HR & People · 12 tools ranked
Best Background Check Software in 2026
Checkr ranks first in background check software, followed by PESCHECK and Certn. Background check software orders and tracks identity, criminal, employment and education checks on candidates and staff, usually from inside the hiring workflow.
The top three
How this list is ordered: by our editorial assessment of fit for organizations of 50 to 1,000 people. Vendors can pay for more visibility; paid placements are labeled and explained in our disclosure. No commission is earned on clicks or purchases, and we do not work as an affiliate.
1. CheckrCheckr leads because it publishes three per-report tiers in dollars, sells an API alongside the dashboard, and is the screening product most US applicant tracking systems expect.
2. PESCHECKPESCHECK takes second place as the one vendor here with published euro prices, ISO 27001 and GDPR statements on its homepage, and screening in many countries.
3. CertnCertn ranks third for self-serve prices per check, continuous monitoring after hire and coverage that starts in Canada but reaches the US, the UK and further.What is background check software?
Background check software lets an employer order, track and review pre-employment and in-employment screening, such as identity, criminal record, employment, education and reference checks. It usually combines a recruiter dashboard, a candidate-facing consent flow, reports, and integrations with hiring systems. Many providers are screening companies that deliver the checks themselves, with the software as the ordering layer. Pricing is commonly per check, per candidate or by negotiated volume.
How we ranked these
Most companies buy background check software the same way: a hire is days from starting, someone searches for a provider, and the first one with a sign-up button wins. That works until the second country, the first dispute from a candidate, or the first invoice with fees nobody expected.
This ranking judges ten providers for a buyer with 50 to 1,000 employees. We looked at how openly each one prices its checks, how far its coverage reaches beyond one country, and how well it connects to an applicant tracking system.
We also asked what each vendor does badly. Several publish prices; others make you book a demo first.
The order is the verdict, and nothing here is legal advice: coverage statements come from vendor pages, and compliance rules change by country and state. We list ten vendors rather than a longer set, because we only rank providers whose facts we could confirm on their own pages and whose logo we could obtain.
Setup: how fast the first check can go out
Most of these vendors let a recruiter start a check within a day, but the work that decides whether it feels easy sits around the order. Someone has to choose packages per role, write the candidate consent steps into the offer process, and connect the vendor to the applicant tracking system. Checkr, Verified First, Zinc and PESCHECK describe integrations with hiring tools, which saves a second login.
Role-based packages at GoodHire and Zinc cut the choosing step. Accurate Background and Vetty are sales-led, so plan on a demo and a contract before the first order.
A small team can usually be live in a week. Ask who writes the candidate consent wording, because a vendor-supplied template saves a legal review only if your counsel has approved it.
Also check how a recruiter reaches support when a candidate cannot finish the flow.
The real price: what one hire costs after the extras
Seven of the ten vendors publish an entry price, and they are close: Checkr and GoodHire start at USD 29.99 per report, Verified First at 29.99, iProspectCheck at 24.95, Certn at CAD 24.99 for a basic criminal check, and PESCHECK at EUR 36. Veremark starts at USD 42 per candidate. The real price is higher.
Court, database and DMV fees are passed through at cost, aliases can count as extra searches, and prices above 50 checks a year are quotes at several vendors. Ask for a sample invoice for one typical hire, not the headline tier.
Volume matters too: a team that screens 30 people a year and a team that screens 300 should read the same price list differently.
Getting your data out: reports, consent records and exports
Background check data is sensitive, so leaving a vendor means more than downloading a spreadsheet. You want completed reports, candidate consent records and adverse-action history for each hire, in a format that can sit in your own HR file. Several vendors offer downloadable reports and an API, including Checkr, Zinc and Accurate Background, but the pages we read do not state export formats or retention periods in detail.
Ask each vendor how long records are kept, whether they can be exported in bulk, and what is deleted on request. That answer matters more than the feature list when a regulator or a candidate asks.
Ask too whether the vendor can push results into your HR file automatically through an integration.
Independence from the vendor: who owns what, and who pays whom
Two kinds of lock-in apply here. The first is technical: your hiring tool is wired to one vendor's API. The second is ownership: GoodHire is described on its own site as a Checkr company, so choosing both gives you one supplier under two names.
Prices on this page are the vendors' own, and no vendor on this page paid to appear in a better order. Vendors can pay for more visibility; paid placements are labeled and explained in our disclosure.
No commission is earned on clicks or purchases, and we do not work as an affiliate. Also ask whether the vendor delivers checks itself or resells data partners, since that decides who answers when a record is wrong.
Who it's for: matching vendor to hiring pattern
Fit depends on where you hire and how often. A US company hiring a few hundred people a year is well served by Checkr, GoodHire or Verified First. A European employer with candidates in several countries should start with PESCHECK, and a Canadian one with Certn.
Firms hiring in the UK and the Asia-Pacific region should look at Veremark and Zinc. Healthcare, retail and transportation employers with large volumes belong on the sales-led side with Accurate Background or Vetty.
Small employers screening a few dozen people a year can look at iProspectCheck. Size matters less than pattern: a 900-person company with steady, single-country hiring needs less than a 120-person firm that opens a new country every year.
Compared at a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Pricing | Free option | HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Checkr | US employers screening 50 to 1,000 hires | Per report | None | United States |
| 2 | PESCHECK | Employers hiring across several countries | Per screening | None | Netherlands |
| 3 | Certn | Canadian-led firms with some US and UK hires | Per check | None | Canada |
| 4 | GoodHire | Small and mid-sized US employers | Per check | None | United States |
| 5 | Veremark | Mid-sized firms hiring in the UK and Asia-Pacific | Per candidate | None | United Kingdom |
| 6 | Zinc | UK-led firms hiring in many countries | Quote only | None | United Kingdom |
| 7 | Verified First | US employers with an ATS and payroll stack | Per check | None | United States |
| 8 | iProspectCheck | Small US employers with low hiring volume | Per check | None | United States |
| 9 | Accurate Background | Larger US employers in regulated sectors | Quote only | None | United States |
| 10 | Vetty | US employers hiring hourly staff at scale | Quote only | None | United States |
| 11 | Cisive | US employers that want screening plus continuous monitoring from one provider | Quote only | None | United States |
| 12 | RefNow | UK HR teams that want references and ID checks without seat fees | Credits, no seat charge | Free trial | United Kingdom |
The 12 tools, reviewed
How this list is ordered: by our editorial assessment of fit for organizations of 50 to 1,000 people. Vendors can pay for more visibility; paid placements are labeled and explained in our disclosure. No commission is earned on clicks or purchases, and we do not work as an affiliate.
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US-focusedPublished pricesAPI
Why #1: Checkr leads because it publishes three per-report tiers in dollars, sells an API alongside the dashboard, and is the screening product most US applicant tracking systems expect.
- Best for
- US employers screening 50 to 1,000 hires
- Pricing
- Per report
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United States
- Key features
- Workforce employment checks, Criminal, identity and driver checks, Per-report tiers, API access, Candidate-facing flow
- Falls short
- Published tiers exclude pass-through court, database and DMV fees, so the invoice per hire lands above the headline figure.
- Wrong for
- Employers hiring mostly outside the United States, and small teams that want a flat monthly fee instead of a charge per report.
Full assessment of Checkr
Checkr is the screening vendor we would shortlist first for a US company of a few hundred people that hires every month. The Workforce product covers pre-employment checks, three tiers are priced openly, and anyone can see what a Complete report costs before a call with sales.
The homepage pairs software with human review, which matters when a record needs a second look before a candidate hears about it. The same company also sells tenant, mortgage and insurance products, so the platform is not a side project.
It takes first place on openness of pricing and reach rather than on any single check.
Where it falls short
Published tiers exclude pass-through court, database and DMV fees, so the invoice per hire lands above the headline figure. Trust and Workforce Enterprise are quote only, and there is no free trial for background-check packages.
The price list and products are built around US hiring, so cross-border roles need a different plan.
Wrong for
Employers hiring mostly outside the United States, and small teams that want a flat monthly fee instead of a charge per report. Look at PESCHECK or Certn for international coverage.
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NetherlandsEuro pricingISO 27001
Why #2: PESCHECK takes second place as the one vendor here with published euro prices, ISO 27001 and GDPR statements on its homepage, and screening in many countries.
- Best for
- Employers hiring across several countries
- Pricing
- Per screening
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- Netherlands
- Key features
- ID verification, Criminal record checks, Reference and diploma checks, PEP and sanctions screening, Integrity checks
- Falls short
- The pricing page shows lower calculator rates (EUR 24, 55 and 137) than the from prices and does not explain the gap, so budget from the higher figure.
- Wrong for
- US-only employers that need FCRA-style reports and US county court depth.
Full assessment of PESCHECK
PESCHECK suits a company in Europe that hires across borders and wants one supplier for identity, criminal record, reference and diploma checks. Prices are in euros on a public page, a free account can be opened without a card, and the homepage lists ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance.
It also screens against PEP and sanctions lists, which finance and regulated employers often ask for. More than 160 HR tool integrations and an API mean checks can start from the applicant tracking system instead of a separate login.
We rank it above Certn because its pricing runs across three clear tiers.
Where it falls short
The pricing page shows lower calculator rates (EUR 24, 55 and 137) than the from prices and does not explain the gap, so budget from the higher figure. Enhanced and Complete point to a quote for final pricing.
US FCRA workflows are not what it is built for.
Wrong for
US-only employers that need FCRA-style reports and US county court depth. Checkr or Verified First fit that job better.
Buyers who want a flat monthly plan will not find one here.
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CanadaPer-check pricesMonitoring
Why #3: Certn ranks third for self-serve prices per check, continuous monitoring after hire and coverage that starts in Canada but reaches the US, the UK and further.
- Best for
- Canadian-led firms with some US and UK hires
- Pricing
- Per check
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- Canada
- Key features
- Criminal record checks, International and public records, Credential, employment and education checks, Biometric identity verification, Credit and driver's abstract
- Falls short
- Pay-per-check is predictable at low volume and adds up when a team screens hundreds of candidates, with no bundled tier to cap it.
- Wrong for
- Buyers that want US-only reports without any Canadian or UK context, and teams that prefer a bundled price over a fee per check.
Full assessment of Certn
Certn is the practical choice for a Canadian employer, or a US company with Canadian staff, that wants to buy checks one at a time without a contract. The pricing page lists each check separately, so an HR coordinator can add a reference check at CAD 39.99 and know the cost.
Biometric identity verification and continuous monitoring after hire go beyond the one-off pre-hire report. An API plus ATS and HR integrations let checks launch from the hiring workflow.
It sits behind PESCHECK only because prices on the opened page appear in Canadian dollars alone.
Where it falls short
Pay-per-check is predictable at low volume and adds up when a team screens hundreds of candidates, with no bundled tier to cap it. Only Canadian dollar prices appeared on the page we opened.
There is no free plan, and its privacy policy lists a US and a UK entity, which we did not use to name a headquarters.
Wrong for
Buyers that want US-only reports without any Canadian or UK context, and teams that prefer a bundled price over a fee per check. Checkr or Verified First are closer to that need.
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US-focusedRole packagesCheckr company
Why #4: GoodHire holds fourth place for role-based packages and a central dashboard across locations, with published tiers for employers running fewer than 50 checks a year.
- Best for
- Small and mid-sized US employers
- Pricing
- Per check
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United States
- Key features
- Industry packages, 100+ screening services, Criminal and MVR checks, Drug testing, Education and employment checks
- Falls short
- Its tiers carry the same prices as Checkr's, so there is little saving in choosing it for cost alone, and third-party pass-through fees may apply.
- Wrong for
- Employers that need screening outside the United States, and buyers who want the lowest sticker price without comparing packages.
Full assessment of GoodHire
GoodHire is aimed at the HR generalist in a US company of 100 to 400 people who wants a package per role without building one from scratch. It offers packages for staffing, healthcare, nonprofit and small business, covers more than 100 screening services, and has an in-house FCRA compliance team.
A single dashboard shows checks across locations and clients. Prices are public for low volume.
The page credits it as a Checkr company, so buyers who already like one will see a familiar shape. It ranks fourth because it reaches less far than the first three.
Where it falls short
Its tiers carry the same prices as Checkr's, so there is little saving in choosing it for cost alone, and third-party pass-through fees may apply. Pricing above 50 checks a year is a custom quote.
Non-US screening is not its focus, and no free plan or trial is mentioned.
Wrong for
Employers that need screening outside the United States, and buyers who want the lowest sticker price without comparing packages. PESCHECK or Certn cover multi-country needs better.
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UK officesCountry packagesContinuous screening
Why #5: Veremark earns fifth place for country packages covering the UK, Singapore, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia and the USA, with USD prices published for up to 50 hires a year.
- Best for
- Mid-sized firms hiring in the UK and Asia-Pacific
- Pricing
- Per candidate
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Key features
- Identity and criminal checks, Employment and reference checks, Right to work, Education checks, Country packages
- Falls short
- Above 50 candidates a year there is no published price, and local-currency prices are indicative only.
- Wrong for
- Employers hiring in high volume who want the price in advance, and US-centered teams that expect a flat monthly fee.
Full assessment of Veremark
Veremark is a fit for a company that hires in the UK and the Asia-Pacific region and wants checks bundled per country. Packages exist for the UK, Singapore, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia and the USA, so a recruiter picks a country first and the checks follow.
Right-to-work and reference checks sit beside criminal and identity checks, and continuous screening is offered after hire. The homepage states that checks follow GDPR and PDPA rules, and integrations include Ashby, Greenhouse and HiBob.
Its USD price list is public for small volume.
Where it falls short
Above 50 candidates a year there is no published price, and local-currency prices are indicative only. The pages we opened name no legal entity and do not label a headquarters, so the London office, listed first, is our assumption.
US depth is thinner than at the US-based vendors above it.
Wrong for
Employers hiring in high volume who want the price in advance, and US-centered teams that expect a flat monthly fee. Checkr or Verified First suit those cases better.
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UK195 countriesATS integrations
Why #6: Zinc is sixth for custom check packages per role and criminal checks across 195 countries, held back by a pricing page that returned an error when we tried it.
- Best for
- UK-led firms hiring in many countries
- Pricing
- Quote only
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Key features
- Custom packages per role, Criminal checks in 195 countries, Right to work, Reference checks, Financial and social media checks
- Falls short
- We could not confirm any price: the pricing page returned an error, and the homepage only mentions a plan for under 20 hires a year.
- Wrong for
- Teams hiring at very high volume that have not had a demo, and employers that need a price before any sales contact.
Full assessment of Zinc
Zinc works for a recruiting team that wants to build a package once per role and launch it with one click. Candidates complete their part through a self-service flow and see real-time status, while the recruiter tracks results in a report dashboard.
The site lists criminal checks across 195 countries, right to work, references, financial and social media checks. Integrations with Greenhouse, Workday and Teamtailor keep orders inside the hiring tool.
The company is registered in England and Wales as Zinc Work Ltd, number 10961635.
Where it falls short
We could not confirm any price: the pricing page returned an error, and the homepage only mentions a plan for under 20 hires a year. No free trial is mentioned.
The pages we opened gave a registration number but no office address, so the city on this page is an assumption.
Wrong for
Teams hiring at very high volume that have not had a demo, and employers that need a price before any sales contact. PESCHECK and Veremark publish theirs.
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US-focusedIntegrationsApplicant Pay
Why #7: Verified First ranks seventh for integrations across ATS, HR, payroll and CRM tools, plus a candidate-pays option and no contracts, though its pricing unit is unclear.
- Best for
- US employers with an ATS and payroll stack
- Pricing
- Per check
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United States
- Key features
- Custom screening packages, ATS, HR and payroll integrations, Batch rescreening, Candidate texting, Applicant Pay
- Falls short
- The pricing page does not say whether tiers are billed per check, per month or per hire, which makes budgeting guesswork until a rep confirms.
- Wrong for
- Employers outside the United States, and buyers who need the billing unit stated before they sign up.
Full assessment of Verified First
Verified First is for the US employer that wants screening to run inside the systems it already uses. It connects to ATS, HR, payroll, CRM and volunteer systems, supports batch rescreening and candidate texting, and offers an Applicant Pay option where candidates cover some screening costs.
Drug screening includes random pool management, and Form I-9 with E-Verify is covered. Three tiers are published and no contracts are required.
The company is based in Meridian, Idaho, per its homepage. It ranks below the first six because the reach is domestic.
Where it falls short
The pricing page does not say whether tiers are billed per check, per month or per hire, which makes budgeting guesswork until a rep confirms. Enterprise pricing is not listed.
The product list is US-led, and no free plan is offered.
Wrong for
Employers outside the United States, and buyers who need the billing unit stated before they sign up. Check PESCHECK or Certn for international hiring.
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US-focusedLow entry priceI-9 and E-Verify
Why #8: iProspectCheck is eighth for its cheapest published entry price, a bundle covering drug testing and electronic I-9, and a mobile tool for applicants.
- Best for
- Small US employers with low hiring volume
- Pricing
- Per check
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United States
- Key features
- Background checks, Identity and license verification, Employment and education checks, Reference checks, DOT and non-DOT drug testing
- Falls short
- Third-party verification fees are billed on top, aliases count as separate searches with no listed prices, and anything above 50 checks a year is a quote.
- Wrong for
- Buyers who want fully self-serve sign-up and all costs on one line, and companies hiring outside the United States.
Full assessment of iProspectCheck
iProspectCheck fits a small US employer that screens a few dozen people a year and wants background checks, drug testing and Form I-9 handled by one provider. The Basic package at USD 24.95 is the lowest entry price in this list.
It verifies identity, employment, education, professional licenses and references, schedules DOT and non-DOT drug tests, and runs electronic I-9 with E-Verify. HRIS integrations and a mobile tool for applicants round it out.
It ranks eighth because the offer is narrow and the company details are thin.
Where it falls short
Third-party verification fees are billed on top, aliases count as separate searches with no listed prices, and anything above 50 checks a year is a quote. The pages we opened gave no legal entity or labeled address, so our city is an assumption from a BBB link.
Wrong for
Buyers who want fully self-serve sign-up and all costs on one line, and companies hiring outside the United States. Checkr is the more open option.
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US-focusedAPIIndustry solutions
Why #9: Accurate Background places ninth for breadth, covering criminal, credit, driving, drug and I-9 checks with an API, but it publishes no price.
- Best for
- Larger US employers in regulated sectors
- Pricing
- Quote only
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United States
- Key features
- Criminal, credit and driving checks, Drug and health screening, I-9 and E-Verify, Identity verification, Global searches
- Falls short
- No price is published, since the pricing page returned an error, so any comparison needs a quote.
- Wrong for
- Buyers who need a published price before sales contact, and teams hiring in one or two countries who want a simple flat fee.
Full assessment of Accurate Background
Accurate Background is the broad catalog on this list: criminal, credit, driving history, drug and health screening, I-9 and E-Verify, identity checks and global searches. It also sells a Background Check API, ATS integrations and a client ordering platform built for high volume.
Industry pages for healthcare, retail, staffing and transportation show where it expects to win business. The privacy policy names Irvine, California as its principal location.
For a high-volume employer in one of those sectors it deserves a sales call, which is where we leave it.
Where it falls short
No price is published, since the pricing page returned an error, so any comparison needs a quote. No free plan or trial is mentioned.
The breadth that helps a large employer is more than a 60-person company will use, and the sales-led path is slower than self-serve tiers.
Wrong for
Buyers who need a published price before sales contact, and teams hiring in one or two countries who want a simple flat fee. Checkr or GoodHire are quicker to start.
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US-focusedOnboardingHigh volume
Why #10: Vetty comes tenth because screening, I-9 and onboarding documents share one dashboard for high-volume hirers, while prices stay behind a demo.
- Best for
- US employers hiring hourly staff at scale
- Pricing
- Quote only
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United States
- Key features
- County, national and federal criminal searches, Sex offender registry and SSN trace, Motor vehicle records, Education and employment verification, Drug screening and I-9
- Falls short
- No price could be found, as the pricing page returned an error, so budgeting requires a demo.
- Wrong for
- Buyers who want a price before talking to sales, and anyone hiring outside the United States.
Full assessment of Vetty
Vetty suits an employer that hires hourly staff in large numbers and wants screening and first-day paperwork in the same place. Its three products, VettyVerify, VettyComply and VettyOnboard, cover criminal and driving searches, I-9 and drug screening, and onboarding documents with signatures.
Mobile ID capture lets a candidate prove identity from a phone. Everything sits in a single customer dashboard, and the homepage names Cedar Park, Texas as its headquarters.
We rank it last because the evidence we could verify about price and non-US reach is the thinnest.
Where it falls short
No price could be found, as the pricing page returned an error, so budgeting requires a demo. No free trial is mentioned.
The product list is US-led, and the favicon is the best logo source we found, so brand assets are limited.
Wrong for
Buyers who want a price before talking to sales, and anyone hiring outside the United States. Look at Checkr for open pricing or PESCHECK for international checks.
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US-focusedMonitoringQuote only
Why #11: Cisive comes eleventh because one screening and monitoring provider covers many check types, but prices stay behind a sales assessment.
- Best for
- US employers that want screening plus continuous monitoring from one provider
- Pricing
- Quote only
- Free option
- None
- Headquarters
- United States
- Key features
- Criminal history checks, Employment and education verification, Identity verification, Ongoing screening and monitoring, Drug testing and occupational health screening
- Falls short
- No prices are published, so a buyer must request an assessment or call sales.
- Wrong for
- Small teams that want a price list before a sales call, and buyers who only need reference checks.
Full assessment of Cisive
Cisive fits a US company that wants checks at hire and monitoring afterwards under one contract. The site lists criminal history, employment and education verification, identity checks, drug testing, electronic I-9 and sanctions screening.
Healthcare and transportation buyers are steered to sister brands, PreCheck and Driver iQ. The operator address on the terms page is in Easton, Maryland.
It sits last on this list because we could not verify any amounts or a trial, so comparing it with open-price rivals takes a sales conversation.
Where it falls short
No prices are published, so a buyer must request an assessment or call sales. The range is split across three brands by sector, which can confuse buyers outside healthcare or transportation.
The homepage does not state a headquarters, and we rely on the operator address in the terms.
Wrong for
Small teams that want a price list before a sales call, and buyers who only need reference checks. Look at Checkr for published tiers or Zinc for lighter referencing.
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UK-focusedReferencesRight to work
Why #12: RefNow comes twelfth because it handles UK references, right-to-work and DBS well, but it is narrow and hides its amounts.
- Best for
- UK HR teams that want references and ID checks without seat fees
- Pricing
- Credits, no seat charge
- Free option
- Free trial
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Key features
- Automated reference requests with reminders, Fake-reference detection, Consent-based employment verification with PDF reports, Right-to-work ID checks with Share Code option, DBS Basic, Standard and Enhanced checks
- Falls short
- The pricing page shows no amounts, and bulk or subscription terms are by enquiry.
- Wrong for
- Buyers in the US or EU who need criminal record checks outside the DBS scheme, and teams that want a published price list.
Full assessment of RefNow
RefNow suits a UK employer that wants referencing, right-to-work and DBS in one place and prefers credits to seat licenses. Its Reference product chases referees automatically and logs each attempt, while Verify covers ID and DBS.
A free trial lets a team test it before asking for bulk pricing. RefNow Screen, an AI CV screening product, is listed as launching soon and is not available today, so we did not weigh it.
The ranking is low because the scope is built around UK hiring.
Where it falls short
The pricing page shows no amounts, and bulk or subscription terms are by enquiry. DBS is a UK scheme, so the product is built around UK hiring.
RefNow Screen is not yet launched. Credit amounts must be requested, so budgeting needs a conversation.
Wrong for
Buyers in the US or EU who need criminal record checks outside the DBS scheme, and teams that want a published price list. Look at Checkr for US checks or PESCHECK for EU screening.
What the data says about this market
Of the ten vendors we list, six are headquartered in the United States, one in Canada, one in the Netherlands, and two in the United Kingdom, although for Veremark and Zinc the UK city is our assumption because their pages do not label a headquarters. That mix is not an accident of our selection. Background screening grew up around US rules for consumer reporting, so most large providers describe products in US terms first and international checks second.
Pricing is more open than many buyers expect. Seven of the ten publish an entry price on their own pages, and three do not: Accurate Background, Vetty and Zinc returned errors or no price when we looked. None of the ten offers a free plan for employers, though PESCHECK lets you open a free account without a card.
The common shape is a small published tier for low volume and a quote above roughly 50 checks a year. Where a price is missing, we say so on the tool entry instead of guessing a figure.
We left out two names on purpose. First Advantage is a large provider that returned errors on every asset request, so we could not confirm enough to rank it fairly. HireRight showed only page titles when we fetched it.
Neither is a verdict on quality. Both are reasons we could not verify the facts that this page requires. If you shortlist a large vendor anyway, ask for the same sample invoice described under the price test.
Integration is where the vendors differ least on paper and most in practice. Nearly every provider here lists an API or applicant tracking integrations, but the named partners vary: Ashby, Greenhouse and HiBob at Veremark, Greenhouse, Workday and Teamtailor at Zinc, and more than 160 HR tools at PESCHECK. Check your own system against the vendor's list, then run a test order before signing a contract.
How to choose
1. Map where and how often you hire
Write down the countries your candidates live in, how many hires you make a year, and which roles need extra checks such as driving records, licenses or sanctions screening. A company with 40 hires a year, all in one US state, needs a very different vendor from one with 300 hires across six countries. The answer decides whether published tiers are enough or whether you need a quote anyway.
Most vendors here change price structure around 50 checks a year, so know on which side of that line you sit. Ask each shortlisted vendor to confirm in writing which countries it covers directly and which it sources through partners.
Also decide who inside the company owns the process, since recruiters, HR and legal often share it. Write the answers down so each vendor gets the same brief.
2. Price one typical hire from end to end
Take a typical role and ask three vendors for a sample invoice that includes everything: the package, court and database fees, any extra searches for aliases, and drug testing if you use it. Compare totals, not tier names. Check whether billing is per check, per candidate or per month, since Verified First does not state this on its pricing page and PESCHECK shows lower calculator rates than its from prices.
Then multiply by your annual volume. The vendor with the lowest headline tier is often not the cheapest at your volume, and a quote-only vendor can come out ahead.
Ask whether prices change when a package is customized, and whether volume discounts apply. Keep the sample invoices from every vendor in one folder so finance can review them later.
3. Test the integration and the candidate flow
Run one real or dummy hire through each finalist. Start the order from your applicant tracking system, watch the candidate receive and complete consent on a phone, and see how status and results come back to the recruiter. Note how disputes and corrections are handled, and ask where the final report, consent record and any adverse-action notice are stored.
Keep your own legal adviser involved, because screening rules differ by country and state and this site does not give legal advice. Pick the vendor whose flow your recruiters and candidates finish without help.
Record how long each step took, and include a recruiter who did not take part in the selection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best background check software in 2026?
Checkr is our top pick for most employers with 50 to 1,000 staff, because it publishes three per-report tiers, offers an API and focuses on US hiring. PESCHECK is the better pick if you hire across several countries and want euro prices, and Certn suits Canadian employers. Veremark and Zinc fit firms hiring in the UK and the Asia-Pacific region.
How much does background check software cost?
Published entry prices run from about USD 24.95 to USD 42 per check among the vendors that list them. Checkr and GoodHire start at USD 29.99, Certn at CAD 24.99 and PESCHECK at EUR 36. Pass-through court and database fees are extra, and three of the ten vendors publish no price at all.
Is background check software the same as a screening company?
Not always, but at these vendors the line is thin. The software is the ordering and tracking layer: dashboard, candidate consent, reports and integrations. The checks themselves are delivered by the provider or its data partners.
When you compare options, ask who performs each check and who is responsible for accuracy and disputes. A vendor that outsources most searches may still be a good choice, but the contract should say who is accountable.
Can I run international background checks?
Yes, but coverage varies a lot. PESCHECK describes international checks, Certn lists international and public records checks, Veremark sells packages for six countries and Zinc states criminal checks across 195 countries. The US-based providers are mostly US-first.
Ask each vendor which countries it covers directly and which go through partners.
Does any vendor offer a free plan?
None of the ten vendors lists a free plan for employer screening. PESCHECK allows a free account with no credit card, but screenings are still charged. Checkr offers a free profile for individuals, not a free Workforce plan.
Plan for per-check costs from the first hire.
Which options connect to an applicant tracking system?
Most do. PESCHECK mentions more than 160 HR tool integrations, Veremark names Ashby, Greenhouse and HiBob, Zinc names Greenhouse, Workday and Teamtailor, and GoodHire and Verified First describe ATS and HR integrations. Accurate Background offers an API and ATS integrations.
Confirm your specific system before you sign.
What are pass-through fees?
They are charges from courts, databases and motor vehicle departments that the screening vendor bills at cost on top of its own fee. Checkr and GoodHire both say so on their pricing pages. For a record search in a county that charges a fee, your invoice for one hire can exceed the tier price.
Is background check software legal advice or a compliance guarantee?
No. Software helps you order checks and keep records, but consent, adverse-action steps and what you may ask differ by country and state. This ranking relies on vendor-published coverage and gives no legal advice. Ask your own counsel to review your process before you roll it out.
Should small companies use a self-serve vendor or a sales-led one?
Small employers usually do better with self-serve tiers, since a demo and contract cost time that a 60-person company rarely has. Checkr, GoodHire, Verified First, iProspectCheck, Certn and PESCHECK publish prices. Sales-led vendors such as Accurate Background and Vetty make more sense for large, high-volume hiring in regulated sectors.
Whichever route you take, ask for a sample invoice and the contract's notice period before committing.
Why are some well-known vendors missing from the ranking?
We list only vendors where we could verify at least two facts from their own pages and obtain a real logo. First Advantage returned errors on its assets, and HireRight showed only page titles when we fetched it, so neither is listed. That reflects what we could verify, not a judgment on their service.
How do I get my data out if I switch vendors?
Ask for completed reports, consent records and any adverse-action history before you sign, and ask how long the vendor keeps them. Several vendors offer downloadable reports and an API, but the pages we read do not specify export formats or retention periods. Put your requirements in the contract.