Head to head

CrossChq vs Xref

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

CrossChq

Sales-quoted

Automated reference checks, fraud detection, and quality-of-hire analytics. Pricing is quote-based.

Where CrossChq fits

TA teams replacing manual reference calls
Companies on Workday, Greenhouse, or iCIMS
Quality-of-hire programmes that want structured reference data
Hiring that needs fraud signals on applications

Xref automates reference checks and says results come back in about 18 hours on average. Published USD plans start at $70 a month billed annually, or $80 paid monthly, for organizations of 1 to 74 employees.

Where Xref fits

Talent teams that want structured references instead of phone tag
Organizations under 75 employees that can start on the published Starter plan
Recruiters who want fraud signals on the reference report itself
Teams already in Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, or PageUp

At a glance

Detail	CrossChq	Xref
Starting price	Sales-quoted	$70/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	Not on record	Yes
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	–No	✓Yes
Listed under	Assessments, Background check, Reference checks	Reference checks, Background check
Capterra	4.9 from 15 reviews	4.7 from 95 reviews

Where they pull apart

CrossChq

Stands out: References as structured data plus fraud and quality-of-hire, not a phone-tag spreadsheet.

Watch out: Pricing is quote-based, so budget from a quote.

Not the right fit for

SMBs that want a $42 Veremark package
Teams that only need a criminal background check
Buyers who need a public price grid

Xref

Stands out: The same check adds report analytics, sentiment, and fraud detection, and AI Reference Summaries condense the feedback. Xref also says a check can be sent in as little as 30 seconds.

Watch out: Starter caps turnover at 25 candidate profiles a year, so volume hiring outgrows it fast. Pulse surveys, exit surveys and a background check marketplace sit on the same platform, so a reference only buyer can end up in a wider suite.

Not the right fit for

A buyer who only needs a criminal background check
Enterprises over 500 employees that expect a public rate instead of a sales quote

Pros and cons

CrossChq

Structured references instead of phone tag
Workday, Greenhouse, and iCIMS named
Fraud and quality-of-hire in the same product family

No published pricing grid
Not a criminal background check
SMB packages like Veremark may be cheaper for simple references

Xref

Published USD plans, with a lower rate on annual billing
Fraud detection and AI Reference Summaries are part of the reference product
ATS connections include Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, PageUp and iCIMS

Starter turnover is capped at 25, so volume hiring outgrows the entry plan
Background checks and surveys are sold beside references, which widens the scope
Enterprise pricing above 500 employees is quoted

What each one costs

CrossChq

Sales-quoted

Crosschq does not publish a price, and crosschq.com has no pricing page. Buyers book a demo for a quote. The $399/mo figure on some review sites does not come from Crosschq. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 24 Sep 2026

Xref

$70/mo

Plans are sized by employee count and billed annually, with a higher rate when paid monthly. Starter (1 to 74 employees, turnover cap 25) is $70 a month, or $80 paid monthly. Growth is $140 ($160 monthly), Plus is $290 ($335) and Premium is $485 ($560), up to 500 employees. Enterprise is quoted. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 24 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try CrossChq or Xref for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Xref offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All CrossChq alternatives All Xref alternatives Every Assessments tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 24 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?