Compare/Head to head

RefNow vs VITAY

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

Starting price

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

VITAY

Sales-quoted

VITAY sends reference requests in under 60 seconds and says 90 percent of referees respond within 24 hours. Pricing is quoted. A public API is documented.

Where VITAY fits

  • Hiring teams that want references finished inside a day
  • Agencies that trigger checks from Bullhorn or Salesforce
  • Buyers who want a documented API at developers.vitay.io
  • Teams that want to send themselves a sample reference before a demo

At a glance

DetailRefNowVITAY
Starting priceSales-quotedSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underReference checks, Background checkReference checks, Background check
Capterra4.7 from 472 reviews4.9 from 49 reviews

Where they pull apart

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

VITAY

Stands out: Fraud alerts use IP matching and device fingerprinting, and the vendor says the service is built on ISO 27001 standards. SureSwift Capital bought the company in 2022.

Watch out: There is no public price on vitay.io. Background checks, pre screening, and talent feedback are separate nav items beside the reference product.

Not the right fit for

  • A buyer who needs a published per check or monthly rate
  • A program whose only need is a criminal record search

Pros and cons

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

VITAY

  • Vendor claim of 90 percent of references back within 24 hours
  • IP and device checks are named fraud controls on the reference flow
  • Developer documentation is published at developers.vitay.io
  • No price is published on the site
  • Background checks and pre screening are sold as separate products
  • Named ATS connections appear only in the FAQ, with no integrations catalog

What each one costs

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

VITAY

Sales-quoted

VITAY does not publish a price. The site offers a demo and a sample reference request sent to a work email. Buyers need a quote. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try RefNow or VITAY for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. RefNow offers a 14 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All RefNow alternatives All VITAY 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?