Best Background Check Companies and Services for 2026

Background checks are reports that list an individual’s history, including their criminal record, driving record, and education and employment verification. They’re beneficial during the hiring process for both employers and individuals. This guide covers the best background checks for businesses, including small businesses and enterprises for 2026. We’ll also take a look at the best background checks for personal and individual use.

Employers commonly use background checks pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to run pre-employment screenings to determine a candidate’s eligibility and qualifications for a role. Background checks can also be used to screen volunteers or contractors. Working with a consumer reporting agency helps streamline the FCRA background check process and may help organizations comply with hiring regulations.

For employers, the best employment background check service:

Another type of FCRA background check is the personal background check. These are used by individuals, not companies, to help stay safe, build trust, and avoid scams. If they use a fully FCRA-compliant service, individuals can also conduct background checks on other individuals whom they’re considering hiring, for positions such as nannies, physical therapists, or tutors. Additionally, running a self-check can also help job candidates preview what an employer or landlord might see on a background check.

For individuals, the best background check service provides a variety of search options, an easy-to-use platform, and transparent pricing.

Conducting background checks can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for small businesses that may have limited HR resources or staff who need to focus on day-to-day business operations. Partnering with a third-party background check provider can save small businesses time while also supporting compliance with local, state, and federal hiring laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Here’s a look at the four best background check companies for small businesses.

Checkr is a highly-ranked, FCRA-compliant provider that offers background checks for businesses of all sizes, including thousands of small businesses.  With Checkr’s platform, it’s easy to sign up and order checks the same day. There’s no charge to set up an account, so you only pay for the checks your company needs.

All packages for small business include criminal record checks and can be customized with additional screenings. Employers can quickly access Checkr’s mobile-friendly dashboard to place an order and review results. Checkr’s built-in compliance workflows help small businesses stay on top of regulations, while 24/7 support is available by live chat or email.

Packages start at $29.99 per report; pay-as-you-go pricing and no charge for account setup.

KarmaCheck is a background check platform designed for the staffing industry. Firms that specialize in healthcare, professional, and IT/Tech staffing can use KarmaCheck’s comprehensive screening services to run background checks, conduct drug testing, and perform occupational health screening.

The company offers flexible pricing and subscription plans, as well as predictive pricing models that help small businesses budget more accurately. KarmaCheck’s technology-forward platform incorporates AI workflows, API integrations, and a candidate-centered mobile experience.

Contact for quote.

First Advantages offers a dedicated small business background check service. The company makes it easy to sign up for background checks, and reports are delivered in minutes. Pricing is pay-as-you-go, so your small businesses only needs to pay for the checks it needs. First Advantage’s background checks offer an “applicant-centric” process, and small businesses can order checks using its convenient online, mobile-friendly platform.

Pay-as-you go, starting at $29 per check, with additional searches costing extra.

Based in Canada, Certn offers a self-service option specifically designed for small businesses. The company provides a suite of screenings through its all-in-one screening platform and a mobile-first candidate portal for candidates to submit information. Certn helps small businesses manage regulatory risks and offers 24/7 support for employers and candidates.

Pay-as-you-go self-service packages starting at $3.50 for reference checks and $17.99 for basic US criminal record checks; all search types are offered á la carte.

Enterprise organizations often run large quantities of background checks frequently. Partnering with a third-party background check service provider to conduct your pre-employment screenings can save time and help your team comply with local, state, and federal hiring laws.

Here’s a closer look at the four best background check providers for enterprises.

Checkr’s optimized enterprise background checks are available across a wide range of industries. Checkr’s technology allows your organization to hire faster, automate manual tasks, and easily connect with your existing ATS and HRIS systems. With Checkr’s background checks, customers are able to unlock 168% ROI, faster turnaround times, and advanced background check decision technology.

Checkr offers several preset packages with popular search selections, with the option to customize with add-on screenings. Mobile-first workflows give candidates a more flexible experience, while an FCRA-knowledgeable customer service team and built-in compliance tools support adherence with local, state, and federal background check regulations.

Customizable packages start at $29.99 per check and increase in price based on criminal search coverage and additional verifications; volume discounts are available. Add-on searches and screenings help you customize background checks to meet your organization’s needs.

First Advantage provides globally-focused enterprise background check services. Enterprises can choose from industry-specific packages designed to meet the needs of specific verticals, while compliance management tools help reduce organization risk. First Advantage also offers enterprise-level reporting tools that allow organizations to gather valuable insights into the background check process. It provides dedicated account management support to help enterprises stay on top of their background check program and evolving global privacy and data usage laws.

Contact for quote.

HireRight has been in business for more than 30 years and offers “99.98% dispute-free” background checks. The company provides workflow-driven background checks to organizations of all sizes, including screening solutions for enterprises. Comprehensive reporting helps employers gain valuable insights and streamline decision-making. Plus, the HireRight platform provides comprehensive compliance support, more than 70 ATS integrations, and a candidate-friendly experience.

Contact for quote.

Designed with efficiency in mind, Accurate offers enterprises bulk ordering options, built-in compliance tools, and advanced reporting. The Accurate platform is designed to maintain consistency across the organization through a unified platform that integrates seamlessly with popular ATS and HRIS platforms. API integrations are customizable to accommodate in-house workflows, and Accurate’s industry-specific screening packages can be tailored to your organization’s specific hiring needs.

Contact for quote.

Background checks can be conducted on yourself or other individuals. Information in individual background reports commonly includes criminal history, address records, and property information. Keep in mind that if a personal data lookup solution is not FCRA compliant, then it should not be used to decide whether to hire individuals, or other FCRA permissible purposes.

Here are four of the best personal background checks for individuals.

Checkr offers personal background checks, allowing individuals to run background checks on themselves. Running a background check on yourself lets you preview what employers and landlords may learn about you during a background screening.

Knowing what might show up on a background check can help you anticipate questions and spot and proactively correct potential errors or inaccuracies.

It only takes a few simple steps to order your personal background check report, and you can view the results in Checkr’s user-friendly online candidate portal. Personal background checks may include a Social Security number trace; federal, national, county, and state criminal records check; a global watchlist search; motor vehicle records search; and sex offender registry check.

Starting at $49.99 per report, with additional options to include more comprehensive search results.

TruthFinder is a leading personal background check platform that combs billions of public records to help you learn more about yourself or specific individuals. With TruthFinder, you can search a person’s name, phone number, email address, and more to find information about their background. TruthFinder can also search police records and perform dark web scans. Follow TruthFinder's instructions for using a background check for purposes other than general information.

Starting at $28.33 per month for unlimited people searches.

PeopleFinders offers access to 6,000 data sources and over 120 billion public records to help you find information about yourself or others. The site is free to use for basic public record searches, but paid members get access to more detailed reports and real-time updates.

With PeopleFinders, you can search by name, address, or phone numbers. You can also check someone’s criminal history, property records, and potential relatives, though keep in mind that PeopleFinders should not be be used for hiring purposes. Searches can be conducted online or through the free mobile app.

Starting at $24.95 a month for a basic membership.

Intelius searches millions of public records to provide information about a person, phone number, or property address. With Intelius background checks, you learn more about yourself or other individuals. However, Intelius should not be used for hiring or certain other purposes.

Intelius offers trial paid subscriptions. You can also sign up for ongoing identity monitoring for an additional monthly fee.

Starting at $25.35 per month for unlimited people searches.

Background checks can provide comprehensive information about a potential employment candidate or individual. However, what’s included in a background check report varies based on the individual you're running the check on and why, as well as the screenings you choose to include.

Employment background screenings vary based on an organization’s background check policy and applicable laws, such as the FCRA. However, it’s common to run criminal background checks, driving record checks, employment or education verification, and credit checks. For employers, it's often best to choose a background check platform that offers multiple search options, so you customize screenings by role.

Personal background checks aren’t typically as comprehensive as employment background screenings. However, depending on the applicable law, they can include an individual’s criminal records and civil judgements, property records, contact information, and social media profiles.

Employers may be able to conduct free background checks since public records are commonly available for request directly from law enforcement agencies or educational institutions. For instance, Texas criminal background checks can be conducted through the Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), and California criminal records can be requested through the California Department of Justice’s automated service. Both searches are initially free, but you’ll need to pay a fee to obtain criminal background check results.

Individuals may be able to perform limited personal background checks at no cost. Certain states offer public access to online criminal records. Additional records may also be available for free—including, court, arrest, and inmate records.

Free background check sites, such as Instant Checkmate and TruthFinder, offer simple people searches. However, if you need more details, you typically have to upgrade to a paid service. Additionally, many people search sites prohibit using their data to make employment decisions or for other FCRA permissible purposes, so you’ll be significantly limited in how you use that information.

When choosing a background check platform, the right fit depends on your needs and whether the search is for personal or employment purposes. The best background check service providers offer a range of screening options and have quick turnaround times, knowledgeable customer service teams, and an easy-to-use platform with a simple signup process.

For employers, look for a partner that offers some or all of the following:

If you’re an individual looking for the best background check service, consider options that offer affordable and transparent pricing, extensive search results, and customer support. Choosing a personal background check platform that offers unlimited personal searches might also make sense, depending on your needs and budget.

Whether for employment or personal use, running background checks can provide small businesses, enterprises, and individuals a wealth of information—whether for employment or personal use. For employers, partnering with a third-party background check provider is often especially beneficial. Working with a top background screening provider can help employers maintain compliance with complex laws and regulations.

Checkr’s modern platform delivers fast and accurate screenings that can help your organization make informed hiring decisions. Time-saving automated workflows with built-in compliance help employers adhere to local, state, and federal background check guidelines and reduce risk. Get started today.

About the author

Sarah writes about small business topics and corporate communications. She has written on a wide range of topics, including background checks, hiring trends, company culture, and employee training and development. Her work includes educational articles, press releases, newsletters, and employee onboarding collateral.