Head to head

GoodHire vs Searchlight

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

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

Searchlight

Quote-based

Automated structured reference checks plus predictive hiring insights. Annual plans by hiring volume; sales-quoted. Not the UK staffing firm of the same name.

Where Searchlight fits

  • TA teams replacing phone references
  • Companies on Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, UKG, or Workday
  • Quality-of-hire programmes
  • US in-house recruiting, not UK staffing

At a glance

DetailGoodHireSearchlight
Starting price$29.99/checkQuote-based
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underBackground checkAssessments
Capterra4.8 from 116 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

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

Searchlight

Stands out: References as a predictive instrument trained on post-hire outcomes, with Greenhouse, Lever, UKG, Ashby, and Workday named.

Watch out: This is not Searchlight the UK agency. Pricing is annual and quoted by volume.

Not the right fit for

  • UK buyers looking for the staffing firm
  • SMBs that want a $42 reference package
  • Teams that need a public monthly seat

Pros and cons

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

Searchlight

  • Structured references instead of phone tag
  • Named Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, UKG, and Workday connectors
  • Quality-of-hire positioning rather than a CRA package
  • Quote-only annual plans
  • Easy to confuse with the UK staffing firm
  • No public per-seat price

What each one costs

GoodHire

$29.99/check

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Searchlight

Quote-based

Quote-based annual plans by hiring volume. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 15 Sep 2026

Common questions

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

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