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It's a split decision.
Choose Checkr when the job is background, tenant or mortgage verification; choose CATS when you need an ATS and recruiting CRM to manage candidates, jobs and hiring workflows. Checkr's lowest listed option is $24.99 per tenant report, while CATS lists $95 per user/month with annual billing or $115 monthly, so these are not like-for-like prices. Checkr also offers a free personal profile; CATS has no free plan. Neither replaces the other's core product.
01Side by side
| Checkr | CATS | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $24.99 per tenant report | $95/user/month annual; $115 monthly |
| Free plan | Yes: free personal profile | No |
| Best for | Background and tenant screening | Applicant tracking and recruiting CRM |
| Core strength | Screening and identity/income verification | Candidate, job and client workflows |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | 200+ ATS integrations on Enterprise | Chrome extension, parsing and Boolean search |
| Team/seat costs | Per-report pricing; no seat price listed | $95–$115 per user/month |
| Support | Dedicated support on Tenant Business/Partner | Not published |
Checkr Choose Checkr if
- Choose Checkr if you need background or tenant checks.
- Choose Checkr if you want per-report screening prices.
- Choose Checkr if a free personal profile is useful.
CATS Choose CATS if
- Choose CATS if you need applicant tracking and recruiting CRM.
- Choose CATS if you manage candidate and client workflows together.
- Choose CATS if your team budgets per user monthly.
02Pricing compared
The pricing models are not directly comparable. Checkr’s pricing page lists pay-as-you-go rates per report or verification, not a monthly subscription. Its lowest listed option is Tenant Starter at $24.99 per report; Workforce Basic is $29.99 per report. Checkr also lists a free Personal Profile, which includes identity verification and two searches, but it is not a free business screening plan.
CATS lists $115 per user per month, or $95 per user per month with annual billing. That is an ATS price, not a background-check fee. Checkr’s business offerings also vary by use case: tenant, workforce, mortgage and custom-quote options have different scopes and prices. Compare the Checkr checks you need with CATS seats and billing term; the entry prices alone do not show total cost.
03Features and depth
Checkr is for verification and screening, not managing a hiring pipeline. Its listed services include criminal background checks, identity verification, tenant screening, and mortgage income or employment verification. Workforce plans range from basic criminal searches to broader checks with county, state and federal searches. The pricing page also lists add-ons such as drug screening, education verification and motor vehicle reports; some court or state fees may apply.
CATS is an ATS and recruiting CRM. Its feature list covers candidate capture with a Chrome extension, resume parsing, Boolean search, job distribution, custom hiring pipelines and automated actions. It also tracks client relationships, supports email and calendar sync, templates, mass email and two-way SMS in the US and Canada, and offers dashboards and EEO compliance reporting.
Choose by job: Checkr screens or verifies people; CATS organizes recruiting work. Neither replaces the other’s core function.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The published feature lists suggest different setup work, not a clear winner on ease of use. Checkr’s applicant guidance and result notifications support a screening flow, while its range of workforce, tenant, mortgage and add-on checks means buyers need to choose the right scope. Custom workflows are listed for Enterprise.
CATS centers on configuring recruiting pipelines, automated stage actions, job listings and team access. Its CRM, communication tools and reporting bring more of the hiring lifecycle into one system, but teams should decide how they want jobs and candidates organized before setup. We’d assess whether you need screening operations or recruiting workflow first; the products solve different tasks, so comparing interface simplicity alone misses the bigger decision.
Questions people ask
What all does Checkr check?
Checkr’s listed checks include criminal history, identity, public records and driver data. Its workforce packages vary by scope, while tenant options can add eviction, credit, employment, income and asset information. Add-ons include drug, education and license verification. Fees and availability can vary by check.
Is BackgroundChecks.com a legitimate company?
The information available for this comparison covers Checkr and CATS, not BackgroundChecks.com. It does not establish that company’s ownership, screening practices, compliance or customer experience, so we can’t verify its legitimacy from these sources. Check its terms, pricing and applicable consumer-reporting disclosures before buying.
What is the most legit background check site?
There is not enough information here to rank background-check providers by legitimacy. Checkr lists workforce, tenant and personal screening products, but a product listing alone does not prove accuracy or suitability. Compare the provider’s stated checks, pricing, compliance information and independent user feedback for your use case.
What is a red flag in a background check?
A finding that conflicts with an applicant’s stated history may warrant review, but this source does not define red flags or give guidance on adjudication. Checkr lists criminal, identity, public-record and driver data as risk signals. Employers should assess findings in context and follow applicable rules.