Head to head

GoodHire vs Sure Check Background

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

Sure Check Background

$8.99/applicant

Sure Check Background is FCRA screening with printed per-applicant packages. Basic Criminal is $8.99. Complete is $25.99. Professional is $49.99.

Where Sure Check Background fits

  • US SMBs that want a published $8.99 Basic Criminal package
  • Hiring teams that need unlimited county criminal on Complete at $25.99
  • Roles that also need education and employment verify on Professional at $49.99
  • Construction and field crews that want no monthly minimums and same-day turnaround

At a glance

DetailGoodHireSure Check Background
Starting price$29.99/check$8.99/applicant
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underBackground checkBackground check
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

Sure Check Background

Stands out: Average turnaround is marketed at 8 hours, with most reports instant or same day. Direct county-court integrations are the pitch versus leased CRA backends.

Watch out: Basic at $8.99 has no unlimited county criminal search. That starts on Complete at $25.99. Education and employment verification wait for Professional at $49.99, or a la carte ($10 education, $8 employment).

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprise programs that need a global HireRight-style contract and SLA
  • Buyers who only want a monthly unlimited search subscription

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

Sure Check Background

  • Printed $8.99 / $25.99 / $49.99 per-applicant ladder
  • Complete adds unlimited county criminal without a monthly platform fee
  • Same-day and 8-hour turnaround claims with no monthly minimums
  • Basic $8.99 omits unlimited county criminal
  • Education and employment verify are $49.99 Professional or a la carte extras
  • No named ATS list on the homepage, only a generic connector claim

What each one costs

GoodHire

$29.99/check

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Sure Check Background

$8.99/applicant

Basic Criminal is $8.99 per applicant (SSN trace, nationwide criminal, watchlists, sex-offender registry). Complete is $25.99 and adds unlimited county criminal. Professional is $49.99 and adds education and employment verification. Volume discounts are offered. There are no monthly minimums on the construction packages page. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is GoodHire cheaper than Sure Check Background?
Sure Check Background starts lower, at $8.99/applicant against $29.99/check for GoodHire. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try GoodHire or Sure Check Background for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All GoodHire alternatives All Sure Check Background 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?