Head to head

Certn vs GoodHire

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

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

GoodHire

$29.99/check

US employment background checks with public per-check pricing. Basic starts at $29.99/check for under 50 checks a year.

Where GoodHire fits

  • 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
  • Teams already in Greenhouse, Lever, Workable, BambooHR, or Workday

At a glance

DetailCertnGoodHire
Starting price$13.99/check$29.99/check
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underBackground checkBackground check
Capterra4.6 from 81 reviews4.8 from 116 reviews

Where they pull apart

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

GoodHire

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.

Not the right fit for

  • Global screening programs that need one worldwide CRA
  • Enterprises that will immediately exceed 50 checks and wanted the $29.99 number to hold

Pros and cons

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

GoodHire

  • Public Basic price at $29.99/check for low volume
  • Drug tests and MVR on the same platform
  • Broad ATS/HRIS ordering list including Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, and BambooHR
  • $29.99 is the <50-checks band, not volume pricing
  • County, drug, and verification add-ons plus pass-through fees
  • US-centric; not a global screening platform

What each one costs

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

GoodHire

$29.99/check

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Certn cheaper than GoodHire?
Certn starts lower, at $13.99/check against $29.99/check for GoodHire. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Certn or GoodHire for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 18 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?