Video Interview Platforms Compared: HireVue vs Spark Hire vs Sonru

If you've received a video interview invitation, you've probably noticed the format is strikingly similar no matter which company name appears in the branding: a question appears on screen, you get a short prep countdown, then you record a timed response — sometimes with one retake allowed, sometimes with none. That's because the one-way video interview market has consolidated significantly over the past few years, and most platforms converge on the same core mechanic because it's what scales best for high-volume graduate and early-careers hiring.

What differs between platforms is less about the candidate-facing format and more about who's licensing the tool, how scoring works behind the scenes, and whether it's paired with live interviews, coding tests, or a broader assessment suite like Pymetrics or an SHL battery.

HireVue is the largest and best-known video interview platform, used by major employers across banking, consulting, technology, and retail. Candidates answer a set of pre-written questions with a short preparation window (often around 30 seconds) followed by a timed response (typically 2–3 minutes). Earlier versions of HireVue used facial-analysis AI scoring; the company has since moved away from that approach following industry-wide scrutiny of algorithmic bias, and most current HireVue deployments are scored by trained human reviewers against structured, competency-based rubrics, sometimes supported by automated transcription and keyword/competency-matching tools rather than facial analysis.

For a full breakdown of HireVue's format, question types, and scoring, see our dedicated HireVue interview guide.

Spark Hire is a widely used video interviewing platform, particularly popular with small and mid-sized employers, staffing agencies, and recruiters rather than the largest graduate schemes. It offers both one-way (pre-recorded) and live video interview formats within the same platform, and is generally positioned around ease of use for hiring teams rather than large-scale automated scoring.

If you're invited to a Spark Hire interview, expect a broadly similar experience to HireVue's one-way format — recorded answers to a fixed set of questions — though the interface, timing defaults, and retake allowances can differ by employer configuration. Live Spark Hire interviews function like a standard video call and should be prepared for the same way as any other live video interview.

Two other platform names you may still see referenced in older job postings, recruiter emails, or university careers-service guidance are Sonru and Modern Hire. Sonru, an Ireland-founded one-way video interview provider popular with law firms and professional services recruiters, and Modern Hire, a US-based assessment and interviewing platform, were both acquired by HireVue in the early 2020s as the market consolidated. If your invitation mentions either name, in practice you're very likely using HireVue's underlying platform and infrastructure today, even if some employer-specific branding or workflow still references the older name.

Beyond the major names above, a growing number of smaller and newer providers offer similar one-way and live video interviewing tools, including Willo, VidCruiter, myInterview, and Vervoe (which leans more toward skills-based work-sample testing than pure interview questions). Some applicant tracking systems also include a built-in video screening feature under their own branding rather than a separate named product.

Whatever the platform name, the practical advice is the same: read the instructions carefully (number of questions, prep time, response time, number of retakes allowed), test your camera and microphone in advance, and prepare concise answers to the most likely questions for your target employer and role.

Some employers use one-way video as an early screening stage before a live interview later in the process; others skip straight to live video. Our video interview tips guide covers technical setup and delivery for both formats in detail.

• Prepare 10–15 core answers, not platform-specific tricks. Cover the most common motivational and competency questions in STAR format — these transfer across every platform.
• Practise on camera, not just in your head. Record yourself answering with a countdown timer to build comfort with the exact time constraints you'll face.
• Check the technical requirements early. Confirm your browser, camera, and microphone are compatible with the specific platform named in your invitation, ideally a day or two before your deadline.
• Read the retake policy. Some platforms allow one retake per question, others allow none — know this before you start recording so you're not caught off guard.
• Treat every platform as seriously as an in-person interview. Dress professionally, choose a quiet, well-lit space, and maintain eye contact with the camera lens rather than the screen.