Head to head

Refapp vs Xref

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

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

Xref automates reference checks and says results come back in about 18 hours on average. Published USD plans start at $70 a month billed annually, or $80 paid monthly, for organizations of 1 to 74 employees.

Where Xref fits

Talent teams that want structured references instead of phone tag
Organizations under 75 employees that can start on the published Starter plan
Recruiters who want fraud signals on the reference report itself
Teams already in Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, or PageUp

At a glance

Detail	Refapp	Xref
Starting price	Sales-quoted	$70/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	Not on record	Yes
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	–No	✓Yes
Listed under	Reference checks	Reference checks, Background check
Capterra	Not enough reviews	4.7 from 95 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

Xref

Stands out: The same check adds report analytics, sentiment, and fraud detection, and AI Reference Summaries condense the feedback. Xref also says a check can be sent in as little as 30 seconds.

Watch out: Starter caps turnover at 25 candidate profiles a year, so volume hiring outgrows it fast. Pulse surveys, exit surveys and a background check marketplace sit on the same platform, so a reference only buyer can end up in a wider suite.

Not the right fit for

A buyer who only needs a criminal background check
Enterprises over 500 employees that expect a public rate instead of a sales quote

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

Xref

Published USD plans, with a lower rate on annual billing
Fraud detection and AI Reference Summaries are part of the reference product
ATS connections include Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, PageUp and iCIMS

Starter turnover is capped at 25, so volume hiring outgrows the entry plan
Background checks and surveys are sold beside references, which widens the scope
Enterprise pricing above 500 employees is quoted

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 24 Sep 2026

Xref

$70/mo

Plans are sized by employee count and billed annually, with a higher rate when paid monthly. Starter (1 to 74 employees, turnover cap 25) is $70 a month, or $80 paid monthly. Growth is $140 ($160 monthly), Plus is $290 ($335) and Premium is $485 ($560), up to 500 employees. Enterprise is quoted. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 24 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try Refapp or Xref for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Xref offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Refapp alternatives All Xref alternatives Every Reference checks tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 24 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?