Best Background Check Services for Employers in 2026

Written by
Best Background Check Services for Employers in 2026 Sandra Robins
Updated

February 13, 2026

An employment background check service performs pre-employment screenings to verify new hires, enabling employers to make informed hiring decisions and mitigate risks. While automation and AI are used to conduct the background checks, the results may be verified by humans, especially for reports that are not clean.

These vendors typically conduct comprehensive background checks in many areas: identity, employment, education, credit, criminal record, motor vehicle, and references. They may also offer specialized services, such as drug screenings, healthcare background checks, professional credential verifications, social media checks, adverse media checks, driving histories, and ongoing monitoring.

Background check vendors must be accredited or work through integrations with compliant third parties. Both vendors and employers need to comply with many federal, state, and local laws during the hiring process. The software can be stand-alone or part of other HR software. Integrations with ATS software are beneficial to allow all candidate information to be tracked in one place.

Best Background Check Services

CoBanker’s recommendations and reviews are selected by our team of experts who have worked directly with each company in our network. While the companies featured are all partners we work with, reviews are based on our team’s experience across multiple criteria.

Company

Best for Small Business Checkr

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4.5
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Overview

Checkr combines AI-powered screenings with a first-class candidate experience to deliver fast and accurate results. It is a leading background check service for small businesses that was named a Grid Leader by G2 in fall 2025. The service also scales well for high-volume checks at large organizations. Checkr delivers 98% of nationwide criminal checks within one hour. Adjudication tools are designed to support compliance with local laws, increase consistency, and optimize your talent pool.

Checkr has multiple pricing options: bundled background check packages or paying individually for reports. Many add-ons are available, including international candidates, drug tests, and health assessments. Additional third-party passthrough fees (surcharges) may appear on your invoice. Users report major challenges and unclear pricing with international background checks

Users like the simple, reliable, and efficient background checks with detailed reports that are easy to read. They also like the seamless integrations and the wide range of options for the content to be checked. Users dislike delays in receiving results. The system sometimes suspends a background check and fails to provide a clear notification that more information is required from the applicant. The reports are closed out too fast before supporting

Pros
A leading background check service for small businesses that was named a Grid Leader by G2 in fall 2025
Simple, reliable, and efficient background checks with detailed reports that are easy to read
Offers a wide range of options for the content to be checked
Seamless integrations
Employers and applicants receive status notifications
Cons
Additional third-party passthrough fees (surcharges) may appear on your invoice
Users experience slow checks and delays in receiving results
The system sometimes suspends a background check and fails to provide a clear notification that more information is required from the applicant
Reports are closed out too fast before supporting documentation can be submitted for discrepancies, so the reports have to be run again
Users report major challenges and unclear pricing with international background checks
  • 100+ Pre-built integrations
  • Many add-ons are available, including international candidates, drug tests, and health assessments
  • Delivers 98% of nationwide criminal checks within one hour
  • Adjudication tools are designed to support compliance, increase consistency, and optimize your talent pool
  • New Checkr Trust identifies risks tailored to your industry

The Basic+ Plan with limited criminal search costs $29.99 per report. It includes SSN trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist search, and national criminal search. The Essential Plan with enhanced criminal search for unlimited county criminal searches costs $54.99 per report. The Complete Plan for maximum criminal search across the most comprehensive databases costs $89.99 per report. Many add-ons are available to customize your report. Or, use the custom package builder.

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Best for New Business GoodHire

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4.6
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Overview

GoodHire, a Checkr company, is known for providing very simple, automated workflows for pre-employment background checks to deliver fast and reliable results. GoodHire is committed to fair chance hiring and does not use pass or fail language, but provides localized adverse action.

With Comments for Context, candidates are allowed to add explanations about flagged results. A Healthcare Sanction Check searches over 1,000 government sources for penalties, suspensions, or disciplinary actions taken against healthcare professionals.

Users like the intuitive interface that is easy to use and fast. GoodHire provides clear and compliant reports with accurate results. It is a good option for employers with a low volume of background checks, or it can be customized for a higher volume of applicants. Users dislike the slow turnaround times on some reports, missing notifications for background checks that have not cleared, and mistakenly flagging items for minor things like a date format. Additional third-party passthrough fees (surcharges) may appear on your invoice.

Pros
Good option for employers with a low volume of background checks
Intuitive interface that is easy to use
Simple and fast
Clear and compliant reports with accurate results
Cons
Additional third-party passthrough fees (surcharges) may appear on your invoice
Slow turnaround times on some reports
Since being purchased by Checkr, the prices have increased
Missing notifications when background checks have not cleared
The system can mistakenly flag items for something as minor as a date format
  • Many add-ons, including drug screening, healthcare sanction checks, and international background checks
  • The Comments for Context feature allows candidates to add explanations and supporting documents directly to their background check results
  • Automatic compliance tools and custom screening packages
  • Candidate-friendly experience
  • 90% of nationwide criminal checks are delivered in less than one minute
  • Integrations with many leading ATS & HRIS platforms

GoodHire has three pricing options for companies that run fewer than 10 checks per year, ranging from $29.99 to $89.99 per check, depending on the extent of criminal searches. For companies that run more than 10 checks per year, a custom quote is created using your choices from over 100 screening options.

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Best for Budget Checkmate

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4.8
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Overview

Checkmate automates pre-employment screening and ongoing compliance checks. Local and global checks are conducted for ID checks, right to work, criminal history, employment, education, and more. Inconsistencies are quickly flagged for fraud detection. Automated reference checks use smart logic triggers and customizable questions. Checkmate offers ongoing compliance tools to track changes to visas, work rights, licensing, and compliance in real-time.

Users like the clean interface that is easy to use. They report smooth candidate experiences and efficient automated reference checks with verified contacts. Users want more templates for reference checks. They report some minor delays with checks. It is difficult to tell which add-ons are available when viewing Checkmate’s website.

Pros
Easy-to-use tool
Clean interface
Users like that all contacts are verified and genuine
Good automated reference checks
Smooth candidate experience
Cons
Users want more templates for reference checks
Minor delays in reports
Difficult to tell from the website which add-ons are available
  • Coverage in 190+ countries, using 4,000+ verified sources
  • Ongoing compliance checks
  • Seamless integrations
  • Branded communications, real-time notifications, and mobile-first design
  • Automated reference checks use smart logic triggers and customizable questions

Checkmate does not list prices on its website. According to G2, the pay-as-you-go plan costs $17 per report, and bundled discount options are $170 for ten checks. Users can create custom packages.

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Best for All-In-One Hireology

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4.5
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Overview

Hireology is an all-in-one hiring platform built for the distinct needs of decentralized industries like healthcare, hospitality, and retail automotive. The background check package upgrade includes all hiring features plus automated reference checks, criminal history checks, motor vehicle reports, drug testing, physical exams, occupational health screening, professional licenses verification, and TB testing. Employers can manage background checks and all hiring activity in one place.

Hireology partners with Accurate, a leading provider of background check services, to run background checks and ensure compliance with industry standards. Accurate background checks are praised for ease of use, quick turnaround, and detailed reporting. Choose from a wide range of Accurate packages and get notifications within the Hireology platform.

Users like having one centralized platform to attract, hire, and manage teams. It works well for a high volume of applicants. Users report a steep learning curve and missing notifications. They dislike the technical issues and some processing delays that result in slow checks.

Pros
One centralized platform to attract, hire, and manage teams
Streamlines all aspects of the hiring process
Works well for a high volume of applicants
Background checks are conducted by Accurate, which is praised for ease of use, quick turnaround, and detailed reporting
Cons
Steep learning curve for the all-in-one platform
Users experience technical issues and some processing delays, resulting in slow checks
Users report some missing notifications and candidates not receiving emails
  • The background checks are conducted by Accurate, a leading provider of background check services
  • Purpose-built for the unique needs of decentralized industries like healthcare, hospitality, and retail automotive
  • Drug testing, physical exams, occupational health screening, professional licenses verification, and TB testing
  • Many integrations with industry-leading tools
  • Mobile-first candidate experience

Hireology does not list prices on its website. There are three plans that reportedly start at $249 per month: Essentials, Professional, and Background Check Upgrade. The cost is perceived to be higher than competitors.

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Best for ATS Integration Atlantic Employee Screening

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4.7
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Overview

Atlantic Employee Screening allows employers to run background checks directly from their applicant tracking systems (ATS). With over 100 integrations, Atlantic’s platform is currently integrated for 85% of ATS users. The company offers a wide range of national and international background screening services for quick and compliant results.

Before sending out a background check that is not clean, humans verify the accuracy of all criminal data. Candidates can contact Atlantic directly to initiate a dispute. Atlantic offers unique add-ons, including continuous monitoring, Livescan fingerprinting, and social media checks.

Users like the reliable and quick background checks. They report that the system is user-friendly with seamless integrations. Users dislike the outdated interface. They report some integration problems and delayed reports. Companies with fewer than 50 employees will be charged a $500 onboarding fee.

Pros
Reliable and quick background checks
Candidates can initiate disputes, which follow a strict process to resolve discrepancies in less than 30 days
User-friendly system
Seamless integrations
Cons
Outdated interface
$500 onboarding charge for companies with less than 50 employees
Many add-ons are not available without a package
Users report some integration problems
Users experience some delayed reports
  • 100+ Integrations and 194 countries searched
  • Mobile-friendly candidate experience
  • Free adverse action letters
  • Offers several add-ons, including continuous monitoring, drug-testing with five or 10 panels, Livescan fingerprinting, social media screening, and fleet driver monitoring
  • Before sending out a background check that is not clean, humans verify the accuracy of all criminal data

Atlantic has tailored pricing, custom billing options, and no long-term contracts. For companies with less than 50 employees, there is a $500 onboarding charge. While the pricing is no longer displayed on the website, details for their five packages and many add-ons are shown. Custom price quotes will be delivered within 24 hours. According to Select Software Reviews, the package pricing ranges from $7.50 to $72 per check. Pricing for Livescan fingerprinting ranges from $55 to $96.

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Best for Speed Zinc

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4.7
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Overview

Zinc is an all-in-one global solution that makes it easy to quickly complete 100% compliant background checks. The UK-based product is tailored for use by U.S. companies of all sizes and industries with specializations in the following industries: finance, healthcare, childcare, and education. The average turnaround time is three days for the most popular checks. Employers can create custom packages for different roles and save those options to instantly run them in the future.

Users like the quick turnaround, ease of use, seamless integrations, and ability to build custom check packages. They report that the platform has a slick, modern feel, and basic checks can be completed in hours. Zinc does not offer drug testing. The pricing packages are too UK-focused. Users report delayed checks, especially with criminal checks.  When hiring in new countries, users report that the pricing is confusing and lacks transparency.

Pros
Easy to use with seamless integrations
Compliant across many countries
Simple to build custom check packages
The platform has a slick, modern feel
Basic checks can be completed in hours
Cons
Pricing packages are too UK-focused
Does not offer drug testing
Users report delayed checks, especially with criminal checks
When hiring in new countries, users report that the pricing is confusing and lacks transparency
Fails to verify some international addresses
  • Global checks
  • Many integrations
  • Candidates and employers receive real-time status updates
  • Offers a wide range of checks, including automated references, social media checks, adverse media checks, politically exposed persons, self-certification checks, and directorship checks

Zinc uses pay-as-you-go pricing, which can be canceled at any time. Pricing is not listed on the website. G2 estimates the pricing to be mid-market, and “8% more expensive than the average background check product.” Some sites report that Zinc offers a free trial and free plan.

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Best for Ease of Use Certn

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4.8
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Overview

Certn offers tailored background checks to meet industry-specific challenges with ease and speed. It is a Canadian company that does global checks. Small businesses can utilize the scalable self-serve screening platform with pay-as-you-go pricing. Certn has enterprise solutions for high-volume, high-velocity screening. The platform offers a wide variety of checks and verifications that are tailored to meet local requirements. The primary checks are criminal, identity verification, credit, and social media screening.

The first step of the background check process is for candidates to verify their identity using their government-issued ID. Then, candidates take a selfie for biometric authentication. Some digital results are ready in as little as 15 minutes.

Certn was rated by G2 users as the #1 easiest to use in 2023. Users like being able to run checks that are compliant with U.S. and Canadian laws. They describe the platform as intuitive, user-friendly, and speedy, with seamless integrations. Users want the reports to be more detailed and the option to pause or cancel verifications. They report missing notification emails and no credit scores. The individual pricing quickly becomes expensive with the many add-on charges. Passthrough fees may apply for international criminal databases.

Pros
Rated by G2 users as the #1 easiest to use in 2023
Intuitive and user-friendly platform
Speedy background checks with some results in less than 24 hours
Seamless integrations
Users like being able to run checks that are compliant with U.S. and Canadian laws
Cons
The individual pricing quickly becomes expensive with the many add-on charges
Passthrough fees may apply for international criminal databases
Reports lack credit scores
Users report missing notification emails
Users want the reports to be more detailed and the option to pause or cancel verification
  • Global screening
  • Mobile-friendly, candidate-first experience
  • Many pre-built integrations
  • Offers a wide variety of checks and verifications that are tailored to meet local requirements
  • Fast turnaround times
  • Candidates and employers can monitor the status

The website lists prices per check for many individualized services. The U.S. base criminal check package costs $17.99, plus $28.50 for a U.S. single county criminal check. A social media check costs $42.99. A credit report costs $9.50. Reference checks done digitally are $3.50 or $28.99 by phone. The price varies for employment, education, and credential verifications. Motor vehicle checks cost $25.99. Custom bundle packages are available for enterprises.

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Why Is It Important To Use a Background Check Service?

Background checks enable employers to make informed decisions to hire qualified team members who can be trusted. It is an essential tool for mitigating risks that helps protect employers from financial, legal, and reputational harm. Employers need to verify everything on an application to ensure new hires have a clean background and did not lie on their application. This helps foster a safe work environment and decreases the risk of an employee committing criminal violence, fraud, or theft.

Using a background check service streamlines the process, providing comprehensive and quick results. It helps to protect against liability claims and ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and industry laws. U.S. employers can face severe penalties if they hire a person not eligible to work in the United States. When employers manually perform background checks themselves, they risk incomplete and inaccurate information as well as legal compliance issues.

While federal laws generally do not require employers to run background checks, “An estimated 95% of U.S. businesses run background checks before making hiring decisions,” reports Thomson Reuters.

How Does the Background Check Process Work?

Once background check software has been integrated with an applicant tracking system (ATS), employers can order the check directly from their ATS and customize which areas they would like to have checked. Then, applicants receive an automated email instructing them to create a profile and provide the requested information. The best background check services have candidate-friendly experiences where candidates can use their preferred devices, easily and quickly enter information, and receive status updates during the process.

Automation and AI are used to process background checks quickly and accurately, with humans making the hiring decisions and doing the oversight. Many of the best background check services list human verified as a feature. However, the only thing that this means is that if a background check comes back as not clean, humans will verify the flagged criminal information before sending a report.

Some platforms have a clear process for candidates to initiate a discrepancy report, while others do not. The system also provides compliant adverse action letters. Employers and candidates can view the completed background check reports. The platform securely stores the data, which is then deleted either at the client’s request or automatically at the end of the required retention period in accordance with laws.

What Shows in an Employment Background Check?

An employment background check for a new hire may include the following areas: identity records, criminal records, employment records, references, education, credit history, immigration records, driving records, social media, and drug testing. Employers may also choose ongoing monitoring for changes in employee information. “General background checks will not show military records, expunged convictions or minor infractions, sealed records, or juvenile records,” explains Thomson Reuters.

Background Check Accreditation and Laws

The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA), formerly known as the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), is the preeminent authority for accrediting background check vendors. PBSA provides a directory for finding accredited vendors. These vendors must also comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and be classified as Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRA). Some vendors may instead work through accredited and compliant third parties.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “any time you use an applicant’s or employee’s background information to make an employment decision, regardless of how you got the information, you must comply with federal laws that protect applicants and employees from discrimination.”  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces discrimination laws.

Employers must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) when running background checks through a “company in the business of compiling background information.” These rules apply in many areas, including the length of recordkeeping, secure disposal, and specifics that must occur before taking adverse employment action. Accurate describes five important laws that employers must comply with for background checks, including federal, state, and drug screen laws.

Ban the Box Laws

State and local background check laws vary greatly, especially concerning arrest records and criminal history, such as when employers can ask about criminal history and how far back they can check. Accurate provides a state-by-state guide to Ban the Box laws, which restrict when in the hiring process employers are permitted to ask applicants about their criminal history. This encourages fair chance hiring by allowing individuals to be evaluated first on their qualifications and skills before inquiring about their criminal history.

In some locations, employers may not be permitted to ask about criminal history until after a conditional offer has been made. In other locations, they may be permitted to ask after the initial interview or after a written application is submitted.

“37 states plus the District of Columbia have adopted a ban-the-box (‘fair chance’) policy, with enforcement mechanisms that include penalties of $5K, $10K, and $20K for each progressive violation and liquidated damages of $500 for each day an applicant or employee’s rights were violated,” reports SHRM. The ban has also been adopted by 150 cities and counties.

How To Pick a Background Check Service

The best background check services share many common features, but there are some areas where they vary. When choosing a background check service, we recommend considering the following factors:

  • Location: Some background check services specialize in compliance for specific locations and may or may not offer global checks. The best background check services in this article are based in the U.S., the UK, or Canada, and most can perform global checks.
  • Additional services: Determine if you need specialized services, such as drug screenings, healthcare background checks, professional credential verifications, social media checks, adverse media checks, driving histories, and/or ongoing monitoring.
  • Integrations: Do you need a stand-alone solution that integrates with your current hiring software or an all-in-one solution?
  • Cost: The biggest factors that impact the cost are the number of checks you plan to run, the extent of criminal record searches, additional services, and international checks. Are you interested in custom bundled packages or paying individually per report?

FAQs

Background check services provide comprehensive, quick, accurate, and compliant background check reports to help employers make informed hiring decisions. With so many laws affecting background checks, it is difficult for employers to ensure legal compliance when conducting their own checks. Furthermore, errors and incomplete information are more likely to occur with manual checks, which makes the company vulnerable to the risks associated with a bad hire.

Most background check services charge individual prices for one report, not monthly fees. For employers with a high volume of applicants, reports may be bundled into custom packages. There are also many add-on services available. Additional fees may apply, including for international reports and passthrough fees.

Passthrough fees are non-marked-up, third-party charges imposed by state and county courts, DMVs, industry databases, international parties, and other external sources for retrieving records needed to complete background checks. These surcharges will show up on your invoice without advance notice of the amounts.

Automation and AI are used to process background checks quickly and accurately, but hiring decisions and oversight are done by humans. The actual checks are typically not performed by humans. Many of the best background check services list human verified as a feature. This means that if a background check comes back as not clean, humans will verify the flagged criminal information before sending a report. Humans are available to answer customer service questions from employers and applicants.