Head to head

Certn vs Sure Check Background

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

Sure Check Background

$8.99/applicant

Sure Check Background is FCRA screening with printed per-applicant packages. Basic Criminal is $8.99. Complete is $25.99. Professional is $49.99.

Where Sure Check Background fits

  • 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
  • Construction and field crews that want no monthly minimums and same-day turnaround

At a glance

DetailCertnSure Check Background
Starting price$13.99/check$8.99/applicant
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underBackground checkBackground check
Capterra4.6 from 81 reviewsNot enough 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

Sure Check Background

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).

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprise programs that need a global HireRight-style contract and SLA
  • Buyers who only want a monthly unlimited search subscription

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

Sure Check Background

  • Printed $8.99 / $25.99 / $49.99 per-applicant ladder
  • Complete adds unlimited county criminal without a monthly platform fee
  • Same-day and 8-hour turnaround claims with no monthly minimums
  • Basic $8.99 omits unlimited county criminal
  • Education and employment verify are $49.99 Professional or a la carte extras
  • No named ATS list on the homepage, only a generic connector claim

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

Sure Check Background

$8.99/applicant

Basic Criminal is $8.99 per applicant (SSN trace, nationwide criminal, watchlists, sex-offender registry). Complete is $25.99 and adds unlimited county criminal. Professional is $49.99 and adds education and employment verification. Volume discounts are offered. There are no monthly minimums on the construction packages page. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Certn cheaper than Sure Check Background?
Sure Check Background starts lower, at $8.99/applicant against $13.99/check for Certn. 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 Sure Check Background for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Certn alternatives All Sure Check Background alternatives Every Background check tool

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