Background checks are the necessary evil of hiring. You need to verify candidates didn't lie about their credentials and don't have disqualifying criminal history. But traditional background check companies are slow, expensive, and a pain to work with.

Checkr emerged as the modern alternative: fast turnaround, API-first platform, automated workflows, and competitive pricing. They've become the go-to for tech companies, gig economy platforms, and anyone who values speed.

Uber, Instacart, Netflix, and Compass are among their customers. The platform processes millions of background checks annually. But after using Checkr for 18 months across 200+ hires, I've seen both the strengths and the serious problems.

Here's the unfiltered truth about Checkr.

What Checkr Actually Does

Checkr is a background screening platform that automates the entire process from candidate invitation to final report delivery. They offer:

Criminal record checks - County, state, and federal databases Employment verification - Confirming past job titles and dates Education verification - Verifying degrees and credentials Motor vehicle records - For roles requiring driving Drug testing coordination - Though they partner with third-party labs International checks - For global hiring

The platform integrates with major ATS systems (Greenhouse, Lever, Workable, etc.) so you can initiate background checks directly from your hiring workflow.

Their pitch is speed and automation. Traditional background checks take 5-7 business days. Checkr promises most results in 1-3 days.

The Speed Is Real

This is Checkr's biggest advantage. In my testing:

Average turnaround time: 1.8 days 80% of checks completed in 48 hours or less Criminal checks usually return within 24 hours Employment/education verifications take 2-4 days (they need to contact institutions, which takes time)

For comparison, traditional background check companies average 5-7 business days, and that's if everything goes smoothly.

When you're trying to close candidates who have multiple offers, shaving 3-4 days off the background check process genuinely matters. Speed is Checkr's killer feature.

The Platform Is Actually Good

Checkr's dashboard is clean, easy to navigate, and doesn't feel like it was built in 2003 (looking at you, legacy background check companies).

What works well:

Candidate experience is smooth - Candidates get an email invitation, complete the process online in 10-15 minutes, no printing or faxing required

Real-time status updates - You can see exactly where each check stands: pending, processing, or complete

Automated invitations - Set up triggers so background checks automatically launch when candidates reach a certain stage

Mobile-friendly - Candidates can complete everything on their phones, which matters when your candidate is working full-time and can't fill out paperwork during business hours

Reporting is clear - Results are easy to read and highlight anything that needs attention

ATS integrations work - Data flows between Checkr and your ATS without manual data entry

The platform feels modern and doesn't require training. If you can use basic software, you can use Checkr.

Pricing: Competitive But Complex

Checkr uses à la carte pricing—you pay for each component of the background check separately.

Estimated pricing (based on public information and G2 reviews):

Basic criminal check: $25-35 County criminal search: $15-20 per county Employment verification: $15-25 per position Education verification: $20-30 per degree MVR check: $10-15 Federal criminal search: $15-20 Drug test coordination: $40-60

A standard background check (criminal + employment + education) typically runs $60-100 per candidate depending on your package.

Volume discounts are available if you're running hundreds of checks per year. Small companies pay more per check than enterprise customers.

Is this competitive? Yes. Traditional providers charge $75-150 for similar packages with slower turnaround times.

The Accuracy Problem: Where Checkr Falls Short

Here's the uncomfortable truth: Checkr's speed comes partially from automation, and automation sometimes means accuracy issues.

In 18 months of using Checkr for 200+ background checks, I encountered:

3 false positive criminal records - Reports flagged criminal records that belonged to someone else with a similar name 7 employment verifications that came back as "unable to verify" even though the candidate actually worked there (company just didn't respond to Checkr's inquiry) 2 education verifications marked as discrepancies when the candidate's degree was legitimate but Checkr couldn't reach the university registrar

That's a 6% error rate—which sounds small until it's your star candidate whose job offer gets delayed because Checkr flagged something incorrectly.

When Things Go Wrong, Resolution Is Slow

The irony: Checkr is blazingly fast when checks come back clean. But when there's an issue—especially a false positive—resolution takes forever.

Real example: Candidate flagged for felony assault in Wisconsin. Candidate had never been to Wisconsin. The criminal record belonged to someone with the same first and last name but different middle name and birth date.

Resolution time: 8 business days

During that time, our candidate was in limbo. We couldn't extend an offer. The candidate was stressed. And Checkr's support, while polite, kept saying "we're investigating."

Consumer advocacy groups have documented similar complaints about Checkr's dispute resolution process being slower than their initial screening.

Employment and Education Verification Can Be Hit-Or-Miss

Criminal checks are usually straightforward—Checkr queries databases and returns results. Employment and education verification require actually contacting institutions, which is where things get messy.

Common issues:

Companies that don't respond - Checkr sends requests to HR departments. Many small companies ignore them or take weeks to respond. Checkr marks these as "unable to verify."

Defunct companies - If a candidate worked somewhere that's out of business, verification becomes difficult or impossible

International institutions - Verifying foreign education credentials is notably slower and less reliable

Universities with complex registrar systems - Some schools require specific paperwork or payment for verification, creating delays

None of this is necessarily Checkr's fault—employment verification is inherently challenging. But candidates get frustrated when their legitimate work history is marked "unable to verify."

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Compliance

Checkr takes FCRA compliance seriously—they have to, given previous legal issues with the FTC over background check accuracy.

What they do well:

• Proper adverse action notices when something disqualifying is found
• Candidates can dispute inaccurate information
• Clear documentation of the dispute process
• Required waiting periods before you can take adverse action

Where it's bureaucratic:

If you find something disqualifying and want to rescind an offer, you can't just send an email. You have to:

1. Send pre-adverse action notice via Checkr
2. Wait 5 business days for candidate to dispute
3. Send final adverse action notice
4. Wait additional time period
5. Then and only then can you formally withdraw the offer

This is legally required, not Checkr's fault. But it means the process takes 7-10 days minimum when you find something disqualifying.

Plan your hiring timelines accordingly.

Customer Support: Generally Responsive

Checkr's support is decent for a software platform:

• Chat support responds in 10-15 minutes during business hours
• Email responses within 24 hours
• Phone support available for urgent issues
• Help documentation is thorough

Where support falls short:

• Dispute resolution is slow (as mentioned earlier)
• International checks sometimes require escalation to get answers
• Weekend support is limited

Overall, support is better than legacy background check companies (where getting someone on the phone is a miracle) but not as responsive as top-tier SaaS companies.

Integration Ecosystem: Solid

Checkr integrates with 40+ ATS platforms, including all the major ones:

• Greenhouse
• Lever
• Workable
• Ashby
• BambooHR
• And many others

What works:

• Background checks initiate automatically when candidates hit your designated stage
• Results flow back into your ATS
• No duplicate data entry required

What could be better:

• Some integrations are more robust than others
• Occasionally sync issues occur (data doesn't flow as expected)
• Initial setup requires IT involvement for most companies

Alternatives Worth Considering

Checkr isn't the only option. Here's how they compare to competitors:

Sterling - Slower (3-5 days average) but potentially more accurate for complex checks. Better for enterprise with compliance needs.

GoodHire - Similar speed to Checkr, slightly cheaper, but smaller company with less robust platform.

HireRight - Enterprise standard, slower but comprehensive. Better for international checks.

Accurate Background - Mid-market option, 2-4 day turnaround, solid for traditional industries.

Checkr makes sense if speed is your priority and you're willing to occasionally deal with accuracy issues.

Who Should Use Checkr

Good fit:

• Tech companies and startups that value speed over everything
• High-volume hiring (50+ hires per year)
• Companies with strong ATS integrations
• Roles where time to hire is critical

Not a good fit:

• Companies hiring for roles with strict compliance requirements (healthcare, finance) where accuracy is paramount
• Small companies hiring occasionally (won't get volume discounts)
• International hiring where verification is complex
• Industries where false positives create serious liability

My Recommendations Based on 18 Months of Use

Do use Checkr if:

• Speed is critical to closing candidates
• You're hiring at scale and need automation
• You have processes to handle occasional accuracy issues

Add extra diligence for:

• Candidates with common names (higher risk of false positives)
• International work history or education
• Roles at small companies that may not verify employment

Plan extra time when:

• You find something disqualifying (FCRA process takes 7-10 days)
• Employment verification comes back "unable to verify"
• Candidates need to dispute results

Have a backup plan: If Checkr can't verify something important and it's holding up your hire, be prepared to verify directly (call the employer yourself, request official transcripts, etc.)

The Bottom Line

Checkr is fast, affordable, and has a modern platform that doesn't feel like recruiting in the 1990s. For most companies doing routine background checks, they're a solid choice.

But the speed comes with tradeoffs. Accuracy issues happen more frequently than with traditional providers, and dispute resolution is slower than their initial screening.

My take: Use Checkr for standard background checks where speed matters. But for sensitive roles or complex verification needs, consider slower but more thorough alternatives.

And always—always—give candidates the benefit of the doubt when something comes back questionable. Checkr's automated systems aren't perfect, and real people's careers are on the line.

The platform is a useful tool, but remember: you're still responsible for making hiring decisions. Don't outsource critical judgment to an automated background check, no matter how fast it is.