Compare/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.

Starting price

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

$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

DetailVITAYXref
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 checkReference checks, Background check
Capterra4.9 from 49 reviews4.7 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 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 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 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?