PRICING
Free trial, paid plans from custom (per-check or subscription)
CATEGORY
BACKGROUND CHECKS
AT A GLANCE
Automated reference checking platform with built-in engagement, exit, and pulse surveys for the full employee lifecycle.
What is Xref
Xref is best known for automating reference checks, sending the survey to referees, collecting structured feedback, and giving you a verified report without playing phone tag for two weeks. The platform has expanded into engagement, exit, and pulse surveys, plus a marketplace for background check vendors. Used by SME and enterprise teams worldwide, with 4.6 on G2 and 4.7 on Capterra.
Who it's for
Yes, if…
You're a US SMB or scaleup HR team where reference checks are eating hours per hire
You want structured, comparable reference data rather than free-form phone notes
You're also looking at engagement or exit surveys and want one vendor for both
You operate in regulated industries (healthcare, government, financial services) where compliant reference data matters
No, if…
You're a US-only buyer who needs deep US customer references, Xref's strongest footprint is APAC and Commonwealth markets
You don't actually run reference checks today and don't plan to, the engagement-only use case is solid but other vendors specialize
You need transparent flat pricing, Xref operates on volume-based quotes
Our take
Xref is the kind of tool where the time savings make the case on their own. Reference checking is one of those tasks that quietly eats 5-10 hours per hire, and most teams either skip it or do it half-heartedly. Automating it means you actually get the references done, get them done quickly, and have a structured report you can compare across candidates. The fact that the same platform extends to engagement and exit surveys is a bonus rather than the reason to buy. If you're hiring more than a few roles a year and references currently feel like the bottleneck between offer and start date, this is worth a trial.
Pros & cons
What works
Reference checks become a 24-hour automated process instead of a week of voicemails and follow-ups
Surveys are structured and consistent, so you're comparing referees on the same questions every time
Beyond references, the platform handles engagement and exit surveys, so the same vendor covers multiple touchpoints in the employee lifecycle
Background check marketplace (Trust Marketplace) gives you a curated list of bg check vendors without separate procurement
Strong G2 and Capterra ratings, real customer evidence rather than vendor marketing
What to watch
Australian-origin company, US references exist but the strongest brand presence is APAC, EMEA, and Commonwealth markets
Pricing is opaque and depends heavily on volume, so getting a clear number requires a sales conversation
The 'multiple use cases' breadth (references, engagement, exit, pulse) can feel like a lot to evaluate if you only need one piece
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