Certn
Global background screening with public US and Canada self-serve packages and a partner REST API.
From $13.99/check
Visit Certn (opens in a new tab)
Ask AI about Certn: ChatGPT (opens in a new tab) Claude (opens in a new tab) Grok (opens in a new tab)
Bottom line
Background screening with public self-serve checks. US Core Criminal is $13.99 on the USD card; a separate CAD card is published for Canada.
Stands out for: A rare public rate card for screening (criminal, identity, and verifications priced per check in both USD and CAD), plus ATS names (Greenhouse, Lever, Workday) on the marketing site.
Watch out for: There are two rate cards, one in USD and one in CAD, and the figures differ. Check you are reading the one for your hiring country before you budget, and remember county searches and pass-through access fees stack on the headline check.
Overview
Certn is a background screening platform for employers and staffing teams. Criminal, identity, employment and education verification, and reference checks are sold as packages or à la carte. Greenhouse, Lever, and Workday appear on the marketing site. There is a partner REST API.
Published USD self-serve pricing: US Core Criminal $13.99, Complete $49.99, Complete+ $79.99; Basic Canadian Criminal $17.99, Enhanced $21.50; OneID $3.50; digital references $3.50; MVR $25.99; Social Media $42.99. County searches add $9.99 where applicable. A separate CAD card is published for Canadian buyers. No free trial is advertised.
Who it's for
Best for
- US and Canadian employers buying criminal and identity checks
- Staffing teams that want self-serve packages
- ATS-connected hiring on Greenhouse, Lever, or Workday
- Buyers who want a public check price instead of a CRA quote
Not ideal for
- Teams that want one global rate card rather than per-country pricing
- Enterprises standardised on Sterling or First Advantage
- Buyers who need a free trial of a background check
Key features
US criminal packages. Core from $13.99, Complete $49.99, Complete+ $79.99.
Canadian criminal checks. Basic and Enhanced CPIC/PIP packages.
Identity verification. OneID biometric document matching.
Employment and education verify. In-house verification team.
Reference checks. Digital or phone reference workflows.
REST API. Partner API with OAuth 2.0, packages, and webhooks.
Pay-per-check. No required monthly platform fee on self-serve.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| US Core Criminal | $13.99/check | Self-serve USD on the US site |
| US Complete | $49.99/check | |
| US Complete+ | $79.99/check | |
| Basic Canadian Criminal | $17.99/check | |
| Enhanced Canadian Criminal | $21.50/check | |
| Enterprise | Quoted | Volume pricing |
Self-serve USD on the US site: US Core Criminal $13.99, Complete $49.99, Complete+ $79.99; Basic Canadian Criminal $17.99, Enhanced $21.50; OneID $3.50; digital references $3.50; Social Media $42.99; MVR $25.99. County searches add $9.99 where applicable, and third-party pass-through access fees may apply. A separate CAD card is published at certn.co/pricing. Enterprise and volume are quoted. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 18 Sep 2026. Vendors change prices without notice.
Is Certn expensive?
Certn starts at $13.99/check. We list 25 background check tools in total. 1 have a free tier, and those with a public price typically start around $30 a month.
- 15 quote-based
- 1 free tier
- 11 public price
Worked out automatically from every background check listing, so it updates as the directory changes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Public self-serve check prices rather than a CRA quote
- Greenhouse, Lever, and Workday named
- Identity plus criminal plus verifications in one vendor
Cons
- Two currency cards to keep straight
- County searches and access fees stack on the headline price
- No trial
Integrations
Greenhouse Lever Workday
How Certn compares
See all Certn alternatives, with what each one does differently and a head to head for every pairing.
| Tool | Free tier | From | MCP | API | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | – | $13.99/check | – | ✓ | |
| | – | $29.99/report | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | $29.99/check | – | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | 42 | – | ✓ | Compare |
 Verified First US packages from $29.99/check with a long ATS list if Certn's two-card setup is the wrong shape. | – | From $29.99/check | – | ✓ | Compare |
$29.99/report MCP API
US-centric API-first screening if most of your volume is FCRA and you want one currency.
$29.99/check API
Self-serve US checks with a public start if you want a US-only SMB motion.
42 API
Global digital screening with a public Essential $42 package if references are the centre.
Verified FirstFrom $29.99/check API
US packages from $29.99/check with a long ATS list if Certn's two-card setup is the wrong shape.