The best background check service depends on where and how you hire: a UK provider suits DBS and right to work checks, a platform built for volume suits fast-growing teams, and a global screening firm suits large employers hiring across countries. Ten options follow in no particular order.
Background check services verify what candidates tell you and check for anything that would rule them out of a role: criminal records, employment history, identity, right to work and, for some jobs, driving records or health screening. This list is about employment screening, not looking people up for personal reasons.
The ten providers below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from UK specialists to global screening firms. Every description comes from the provider's own site, read this week. If you're also tidying up how candidates move through hiring, my guide to applicant tracking systems is a good companion.
Background check services at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free tool or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Background | Employment screening provider | Employers hiring across borders | Not stated |
| Certn | Online background check platform | International checks in one place | Not stated |
| Checkr | Background check and verification platform | Fast hiring at high volume | Not stated |
| Cisive | Employee screening provider | Driver and transport hiring | Not stated |
| First Advantage | Global screening provider, now including Sterling | Large employers with global hiring | Not stated |
| GoodHire | Employment background check service | Small and mid-sized employers | Not stated |
| HireRight | Background screening provider | Compliance-focused screening | Not stated |
| uCheck | UK online DBS and right to work checks | UK DBS checks | Not stated |
| Vetty | Screening for high-volume hiring | Background checks plus health screenings | Not stated |
| Zinc | Automated reference and background checks | Running checks inside your applicant tracking system | Not stated |
Ten background check services to consider
Accurate Background
Best for: Employers that want an established screening partner for checks across many countries, with a long track record.
Certn
Best for: Companies hiring internationally that want criminal record checks and background checks from many countries in one platform.
Checkr
Best for: Hiring teams working at volume that want fast background checks and AI-powered verification without trading off accuracy.
Cisive
Best for: Transport and regulated employers that want screening with a dedicated driver qualification service called Driver iQ.
First Advantage
Best for: Large employers that want global screening from one big provider, which now includes the former Sterling business.
GoodHire
Best for: Small and mid-sized companies that want to run their employment screening programme easily from one dashboard.
HireRight
Best for: Employers that want accurate, compliance-focused background screening that connects with HR systems such as Dayforce.
uCheck
Best for: UK employers that want online DBS checks, right to work, identity and credit checks done quickly in one place.
Vetty
Best for: Recruiters hiring at scale who want background checks and health screenings handled by the same provider.
Zinc
Best for: Fast-growing companies that want reference and background checks running inside tools such as Greenhouse.
UK checks, US checks or global screening?
Rules and check types differ a lot by country. In the UK, employers deal with DBS checks, right to work checks and references. In the US, screening often covers criminal records by county and state, employment and education verification and driving records. Global screening firms handle checks in many countries through one account, which suits employers hiring internationally.
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Speed and candidate experience matter too. A slow or confusing check can lose you a good candidate, so look at how each provider asks candidates for information and keeps them updated.
Permission comes first
The FTC's guidance for employers says that if you use a background screening company, you must get the applicant's or employee's written permission to do the background check.
Build that permission step into your hiring flow before you choose a provider, because the check can't start without it. Many providers include consent forms in their candidate journey, but you're still responsible for making sure it happens.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Which countries do we hire in, and which checks does each role need?
- Does it connect to our applicant tracking or HR system?
- How does the candidate give consent and provide details?
- How long do typical checks take for the roles we hire?
- How are disputes or errors in a report handled?
- Where is candidate data stored, and for how long?
Checks employers commonly run
- Identity and right to work. Often the first step in the UK.
- Criminal record checks. The level depends on the role.
- Employment and education history. Confirms what's on the CV.
- Driving records. Essential for roles behind the wheel.
Do you make background check services? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a screening provider
Write down which checks each role really needs before you talk to providers. Checking everything for everyone slows hiring, frustrates candidates and collects personal data you don't need. A warehouse role, a finance role and a driving role each need something different.
Choose a provider that connects to the hiring tools you already use, so checks start automatically when an offer goes out. My piece on when to hire and when to use AI helps if you're weighing whether a new role is needed at all.
Frequently asked questions
What does a background check service do?
It verifies information about job candidates, such as identity, right to work, employment history and criminal records, depending on the role and the law where you hire.
Do I need permission to run a background check?
In the US, the FTC says employers using a screening company must get the candidate's written permission. UK checks have their own consent rules.
What is a DBS check?
It's a criminal record check in England and Wales, run through the Disclosure and Barring Service, with different levels depending on the role.
How long does a background check take?
It depends on the checks and countries involved. Simple identity and right to work checks can be quick; international checks take longer.
Can a background check service connect to my ATS?
Several providers in this list describe integrations with applicant tracking and HR systems, so checks can start automatically.
Is a people-search site the same as employment screening?
No. This list covers employment screening providers built for hiring, which work within the rules for employer checks.
