Head to head

Certn vs Verified First

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

Verified First

$29.99/check

Background, drug, and I-9 screening. Basic is $29.99 per check; no monthly minimums.

Where Verified First fits

SMBs that want pay-per-check screening
TA teams that need I-9 with background
Companies connecting screening to an ATS
Buyers who will not accept a monthly minimum

At a glance

Detail	Certn	Verified First
Starting price	$13.99/check	$29.99/check
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	Background check	Background check
Capterra	4.6 from 81 reviews	4.7 from 19 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

Verified First

Stands out: A public $29.99 Basic package and a long ATS list, with I-9 in the same vendor, aimed at teams that refuse a CRA minimum.

Watch out: Basic is nationwide criminal plus watchlists, not county-unlimited or employment/education verify. Those sit on Essential and Premium.

Not the right fit for

DOT/occ-health programmes
Enterprises standardised on Sterling
Teams that need a free trial of a live FCRA check

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

Verified First

Public $29.99 Basic with no minimums
I-9 in the same product family
Positioned for ATS-connected SMB hiring

Basic is not county-unlimited or verify-heavy
No trial
Integration list is claimed but not itemised publicly

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

Verified First

$29.99/check

From $29.99/check on the published self-serve plan. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 16 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Certn cheaper than Verified First?

Certn starts lower, at $13.99/check against $29.99/check for Verified First. 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 Verified First for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Certn alternatives All Verified First 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?