Compare/Head to head

Checkr vs HiPeople

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

Starting price

Checkr

$29.99/report

US background checks billed per report, with a public API and hosted MCP. Workforce Basic starts at $29.99 per report before pass-through fees.

Where Checkr fits

  • US employers running criminal packages at hire
  • Teams that want candidate self-entry and ATS hooks
  • Platforms ordering checks through the Checkr API
  • Ops teams that want MCP over their own reports

HiPeople

$6/candidate

HiPeople automates reference checks, skills surveys, and AI hiring workflows. Modular pricing starts from $6 per candidate, billed annually, and a free trial is offered.

Where HiPeople fits

  • TA teams replacing manual reference calls with 24-hour surveys
  • Teams that want to pay per candidate rather than per seat
  • Mid-market desks that want assessments and references from one vendor
  • Employers that want fraud detection on references before an offer

At a glance

DetailCheckrHiPeople
Starting price$29.99/report$6/candidate
Free tier–No–No
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underBackground checkAssessments, Background check, Reference checks
Capterra4.5 from 303 reviews4.8 from 1,563 reviews

Where they pull apart

Checkr

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.

Not the right fit for

  • Landlords (use Checkr Tenant, not Workforce)
  • Companies that need one global price for every country

HiPeople

Stands out: Modules cover a science-based assessment library and reference checks with role-specific templates, custom questions, verification and fraud detection, and benchmarking.

Watch out: Only the $6 per candidate starting point is published, billed annually; the full cost depends on the modules you pick. Enterprise is quoted. The homepage now leads with AI recruiting agents as well as reference checks.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies that only need a criminal background check, not a reference survey
  • Buyers who want a permanent free plan

Pros and cons

Checkr

  • Self-serve Workforce packages from $29.99/report
  • No monthly platform fee on standard orders
  • Public API plus hosted customer MCP
  • Pass-through court fees sit on top of package price
  • International pricing varies by country
  • Enterprise ATS depth is quote-only

HiPeople

  • Per-candidate pricing from $6, billed annually, with a free trial
  • Capterra 4.8 from 1,563 reviews on the matching HiPeople listing
  • Fraud detection and verification built into reference checks
  • Only a starting per-candidate price is published
  • Billed annually
  • No permanent free plan listed

What each one costs

Checkr

$29.99/report

Pay per report with no monthly platform fee on standard orders. Workforce Basic is $29.99, Essential $59.99 and Complete $94.99 per report; Enterprise is sales-quoted. Court and database access fees are passed through at cost on top. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

HiPeople

$6/candidate

HiPeople's pricing page shows modular pricing that starts from $6 per candidate, billed annually, across modules such as assessments and reference checks. Enterprise is custom, with a dedicated CSM, integration support and ongoing training. SOC 2 Type II is listed as always included. A free trial is offered through Try for free; no permanent free plan is listed. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Checkr cheaper than HiPeople?
HiPeople starts lower, at $6/candidate against $29.99/report for Checkr. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Checkr or HiPeople for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does Checkr or HiPeople have an MCP server?
Checkr ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Checkr alternatives All HiPeople alternatives Every Background check tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?