Head to head

RefLynk vs RefNow

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

RefLynk

$350/yr

RefLynk collects references by text. SafeHiring Solutions lists corporate annual pricing from $350 for 25 candidates a year, plus a $99 setup fee.

Where RefLynk fits

  • Corporate, school, healthcare, and ministry hiring teams in the US
  • Teams that want referees to reply by SMS instead of a long form only
  • Buyers who can forecast annual candidate volume in advance
  • Programs that want anonymous referee responses

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

DetailRefLynkRefNow
Starting price$350/yrSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on record14 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underReference checks, Background checkReference checks, Background check
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 from 472 reviews

Where they pull apart

RefLynk

Stands out: The seller says 72 percent of references respond in less than 24 hours, clients ask for 5 references on average, and referees can answer anonymously.

Watch out: Background checks are a separate SafeHiring add on in the same workflow. The price table is published by the seller, SafeHiring Solutions, while reflynk.com itself asks buyers to request a quote.

Not the right fit for

  • A global ATS rollout that needs a published connector list
  • High volume hiring above 250 candidates a year without a custom quote

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

RefLynk

  • Published annual tiers by candidate volume, starting at $350
  • SMS collection with a stated 72 percent response inside 24 hours
  • Anonymous referee responses are a named option
  • No ATS integration list is published
  • Background screening is sold in the same workflow by SafeHiring
  • The price table lives on the seller's site, not on reflynk.com

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

RefLynk

$350/yr

SafeHiring Solutions publishes RefLynk corporate annual pricing by candidate volume: $350 for 25 candidates a year, $600 for 50, $1,000 for 100 and $2,000 for 250. Above 250 candidates the price is custom, and setup is $99. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 24 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 RefLynk 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 RefLynk alternatives All RefNow 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?