Compare/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.

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

Xref

$70/mo Free trial

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

DetailRefappXref
Starting priceSales-quoted$70/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on recordYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underReference checksReference checks, Background check
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 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 4 Nov 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 4 Nov 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 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?