Head to head

BackgroundChecks.com vs Certn

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

BackgroundChecks.com is HireRight's SMB FCRA screening brand (formerly ClearChecks). Pay-as-you-go packages start at $24.99 with no monthly minimums, no setup fees, and no platform fee.

Where BackgroundChecks.com fits

  • US SMBs that want FCRA checks from $24.99 without a monthly minimum
  • Teams on Greenhouse, Lever, JazzHR, Jobvite, or Workable that want ATS connectors
  • Employers who need included pre- and post-adverse-action letters
  • Hiring managers who prefer PAYG over an enterprise HireRight contract

Certn

$13.99/check

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.

Where Certn fits

  • 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

At a glance

DetailBackgroundChecks.comCertn
Starting price$24.99/check$13.99/check
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underBackground checkBackground check
CapterraNot enough reviews4.6 from 81 reviews

Where they pull apart

BackgroundChecks.com

Stands out: You pay per report. Court pass-through fees are billed at cost. Adverse-action letters and FCRA workflows are included in the account rather than sold as an add-on.

Watch out: County and education surcharges can still appear at checkout. There is no unlimited monthly search product. High-volume discounts start after 100 reports in a month.

Not the right fit for

  • Global employers that need a quoted multi-country HireRight program
  • Landlords looking for a non-FCRA tenant screen priced as unlimited monthly

Certn

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.

Not the right fit 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

Pros and cons

BackgroundChecks.com

  • Public $24.99 PAYG floor with no monthly minimums
  • FCRA adverse-action tools included, court fees at cost
  • HireRight-backed SMB brand after the April 2025 ClearChecks deal
  • County and education surcharges still hit at checkout on some orders
  • No unlimited monthly search SKU
  • Enterprise-style SLAs still live on a HireRight quote, not this self-serve board

Certn

  • Public self-serve check prices rather than a CRA quote
  • Greenhouse, Lever, and Workday named
  • Identity plus criminal plus verifications in one vendor
  • Two currency cards to keep straight
  • County searches and access fees stack on the headline price
  • No trial

What each one costs

BackgroundChecks.com

$24.99/check

Packages start at $24.99 per report and are built inside the account rather than from a published plan table. There are no setup fees, no monthly platform fees, and no long-term minimums. Court pass-through fees are billed at cost. FCRA adverse-action tools are included. Automatic volume discounts start at 100 reports in a month. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Certn

$13.99/check

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

Common questions

Is BackgroundChecks.com cheaper than Certn?
Certn starts lower, at $13.99/check against $24.99/check for BackgroundChecks.com. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try BackgroundChecks.com or Certn for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All BackgroundChecks.com alternatives All Certn alternatives Every Background check tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?