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.

HiPeople

$70/mo Free tier

HiPeople automates reference checks, skills surveys, and AI hiring workflows. A permanent Free plan covers one candidate. Paid Grow starts at $70/month with unlimited candidates, references, and users.

Where HiPeople fits

  • TA teams replacing manual reference calls with 24-hour surveys
  • Startups that will live on Free for a single candidate, then Grow at $70/mo
  • Mid-market desks that need ATS sync and 360 references on Scale
  • 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$70/moSales-quoted
Free tier✓Yes–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: Grow at $70/month adds fraud detection, PDF exports, and branded surveys on top of 50-plus templates. Scale at $98/month adds ATS integrations, 360-degree references, title verification, and a talent pool.

Watch out: HiPeople does not keep a self-serve pricing page. The live figures sit on a vendor compare page. Enterprise (API, CSM, SOC 2 Type II report, SLAs) 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 one self-serve pricing page rather than figures on a compare page

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

  • Permanent Free plan for one candidate, then Grow at $70/mo
  • Capterra 4.8 from 1,563 reviews on the matching HiPeople listing
  • Fraud detection and 50-plus reference templates on paid plans
  • Plan figures live on a compare page rather than a pricing page
  • ATS connectors start on Scale at $98/mo, not Grow
  • API, CSM, and SOC 2 report wait for Enterprise quote

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

$70/mo

Free covers one candidate, 50-plus templates, AI surveys, and custom questions. Grow is $70 per month with unlimited candidates, references, and users, plus fraud detection, PDF exports, and branded surveys. Scale is $98 per month and adds ATS integrations, talent pool, title verification, 360 references, and onboarding insights. Enterprise (API, CSM, SOC 2 Type II, SLAs) is quoted. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 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 24 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try HiPeople or RefNow for free?
HiPeople carries a free tier on our listing. RefNow offers a 14 day free trial.

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