHRM's 2024 talent acquisition survey, 67% of recruiters use video interviews as a standard part of their process. For agencies doing cross-border hiring in Europe, it's closer to 85%.
The question isn't whether to use video — it's whether you need to pay for it. Here are eight platforms with free tiers, compared honestly.
Live vs One-Way: Quick Primer
Live video interviews are real-time conversations. Zoom, Teams, Google Meet. You're both on camera at the same time. Works for later-stage interviews where rapport and chemistry matter.
One-way (async) video interviews are recorded. You set questions, the candidate records their answers at their convenience, you review whenever. Brilliant for screening — you can review 20 candidates in the time it takes to schedule 3 live calls.
Most agencies should use both: one-way for screening, live for final rounds.
Free Live Video Platforms
1. Google Meet — Best Free Live Option
Free tier: 60-minute calls, up to 100 participants, no account needed for guests
Google Meet is the easiest free option. Candidates don't need a Google account to join — just click the link. Call quality is consistently good, screen sharing works, and the 60-minute limit is plenty for any interview.
The free tier doesn't include recording, which is a limitation for some agencies. But frankly, recording live interviews creates GDPR complexity you probably don't want to deal with anyway (more on that below).
Best for: Agencies that want zero friction for candidates.
2. Zoom — Most Widely Recognised
Free tier: 40-minute meetings (1:1 meetings are unlimited since 2024), 100 participants
Zoom's brand recognition still means candidates expect it. The 40-minute limit on group calls is annoying for panel interviews, but 1:1 calls have been unlimited since mid-2024. Recording is available on the free tier (local only, not cloud).
The waiting room feature adds a professional touch — candidates see a branded screen rather than staring at "waiting for host."
Best for: Panel interviews if you can keep them under 40 minutes (you should anyway).
3. Microsoft Teams (Free)
Free tier: 60-minute group meetings, 100 participants, screen sharing
Teams Free is solid if your candidates are in corporate environments where Teams is standard. The interface is busier than Zoom or Meet, but it works. The free tier includes recording, which is a differentiator.
The catch: Teams sometimes requires candidates to create a Microsoft account, depending on how you share the link. That's friction you don't want in recruitment.
Best for: Enterprise recruitment where candidates already use Teams daily.
Free One-Way (Async) Video Platforms
4. Willo — Best Free Async Platform
Free tier: 20 candidates/month, unlimited questions, team collaboration
Willo is purpose-built for recruitment video screening and their free tier is genuinely usable. 20 candidates per month covers most small agency needs. You create a set of questions (text or video prompts), share a link, and candidates record at their convenience.
The candidate experience is clean — no app download, works on mobile, includes practice questions. Willo also shows candidate completion rates, which helps you refine questions that cause drop-offs.
GDPR: UK-based company with EU data processing options. Strong compliance position.
Best for: Small agencies wanting async screening without paying. The 20/month limit is the only real constraint.
5. Hireflix — Generous Free Trial
Free trial: 14 days, full features
Hireflix's one-way interview platform is polished. Clean candidate interface, easy question setup, team review with rating and comments. The 14-day trial gives you full access, which is enough to run through one complete hiring cycle and evaluate the platform.
After the trial, plans start at $75/month. If async video becomes a core part of your process, it's worth budgeting for. But the trial alone lets you test thoroughly.
Best for: Agencies wanting to test one-way video before committing to a paid platform.
6. Spark Hire — Established Player, Free Trial
Free trial: 14-day trial with limited features
Spark Hire has been in the one-way video space since 2012 and it shows — the platform is mature. Features include customisable branding, deadline setting, automated reminders, and team evaluation workflows.
The free trial is restrictive compared to Hireflix but enough to test core functionality. Paid plans start at $149/month, which puts it in "established agency" territory.
Best for: Agencies already doing volume hiring who want a full-featured trial.
7. VidCruiter — Best for Structured Evaluation
Free demo/trial: Custom demo, limited trial available
VidCruiter combines one-way video with structured rating and digital interview guides. The evaluation framework is more sophisticated than most — interviewers rate specific competencies per question, not just an overall score.
Getting the free trial requires talking to sales, which is a hurdle. But if you're considering async video as a permanent workflow, VidCruiter is worth the demo call.
Best for: Agencies with structured hiring processes who want evaluation built into the video platform.
8. MyInterview — AI-Powered Analysis
Free tier: Limited free plan available
MyInterview adds AI analysis to one-way video — analysing word choice, speech patterns, and response structure to provide "fit" scores. The AI features are controversial (more on that below), but the core video platform works well.
The free tier is limited but functional for testing. Paid plans start at $39/month.
Best for: Agencies curious about AI-assisted video screening (but read the GDPR section first).
The GDPR Problem with Video Interviews
This matters for European recruiters. Recording video interviews creates personal data that falls under GDPR — and AI analysis of video adds another layer of complexity.
Recording consent: You must inform candidates before recording and obtain explicit consent. This applies to both live recordings and one-way video. Most platforms handle consent collection automatically, but verify this during setup.
AI analysis concerns: GDPR Article 22 restricts automated decision-making that significantly affects individuals. If AI video analysis is the primary factor in screening candidates out, you may need human review of every rejection. The EU AI Act (effective August 2026) adds further requirements for "high-risk" AI in employment.
Data residency: Where is video data stored? For some platforms, it's US servers only. Under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, this is permissible, but verify that your chosen platform is certified.
Retention: Set clear data retention policies. Video recordings should be deleted after a reasonable period — typically 6-12 months after the hiring decision. Keeping candidate videos indefinitely is indefensible.
Making Video Work in Your Process
Here's a practical setup that costs nothing:
- Screening (async): Willo free tier — 3-4 questions, 2 minutes per answer. Review in batch.
- First interview (live): Google Meet — 30-45 minutes, structured scorecard.
- Final interview (live): Google Meet or Zoom — panel with hiring manager.
This replaces the old phone-screen → face-to-face → second-face-to-face pipeline with something faster. Async video screening alone can cut your time-to-shortlist by 50% because you eliminate the scheduling dance entirely.
Yena integrates with video platforms so you can schedule interviews directly from the candidate profile and attach video reviews to the candidate record. Everything stays in one place — no switching between tabs.