Work Insiders directory

Curious Thing alternatives

4 tools our write-ups put next to Curious Thing, with starting price, free tier, MCP and API side by side.

Curious Thing from Sales-quoted API

The short answer

  • Ribbon : Public $499 voice interviewer if you want a grid instead of a Curious Thing quote. From $499/mo
  • HireVue : Enterprise structured video if voice-only is not enough. From Enterprise
  • Tenzo AI : Voice plus SMS plus WhatsApp if the screen must meet candidates on their phone. From Contact for pricing
  • Babblebots : High-volume AI interviewer if Curious Thing and Babblebots are the two quotes. From Sales-quoted

Why people look past Curious Thing

The vendor does not publish a pricing grid. Do not confuse it with the separate Lucy call-answering product sold at $24/mo.

What we noted

  • Quote-only
  • No published price grid or connector list
  • Easy to confuse with unrelated 'Curious Thing' call-answering SKUs

Not the right fit for

  • SMBs hunting a $24/mo voice bot
  • Teams that will not use AI interviews
  • Buyers who need a public price

Worth keeping in mind: Structured voice conversations at scale with a candidate-experience pitch, not a cheap SMS blaster.

Curious Thing alternatives compared

ToolFree tierFromMCPAPIHead to head
Curious Thing (the one you are on) –NoSales-quoted–No✓Yes
Ribbon Public $499 voice interviewer if you want a grid instead of a Curious Thing quote. –No$499/mo–No–NoHead to head
HireVue Enterprise structured video if voice-only is not enough. –NoEnterprise–No–NoHead to head
Tenzo AI Voice plus SMS plus WhatsApp if the screen must meet candidates on their phone. –NoContact for pricing–No✓YesHead to head
Babblebots High-volume AI interviewer if Curious Thing and Babblebots are the two quotes. –NoSales-quoted–No–NoHead to head

What each one does differently

Ribbon

$499/mo Free trial

Why it comes up: Public $499 voice interviewer if you want a grid instead of a Curious Thing quote.

Stands out: A public interview-capacity grid ($499 / $999 / $1,999) plus Ashby, Greenhouse, Lever, Bullhorn, Workday, and Workable named.

Watch out: Growth is 100 interviews/mo with $4 overage. This is not a $49 toy. Overage will dominate a busy week.

Best for

  • TA teams running high-volume voice screens
  • Companies on Greenhouse, Ashby, Lever, or Workday
  • Desks that want a 7-day trial before a $499 seat

Read the Ribbon write-up Curious Thing vs Ribbon

HireVue

Enterprise

Why it comes up: Enterprise structured video if voice-only is not enough.

Stands out: Video interviews and validated assessments in one enterprise suite.

Watch out: No published price, and it is far heavier than a small team needs for async video.

Best for

  • Enterprise talent teams standardising video interviews
  • Teams that need assessments before an onsite
  • High-volume employers that cannot run live first rounds

4.5 on Capterra from 50 reviews

Read the HireVue write-up Curious Thing vs HireVue

Tenzo AI

Contact for pricing API

Why it comes up: Voice plus SMS plus WhatsApp if the screen must meet candidates on their phone.

Stands out: Morgan, a screening agent that hits every applicant by phone/SMS/WhatsApp and writes a scored shortlist back, with 57-plus ATS names including Bullhorn, Workday, iCIMS, SAP SuccessFactors, and Greenhouse.

Watch out: Quote-only enterprise motion. A two-recruiter shop will be over-served.

Best for

  • High-volume TA that wants every applicant screened
  • Healthcare, hourly, and always-on hiring
  • Workday, Bullhorn, iCIMS, or Greenhouse customers

Read the Tenzo AI write-up Curious Thing vs Tenzo AI

Babblebots

Sales-quoted Free trial

Why it comes up: High-volume AI interviewer if Curious Thing and Babblebots are the two quotes.

Stands out: Video and chat screening bots with Greenhouse, Lever, Workable, and BambooHR named, plus a 7-day / 50-credit trial.

Watch out: After the trial you are on AI credits and a quote. This is volume screening, not executive search.

Best for

  • High-volume hiring teams
  • Companies on Greenhouse, Lever, Workable, or BambooHR
  • Desks that will take a 7-day trial

Read the Babblebots write-up Curious Thing vs Babblebots

Common questions

What is the best Curious Thing alternative?
It depends on what sent you looking. Our write-ups put Ribbon closest to Curious Thing. Why it comes up: Public $499 voice interviewer if you want a grid instead of a Curious Thing quote. The table above shows all 4 on price, free tier, MCP and API.
What is the cheapest Curious Thing alternative?
Of the published starting prices here, Ribbon is lowest at $499/mo. Starting price is the entry plan, not the seat count you will end up on, so read the plan table on each listing.

Keep looking

Back to the Curious Thing write-up Every Interviewing tool we list Search the whole directory

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 17 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?