A recruiter screen is short, so a free 15-minute session can cover much of it. Our pick for 2027 is CoPilot Interview, which we make, because its free plan is long enough for the opening of a screen and resets daily, with mock interviews for rehearsal. A recruiter is checking simple things: can you do the job on paper, do you sound reasonable, and does the salary fit? So prepare those. Here is how free plans compare for a screening call, what to rehearse and how to handle a phone screen. See the recruiter screen guide.
Free plans for a screening call
| Tool | Free session | Covers a 15-minute screen? | Covers a 30-minute screen? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoPilot Interview (ours) ★ Best choice | 15 minutes, daily | Yes | First half; a $9.99 hour pack covers it all |
| LockedIn AI | 5 minutes | In three pieces | In six pieces |
| Verve AI | 15 minutes, 3 a month | Yes | Two sessions |
| Sensei AI | 15 minutes | Yes | Check its plan |
| Parakeet AI | 10 minutes | In two pieces | In three pieces |
| Interview Sidekick | 2 minutes | No | No |
Competitor details are as each vendor described them on its own site, checked in October 2026. They change often, so confirm before you pay.
What the recruiter is checking
- That your experience matches the role's basics, and that your résumé is accurate.
- Your salary range, your location, your work rights and when you could start.
- Why you are leaving and why this company, in plain language.
- That you can explain what you do without jargon, since many recruiters are not specialists.
- Whether you sound like someone they can put in front of a hiring manager.
- Recruiter screening calls goes into each.
What to rehearse
- A 45-second background, ending with why this role.
- One recent achievement with a number.
- Your salary range, said without apology. Check the market first.
- Your notice period and availability.
- Why you are looking, with nothing negative about your employer.
- Three questions: the process, the team and what success looks like.
- Run these aloud once a day for three days.
Phone screens
Many screens are audio-only. A desktop assistant needs the call's audio to play through your computer, so ask for a Zoom or Teams audio link if you want captions, or take the call on a softphone. If it is on your mobile, keep your notes in front of you, and rely on rehearsal; no app can hear a call on the same phone. See our free plan comparison for more. Stand up, smile and have water nearby. Follow your employer's process if a recruiter asks you anything about tools.
Mistakes that end a screen
- Not being able to say what the company does.
- Giving a salary figure far from the role's range without checking first.
- Speaking badly of a current employer.
- Long technical answers that the recruiter cannot follow or pass on.
- Taking the call somewhere noisy, or sounding as if you are reading.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant whose free plan covers a short screen with captions and structured answers, on Windows and macOS. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. Whatever tool you choose, follow your employer's rules, and use it for practice in any round that forbids outside help.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free AI assistant for recruiter screens?
Our pick is CoPilot Interview, which we make: 15 minutes a day, enough for the opening of a screen, with mock interviews for rehearsal.
Is 15 minutes enough?
For a short screen, yes. A 30-minute screen needs a $9.99 hour pack or a paid plan if you want help throughout.
What does a recruiter check?
Your experience on paper, salary, location, work rights, availability, reasons for looking and how you come across.
Does it work on a phone screen?
Only if the call plays through your computer. Ask for a Zoom or Teams audio link, or take it on a softphone.
Should I give a salary number?
It helps to know your range in advance and say it plainly. Check the market first.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview