Head to head · Verified July 2026
Checkr vs Verified First: Same $29.99 Basic, Verified First Cheaper Above It
Both publish $29.99 Basic. After Checkr's July 2026 increase, Verified First undercuts it at both the mid tier ($54.99 vs $59.99) and the top tier ($79.99 Premium vs $94.99 Complete). Verified First markets ATS integration depth as the differentiator. Compared side by side.
Direct answer
Which is cheaper, Checkr or Verified First?
Verified First. They are tied only at Basic ($29.99). After Checkr's July 2026 increase, Verified First is cheaper at the mid tier (Essential $54.99 vs Checkr $59.99) and at the top tier (Premium $79.99 vs Checkr Complete $94.99). On a 1,000-check year at the top tier that is a $15,000 saving in favour of Verified First, before pass-through court fees, but the top tiers are scoped differently (Checkr Complete bundles state criminal; Verified First Premium swaps in employment and education verification).
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Checkr | Verified First |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| Mid tier | $59.99 Essential | $54.99 Essential |
| Top tier | $94.99 Complete | $79.99 Premium |
| Mid-tier county criminal | Unlimited county | 7-year county at candidate address |
| Top-tier scope | Unlimited county + state + federal criminal | Federal criminal + employment and education verification (state not bundled) |
| ATS integrations | API-first; build-your-own | 100+ pre-built integrations |
| International | From $32 per check, 200+ countries | Via partner network |
| MVR published | $9.50 per check | Per quote |
| Drug published | $60 clinic / $37 onsite | Per quote |
The scope catch at the top tier
Checkr Complete ($94.99) bundles unlimited county, state, AND federal criminal records; employment verification is a separate add-on. Verified First Premium ($79.99) includes federal criminal plus employment and education verification but does not bundle state criminal at the same price point. The two top tiers are scoped differently, so match the scope you actually need before comparing the $15 headline gap.
How to choose
- You already use a popular ATS (Workday, Greenhouse, BambooHR) and want background checks triggered automatically. Pick Verified First.
- You are API-first and willing to build the integration. Pick Checkr.
- You need international hiring beyond the US with published per-check transparency. Pick Checkr.
- You want published rates for the add-on screenings (MVR, drug). Pick Checkr (Verified First quotes add-ons per request).
- The Premium / Complete tier price gap matters at scale. Compare scope first; the gap is $15/check at the top tier (Verified First cheaper).
Last verified June 2026