Pymetrics

  • What it is:Pymetrics is a neuroscience-based AI platform using games and assessments to make hiring unbiased, predictive, and focused on cognitive/emotional traits.
  • Best for:Large enterprises (500+ employees), High-volume early career hiring, Diversity & bias reduction initiatives
  • Pricing:Starting from $10,000/year
  • Rating:75/100Good
  • Expert's conclusion:Pymetrics provides an ideal solution for large organizations that are committed to using data to make unbiased hiring decisions focused on candidate long term fit and diversity versus the traditional process of reviewing resumes.
Reviewed byMaxim Manylov·Web3 Engineer & Serial Founder

What Is Pymetrics and What Does It Do?

Pymetrics was an HR AI-based platform which used neuroscience games combined with machine learning to provide a fair candidate assessment for hiring and internal career moves. Developed by two PhDs who were both trained at Harvard and MIT, it identified candidates for jobs based on cognitive and emotional characteristics which are similar to those of top performers. In 2022, Pymetrics was purchased by Harver, and is currently part of Harver’s talent acquisition solution offerings for enterprises globally.

Acquired
📍New York, NY
📅Founded 2012
🏢Acquired
TARGET SEGMENTS
EnterprisesFortune 500Recruiting TeamsHR Departments

What Are Pymetrics's Key Business Metrics?

👥
1,300+
Customers
📊
100M+
Candidates Processed
📊
$56.6M
Funding Raised
💵
$5.7M (2024)
Annual Revenue
🏢
41
Employees

How Credible and Trustworthy Is Pymetrics?

75/100
Good

This was another established HR AI company which has developed a lot of traction among enterprise customers prior to being acquired by Harver; it also had a proven product-market fit demonstrated via its over $50 million dollars of funding and over 100 million assessments completed, although now it is included in a much larger platform.

Product Maturity85/100
Company Stability65/100
Security & Compliance70/100
User Reviews75/100
Transparency70/100
Support Quality75/100
Processed 100M+ candidatesUsed by Booking.com, McDonald's, UnileverRaised $56.6M from top VCs including KhoslaAcquired by established HR tech company Harver

What is the history of Pymetrics and its key milestones?

2012

Company Founded

Founded by Harvard/MIT trained PhDs Frida Polli and Julie Yoo to develop neuroscience-based hiring assessments.

2013

Seed Funding

First round of funding, led by Khosla Ventures, began to build the AI-based talent assessment platform.

2015-2017

Multiple Series A Rounds

Series A, A-II, and A-III rounds of funding from Khosla Ventures and additional investors allowed the company to grow its neuroscience-based game platform.

2018

Series B Funding

Completed Series B funding, again led by Khosla Ventures, to continue to grow the number of enterprise customers.

2022

Acquired by Harver

Purchased by Harver on August 11, 2022, the technology from Pymetrics will be integrated into Harver’s all-encompassing talent acquisition platform.

What Are the Key Features of Pymetrics?

Neuroscience Games
Each of the 20-minute mobile friendly games measures 50 plus different cognitive and emotional characteristics that can predict how well a person will perform in a given role.
Bias-Free Matching
The AI algorithms are trained on company specific data regarding the top performers in each role to ensure that candidates are matched without the bias from resumes, gender, or ethnicity.
Benchmark Profiles
Creates ideal trait profiles for each role from existing high performing employees to allow for precise candidate/job matches.
Common Candidate Application
Uses each individual assessment for multiple purposes throughout the company, maximizing the candidate experience and minimizing redundancy.
Internal Mobility
Allows employers to use assessments to identify potential internal candidates for open roles based on previously created trait profiles.
Algorithmic Audits
Continuously validates to eliminate any unintended biases toward gender, ethnicity, or other demographic groups.

What Technology Stack and Infrastructure Does Pymetrics Use?

Infrastructure

Cloud-based SaaS (pre-acquisition details limited)

Technologies

AI/MLNeuroscienceMobile GamesData Science

Integrations

ATS SystemsHRIS PlatformsApplicant TrackingWorkday

AI/ML Capabilities

Machine learning algorithms trained on high-performer trait data using cognitive neuroscience principles for predictive matching; audited for demographic fairness

Inferred from product descriptions across RocketReach, Workday Ventures, CB Insights

What Are the Best Use Cases for Pymetrics?

Enterprise Recruiting Teams
Replaces traditional resume screening with neuroscience-based assessments that have shown to predict job success 3-4 times better than previous methods, while removing unconscious bias from the hiring process.
Volume High-Volume Hiring
Thousands of job applicants can be screened efficiently for jobs in retail, consulting and Consumer Goods companies through automated trait matching.
Internal Mobility Programs
Employees already in place can be matched to new positions that are based upon demonstrated trait profiles; this is a means of lowering external hiring costs.
Graduate/Entry-Level Hiring
Potential can be assessed when applicants do not have any work experience by assessing their innate cognitive/emotional traits through measurement.
NOT FORHighly Technical Roles
Games designed to assess cognitive ability (as examples) are not an adequate substitute for direct testing to assess the specialized skills required for engineering or scientific professions.
NOT FORSmall Businesses (<100 employees)
The enterprise pricing model for Pymetrics is not cost effective for low volume hiring needs.

How Much Does Pymetrics Cost and What Plans Are Available?

Pricing information with service tiers, costs, and details
Service$CostDetails🔗Source
Subscription$10,000/yearStarting price for enterprise subscription-based pricingSoftwareFinder, SelectHub
Custom EnterpriseCustom quoteTailored pricing for large organizationsMultiple third-party sites
Subscription$10,000/year
Starting price for enterprise subscription-based pricing
SoftwareFinder, SelectHub
Custom EnterpriseCustom quote
Tailored pricing for large organizations
Multiple third-party sites

How Does Pymetrics Compare to Competitors?

FeaturePymetricsHireVueEightfold.aiSeekOut
Core FunctionalityNeuroscience gamified assessmentsVideo interviews & AI scoringTalent intelligence platformSourcing & diversity hiring
Pricing (starting)$10,000/yearCustom enterprise$100,000+/yearCustom enterprise
Free TierNoNoNoNo
Enterprise FeaturesCustom algorithms, bias testingSSO, integrationsSSO, workforce planningSSO, analytics
API AvailabilityNoYesYesYes
Integration Count15+ (Greenhouse, Workday, etc.)Multiple ATSATS + HRISATS + LinkedIn
Support OptionsDocumentation, live training, webinarsEnterprise supportEnterprise supportEnterprise support
Security CertificationsISO 27001SOC 2SOC 2SOC 2
Core Functionality
PymetricsNeuroscience gamified assessments
HireVueVideo interviews & AI scoring
Eightfold.aiTalent intelligence platform
SeekOutSourcing & diversity hiring
Pricing (starting)
Pymetrics$10,000/year
HireVueCustom enterprise
Eightfold.ai$100,000+/year
SeekOutCustom enterprise
Free Tier
PymetricsNo
HireVueNo
Eightfold.aiNo
SeekOutNo
Enterprise Features
PymetricsCustom algorithms, bias testing
HireVueSSO, integrations
Eightfold.aiSSO, workforce planning
SeekOutSSO, analytics
API Availability
PymetricsNo
HireVueYes
Eightfold.aiYes
SeekOutYes
Integration Count
Pymetrics15+ (Greenhouse, Workday, etc.)
HireVueMultiple ATS
Eightfold.aiATS + HRIS
SeekOutATS + LinkedIn
Support Options
PymetricsDocumentation, live training, webinars
HireVueEnterprise support
Eightfold.aiEnterprise support
SeekOutEnterprise support
Security Certifications
PymetricsISO 27001
HireVueSOC 2
Eightfold.aiSOC 2
SeekOutSOC 2

How Does Pymetrics Compare to Competitors?

vs HireVue

While both HireVue and Pymetrics use neuroscience-based gamified assessments for measuring soft skills and bias reduction, Pymetrics uses more robust methods for auditing bias and HireVue uses a broader variety of assessment types.

Select Pymetrics for behavioral trait matching, select HireVue for video-based evaluations.

vs Eightfold.ai

Eightfold is a comprehensive talent intelligence provider for both external sourcing and internal mobility throughout the entire workforce life cycle, whereas Pymetrics is a provider focused on match/assessments. Although Eightfold has a greater market presence than Pymetics, it also charges more.

Select Eightfold for complete talent management, select Pymetrics for targeted skill-based assessments.

vs SeekOut

SeekOut has superior search functionality for discovering diverse candidates from 800 million + profiles, whereas Pymetrics is focused on post-discovery behavioral assessments. SeekOut will be a better fit for sourcing and Pymetrics will be a better fit for evaluating the fairness of assessments.

Select SeekOut for discovering candidates, select Pymtics for unbiased assessment matching.

vs Harver (acquired Pymetrics)

Following its acquisition by Harver, the Pymetrics platform was enhanced to include additional assessment tools that were previously available on Harvers' platform. These assessment tools include personality, cognitive, and situational judgment tests.

The combined assessment offerings of Harver and Pymetics create a single platform with the largest assessment offering.

What are the strengths and limitations of Pymetrics?

Pros

  • Assessments developed through neuroscientific principles — measure a person's actual cognitive ability, beyond what is reflected on a resume.
  • Reduces strong bias — each algorithm is regularly tested for bias and audited AI
  • Talent algorithms customized — developed from your top performers for exact matches
  • Covers full talent life cycle — hiring, developing, moving internally
  • Compliant with ISO 27001 — secure data of all sensitive talent information
  • 15+ ATS integration available — compatible with Greenhouse, Workday and SAP SuccessFactors
  • Increases candidate engagement — gamification increases user preference and testing engagement than traditional assessments

Cons

  • Only offers Enterprise Pricing — starting price is $10,000 per year — too large for small business to afford
  • Has been acquired by Harver — uncertain what this will do to its product roadmap — possible rebrand
  • Not transparent about their pricing — need to get a quote through a sales person
  • There is no free tier or trial — difficult for teams to test before they commit to purchase
  • Does not offer an API — limited the ability to create custom connections other than the standard ATS connectors
  • Requires Training to Implement — strongly recommend that users go through a formal training process when first using the assessment tool
  • Candidate Review Volume — there are only a handful of public reviews of the service which makes it very difficult to validate ROI

Who Is Pymetrics Best For?

Best For

  • Large enterprises (500+ employees)Justifies Pricing based on Volume Hiring Needs and Compliance Requirements — Pymetrics provides a way for companies to scale their hiring processes while minimizing the risk of unconscious bias.
  • High-volume early career hiringMaximize candidate engagement and completion rate with gamified assessments
  • Diversity & bias reduction initiativesProvides audited algorithms — the specific purpose of these is to eliminate as much unconscious bias as possible
  • Global technology and finance companiesEnterprise Clients such as ADT — can provide complex hiring solutions.
  • Organizations using Greenhouse or WorkdaySeamless native integrations — can save you a lot of time when implementing the solution

Not Suitable For

  • Small businesses and startupsToo Expensive for Low-Hiring-Volume Companies — consider TestGorilla or Criteria Corp.
  • Individual recruiters or agenciesEnterprise-Focused Pricing and Implementation — consider LinkedIn Assessments or free tools.
  • Technical skills assessment needsFocused on Soft Skills / Behavioral Traits — use HackerRank or Codility if you want to conduct coding assessments.

Are There Usage Limits or Geographic Restrictions for Pymetrics?

Minimum Contract
$10,000/year starting price
API Access
No public API available
Free Trial
Request required, not publicly available
Free Tier
Not available
User Limits
Enterprise licensing only
Integrations
15+ ATS including Greenhouse, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors
Compliance
ISO 27001 certified
Assessment Focus
Behavioral/soft skills only, not technical skills
Pricing Transparency
Custom quotes required, no self-serve

Is Pymetrics Secure and Compliant?

ISO 27001Information security management system certification for enterprise compliance.
Bias Audited AIAll talent matching algorithms routinely tested for fairness and bias mitigation.
Data EncryptionSecure handling of sensitive candidate cognitive and behavioral data.
ATS IntegrationsSecure OAuth/SAML integrations with enterprise ATS platforms.
GDPR ComplianceSupports EU data protection requirements for global enterprises.
Custom Algorithm SecurityCompany-defined talent models protected with enterprise access controls.

What Customer Support Options Does Pymetrics Offer?

Channels
Available via contact form on websiteEnterprise clients only
Hours
Business hours
Response Time
Not publicly specified; enterprise clients receive priority support
Satisfaction
Not available in public reviews
Specialized
Dedicated support for enterprise customers with custom implementations
Business Tier
Priority access for enterprise clients including implementation assistance
Support Limitations
No phone or live chat support mentioned publicly
Support details require sales contact for enterprise plans

What APIs and Integrations Does Pymetrics Support?

API Type
REST API available for integration with ATS systems
Authentication
API keys and OAuth supported for partner integrations
Webhooks
Supported for candidate assessment completion and match events
SDKs
No official SDKs; integrates via standard HTTP APIs
Documentation
Partner documentation available; requires account access
Sandbox
Testing environment available for partners
SLA
Enterprise SLAs with high uptime; specifics via sales
Rate Limits
Custom limits based on plan; not publicly detailed
Use Cases
ATS integration (e.g., SmartRecruiters), automated candidate screening, results retrieval

What Are Common Questions About Pymetrics?

Pymetrics uses 12 neuroscience-based mini-games to measure 90 cognitive, emotional and behavioral traits in less than 30 minutes. The results are compared to those of a company’s top performers to determine how well a candidate fits the job. After the assessment, candidates receive personalized feedback and matching recommendations.

Pricing is determined by an enterprise client's number of applicants each year. There is no tiered pricing. Quotes require a sales contact, as the SaaS pricing is customized for the client's organization size and hiring needs.

Unlike traditional resume reviews or self-reporting of test scores, Pymetrics utilizes behavioral data collected objectively through games which eliminate bias based on a candidate’s demographics. The system identifies and matches on intrinsic personality traits that have been proven effective among the highest performing employees at a company, leading to improved hire quality and diversity.

Yes, Pymetrics maintains ISO 27001 compliance and employs audited AI in order to ensure that all demographic biases (i.e. race, ethnicity, gender) are eliminated from candidate processing. Candidates are processed anonymously, with demographic information being removed from assessments.

Yes, Pymetrics can be integrated with Applicant Tracking Systems such as SmartRecruiters. The assessment results are fed directly into the hiring workflow to provide seamless integration for screening and matching.

When a candidate is rejected, they will be automatically matched to a different role within the Pymetrics ecosystem to improve the candidate experience and facilitate the sourcing of passive candidates.

There does not appear to be a publically offered free trial option; however, a free demo for enterprise clients is available upon request through sales contact. Additionally, implementation includes providing training for optimal usage.

Yes, the audited bias-free algorithms used by Pymetrics have enabled companies such as Unilever and Accenture to increase their numbers of diverse hires by removing unconscious biases from their screening processes.

Is Pymetrics Worth It?

Pymetrics provides a unique approach to talent assessment using neuroscience, resulting in reduced bias and improved hire quality through gamification of evaluation methods. While acquired by Harver, Pymetrics excels in the area of skill-based matching for large scale hiring endeavors; however, requires customization in terms of pricing and setup. Pymetrics is best suited for organizations with high volumes of recruiting activity where the need for culture fit and employee retention are critical.

Recommended For

  • High-volume recruiting enterprises
  • Organizations committed to increasing diversity and eliminating bias
  • Tech, finance and retail industries looking for assessments of soft-skills
  • HR departments focused on predictive hiring and retaining employees

!
Use With Caution

  • Small businesses; due to custom enterprise pricing
  • Teams requiring a simple, plug-and-play solution without the requirement of extensive training
  • Positions focusing on hard skills rather than behavioral characteristics

Not Recommended For

  • Startups looking for cost-effective solutions, constrained by budgets
  • Low volume of hiring; therefore, limited need to assess applicants
  • Organizations looking to customize applicant assessment and evaluation far beyond what would be done to identify top performers
Expert's Conclusion

Pymetrics provides an ideal solution for large organizations that are committed to using data to make unbiased hiring decisions focused on candidate long term fit and diversity versus the traditional process of reviewing resumes.

Best For
High-volume recruiting enterprisesOrganizations committed to increasing diversity and eliminating biasTech, finance and retail industries looking for assessments of soft-skills

What do expert reviews and research say about Pymetrics?

Key Findings

Pymetics utilizes neuroscience based gaming assessments which measure ninety different behavioral traits to match candidates to job openings. Utilizing audit AI tools Pymetrics has shown to reduce bias in all forms.

Data Quality

Good - detailed insights from company descriptions, partner pages, and industry analyses. Limited public data on pricing, support, and API specifics requires sales contact.

Risk Factors

!
Pricing strategy is enterprise only with no transparency
!
Relies upon the performance of top performing employees as benchmarks
!
Changes can occur in post-merger integrations
!
The configuration requires specific training to properly implement
Last updated: January 2026

What Additional Information Is Available for Pymetrics?

Acquisition by Harver

Pymetrics was acquired by Harver, expanding its ability to provide services through a larger talent acquisition platform. The combination of neuroscience based assessments, sourcing, and other talent acquisition technologies enables Pymetrics to provide clients a comprehensive solution for their hiring needs.

Notable Customers

Pymetics is trusted by several enterprise level companies such as Unilever, LinkedIn, Accenture, ADT, and Chalhoub Group. These clients have reported a doubling of the number of interviews resulting in hires and increased diversity.

Awards & Bias Auditing

Pymetics features open source Audit AI tool, which has been proven to eliminate gender, ethnic, racial and other biases from the hiring process, thereby providing compliant and fair hiring practices.

Industry Focus

Pymetics provides services to clients in the technology, financial services, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing industries focusing on cultural fit and soft skills.

Partnerships

Pymetics offers marketplace integration with Smart Recruiters to enable seamless workflow with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and supports ecosystem matching of rejected candidates across multiple client networks.

What Are the Best Alternatives to Pymetrics?

  • Harver: The parent company of Pymetrics that offers a range of pre-hire assessments including cognitive, personality and situational judgment tests as well as the broadest feature set post-acquisition as Pymetrics has similar bias control systems in place and is best suited for large organizations requiring a comprehensive suite of talent acquisition tools. (harver.com)
  • HackerRank: Coding assessment platform based on skills used to evaluate candidates for technical positions, it is better suited to assess hard skills compared to Pymetics' assessment of soft skills; there is also a free tier and is more budget friendly. It is best for use in tech hiring pipelines. (hackerrank.com)
  • Criteria Corp: Pre-employment testing for cognitive ability, personality, and skills, with bias controls similar to those at Pymetrics; however, it lacks the game element of the Pymetric's assessments and is cost effective for companies in the middle market. It is best for companies looking for standardized assessments with limited ability to create benchmarks specific to their own company. (criteriacorp.com)
  • Wynter: Utilizes artificial intelligence to support product development and hiring decisions through behavioral science; although not as specialized in hiring as Pymetrics, Wynter does overlap in terms of measuring traits and is a developer-friendly tool. It is best for agile teams that are trying to find the best fit for each candidate in relation to the current job market. (wynter.com)
  • Modern Hire: Provides an end-to-end hiring solution that includes assessments, video interviewing and AI based screening, this is more of a holistic approach to hiring versus Pymetrics which focuses on assessments. Modern Hire is best for companies with enterprise scale needs that require an integrated solution for all aspects of hiring. (modernhire.com)

What Ai Automation Capabilities Does Pymetrics Offer?

Neuroscience Gamified Assessments

Behavioral science games provide objective measurements of candidate cognitive abilities, emotional traits and personality characteristics by eliminating reliance on resumes or self-reported information.

Custom Success Algorithm Building

Develops AI-based algorithms tailored to the specific requirements of each role by building upon cognitive and behavioral data from top performers. The algorithm is tested for bias on a routine basis.

AI Candidate-Job Matching

Matches candidates to the most suitable role(s) within the company or Pymetrics network based on the candidate's behavioral fit score. Candidates are redirected to the appropriate role as opposed to being rejected.

Bias Detection & Algorithm Auditing

Continuously monitors and tests its algorithms for fairness in regards to demographic representation. This supports both compliance and diversity equity inclusion (DEI) objectives.

Audit-AI Performance Analysis

Analyzes the past performance of employees to identify potential biases in decision-making and to improve these processes.

Assessment Accessibility Features

Has been designed to meet the standards outlined in the Americans With Disabilities Act Employment Act (ADEA), it has also incorporated modifications for individuals with color blindness, learning disabilities and ADHD.

What Workforce Planning Capabilities Does Pymetrics Offer?

Workforce Gap Analysis

Uses consistently collected employee performance information (i.e., "assessment" data) to identify a lack of skills or behaviors among all employees in an organization.

Internal Talent Mobility Matching

Based upon an individual's behavioral profile and the company's success algorithm, redirects existing employees to a better fit job.

Success Profile Benchmarking

Establishes specific behavioral standards for each position by evaluating the behavior of high performing individuals, and utilizing this as a basis for making talent related decisions throughout the company.

Learning & Development Recommendations

Suggests specific development opportunities for existing employees that are designed to close identified behavioral gaps versus those associated with the potential for success in their current role.

Talent Lifecycle Assessment

Consistently uses behavioral evaluations for all hiring, promotions and other talent-related decisions.

What Is Pymetrics's Talent Data Integration Specs?

Behavioral Data Collection
Neuroscience games capturing 50+ cognitive & emotional traits
Custom Algorithm Training Data
Top performer behavioral profiles per role
Website Embedding
pymetrics widget for career site integration
SAML Authentication
Enterprise-grade single sign-on support
Video Interview Integration
Combines behavioral science assessments with video interviews in unified workflow.

What Is Pymetrics's Ai Compliance And Fairness Audit Status?

Age Discrimination (ADEA)Age-neutral assessment design
Algorithmic Bias AuditingContinuous fairness testing across demographics
Data Security (FIPS)Federal-grade encryption for candidate data
Disability AccommodationAccessible assessments for diverse abilities
GDPR Data ProcessingEU data protection standards
EEO Disparate Impact MonitoringFair hiring outcomes across protected classes

What Is Pymetrics's Platform Architecture Technical Specs?

Deployment Model
Cloud-native SaaS platform
Data Encryption Standard
FIPS-approved end-to-end encryption
Website Integration
Embeddable assessment widget
Authentication
SAML single sign-on
Accessibility Compliance
ADEA, disability accommodations built-in
Assessment Delivery
Mobile-responsive gamified games

How Does Pymetrics's Market Adoption And Competitive Positioning Compare?

CapabilityAdoption RateMarket TrendCompetitive StatusStrategic Significance
Gamified Behavioral Assessment42%GrowingDifferentiatorPymetrics pioneer. High engagement, completion rates vs traditional tests.
Neuroscience Cognitive Measurement28%Rapid GrowthDifferentiatorResearch-backed trait measurement beyond resumes. pymetrics category leader.
Bias-Audited AI Matching35%GrowingDifferentiatorFairness-first algorithms routinely tested. Essential for regulated industries.
Internal Mobility Matching38%GrowingDifferentiatorRedirect don't reject philosophy unique to pymetrics ecosystem.
Custom Success Profile Algorithms25%GrowingDifferentiatorCompany-specific behavioral benchmarks from top performers.
Early-Career Pipeline Screening55%PlateauDifferentiatorStrongest in graduate/entry-level hiring with engaging assessment experience.
Video + Behavioral Assessment Combo45%GrowingTable-StakesExpected combination for comprehensive early screening.

How Does Pymetrics's Evaluation Framework And Selection Criteria Compare?

Evaluation CategoryWeightKey Evaluation QuestionsScoring GuidanceMinimal Acceptable
Behavioral Science Validation30%Neuroscience backing? Game-based or questionnaire? Traits measured? Research publications?Published neuroscience research + 50+ traits = 95-100pts. Basic psychometrics = 60pts. Unvalidated = 20pts.Minimum 80pts. Must demonstrate scientific validity beyond surveys.
Fairness & Bias Auditing25%Continuous algorithm testing? Disparate impact results? Third-party audits? Transparency?Routine fairness testing + results sharing = 95pts. Claims without proof = 40pts. No testing = 0pts.Minimum 85pts. Bias reduction is table-stakes for behavioral AI.
Custom Success Modeling20%Builds from client top-performer data? Role-specific algorithms? Implementation timeline?Rapid custom algorithm deployment from client data = 95pts. Generic benchmarks only = 50pts.Minimum 75pts. Must personalize to client success profiles.
Internal Mobility & Retention Impact15%Redirects vs rejects? Internal matching success rate? Career pathing support?Proven internal mobility results = 90pts. External hiring only = 40pts.Minimum 70pts. Must support full talent lifecycle.

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