Checkr vs. Certn: Which Background Check Provider Is Right for Your Business?

Background screening helps businesses make more informed hiring decisions, but the right provider can also affect hiring speed, workflow efficiency, and candidate experience.

Checkr and Certn are two well-known and highly rated providers, each designed around different hiring priorities. Some businesses prioritize fast turnaround times and streamlined workflows, while others may need broader international screening support or more complex implementation capabilities.

This Checkr vs. Certn comparison breaks down the key differences to help you decide which platform best fits your hiring process.

Speed

89% of criminal checks are complete within one hour 97% of customers say Checkr's background checks are faster

Ease of use

90% of customers say Checkr simplified their daily work 99% of background checks are automated after data retrieval, with human QA

Compliance support

Compliance tools built into all products 78% of Checkr's customers report lower risk and better compliance

Number of ATS/HRIS integrations

200+

Ideal customer

Businesses of any size that prioritize hiring speed and fast turnaround times Lean HR teams and first-time buyers without dedicated compliance support Commercial and enterprise teams scaling background check workflows across locations, roles, or departments High-volume hiring environments like staffing, hospitality, retail, and transportation Organizations seeking workflow automation and built-in compliance support at any hiring volume

Speed

• Turnaround time varies, on average, from a few minutes to a few days

Ease of use

• Ease of use is the most mentioned benefit in Certn reviews

Compliance support

• Compliance support provided for 195 countries

Number of ATS/HRIS integrations

100+

Ideal customer

Organizations with international hiring needs Distributed or multi-region workforces Companies managing complex global hiring environments

Before directly comparing Checkr and Certn, it's worth reviewing the factors that matter most when choosing a background screening provider. The right platform should support how your team actually hires, not introduce additional complexity as your business grows.

Checkr is a background screening platform focused on workflow automation, fast turnaround times, and reducing manual work for hiring teams of all sizes. The company emphasizes fast turnaround times, packages that prioritize the screenings you really need, and integrations that fit into existing hiring systems.

Businesses looking to improve hiring visibility and streamline screening workflows often choose Checkr because of its automation tools, centralized dashboard, and candidate portal. The platform also includes compliance tools that support more consistent hiring processes as organizations scale.

Certn is a background screening provider built around international hiring and global compliance support. The platform offers domestic and international background checks, covering 195 countries, making it a strong option for organizations managing distributed or multi-region workforces.

Certn emphasizes API-based integrations and managed implementation support for companies operating across complex or multi-jurisdictional hiring environments.

When comparing Checkr and Certn, key considerations include speed, ease of use and implementation, compliance, integrations, and pricing. Here's a closer look:

For SMBs, turnaround time affects more than onboarding speed. Delayed screenings can increase candidate drop-off, extend vacancies, and add pressure to lean teams trying to fill roles quickly.

Checkr emphasizes fast turnaround times and automated workflows to help businesses move candidates through the hiring process more efficiently.

Checkr reports that 97% of customers experience faster turnaround times than with previous providers.

Certn also emphasizes speed, particularly for international hiring workflows. As of May 2025, around 8% of Certn reviews on G2 mentioned the company's fast results, compared with 12% for Checkr.

Usability matters as much as screening depth. Hiring teams often need workflows that are easy to implement, simple to manage, and accessible without dedicated technical resources.

Checkr focuses heavily on automation, customizable workflows, and centralized hiring visibility. The company reports that 90% of customers say the platform simplifies their daily work.

Certn emphasizes managed integrations and implementation support for organizations handling more complex or distributed hiring environments.

Compliance tools play an important role in helping businesses create more consistent hiring workflows. Features like standardized adjudication tools, audit visibility, and configurable screening packages can help reduce manual oversight as hiring volume grows.

Checkr builds compliance tools directly into its background checks, helping teams manage disclosures, adverse action workflows, and hiring documentation more consistently. 78% of the provider's customers say that Checkr has lowered risk and improved compliance for them. Certn also emphasizes compliance support, particularly for organizations hiring across multiple international jurisdictions.

Integrations can significantly reduce manual data entry and improve visibility throughout the hiring process. Many teams rely on background screening platforms that fit cleanly into existing ATS and HRIS workflows.

Checkr offers more than 200 pre-built ATS and HRIS integrations, along with time-saving customizations, to reduce repetitive administrative work. The company also highlights 99.95% uptime, providing 24/7 access to easy-to-read hiring data and screening updates.

Certn similarly offers more than 100 ATS and HRIS integrations for organizations managing hiring across multiple systems.

Pricing structures vary between providers depending on screening volume, package configuration, international searches, and optional add-on services.

Checkr offers self-serve onboarding and configurable screening packages designed for businesses ranging from small teams to large enterprises. The Basic package, which includes an SSN trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist, and national criminal searches, starts at $29.99. The Essential package starts at $54.99 and includes everything in the Basic package plus unlimited county criminal searches. Businesses can also expand screening with optional add-ons, and high-volume discounts are available.

Certn also offers configurable screening options at various price points depending on screening type, volume, and geographic scope. For current Certn pricing, visit their website directly.

Businesses comparing providers should evaluate more than just base pricing. Turnaround times, workflow efficiency, automation capabilities, and the operational impact of manual follow-up requirements can all affect the overall cost and speed of hiring.

Both Checkr and Certn offer background screening solutions designed to support modern hiring workflows, but the right fit depends on your hiring priorities, team structure, and operational characteristics. Some businesses prioritize fast onboarding and simple workflows, while others may need broader international screening capabilities or more specialized hiring support.

Here's guidance on choosing a provider that aligns with your needs.

Checkr is a strong fit for businesses prioritizing speed, workflow efficiency, and candidate experience. In fact, 89% of all Checkr's criminal checks, including county searches, are completed within one hour. Organizations looking to reduce manual coordination can also benefit from Checkr's automated workflows and streamlined hiring tools.

The platform is particularly well-suited for growing businesses, lean HR teams, and organizations hiring at scale without dedicated compliance resources. Checkr includes compliance tools for adverse action, disclosures, and assessments that help teams manage hiring workflows more consistently and reduce administrative risk.

Checkr may also appeal to employers focused on candidate engagement and reducing drop-off during screening. Features like status visibility and streamlined communication help candidates stay informed throughout the screening process—87% of Checkr's customers report an improved candidate experience after implementing the platform.

Certn is often a good fit for organizations with significant international hiring needs or distributed teams operating across multiple countries. The company emphasizes global screening coverage, international compliance support, and managed implementation options for more complex hiring environments.

Choosing a background screening provider is easier when you know what to evaluate before comparing options. A few considerations that are easy to overlook:

Screening delays have downstream effects on candidate experience, onboarding timelines, and role vacancy costs. Before choosing a provider, ask for realistic turnaround time estimates for the specific checks you run most often—not just headline numbers.

Package pricing is a starting point, but the real cost includes add-ons, international searches, volume tiers, and the operational overhead of manual follow-up when processes aren't fully automated. Get a complete picture before comparing providers on price alone.

A provider that handles domestic compliance well may not be the right fit if your hiring spans multiple countries or jurisdictions. Equally, a provider built for global complexity may be more than you need if you hire primarily in one location. Be honest about your actual hiring footprint, not your hypothetical one.

The best background check provider is one that supports the way your team actually hires. Both Checkr and Certn offer modern background screening solutions, but they emphasize different priorities.

Businesses focused on hiring speed, workflow automation, and ease of use may prefer Checkr, while organizations with broader international hiring needs may benefit from Certn’s global screening capabilities.

As you evaluate providers, focus on the factors that will most directly affect your hiring process: turnaround time, workflow efficiency, compliance support, integrations, and scalability. The right platform should help your team hire more consistently, reduce administrative friction, and maintain visibility as your hiring needs and business evolve.

About the author

Hayley Harrison writes about a wide range of business topics and best practices, including background checks, candidate experience, and recruitment and retention. Her work includes educational articles, e-books, and blog posts.