Head to head

VITAY vs Xref

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

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

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

Detail	VITAY	Xref
Starting price	Sales-quoted	$70/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	Not on record	Yes
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	Reference checks, Background check	Reference checks, Background check
Capterra	4.9 from 49 reviews	4.7 from 95 reviews

Where they pull apart

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

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

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

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

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 24 Sep 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 VITAY or Xref for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Xref offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All VITAY alternatives All Xref 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?