Compare/Head to head

RefNow vs Xref

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

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

DetailRefNowXref
Starting priceSales-quoted$70/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trialYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underReference checks, Background checkReference checks, Background check
Capterra4.7 from 472 reviews4.7 from 95 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

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

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

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

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

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 RefNow or Xref for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. RefNow offers a 14 day free trial. Xref offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?