Xref
Automated reference checks with fraud detection for hiring teams
From $70/mo Free trial
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Bottom line
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.
Stands out for: 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 for: 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.
Overview
Xref is an automated reference checking product used in hiring. Candidates and referees answer surveys, and the report includes analytics, sentiment and fraud detection. The company says results come back in about 18 hours on average.
Plans are sized by employee count. Starter covers 1 to 74 employees at $70 a month billed annually, or $80 paid monthly, with a turnover cap of 25. Growth ($140), Plus ($290) and Premium ($485) step up through 500 employees, and Enterprise is quoted. The platform also sells pulse and exit surveys and a marketplace of background checks.
Who it's for
Best for
- 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
Not ideal for
- A buyer who only needs a criminal background check
- Enterprises over 500 employees that expect a public rate instead of a sales quote
Key features
Automated references. Candidates and referees answer surveys online, and Xref says results come back in about 18 hours on average.
Fraud detection and analytics. Each report includes analytics, sentiment and fraud signals, and AI Reference Summaries condense the feedback.
ATS connections. Requests can start from Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, PageUp, iCIMS and other hiring systems.
Beyond hiring. Pulse and exit surveys and a background check marketplace run on the same platform.
AI features
| What the AI does | Plan |
|---|---|
| AI Reference Summaries condense reference feedback on a candidate | All plans |
Only features named in the vendor's own documentation. Anything sold separately is marked as an add-on.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $70/mo | 1 to 74 employees, $80 paid monthly |
| Growth | $140/mo | 76 to 150 employees, $160 paid monthly |
| Plus | $290/mo | 151 to 300 employees, custom questions |
| Premium | $485/mo | 301 to 500 employees, bulk upload |
| Enterprise | Quote | 501+ employees |
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. Vendors change prices without notice.
Is Xref expensive?
Xref starts at $70/mo. We list 9 reference checks tools in total. 1 have a free tier, and those with a public price typically start around $70 a month.
- 6 quote-based
- 1 free tier
- 3 public price
Worked out automatically from every reference checks listing, so it updates as the directory changes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 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
Cons
- 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
Integrations
Greenhouse Lever Workday PageUp SAP SuccessFactors Oracle Recruitment Cloud Ashby Teamtailor
How Xref compares
See all Xref alternatives, with what each one does differently and a head to head for every pairing.
| Tool | Free tier | From | MCP | API | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xref (this tool) | – | $70/mo | – | ✓ | |
 RefNow RefNow sells references as credits, each covering up to 10 referees for one candidate, with a 14 day trial; Xref prices by company headcount. | – | Sales-quoted | – | ✓ | Compare |
 VITAY VITAY is quote only and uses IP matching and device fingerprinting to flag suspicious referees. | – | Sales-quoted | – | ✓ | Compare |
 Referoo Referoo also offers a 14 day trial and is strongest for Australia, New Zealand and UK hiring. | – | Sales-quoted | – | – | Compare |
 CrossChq Crosschq is quote only, unlike Xref's public $70 entry plan, and adds quality of hire analytics. | – | Sales-quoted | – | – | Compare |
RefNowSales-quoted API
RefNow sells references as credits, each covering up to 10 referees for one candidate, with a 14 day trial; Xref prices by company headcount.
VITAYSales-quoted API
VITAY is quote only and uses IP matching and device fingerprinting to flag suspicious referees.
ReferooSales-quoted
Referoo also offers a 14 day trial and is strongest for Australia, New Zealand and UK hiring.
CrossChqSales-quoted
Crosschq is quote only, unlike Xref's public $70 entry plan, and adds quality of hire analytics.