GoodHire vs Sterling
A detailed comparison of GoodHire and Sterling. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| GoodHire | Sterling | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $30/mo | N/A |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 7 | 7 |
| Best For | SMB | Enterprise |
GoodHire
Employment background check service designed for small and mid-sized businesses, offering criminal, identity, education, and reference checks with built-in FCRA compliance.
Sterling
Enterprise background screening and identity verification provider offering criminal checks, drug testing, credential verification, and onboarding across 240+ countries and territories.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GoodHire | Sterling |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Background Checks | ||
| Reference Checking |
Pricing Comparison
GoodHire
Sterling
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only GoodHire
Only Sterling
Pros & Cons
GoodHire
Pros
- +Pay-per-check pricing — no subscription
- +Fast turnaround on most checks
- +Built-in FCRA compliance tools
- +Good for small and mid-size businesses
Cons
- -Per-check costs higher than volume providers
- -Limited international coverage
- -Fewer enterprise features than Sterling or HireRight
- -Some checks take longer at county level
Sterling
Pros
- +One of the largest background check providers globally
- +Strong in regulated industries (finance, healthcare)
- +Comprehensive international screening
- +Enterprise compliance and analytics
Cons
- -Not transparent pricing — enterprise quotes only
- -Long onboarding and implementation process
- -Interface dated compared to newer providers
- -Overkill for small companies
Which Should You Choose?
Choose GoodHire if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • Pay-per-check pricing — no subscription
Choose Sterling if:
- • Your company is Enterprise size
- • One of the largest background check providers globally
How we evaluate tools
Our ratings combine verified user reviews from G2 and Capterra with hands-on feature analysis. Pricing is checked against official sources. We may earn a commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our rankings or recommendations. Read our full methodology.