Checkr alternatives, matched to why you're switching
By Jean Luc · Updated September 26, 2026 · Eight competitors, with sources
Disclosure: this site earns a commission if you sign up for Checkr through our links. This page recommends competitors anyway, because the right alternative depends on your reason for leaving, and some of those reasons are real.
Why people leave Checkr
Across the 2,100+ reviews on the six platforms we aggregate, the reasons repeat. Support runs through chat with no phone line, and it is the most common complaint on every platform. County-court searches can stretch a check from days to weeks. Pass-through court and DMV fees push bills above the package price. Candidates rate Checkr much lower than employers do. Checkr is also built around US courts, so teams hiring in Canada or the UK often need a second vendor. Each alternative below is matched to one of those reasons.
Match the alternative to your reason for leaving
| Best alternative | Check before switching | |
|---|---|---|
| Support is chat-only | Mitratech AssureHire or ClearStar | Neither publishes prices; AssureHire programs start at $5,000 |
| Hiring in Canada or the UK | Certn | Candidate rating is 1.7 on Trustpilot |
| Want a managed enterprise program | First Advantage (including Sterling) | Quote-only; ask which platform you'll be on post-merger |
| Candidate complaints | No alternative does better on public data | Checkr's unprompted reviews (1.4) edge out HireRight (1.0) and Sterling (1.1) |
| Want simpler preset packages | GoodHire | Owned by Checkr since 2022 |
| Surprise pass-through fees | No vendor avoids them | ClearStar and Certn also pass through court fees; compare fee schedules |
| Slow county-court turnaround | No clear winner from public data | Ask any vendor for turnaround by county before signing |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of September 26, 2026. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
The 8 best Checkr alternatives
Mitratech AssureHire
If support is why you're leavingCheckr's most common complaint is chat-first support with no phone line. AssureHire advertises "dedicated, human support" as part of every program and says there are no separate platform or support fees. The trade-off is the entry point: its pricing page says programs start at $5,000, with custom quotes based on hiring volume, so it suits steady hiring rather than a few checks a year. G2 lists it at 4.2, but on only 14 reviews.
ClearStar
Service-first, with a strong drug-screening networkAlpharetta, Georgia screener with 30 years in the business, pitching "service-first support from dedicated US-based teams" and a large clinic network for drug screening. It publishes package contents (Basic, Standard, Professional) but not prices. Its Basic package notes that pass-through court fees apply, so it won't remove the fee complaint either. Review volume is too thin to compare quality from the outside.
Certn
For Canada and UK hiring, or cheaper basic checksCanada-born challenger (Victoria, BC) with native Canadian checks that return in minutes and UK screening through its Credence acquisition. A basic criminal check runs about $17.99 per third-party summaries of its published self-serve rates, and G2 rates it 4.8 for ease of use. The caution: candidates rate it 1.7 on Trustpilot.
Full Checkr vs Certn comparison →Sterling (now First Advantage)
For enterprise programs with heavy drug testingEnterprise-only and quote-based, with an established clinic network for drug and occupational health testing. Its 4.0 Trustpilot score comes from years of older, largely invited reviews; its 100 most recent are all unprompted and average 1.1. The Sterling brand is now fully merged into First Advantage, so you are buying from First Advantage.
Full Checkr vs Sterling comparison →First Advantage
For global, single-vendor enterprise programsPublic company (NASDAQ: FA) and, after absorbing Sterling, the largest screener. One vendor for multinational programs and verticalized enterprise solutions. No published pricing, no self-serve, and a sales process before you run anything.
Full Checkr vs First Advantage comparison →HireRight
For regulated-industry depth, if you can live with the reviewsLong-running global and regulated-industry programs, private since its 2024 take-private, with 70 integrations across 45+ HR and ATS providers. Quote-only. Its 1.1 candidate rating on Trustpilot (about 97% one-star) is the weakest on this list.
Full Checkr vs HireRight comparison →Accurate Background
For a service-led mid-market partnerAccount-managed screening for mid-market and enterprise employers, close to Checkr on employer satisfaction (G2 around 4.4), and the largest privately held minority-owned screener. No published pricing; candidate reviews on Trustpilot sit around 1.3.
Full Checkr vs Accurate Background comparison →GoodHire
Simpler packages, same ownerWorth knowing before you count it as an alternative: Checkr has owned GoodHire since 2022. It sells three preset packages ($29.99, $54.99, and $79.99, with education and employment verification bundled at the top tier) for small teams without an ATS. Switching changes the storefront, not the company.
Full Checkr vs GoodHire comparison →
Reasons to stay with Checkr
Switching is a real project: new contracts, integrations, adjudication rules, and candidate communications. It's worth being sure the problem is Checkr. Checkr still publishes pay-as-you-go pricing from $29.99 per report while most alternatives quote privately. Its employer ratings are the strongest in the category (4.5 on G2 across 457 reviews). Its 200+ integrations are the largest catalog of any vendor here. Unlike HireRight and Sterling, it actively asks candidates for feedback, those candidates rate it 4.7 on Trustpilot, and even its unprompted reviews edge out both. If support was the trigger, larger accounts get dedicated account teams, so ask about that before you move. Checkr's full review record is on our homepage, critical reviews included.
See Checkr pricing ↗Checkr alternatives FAQ
What are the best Checkr alternatives?+
It depends on why you're leaving. For human support, Mitratech AssureHire and ClearStar both lead with it. For Canadian or UK hiring, Certn. For an enterprise program with a large clinic network, Sterling, which is now First Advantage. For a simpler storefront, GoodHire, though Checkr owns it.
Is there a Checkr alternative with phone support?+
Mitratech AssureHire advertises dedicated, human support in every program, and ClearStar advertises service-first support from US-based teams. Both sell through quotes rather than published prices, and AssureHire's programs start at $5,000. The enterprise vendors (First Advantage, HireRight, Accurate) include account teams in their contracts.
Which Checkr alternative is cheapest?+
For a single basic criminal check, Certn, at about $17.99 per third-party summaries of its rate card, against Checkr's $29.99 Basic. GoodHire matches Checkr at $29.99. Everyone else quotes privately. Nearly every vendor also passes through court access fees, so compare fee schedules for your states, not just package prices.
Is GoodHire an alternative to Checkr?+
Only partly. Checkr acquired GoodHire's parent company in 2022, so it's a different product from the same company. It makes sense if you want simpler preset packages, not if you want to leave Checkr as a vendor.
Is ClearStar better than Checkr for high-volume hiring?+
Public data can't settle it. ClearStar pitches service-first support and a large drug-screening clinic network, which matters for high-volume drug testing. But it publishes neither prices nor turnaround data, and its review volume is too small to compare. Checkr has documented high-volume customers like Lyft, 200+ integrations, and published pricing. Get a ClearStar quote and ask for turnaround data by county.
Which Checkr alternative has ATS integrations?+
HireRight publishes 70 integrations across 45+ HR and ATS providers, and AssureHire, ClearStar, Certn, and the enterprise vendors all offer ATS connections. None publishes a catalog as large as Checkr's 200+, so confirm your specific ATS before switching.