Best Background Checks · head-to-head
Certn vs Verified First
A sourced, side-by-side comparison for background checks. Certn has the lower entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Price: Certn $13.99/mo vs Verified First $29.99/mo — Certn is cheaper to start.
- Free tier: Certn No; Verified First No.
- HIPAA: Certn —; Verified First —.
Side by side
| Certn | Verified First | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $13.99/mo (US Core Criminal Check) | $29.99/mo (Basic) |
| Free tier | No | No |
| HIPAA (BAA) | — | — |
| SOC 2 | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR | Yes | — |
| Best for | Companies hiring globally or across 200+ countries | HR teams needing NIST 800-53 and SOC 2 compliance documentation |
Sources — Certn: certn.co (verified 2026-06-14). Verified First: verifiedfirst.com (verified 2026-06-14).
Key features
Certn: International screening in 200+ countries; Identity verification against 13,500+ document types (OneID biometric); SOC 2, SOC 3, and ISO 27001 certified; Industry-leading turnaround — many checks complete in minutes; Social media background checks included as add-on
Verified First: SOC 2 Type II and NIST 800-53 compliant; PBSA-accredited client care team; Patented VF Connector extension for seamless ATS/HRIS integration; Drug screening, I-9/E-Verify, MVR/DOT, social media screening, and occupational health included as services; Batch rescreening and candidate texting