Compare/Head to head

RefAssured vs Xref

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

Starting price

RefAssured

Sales-quoted

RefAssured is reference checking built only for staffing agencies, with identity verification, passive fraud detection, post-hire evaluations and reference-giver lead capture in the same platform. Pricing is a custom quote set by annual placement volume, with unlimited users and unlimited checks. It fits Bullhorn, Salesforce, JobDiva and symplr agencies that submit candidates at volume.

Where RefAssured fits

  • Staffing agencies on Bullhorn, Salesforce, JobDiva or symplr that run references on every submission
  • Healthcare staffing firms that need Joint Commission audit trails and symplr CTM integration
  • Agencies worried about fake candidates and fabricated references
  • Firms that want reference givers turned into sales and talent leads

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

DetailRefAssuredXref
Starting priceSales-quoted$70/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on recordYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underReference checks, Background check, Candidate fraud & AI detectionReference checks, Background check
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 from 95 reviews

Where they pull apart

RefAssured

Stands out: The price is tied to placements, not seats or checks, so every recruiter can run references on every candidate. The Protect module flags suspicious candidates and reference givers from device, IP and process signals with no extra step for either. It is the only symplr Certified Partner for reference checking, which matters to healthcare staffing firms.

Watch out: No price is published, so budgeting starts with a demo. Native integrations cover four systems (Bullhorn, Salesforce, JobDiva, symplr); other ATSs go through a Chrome extension. The vendor's own pages describe the billing model two ways, so confirm in writing how placements are counted.

Not the right fit for

  • Corporate in-house teams outside staffing, which RefAssured does not target
  • Small agencies that want a published per-check price
  • Buyers who need FCRA criminal background checks

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

RefAssured

  • Unlimited users and reference checks under one placement-based price
  • Fraud signals run on reference givers as well as candidates
  • Native write-back to Bullhorn, Salesforce, JobDiva and symplr
  • No published price
  • Only four native ATS integrations
  • Built for staffing, so a poor fit for corporate HR

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

RefAssured

Sales-quoted

RefAssured does not publish a price. Its pricing page says the annual cost is set by your forecast placement volume, with unlimited users, unlimited reference checks and every module included, and no per-seat, per-check or credit charges. Going over your forecast placements is not billed extra, per the vendor. A custom quote comes from a demo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 5 Oct 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 RefAssured or Xref for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Xref offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 5 Oct 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?