Pipplet Discontinued: What It Means and the Best Alternatives - Hallo

Pipplet’s Discontinuation and Alternatives

On July 8, 2025, ETS officially announced that it will discontinue its language assessment platform, Pipplet, by December 20, 2025. Clients may continue assigning assessments and purchasing credits until that date, but all data, including candidate reports, will become permanently inaccessible after shutdown. Refunds are available for unused credits purchased before July 8, but credits acquired afterward will expire without reimbursement.

For HR teams, L&D professionals, and talent acquisition leads who relied on Pipplet’s CEFR-aligned, four-skill language tests, the announcement means one thing: it’s time to identify a new solution and fast.

What This Means for Pipplet Users

The shutdown presents three key challenges:

Data Retrieval & Risk Mitigation
Any reports or results not downloaded by December 20 will be lost permanently. Organizations should export all data immediately to avoid operational disruption.
Maintaining Assessment Workflows
Pipplet was widely used to evaluate multilingual candidates quickly during recruitment and internal mobility. Without a direct replacement, hiring pipelines risk delays or degraded candidate insights.
Reassessing Long-Term Testing Strategy
Pipplet’s exit also presents an opportunity to revisit testing tools and invest in platforms with more automation, proctoring, and integration capabilities – features increasingly necessary in today’s global hiring environment.

Top Alternatives to Pipplet

Below are five recommended platforms that offer language testing capabilities with varying strengths across skill coverage, delivery speed, and integration:

1. Hallo

Hallo is a modern, AI-powered language assessment platform for over 60 languages. It supports all four core language skills (speaking, writing, listening, and reading) with real-time AI scoring and immediate results. Tests are mapped to CEFR standards, making it easy for teams to compare candidates globally.

Notable features:

100% AI-powered language assessments
60+ languages
Speaking, reading, writing, and listening
Real-time AI scoring and feedback
Customizable test content, logos, and branding
Built-in proctoring: face detection, tab-switch tracking, screen monitoring
API-based integration with ATS and LMS platforms
GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, and ISO 27001 compliant

Hallo is especially well-suited for enterprise use, offering both scalability and security, with flexible pricing that allows teams to pay per assessment.

2. Emmersion by IXL

Emmersion offers automated language testing with a focus on speaking and writing fluency. The platform is well-regarded for its use of adaptive testing to accurately place candidates on the CEFR scale.

Strengths:

Accurate speaking assessments using AI
Simple user interface
Reports mapped to CEFR
Good for high-volume candidate screening

While it doesn’t offer proctoring or as much skill diversity as some competitors, Emmersion remains a reliable option for teams prioritizing oral proficiency.

3. TestGorilla

TestGorilla is a multi-purpose assessment platform that includes language testing alongside a broad catalog of skills, personality, and cognitive ability tests.

Best for:

Companies looking to evaluate more than just language
Fast hiring pipelines with diverse skill requirements
Teams needing video questions or situational judgment tests

It’s not language-specialized like Pipplet, but it’s excellent for organizations building a full pre-employment testing stack.

4. SHL

SHL is a global leader in psychometric testing and talent assessment. Its suite includes language testing, especially for large organizations and government clients.

Key benefits:

Robust analytics and benchmarking tools
Suitable for high-volume or compliance-heavy environments
Proven reliability and global reach

SHL is ideal for enterprises needing detailed, defensible scoring with secure, proctored delivery.

Choosing the Right Platform

When selecting a Pipplet replacement, consider:

Skill Coverage: Do you need all four language skills, or just speaking/writing?
Language Coverage: How many languages are covered?
Turnaround Time: Are instant results important, or is 24 – 48 hours acceptable?
Scalability: Can the platform handle thousands of candidates across regions at the same time?
Security & Compliance: Does it meet data protection requirements like GDPR or SOC 2?
Integration: Can it connect with your existing ATS or LMS?

Platforms like Hallo and Emmersion offer a familiar experience for former Pipplet users. Others like SHL or TestGorilla may be better suited for teams with broader testing needs or specific enterprise requirements.

Action Plan for Pipplet Clients

Export all test results and reports from Pipplet before December 20, 2025.
Audit your current assessment workflows to determine what features and integrations matter most.
Pilot 1–2 alternative platforms with your hiring or training teams.
Update internal documentation and recruiter training to reflect the new system.
Begin transition implementation by Q4 2025 to avoid any hiring disruptions.

Conclusion

Pipplet’s discontinuation may be disruptive in the short term, but it presents a valuable opportunity to adopt newer, more capable solutions. Whether you’re looking for language-only testing or a broader hiring platform, tools like Hallo, Emmersion, SHL, and TestGorilla offer a strong foundation to continue evaluating talent effectively.

Hallo, in particular, stands out for its real-time AI scoring, full CEFR skill coverage, and seamless enterprise integration, making it a practical, future-ready choice for companies worldwide.