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Recruitment · head to head

Checkr vs Workable

Checkr logo

Checkr

Recruitment

Background check platform priced per report, with third-party court fees passed through separately

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Workable logo

Workable

Recruitment

Recruitment and employee engagement platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Workable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Checkr advertised per-report prices exclude court and database access fees, so the real cost per candidate varies by jurisdiction and is higher than the sticker in many counties; Workable the Standard plan is $299 a month and still charges separately for texting at $89, video interviews at $109 and assessments at $59 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Checkr covers Package pricing, Workable covers Job posting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Checkr and Workable actually diverge.

Attributes where Checkr and Workable differ
AttributeCheckrWorkable
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer report, plus pass-through court and database feesusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Recruitment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Checkr

  • Package pricing
  • API and dashboard
  • Adjudication tools
  • Continuous checks
  • Candidate portal

Only in Workable

  • Job posting
  • Applicant tracking
  • Candidate management
  • Onboarding
  • Employee engagement
  • Analytics
  • Mobile app
  • Integrations

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Checkr

  • A company running high-volume hourly or gig hiring that needs API-driven checks integrated into an existing ATSnot Workable
  • A startup or mid-size employer wanting self-service ordering through a dashboard without a dedicated screening account managernot Workable
  • An employer that needs continuous rescreening for driving-related roles rather than a one-time check at hirenot Workable
  • A company budgeting screening costs that needs to model court fee variance across the states it hires innot Workable

Workable

  • Posting jobs and tracking candidates through an applicant tracking systemnot Checkr
  • Running structured interviews, assessments and offers in one placenot Checkr

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Checkr

  • Advertised per-report prices exclude court and database access fees, so the real cost per candidate varies by jurisdiction and is higher than the sticker in many counties
  • Turnaround time depends on how fast individual courts process requests, which Checkr does not control and which can stretch well past the advertised average in rural or backlogged counties
  • Add-on checks such as MVR, drug screening and education verification are priced separately, so a full pre-employment package can cost significantly more than the base package price suggests
  • Enterprise-scale volume requires a custom Enterprise contract rather than the published per-report rates, so large employers cannot rely on the public pricing page to budget
  • Compliance obligations under the FCRA and state ban-the-box laws remain the employer's responsibility even though Checkr provides tooling, so legal review is still needed rather than assumed away by the platform
  • Candidate disputes and re-adjudication can add days to a hiring timeline, which matters for roles filled under time pressure

Workable

  • The Standard plan is $299 a month and still charges separately for texting at $89, video interviews at $109 and assessments at $59 a month
  • Reaching a plan where those three are included means Premier at $599 a month
  • Unlimited active jobs is qualified by a fair usage limit rather than being an actual cap
  • AI features run on credits, and credits expire one year from purchase
  • Published plan prices cover 1 to 20 employees, so larger headcounts are quoted separately

Pricing, plan by plan

Checkr

On request
  • Basic$29.99/report
    • SSN trace
    • Sex offender registry
    • Global watchlist
  • Essential$59.99/report
    • Everything in Basic
    • Identity verification
    • Unlimited county criminal search
  • Complete$94.99/report
    • Everything in Essential
    • Unlimited state criminal search
    • Federal criminal search

Workable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic recruitment
    • Limited hires
    • Basic tracking
  • Plus$undefined/month
    • Advanced recruitment
    • Engagement tools
    • Analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Checkr if

  • You need package pricing.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want api and dashboard.
Checkr review

Choose Workable if

  • You need job posting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want applicant tracking.
Workable review

Questions people ask

Is Checkr or Workable better?
Neither clearly leads. Checkr starts at On request and Workable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Checkr or Workable?
Workable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Checkr and Free for Workable.
Does Checkr or Workable run on more platforms?
Checkr runs on Web, API. Workable runs on Web.
Can I use Workable for free?
Yes. Workable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Checkr starts at On request.
What is Checkr best used for?
Checkr is most often used for a company running high-volume hourly or gig hiring that needs api-driven checks integrated into an existing ats, a startup or mid-size employer wanting self-service ordering through a dashboard without a dedicated screening account manager, an employer that needs continuous rescreening for driving-related roles rather than a one-time check at hire, a company budgeting screening costs that needs to model court fee variance across the states it hires in. Of those, a company running high-volume hourly or gig hiring that needs api-driven checks integrated into an existing ats and a startup or mid-size employer wanting self-service ordering through a dashboard without a dedicated screening account manager are not what Workable is typically brought in for.
What can Checkr do that Workable cannot?
Checkr covers Package pricing, API and dashboard, Adjudication tools, Continuous checks. Workable covers Job posting, Applicant tracking, Candidate management, Onboarding.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Checkr: Does the per-report price include court fees?

No. Checkr states that standard third-party court and database access fees are passed through at cost on top of the package price, and these vary by jurisdiction.

Workable: What does a Workable subscription cost and how is it billed?

Workable offers three pricing tiers: Standard at $299/month ($3,588/year with 20% discount), Premier at $599/month ($7,188/year), and Enterprise at $719/month ($8,628/year). Annual plans save 20% compared to monthly billing.

Source
Checkr: Can Checkr be used without an ATS integration?

Yes, checks can be ordered manually through the Checkr dashboard as well as programmatically through the API.

Workable: Does Workable offer a free trial?

Yes, Workable offers a 15-day free trial that requires no credit card.

Source
Checkr: Is pricing different for enterprise volume?

Yes, high-volume employers negotiate an Enterprise contract rather than paying the published per-report rates.

Workable: What happens to AI credits if I don't use them before they expire?

AI credits are non-refundable and expire 1 year from purchase. If you purchase additional credits beyond the 3,000 included with your plan, unused credits will be forfeited after 12 months.

Source
Workable: Do I get support included with my Workable subscription?

Workable includes priority support for advanced features, and the pricing page mentions GDPR automation tools for compliance, though specific support response times are not detailed on the pricing page.

Source
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