Why it comes up: Checkr's public Basic+ is $29.99/report with a modern API-first workflow, a higher printed floor than $24.99 PAYG.
Stands out: Self-serve packages plus MCP at mcp.checkr.com so hiring agents can read reports.
Watch out: Court and database access fees are billed on top, at cost. Essential and Complete cost more. International checks are priced by country.
Best for
- US employers running criminal packages at hire
- Teams that want candidate self-entry and ATS hooks
- Platforms ordering checks through the Checkr API
4.5 on Capterra from 303 reviews
Read the Checkr write-up · BackgroundChecks.com vs Checkr
Why it comes up: Certn publishes US and Canada self-serve packages from $13.99/check plus a partner REST API, a cross-border alternative.
Stands out: 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: 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.
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
4.6 on Capterra from 81 reviews
Read the Certn write-up · BackgroundChecks.com vs Certn
Why it comes up: GoodHire is another SMB FCRA product (Capterra 4.8/116) with a $29.99-style entry rather than $24.99 PAYG.
Stands out: SMBs can actually see a rate card: Basic $29.99, Essential $59.99, Complete $94.99 per check, with a self-serve path under 50 checks a year instead of a mandatory sales call.
Watch out: Those prices are for fewer than 50 checks a year. Volume is a custom quote. County, state, and federal searches, drug tests, MVR, and education/employment verifications stack on. Third-party pass-through fees apply. Do not budget $29.99 as the all-in cost of a hire.
Best for
- US SMBs that run occasional background checks
- Staffing and hourly desks that want FCRA-compliant ordering from the ATS
- Companies that also need drug tests and MVR on the same vendor
4.8 on Capterra from 116 reviews
Read the GoodHire write-up · BackgroundChecks.com vs GoodHire
Why it comes up: Sure Check Basic Criminal is $8.99/applicant but skips unlimited county searches until Complete at $25.99.
Stands out: Average turnaround is marketed at 8 hours, with most reports instant or same day. Direct county-court integrations are the pitch versus leased CRA backends.
Watch out: Basic at $8.99 has no unlimited county criminal search. That starts on Complete at $25.99. Education and employment verification wait for Professional at $49.99, or a la carte ($10 education, $8 employment).
Best for
- US SMBs that want a published $8.99 Basic Criminal package
- Hiring teams that need unlimited county criminal on Complete at $25.99
- Roles that also need education and employment verify on Professional at $49.99
Read the Sure Check Background write-up · BackgroundChecks.com vs Sure Check Background
