Head to head

First Advantage vs GoodHire

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

First Advantage

Sales-quoted

Global background checks, identity verification and I-9 services. Pricing is quote-based. First Advantage now owns Sterling.

Where First Advantage fits

  • Global employers screening at scale
  • Teams that also need I-9 and E-Verify
  • Former Sterling customers
  • Buyers wanting identity checks and criminal checks together

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

DetailFirst AdvantageGoodHire
Starting priceSales-quoted$29.99/check
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underBackground checkBackground check
CapterraNot enough reviews4.8 from 116 reviews

Where they pull apart

First Advantage

Stands out: Background and identity checks across more than 200 countries and territories, with ATS integrations and REST APIs.

Watch out: No published per-check price. Former Sterling customers are moving onto First Advantage, so confirm which platform your contract runs on.

Not the right fit for

  • Small firms wanting a published per-check price
  • Individuals ordering a personal 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

First Advantage

  • Coverage in 200+ countries and territories
  • Identity checks and I-9 in one vendor
  • ATS integrations and REST APIs
  • No published per-check price
  • Enterprise sales cycle
  • Sterling migration may change workflows

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

First Advantage

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. Pricing depends on check types, volume and regions. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

GoodHire

$29.99/check

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try First Advantage or GoodHire for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?