Hand picked by our HR Technology experts after product testing, user research, and much debate - enjoy!
Identity checks, employment history, education and certifications, criminal records, drug testing, the list goes on. When you’re interviewing talent or ready to make an offer to an ideal candidate, you can’t forget about a vital part of your recruiting efforts: running pre-employment background checks. But are you conducting yours the right way and with one of the top background check services?
Background checks ultimately tell you if someone will be a safe hire for your organization, but how you look into their personal records is key. To ensure that you follow all applicable screening laws, you’ll want to use a top employment background screening provider that’s compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Otherwise, a candidate could sue you for not getting hired, or you could be fined by a government agency like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Using an FCRA-compliant screening provider will help you focus your recruiting efforts on the right candidates, hire with more confidence, stay compliant with the latest screening regulations, and create a safe and more diverse working environment — all while being more productive in your recruiting efforts and creating a more seamless and transparent application process for your candidates.
But you have to choose the right background check service for your company and needs. To help you find the best one for your business, we put together this guide on the top background check providers, plus the common use-cases and features, benefits and considerations, suggested demo questions and implementation help, and more. Get started below.
We take research seriously. To make sure we’re offering our readers the very best solutions in a given software category, we are methodical, rigorous, and expansive in our research. We consult with HR professionals, vendors, and industry experts. We cut through the noise to bring you a carefully curated list of vendors, along with other essential information, to help you find the right software platform for your business.
Here’s how we chose who makes the cut:
Product: We believe in gaining a comprehensive understanding of a product before we recommend it, so we start by getting to know the software. Whenever possible, we meet with a senior executive (CEO or Head of Product) for a demo and Q&A. We also test the product ourselves to make sure it has a solid UI, intuitive workflows, and the features to make it a best-in-class offering.
User feedback: We go straight to the source and compile feedback on user experience. Real-world input supports our commitment to diligence in our software evaluation methods and the products we recommend. Keeping up with the everyday experience of HR pros also puts new vendors on our radar, and it keeps us close to our community so we can better connect the right products to the right people.
Financial metrics: We are certified finance nerds, so we use all the data we can get our hands on to make selections for our guides. We comb through data for concrete statistics like retention rates, growth, profitability, and scalability. We evaluate the bottom line of each product because we know making a software purchase can put your reputation on the line.
Best for a use case: Software is never a one-size-fits-all product. Sometimes the best solution is free or cheap. Other times it’s the one that is best for global companies or the one that’s sized right for early-stage startups. Keeping this in mind, we include solutions across the spectrum so our readers can find the best fit for their unique needs.
Here's more detail if you want to read more about how we research vendors. Our dedicated staff writers rely on hard data, impartial experts, and user feedback to ensure our reviews are helpful, truthful, and hopefully a pleasure to read!
We track thousands of HRTech solutions, these are the best background check companies per our research and expert council as of 2023.
Why we love it
:
Checkr's mission is fair hiring. It uses cutting edge background screening technology to produce clear, actionable results in a short span of time. It not only ensures compliance under the FCRA, but also shows exactly where the candidate stands.
Checkr
Review:
A modern UI and a platform that leverages machine learning means that Checkr is making the hiring process easier on both HR and applicants. Their customer base includes companies like Uber, Warby Parker, and Instacart.
Checkr
Customers:
AirBnB, Netflix, Lyft, Papa Johns, PrideStaff, Instacart, Doordash, Compass Group, and Adecco.
AirBnB, Netflix, Lyft, Papa Johns, PrideStaff, Instacart, Doordash, Compass Group, and Adecco.
Checkr
Pricing:
The pricing of Checkr’s plans and services isn’t disclosed on their site. There are two ways to get started - directly through their site or by talking to a Checkr sales representative for a demo and a price quote according to the size and needs of your business. They offer your first background check free when you sign up directly through the site.
The pricing of Checkr's plans and services isn't disclosed on their site. There are two ways to get started - directly through their site or by talking to a Checkr sales representative for a demo and a price quote according to the size and needs of your business. They offer your first background check free when you sign up directly through the site.
Best For
Businesses of all sizes across different industries.
Why we love it
:
Certn's slick user interface can reduce your hiring time by 80%. In fact, it only takes about 15 minutes for workers to get through the screening process. And even if you're hiring internationally, Certn can help verify country-specific documents in a jiffy.
Certn
Review:
Certn is a newer entry to the pre-employment screening company. They were founded by data scientists and have built a next generation tech stack that allows them to process background checks in record time with competitive pricing. Additionally, they allow for international background checks, and customized checks for different types of employees.
Certn
Customers:
Telus Ventures, Hudson's Bay, Grammarly, WestJet, ATB, Beacon HR.
Telus Ventures, Hudson's Bay, Grammarly, WestJet, ATB, Beacon HR.
Certn
Pricing:
Each of Certn’s screening services is priced separately at a flat fee for employers that conduct 50 or fewer checks a year. For employers that conduct more than 50 checks a year, custom pricing can be provided by Certn’s sales team. Visit Certn’s pricing page to learn more.
Each of Certn's screening services is priced separately at a flat fee for employers that conduct 50 or fewer checks a year. For employers that conduct more than 50 checks a year, custom pricing can be provided by Certn's sales team. Visit Certn's pricing page to learn more.
Best For
Businesses of all sizes across different industries.
Why we love it
:
VerifiedFirst has built a simple to use background check product that allows recruiting teams to request checks directly from the ATS via a Chrome extension versus having to login to yet another tool. It’s similarly easy on the employee side as they can complete the process from their phones without having to create a login.
VerifiedFirst
Review:
Verified First is a background screening tool that allows you to conduct a variety of background checks before hiring an employee. It covers criminal background checks, drug screening, civil records check, Form I-9 verification, E-verify verification, identity verifications, and driving record checks - eliminating any need to supplement it with other background check software or services.
VerifiedFirst
Customers:
Among Verified First’s many customers are ITI Global, Hawkinson Nissan, The Major Group, and Elica Health Centers.
Axxum Technologies, Caribe Royale, Allen Keller Company, Eclaro International.
VerifiedFirst
Pricing:
Verified First tailors their pricing based on the number of checks that you conduct or the number of hires. As such, their pricing is not listed on the website, but you can reach out to a Sales representative for a custom quote. The Sales rep will also be able to provide you with a live demo of the software on demand.
The pricing of VerifiedFirst's plans and services isn't disclosed on their site. Contact a VerifiedFirst sales representative for a demo as well as a price quote according to the size and needs of your business.
Best For
Verified First would best suit a mid to large-sized large organization that hires hundreds or thousands of employees a year.
Why we love it
:
HireRight boasts a 40,000+ customer base that includes nearly half of the Fortune 100 companies. Its USP is that it's a truly global platform and offers both international and local screening features.
HireRight
Review:
HireRight conducts background checks in over 200 countries across the globe and has worked with over 40,000 companies including many of the Fortune 500.
HireRight
Customers:
HireRight
Pricing:
The pricing of HireRight’s plans and services isn’t disclosed on their site. Contact a HireRight sales representative for a demo as well as a price quote according to the size and needs of your business.
The pricing of HireRight's plans and services isn't disclosed on their site. Contact a HireRight sales representative for a demo as well as a price quote according to the size and needs of your business.
Best For
Companies of all sizes across different industries.
Why we love it
:
When you use EBI, you directly work with their team of experts who understand your processes and workflows. This leads to a highly customized experience and leaves no room for non-compliance.
EBI
Review:
Simply put, EBI is one of the largest players in this space and has been for some time. They have the experience and integrations to service even the largest companies’ needs when it comes to pre-employment checks.
EBI
Customers:
EBI
Pricing:
The pricing of EBI’s plans and services isn’t disclosed on their site. Contact an EBI sales representative for a demo as well as a price quote according to the size and needs of your business.
The pricing of EBI's plans and services isn't disclosed on their site. Contact an EBI sales representative for a demo as well as a price quote according to the size and needs of your business.
Best For
EBI serves companies of all sizes across different industries.
Why we love it
:
Lauded for its simplicity, GoodHire is a technology-first company that promises a delightful user experience. It's not only incredibly flexible, but can also provide criminal checks in less than a minute.
GoodHire
Review:
GoodHire services over 80,000 companies through their background check platform. HR teams can use this for simple one off screens, or build out more custom workflows via their API that supports a range of screens like criminal, drug, driving, and credit checks.
GoodHire
Customers:
Gale, Goodwill Houston, RLH, DraftKings, Tuft & Needle.
Gale, Goodwill Houston, RLH, DraftKings, Tuft & Needle.
GoodHire
Pricing:
Each of GoodHire’s screening services is priced separately at a flat fee for employers that conduct 25 or fewer checks a year. For employers that conduct more than 25 checks a year, custom pricing can be provided by GoodHire’s sales team. Visit GoodHire’s pricing page to learn more.
Each of GoodHire's screening services is priced separately at a flat fee for employers that conduct 25 or fewer checks a year. For employers that conduct more than 25 checks a year, custom pricing can be provided by GoodHire's sales team. Visit GoodHire's pricing page to learn more.
Best For
Employers of all sizes looking for a comprehensive candidate screening solution.
There are a variety of checks you might need to run on a potential employee and the actual screens you need depend on a variety of factors, such as your industry, location, where a candidate is from, and more. These screens are done from many different public records as well as court records, consumer reporting agencies, and a variety of other databases that a top screening provider will get relevant information from. In general, you can expect the following checks to be covered by a screening provider:
All of these screens are designed to aid your hiring process to weed out candidates that won't make it down your hiring funnel early, or ensure you make the right final decision on who to hire.
While many background check sites are similar, not all are created equal. For example, not all companies that run background checks are FCRA-compliant. Some focus on certain industries or records. Some take longer than others to produce results. Some may be focused on small businesses in your area. To make sure you choose the right provider for your company and needs, consider these best practices and common mistakes:
If you have questions about these considerations or others, make sure to ask them on your demo. For more guidance on how to make the most of your demo, continue to our next section.
Running background checks is a win-win for your company. Not only are you ensuring a safer work environment, you’re also making the hiring process more efficient by using a screening provider to run the checks you need, when you need them.
But that’s not all. Here is a full list of benefits you can expect from using a background checks vendor:
To help you calculate how all these benefits translate to a positive return on investment, check out our ROI calculator for reference checks tools. It covers a variety of key points, including:
What to budget for your background check needs depends on a number of variables, including the actual records you need, how many pulls you’ll need in a year, etc. As a result, most vendors create custom pricing packages based on your specific needs. So you could either be charged per report (some can be as low as $5-$10, but they are usually around $30) or get a bundled plan where the standard per-report fee is discounted.
Keep in mind that you might also be charged fees to access certain data. For example, county fees can range from a few cents to $100.
Make sure to ask about how pricing works during your demo. Background check sits will also modify pricing for volume and a steady flow of requests, so make sure to get on the phone with someone and lock in a better rate if you are going to be a regular customer.
Here are some of the key features you need to take a deeper look at when you talk to vendors.
Demos are a great way to see how these vendors actually work. If you’re well-prepared, you’ll come out of a demo with a firm understanding of a company’s processes, capabilities and shortcomings. Not only that, you’ll likely know if they’ll be a fit for your company or not.
To ensure you’re not wasting any time on your demos, prepare a list of questions specific to your screening needs as well as the use-cases and features that matter most to you. To get you started, we’ve compiled two sets of questions below — the first includes more general questions you should ask when considering any third-party vendor, the second is specific to background screening providers.
General questions:
Specific to Reference Checks
Many of these vendors are easy to set up. In fact, you should be able to start screening candidates right away. If you plan to integrate with your ATS or another platform in your HR tech stack, then you’ll have to wait to start screening applicants.
When you have your demo with your vendor(s) of choice, make sure to talk about their specific implementation process, how the ATS integrations work, what is required on your end, etc. If it sounds like a big job, make sure you get the right teams on board (for example, IT) so everyone is on the same page and you can get up and running as quickly as possible.
A background check is the process employers go through to make sure that prospective candidates are a safe hire. This is achieved through drug screening, credit checks, motor vehicle reports, criminal history checks, and more.
Background check software are solutions designed to streamline the background check process through automation, useful apps, and quick-to-respond customer service.
Benefits of background check software include quicker time-to-hire, lower cost-to-fill, safer hires, and a streamlined process.
When using background check software, beware of the following pitfalls:double check compliance, factor in budget, beware of near-instant results, double check criminal history to weed out small misdemeanors like parking tickets, and look back at least 7 - 10 years.
At the end of the day, running background checks with an FCRA-compliant vendor is a great way of making sure you hire the right people, create a safe (and more diverse) working environment, improve candidate retention, and gain competitive edge over other employers. If you'd like to know more about the actual do's and don'ts of performing background checks during the screening process, you can complement this reading with Springworks' employee background check guide.
And as a last note, you may have noticed that none of the vendors in this guide run social media checks to help you gauge a person’s character or judgment. This is because using social media to run a background check is risky — and not always legal. That said, if you’re still interested in adding social media checks to your background screening process, make sure you do it the right way.
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