Compare/Head to head

Refapp vs RefNow

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

Starting price

Refapp

Sales-quoted

Refapp is digital reference checking from Talentwise AB. The vendor says organizations in more than 30 countries run over 1 million reference checks a year on the platform. Pricing is a quote.

Where Refapp fits

  • Staffing firms and employers that want templated, scored references
  • Teams on Teamtailor, Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, or iCIMS
  • Nordic and multi country hiring programs
  • Buyers who want references stored for several years

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

DetailRefappRefNow
Starting priceSales-quotedSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on record14 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underReference checksReference checks, Background check
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 from 472 reviews

Where they pull apart

Refapp

Stands out: Question templates are described as science based, and the ROI page estimates about 1 minute of recruiter time per reference, with storage for 7 years.

Watch out: There is no public price, and the Swedish site also markets background checks, so confirm the quote covers references only.

Not the right fit for

  • A buyer who needs a published US price before a demo
  • A program that wants reference fraud analytics as the main feature

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

Refapp

  • Named ATS partners include Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, Ashby, and Teamtailor
  • Volume claim of more than 1 million reference checks a year
  • Question templates are positioned as science based rather than a blank form
  • No public price; pricing is per use and fitted to volume
  • No published trial
  • Background checks appear on the Swedish site, which can blur the package

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

Refapp

Sales-quoted

Refapp does not publish a price. Buyers book a demo. The Swedish FAQ says customers pay per use, with the price fitted to volume. 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 Refapp or RefNow for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. RefNow offers a 14 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Refapp alternatives All RefNow alternatives Every Reference checks tool

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