Background Check Cost FAQ
Fifteen common questions about background check cost. For the full reference, see the 2026 ultimate guide.
What is the cheapest published background check?
TransUnion ShareAble for Hires Basic at $25 per check, as of June 2026. Checkr, GoodHire, and Verified First Basic tiers are tied at $29.99.
What is the most expensive published per-check tier?
Checkr Complete and GoodHire Complete are both $89.99 per check. Verified First Premium is $79.99. These are the top tiers among the four published-pricing US vendors.
Why do ten vendors not publish pricing?
Enterprise vendors negotiate per-check rates based on annual volume commitment, bundle depth, and contract length. Sterling, HireRight, Accurate Background, First Advantage, Cisive, Asurint, Onfido (Entrust), Crimcheck (DISA), Truework, and Zinc all sell quote-only.
How much do pass-through court fees add?
$5 to $40 per check depending on jurisdiction. National average for an employer with mixed geography typically lands at $10 to $20 per check. Checkr and GoodHire pass these through at cost with no markup.
How much does drug screening add?
Checkr publishes $60 per clinic-based test (5-panel SAMHSA urine) and $37 per onsite test where the employer collects the sample. Other vendors price per quote.
How much does Motor Vehicle Records add?
Checkr publishes $9.50 per check. Apply only to roles driving a company vehicle. Other vendors price per quote.
Are Checkr and GoodHire really priced the same?
Yes. Both publish identical per-check rates of $29.99 / $54.99 / $89.99. Checkr acquired GoodHire in April 2022 and the two brands now run the same pricing under a single owner.
Did Sterling rename its tiers like Checkr did?
Sterling is quote-only and does not publish tier names with rates. Checkr and GoodHire rebranded Basic / Pro / Premier to Basic / Essential / Complete with per-check prices unchanged.
Is Sterling still independent?
No. First Advantage acquired Sterling Check on 31 October 2024. The Sterling pricing page now states 'Sterling is now a First Advantage company'. RFPs to either brand route to one commercial team.
What is the difference between Onfido and a background check vendor?
Onfido (now part of Entrust since April 2024) is an identity verification specialism, not a full background-check vendor. It confirms who someone is via document and biometric checks. It does not check criminal records. Pair Onfido with a vendor that runs criminal records, or pick a vendor that bundles both.
Should I run a background check or just identity verification?
Run a background check when you need criminal records, employment verification, education verification, or drug screening as part of the workflow. Run identity verification when the use case is account onboarding, consent capture, or age verification. Identity-only is cheaper per check.
Who is the candidate-pays workflow available with?
TransUnion ShareAble for Hires is designed candidate-pays-first. RentSpree (tenant-focused but adjacent) also has a candidate-pays workflow. Checkr and GoodHire support candidate-pays as a configuration option but default to employer-pays.
What is the cheapest vendor for global hiring?
Certn publishes the most extensive country-specific catalogue with per-check pricing in Canadian Dollars. OneID identity verification at CAD 4.99 is among the cheapest globally. International criminal pricing is quote-only by country. For UK origin and DBS integration, Zinc is the standard choice (also quote-only).
How long does a background check take?
Most vendors target 1 to 3 business days for a standard check. Federal criminal and international checks can take longer. Vendor service level agreements (SLAs) vary; insist on a specific SLA in the contract for enterprise vendors.
Is this site sponsored by any vendor?
No. We are independent of every vendor listed. No affiliate links. No sponsored placements. See the About page for the full independence statement.
For more depth, read the 2026 ultimate guide or browse the methodology.