Certn vs Sterling Check: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Certn and Sterling Check side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Certn
Modernize your hiring process with fast, easy, and compliant background checks.
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly reduces time-to-hire and onboarding costs
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Best for you if:
- • You want deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance
| At a Glance | Certn | Sterling Check |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Not published |
Category | HR & Recruiting Compliance | HR & Recruiting Compliance |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.7 · SourceForge 4.3 273 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Certn or Sterling Check?
Choose Certn if
- You want significantly reduces time-to-hire and onboarding costs
- You want provides comprehensive global screening coverage
Choose Sterling Check if
- You want deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance
- You want global reach with operational scale for international background checks
In-Depth Analysis
Certn
Modernize your hiring process with fast, easy, and compliant background checks.
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly reduces time-to-hire and onboarding costs
- Pro: Provides comprehensive global screening coverage
- Pro: Offers a seamless and user-friendly experience for candidates
- Pro: Scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes
- Pro: Strong integration capabilities with existing HR tech stacks
Weaknesses
- Con: Public Records Check is limited to Canada only
- Con: Pricing is in CAD, which may require currency conversion for international users
- Con: Pass-through access fees may apply for certain checks
Key features
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Strengths
- Pro: Deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance.
- Pro: Global reach with operational scale for international background checks.
- Pro: Fast turnaround times, with a significant percentage of US criminal searches closing in one day.
- Pro: Robust integrations for simplified customer and candidate experiences.
- Pro: Automated adverse action process to save time and reduce risk.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing details are not publicly available and require direct inquiry.
- Con: The transition from Sterling to First Advantage might require existing users to adapt to new branding or processes.
Key features
Plans and prices: Certn vs Sterling Check
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Certn |
| certn.co read Oct 8, 2026 |
| Sterling Check | No plan prices on file | sterlingcheck.com/pricing |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Certn pricing and Sterling Check pricing.
Key Takeaways
Certn
- Choose if you want modernize your hiring process with fast, easy, and compliant background checks
Sterling Check
- Choose if you want comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Certn has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 273 reviews); Sterling Check has none we can show.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Certn and Sterling Check compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Certn has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 273 reviews); Sterling Check has none we can show.
What are Certn and Sterling Check used for?
Certn: Modernize your hiring process with fast, easy, and compliant background checks. Sterling Check: Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
What does Certn cost vs Sterling Check?
Certn has no public paid-plan price on file. Sterling Check has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Certn and Sterling Check?
Certn's main strength: significantly reduces time-to-hire and onboarding costs. Sterling Check's main strength: deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance.