Compare/Head to head

HiPeople vs RefNow

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

Starting price

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

RefNow

Sales-quoted 14 day free trial

RefNow collects employment references by automation and sells them as credits. One credit covers up to 10 references for a single candidate. The vendor does not publish a credit price.

Where RefNow fits

  • HR teams that want reminders, question profiles, and a delivery log on each reference
  • UK and multi country employers that need referees outside one office
  • Staffing teams that already use Bullhorn, Ashby, or BambooHR
  • Buyers who want a 14 day trial before a credit subscription

At a glance

DetailHiPeopleRefNow
Starting price$6/candidateSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on record14 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underAssessments, Background check, Reference checksReference checks, Background check
Capterra4.8 from 1,563 reviews4.7 from 472 reviews

Where they pull apart

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

RefNow

Stands out: The vendor says 88 percent of references are completed by automation alone, with a typical turnaround of 36 hours, and that the platform flagged more than 1,000 suspicious references in a single month.

Watch out: Digital ID and DBS checks are sold next to references, and the credit price is quoted rather than listed. The company is based in the UK.

Not the right fit for

  • A team that needs a published per check price before talking to sales
  • A US buyer who wants a criminal background package as the main product

Pros and cons

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

RefNow

  • One credit can collect up to 10 references on the same candidate
  • Fraud detection and an audit trail are part of RefNow Reference
  • The integrations page lists more than 65 connections, including Bullhorn and ADP Workforce Now
  • No numeric credit price is published on the pricing page
  • ID and DBS checks pull the product toward UK screening, not references alone
  • AI CV screening is described as upcoming, not a live reference feature

What each one costs

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

RefNow

Sales-quoted

RefNow sells references as credits. One credit collects up to 10 references from a single candidate. The pricing page lists reference, digital ID, and DBS products and tells buyers to book a demo. Bulk discounts and subscriptions are offered. No public credit rate is shown. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try HiPeople or RefNow for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. RefNow offers a 14 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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