Compare/Head to head

Ribbon vs ShortlistIQ

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Ribbon

$199/mo Free trial

Voice AI interviewer for screening at volume. Starter is $199/mo billed monthly with 50 interviews; paid plans start with a free trial.

Where Ribbon fits

  • TA teams running high-volume voice screens
  • Companies on Greenhouse, Ashby, Lever, or Workday
  • Independent recruiters who want a $199 monthly plan with no commitment
  • Top-of-funnel screening, not final-round interviews

ShortlistIQ

$49/mo Free tier

Conversational AI that runs first-round interviews and scores them. Free plan for 10 applicants; Basic is $49/mo.

Where ShortlistIQ fits

  • Startups testing AI first-rounds
  • TA teams that want scored interview reports without an enterprise RFP
  • Desks that will start on the free 10-applicant plan
  • High-volume screening that is not yet HireVue-shaped

At a glance

DetailRibbonShortlistIQ
Starting price$199/mo$49/mo
Free tier–No✓Yes
Free trialYesNot on record
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underInterviewing, AI interviewingInterviewing, AI interviewing

Where they pull apart

Ribbon

Stands out: A public monthly grid ($199 / $499 / $999) with no commitment, plus Ashby, Greenhouse, Lever, Bullhorn, Workday, and Workable named.

Watch out: Each plan has an included interview count and extra interviews cost $3 each. Overage will dominate a busy week.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams that will not use AI voice
  • Executive search

ShortlistIQ

Stands out: A public $49 Basic plus a real free rung. That is rare in AI interviewing, which is usually quote-only.

Watch out: Basic is a startup cap (20 interviews). Agencies are on Premium at $599/mo.

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprises that need Workday-native voice AI
  • Teams that refuse AI interviews
  • Agencies that need $49 to mean unlimited

Pros and cons

Ribbon

  • Public $199 Starter, billed monthly, with a free trial
  • Named ATS list including Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workday
  • Capacity plus overage instead of a pure quote
  • $3 per interview overage
  • Included interview counts are listed inconsistently on the pricing page
  • Not a human interviewer marketplace

ShortlistIQ

  • Public $49 Basic instead of a pure quote
  • Free plan to try 10 applicants
  • Scored first-round reports without a human interviewer marketplace
  • Volume caps on Basic
  • Integration list is not published in detail
  • Not an ATS

What each one costs

Ribbon

$199/mo

Plans are billed monthly with no commitment. Starter is $199/mo with 50 interviews included. Growth is $499/mo and Business $999/mo, with $3 per interview over the included amount. Enterprise is custom with unlimited interviews. Paid plans start with a free trial. The pricing page shows two versions of the included-interview counts for Growth and Business, so check the current figure at signup. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

ShortlistIQ

$49/mo

Free tier; paid from $49/mo (Basic). Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Ribbon cheaper than ShortlistIQ?
ShortlistIQ starts lower, at $49/mo against $199/mo for Ribbon. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Ribbon or ShortlistIQ for free?
ShortlistIQ carries a free tier on our listing. Ribbon offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?