SFDIFY
A Checkr background check for employers starts at "$29.99 / report" for the Basic package, $59.99 for Essential and $94.99 for Complete, with an Enterprise tier priced through sales [1]. Checkr notes that "standard third-party court and database access fees may apply," passed through at cost [1]. On timing, Checkr's own guide says employment checks through a consumer reporting agency "typically take three to five days," while it reports that "89% of criminal checks at Checkr are completed within one hour" [2].
If you run a small business and are about to make your first hires, the background check is one of those line items that is easy to underestimate. The package you pick decides what records are searched, what you pay per candidate, and how long a new hire waits before day one. This guide walks through what a Checkr background check includes, what Checkr charges, how long it takes according to Checkr, and how it compares with GoodHire, Sterling and HireRight.
How we chose
We compared four employment screening providers that small-business buyers commonly shortlist: Checkr, GoodHire, Sterling and HireRight. Everything below comes from the vendors' own homepages, pricing pages and, for Checkr, its turnaround-time guide, all checked on 2026-11-08. We did not run test checks or open accounts, so this is a comparison of what each vendor publishes, not a hands-on review. Where a vendor does not publish a price, we say so instead of guessing.
Checkr background check vs GoodHire, Sterling and HireRight at a glance
| Product | Best for | Starting price | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checkr | Small teams that want published per-report pricing | $29.99 per report, Basic [1] | Add-ons priced on the page, such as MVR at $9.50 per check [1] |
| GoodHire | Employers who want the same tier structure with a separate brand and support team | $29.99 per check, Basic [3] | "FCRA-certified, US-based support team" [4] |
| Sterling | Existing Sterling customers and global programs | No price listed on the page we fetched [5] | "Sterling is now a First Advantage company" [5] |
| HireRight | Larger or regulated employers that want a custom quote | Customized pricing quote [6] | Integrations with "70 Solutions across over 45 HCM and ATS Providers" [6] |
Checkr — published pricing for small-business hiring
Checkr is the most transparent of the four on price: its pricing page lists each employment package, what is in it, and a long menu of add-ons with per-check prices [1]. Checkr invites buyers to "join the 140,000+ businesses that run on Checkr" [7].
Verified features: So what does a Checkr background check show? It depends on the package. Basic covers an SSN trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist search and national criminal search [1]. Essential, which Checkr labels "Most Popular," adds identity verification and unlimited county criminal search [1]. Complete adds unlimited state criminal search and federal criminal search on top of that [1]. For small businesses, Checkr says you can "run checks, track progress, and manage everything" in its platform and integrate "with 200+ ATS and HRIS tools" or use it on its own [8]. During a check, Checkr's candidate portal "provides an estimated completion time and status updates" [2].
Pricing: Basic is $29.99 per report, Essential $59.99 and Complete $94.99; Enterprise is "Contact sales for pricing" [1]. Popular add-ons include a motor vehicle record report at $9.50 per check, identity verification at $4.99 per check, drug screening starting from $10 per test, and employment verification starting from $12.50 per check [1]. Checkr's small-business page describes "pay-as-you-go screenings with no contracts or minimums" [8].
Strengths: Prices are on the page, so you can budget a hire before talking to anyone. The add-on menu lets you build a role-specific package, for example Essential plus an MVR for a delivery driver. Checkr also claims that "97% of customers say our turnaround times beat their previous vendor," which is the vendor's own survey claim, not an independent figure [7].
Limitations: The headline price is not the full price. Checkr states that court and database access fees are passed through at cost and that "pricing does not include pass-through fees" [1], so a county search in a jurisdiction with a court fee will cost more than the sticker. Basic does not include county criminal searches, which Checkr includes only in Essential and Complete [1]. Enterprise features such as "automated adjudication" sit in the quote-based tier [1].
Best fit: Small and growing employers that hire a few people a month, want to see prices up front, and either use an ATS or HRIS that connects to Checkr or are happy to run checks from Checkr's own dashboard.
GoodHire — same tier structure, different front door
GoodHire markets itself as an employment screening platform and says "more than 100,000 employers of all sizes have trusted GoodHire" [4].
Verified features: GoodHire lists "100+ employment screening services" on its platform [4]. It reports that "90% of nationwide criminal checks delivered in <1min" [4]. It also highlights an "FCRA-certified, US-based support team" that answers screening, compliance and how-to questions for employers and candidates [4].
Pricing: GoodHire says "Background Check Pricing Varies By Annual Volumes" and splits its pricing page at 50 checks a year [3]. Its published tiers are Basic from $29.99 per check, Essential from $59.99 and Complete from $94.99, and the contents of each tier match Checkr's (for example, Complete includes unlimited state criminal search and federal criminal search) [3]. GoodHire also notes that "additional third-party fees may apply" [3].
Strengths: If you like Checkr's package structure but prefer GoodHire's support model or dashboard, the published starting prices are the same, so the choice can come down to service and workflow rather than price.
Limitations: The GoodHire pricing page we fetched lists the three tiers but not per-check add-on prices, so it is harder to estimate the cost of extras like driving records than on Checkr's page [3].
Best fit: Small employers who want published starting prices and value a dedicated US-based support team.
Sterling — now part of First Advantage
Sterling is in transition: its site says "Sterling is now a First Advantage company" and that customers can "order the same Sterling checks through First Advantage" [5].
Verified features: Sterling's page lists identity verification before screening begins, and criminal background checks covering "local and federal court records, sex offender registries, global sanctions, and international criminal records databases" [5]. It also lists drug and health screening "supported by an in-house Medical Review Officer," plus transportation and driving solutions including domestic and international MVR checks [5].
Pricing: The Sterling page we fetched does not list prices [5]. Expect to speak with First Advantage sales.
Strengths: Broad service coverage, including international criminal records and drug testing with an in-house medical review officer, which matters if you hire across borders or in safety-sensitive roles [5].
Limitations: For a small business, no public pricing means no quick budget. The brand change also means you will be onboarding with First Advantage rather than a standalone Sterling.
Best fit: Companies that already use Sterling, or employers with global or regulated hiring that are comfortable with a sales-led process.
HireRight — quote-based screening for complex programs
HireRight says it has offered background screening "for more than 30 years" and describes itself as "the world's largest global provider of background screening solutions," which is its own claim [9].
Verified features: HireRight lists Form I-9 and E-Verify employment eligibility verification, global employment verification, county criminal felony and misdemeanor searches, and drug testing with "instant and lab-based testing options" [9]. It promotes "70+ ATS integrations with the industry's leading providers" [9].
Pricing: HireRight's pricing page offers a "Customized Pricing Quote" and says its solutions are designed to meet "your industry, regulatory, and budgetary requirements" [6]. No per-check prices are published there [6].
Strengths: Wide range of services under one platform, including I-9 and E-Verify, which can save a small HR team from juggling a separate tool [9].
Limitations: Like Sterling, you cannot price a check without contacting sales. For an employer running a handful of checks a year, that extra step may not be worth it compared with a self-serve option.
Best fit: Mid-sized and regulated employers, such as transportation or healthcare, that want a tailored program and are fine with a quote.
How long does a Checkr background check take?
Checkr's guide gives ranges by screening type rather than one number. In its table, a criminal background check averages "1-3 days," a driving record check ">1 hour to 1-3 business days," and drug testing "10 minutes (onsite) to 3-10 days (lab-based)" [2]. Database searches like national criminal and sex offender registry checks "may yield results in minutes," while county searches can take longer when a court researcher must retrieve records by hand [2]. Checkr also notes that the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires employers to notify candidates in writing and obtain written authorization before a check, and delays in that step can extend the process [2].
How to choose
Start with the role. A desk job and a delivery driver need different checks, so list the searches the role actually needs (county criminal, driving record, drug test) before comparing prices.
Next, add up the real per-hire cost. With Checkr, that is the package price plus any add-ons plus pass-through court fees [1]. With HireRight and Sterling, you will need a quote [5, 6].
Then look at workflow. If you already use an applicant tracking system or HR platform, check whether the provider integrates with it; our guide to the best HR software for small business covers the HR side, and if you hire internationally, Deel vs Rippling is worth a read. If your hiring runs through a homegrown system, a provider API can be wired into it; that is the kind of work we do in custom CRM development.
Finally, plan for timing. Build a few business days into your offer-to-start window, since even Checkr puts typical employment checks at three to five days [2].
FAQ
What is a Checkr background check?
It is an employment screening report ordered through Checkr. Its packages range from Basic, which covers an SSN trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist and national criminal search, up to Complete, which adds county, state and federal criminal searches [1].
How much does a Checkr background check cost?
Checkr lists Basic at $29.99 per report, Essential at $59.99 and Complete at $94.99, with Enterprise priced by sales [1]. Third-party court and database access fees may be added at cost [1].
How long does a Checkr background check take?
Checkr says employment checks through a consumer reporting agency typically take three to five days, and that 89% of its criminal checks are completed within one hour [2]. Timing depends on the searches in the package [2].
Can employers track Checkr background check status?
Yes. Checkr's small-business page says you can run checks and track progress in its platform [8], and its candidate portal shows candidates an estimated completion time and status updates [2].
Do GoodHire and Checkr charge the same?
Their published starting prices match: both list Basic at $29.99, Essential at $59.99 and Complete at $94.99, with the same searches in each tier [1, 3].
Our recommendation
For most small businesses, Checkr is the easiest place to start because you can see package and add-on prices before you sign up, and there are no contracts or minimums [1, 8]. Choose Essential if you need county criminal searches, and budget for pass-through fees. GoodHire is a reasonable alternative at the same published prices if its support model suits you better. Sterling and HireRight make more sense for larger, global or regulated programs where a custom quote is normal.
Sources
- Pricing and Packages | Checkr — checked 2026-11-08
- How Long Do Background Checks Take? | Checkr — checked 2026-11-08
- GoodHire Pricing: Background Check Services & Costs | GoodHire — checked 2026-11-08
- GoodHire: Employment Background Check Services for Companies — checked 2026-11-08
- Sterling Background Check Solutions is now First Advantage — checked 2026-11-08
- Pricing | HireRight — checked 2026-11-08
- Checkr: Background Checks & AI-Powered Verification Platform — checked 2026-11-08
- Small Business Background Checks | Fast, Flexible Screening | Checkr — checked 2026-11-08
- Employment Background Checks, Background Screening | HireRight — checked 2026-11-08
