01Recommended
GoodHire
Small teams
- Basic+, Essential and Complete plans
- 100+ screening services
17 Best Background Check Services of 2026
GoodHire is the best fit for small teams that want self-serve pricing and an easy candidate flow, Checkr for high-volume hiring with API access, and InfoMart for HR teams that need audit-ready adverse-action documentation. Decide whether you need speed, volume or documentation, then confirm FCRA compliance and licensing in the states where you hire.
Fact-checkedOur top 3 picks
Independent picks from our 2026 ranking. No paid placements.
02Best for High-volume hiring
Checkr
High-volume hiring
- Basic, Essential and Complete packages
- 100+ ATS integrations
03Best for Report-ready documentation
InfoMart
Report-ready documentation
- Criminal and identity searches
- Employment and education verification
Advertiser disclosure RaveReviews may earn a commission from links on this page. That never influences our scores or rankings. How we make money.
The RaveReviews AlgorithmSources, weights and method
How the score works
We collect published rankings in this category, normalize each placement to a 0–100 scale, weight the sources by category fit and recency, and average only the lists where a provider appears. The result is divided by 10 and rounded to one decimal.
- 01Collect the source rankings.
- 02Normalize every position.
- 03Weight the sources.
- 04Calculate the RaveReviews Algorithm score.
Sources used
Last reviewed 2026-11-02. 5 sources contributed to this ranking.
The ranking at a glanceScores, chart and shortlist shape
Score curve
How the top 10 scores fall from first to tenth.
#1#5#10
Top scores
The first five, scored out of 10.
What you need to know before you choose.
The best background check service depends on whether you are screening employees at volume, need audit-ready documentation or are vetting a rental applicant. Compare FCRA compliance, turnaround and per-check pricing before you choose.
Employment screening is regulated by the FCRA, so confirm the provider is a consumer reporting agency with disclosure, adverse-action and dispute workflows built in. Check that it is licensed in every state where you hire, and ask how court-access fees affect the total cost per check.
What the research says.
This shortlist is built from published rankings, not a single editor's opinion. Here is the evidence behind the score.
17options reviewed
4.4average score
8.9top score
5authority sources
The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
Authority sources
Read the published rankings behind this list.
CNBC Select — 4 Best Background Check Services of 2026
Top 11 — 11 Best Background Check Services 2026
HRpresso — Best Background Check Services in 2026
Key insights
17options reviewed
Compared on value, features, ease, support and reputation.
5weighted ranking factors
The same published model across every category.
0paid placements
Compensation never changes a score or a rank.
Career & Business options ranked
17 options, scored on value, features, ease of use, support and reputation.
GoodHire
RecommendedBest overall- Basic+, Essential and Complete plans
- 100+ screening services
- Adverse-action templates
Checkr
Best for High-volume hiring- Basic, Essential and Complete packages
- 100+ ATS integrations
- FCRA compliance workflows
InfoMart
Best for Report-ready documentation- Criminal and identity searches
- Employment and education verification
- Adverse-action documentation
backgroundchecks.com
Best for Granular US criminal searches- US OneSEARCH
- County, state and federal searches
- Monitoring products
First Advantage
Best for Industry-specific screening- Criminal and drug screening
- 200+ country coverage
- Identity verification
HireRight
Best for Global enterprise screening- Global criminal and employment checks
- 70+ ATS integrations
- Drug and health screening
TransUnion SmartMove
Best for Tenant screening- Credit, criminal and eviction reports
- ResidentScore
- Applicant authorization flow
Sterling
Best for Regulated industries- Criminal history search
- Employment and education verification
- Adverse-action workflow
Certn
Best for International and remote hiring- US Core, Complete and Complete+ packages
- 200+ country coverage
- OneID identity verification
Accurate
Best for Custom enterprise screening- Custom screening packages
- Drug testing and credentialing
- Global coverage
Pre-employ
Best for Managed screening- Managed background screening
- Drug testing
- Adverse-action support
IntelliCorp
Best for Step-level reporting- Criminal history search
- Employment verification
- Step-status reporting
Backgrounds Online
Best for SMB personal service- Criminal and employment checks
- Per-check pricing
- Human support
VeriFirst
Best for Tenant and employee screening- Tenant screening
- Employment screening
- Property software integrations
BeenVerified
Best for Personal research only- People search
- Reverse phone and email lookup
- Dark web monitoring
ClearStar
Best for Identity-first workflows- Criminal history search
- Employment and education verification
- Medical information services
ShareAble for Hires
Best for Micro-businesses- Applicant-initiated checks
- TransUnion data
- Pay-per-use
GoodHire offers published per-check pricing from $29.99 and is known for fast turnaround, with a self-serve flow that suits small teams.
8.9RaveReviews Algorithm
Compare the top options
The details that matter most, in one view.
| Offer | GoodHire | Checkr | InfoMart | backgroundchecks.com | First Advantage | HireRight | TransUnion SmartMove | Sterling | Certn | Accurate | Pre-employ | IntelliCorp | Backgrounds Online | VeriFirst | BeenVerified | ClearStar | ShareAble for Hires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RaveReviews Algorithm | 8.9 | 8.3 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 7.8 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Best for | Small teams | High-volume hiring | Report-ready documentation | Granular US criminal searches | Industry-specific screening | Global enterprise screening | Tenant screening | Regulated industries | International and remote hiring | Custom enterprise screening | Managed screening | Step-level reporting | SMB personal service | Tenant and employee screening | Personal research only | Identity-first workflows | Micro-businesses |
| Price | From $29.99/check | From $29.99/report | Custom quote | From $28.55 | From $29/check | Custom quote | From $25 | Custom quote | From $13.99/check | Custom quote | Custom quote | Custom quote | From $19/check | Custom quote | Subscription | Custom quote | From $25/check |
| Highlight | Basic+, Essential and Complete plans | Basic, Essential and Complete packages | Criminal and identity searches | US OneSEARCH | Criminal and drug screening | Global criminal and employment checks | Credit, criminal and eviction reports | Criminal history search | US Core, Complete and Complete+ packages | Custom screening packages | Managed background screening | Criminal history search | Criminal and employment checks | Tenant screening | People search | Criminal history search | Applicant-initiated checks |
The questions buyers actually ask
Clear answers to the decisions that come after the shortlist.
What is the best choice in background check services?
If you want the short answer, start with GoodHire. It earned a 8.9 out of 10 in our 2026 ranking, and it is the option we would shortlist first for small teams. That does not mean it is the right choice for every reader. It means it is the most defensible place to begin.
The ranking is a shortlist, not a finish line. The right option depends on the job you need done, the total cost after fees and the support you will actually use. Checkr is the stronger fit for high-volume hiring. InfoMart is worth a close look for report-ready documentation. Start with the top pick, then compare the runner-up on the details that change your decision.
Most buyers do not need the longest feature list. They need a clear answer to a smaller question. What will this cost over a year? What happens when something goes wrong? Can I leave without a penalty? Those questions separate a good shortlist from a good decision.
How did we rank background check services?
We used the same five-factor model across this category. Features at 30%, price at 25%, ease of use at 20%, support at 15%, reputation at 10%. The weights are published because a score without a method is just a vibe with a decimal point.
The process starts with the evidence a buyer can actually check. We review provider materials, published pricing, contract terms and the support model. Then we compare the details that tend to cause regret later. A low headline price does not count for much if the service fee, cancellation term or coverage limit undoes it.
We also separate popularity from quality. A brand can be everywhere and still be a poor fit for your situation. The ranking rewards fit, not advertising spend. That is why the top pick may not be the most famous name on the page.
What should you look for in background check services?
Start with the features that affect your actual use case. For GoodHire, the relevant details include basic+, essential and complete plans, 100+ screening services, adverse-action templates. Those are not decoration. They are the parts of the product that determine whether it works on a normal Tuesday, not just on the day you sign up.
Then look at the terms. Price is easy to compare. Contract length, service fees, cancellation rules, support hours and eligibility are harder. They are also where most of the real cost hides. Ask for the total annual cost, not the monthly teaser. Ask what happens if you need to cancel, move or change the plan.
Finally, check the track record. A provider that answers a sales call quickly may be slow when you need help. Read recent reviews, look for patterns and ask how disputes are handled. The best time to learn how a company behaves is before you depend on it.
How much do background check services cost?
GoodHire starts at From $29.99/check Basic+ package. Checkr starts at From $29.99/report Basic; volume pricing custom. InfoMart starts at Custom quote Quote-based. Those prices are a starting point, not a full budget. The final number depends on the plan, the contract, the add-ons and where you live.
Here is the part most shoppers miss. The cheapest monthly price is often the most expensive decision. A low rate with a long contract, a large service fee or a narrow coverage set can cost more than a higher headline price with clean terms. Compare the total cost over the period you expect to use the product.
Set a budget before you compare. Then decide which features are worth paying for. If you cannot explain why an upgrade matters to your actual use, it is probably not an upgrade. It is a sales feature.
Which option is best for small teams?
GoodHire is the pick here because goodhire offers published per-check pricing from $29.99 and is known for fast turnaround, with a self-serve flow that suits small teams.. It is not the cheapest option in the category, and it is not trying to be. It is the option that makes the fewest compromises where the decision matters most.
That recommendation comes with a condition. If your priority is different, the ranking should change. A reader who needs the lowest possible upfront cost should look at the value pick. A reader who needs hands-on support should pay attention to service quality. The best answer is always relative to the job.
Use the top pick as a benchmark. Compare every other option against it on price, terms and the one feature you cannot do without. If another option wins on those three points, it deserves a closer look.
What should you verify before you buy?
Verify the total cost, not the promotional price. Ask for the monthly cost after any introductory period ends. Ask about setup fees, service fees, cancellation fees and anything that changes when you add a user, a location or a feature. The number you see in an ad is rarely the number you will pay in month twelve.
Verify the terms that are easy to miss. Contract length, renewal rules, data practices and support hours matter more than most buyers expect. If the provider cannot explain them clearly before the sale, assume the answer will be harder to get afterward.
Verify the fit with your actual workflow. A demo can make any product look simple. A free trial or a short pilot can show you what the product feels like on a normal day. Use the trial to test the one feature you need most. That is a better use of time than touring every menu.
What should you do next?
Start with the top pick and read the full review. Then compare the runner-up on the three details that matter most to you. If you are still unsure, use the comparison table and the methodology on this page. The goal is not to keep researching forever. The goal is to make a decision you can explain.
Before you sign up, confirm the current price, the contract term and the cancellation policy directly with the provider. Prices change. Terms change. A ranking can point you in the right direction, but the final check has to happen at the source.
If this ranking helped you narrow the list, stop there. A shortlist of two or three good options is enough. The best decision is the one you can act on with confidence, not the one that keeps you in the research phase for another month.
Who wrote and reviewed this ranking
Every ranking has a named editor and a separate quality review before publication.
David Krug
Head of Content
David leads the RaveReviews editorial team, turning research into clear comparisons and useful guides. He oversees content strategy, testing standards and the final read on every ranking.
LinkedIn
Annie Membreve
Head of Quality Control
Annie runs quality control at RaveReviews, checking sourcing, scoring and the details readers rely on. She reviews every ranking before publication and manages corrections.
TikTokFrequently asked questions
How did RaveReviews compare background check services?
We normalized five professional-screening rankings, excluded non-FCRA people-search sites from the core ranking, and averaged only the lists where each provider appears. Scores reflect editorial RaveReviews Algorithm, not a guarantee of accuracy.
What should I compare first?
Confirm the provider is a consumer reporting agency, check turnaround for the specific searches you need, and review its disclosure, adverse-action and dispute workflows.
How often are these rankings updated?
We review them when provider coverage or publisher rankings change. Check the updated date at the top of the page.
Keep comparing
More rankings and guides for the decision in front of you.