Sterling Reviews, Pricing, Features & Alternatives in 2026
Sterling provides comprehensive background screening and identity verification services to help you build a foundation of trust and safety for your global workforce and customers.
Sterling helps you hire with confidence by providing fast and reliable background screening and identity verification. You can streamline your entire hiring process, from criminal record checks and employment verification to drug and health screening. The platform is designed to integrate directly into your existing HR tech stack, allowing you to manage candidates globally while maintaining compliance with local regulations.
You can reduce manual paperwork and speed up your time-to-hire using their mobile-first candidate experience. Whether you are a small business making your first hire or a global enterprise managing thousands of employees, the software provides the tools you need to verify identities and maintain a safe workplace. By automating the collection of candidate data, you can focus on making better hiring decisions rather than chasing documentation.
Screenshots & Interface
Dashboard View
Main dashboard with project overview
Kanban Board
Kanban-style task management
Timeline View
Gantt chart timeline view
Automations
Workflow automation builder
Key Features
Ready to simplify your hiring workflow? Sterling offers a suite of automated screening tools that let you verify candidate history and identity quickly. You can manage everything from a single dashboard while keeping your candidates engaged.
Criminal Background Checks
Access automated searches of national and local criminal databases to identify potential risks before you extend a job offer.
Identity Verification
Verify candidate identities in real-time using biometric technology and government-issued ID scanning to prevent sophisticated identity fraud.
Employment Verification
Confirm your candidate's professional history and education credentials automatically to ensure they have the experience they claim.
Drug and Health Screening
Manage employee drug testing and occupational health screenings through a massive network of collection sites with digital results.
Mobile Candidate Hub
Give your candidates a mobile-friendly way to submit information and track their screening status from any device.
Global Compliance Tools
Stay compliant with built-in tools that adapt to local privacy laws and industry-specific regulations across different countries.
Integrations
Workday
Oracle
SAP SuccessFactors
iCIMS
Greenhouse
Lever
SmartRecruiters
Jobvite
Bullhorn
UKG
Pricing Plans
Sterling offers flexible pricing tailored to your specific hiring volume and the depth of checks you require. While they don't offer a free plan, you can choose from standardized packages for small businesses or request custom enterprise quotes. You only pay for the specific screenings you need to run for your candidates.
Pros & Cons
Based on feedback from HR professionals and hiring managers on G2 and TrustRadius, here is what you can expect when using Sterling:
Pros
Extensive global reach for international background checks
Seamless integration with popular applicant tracking systems
User-friendly interface for both recruiters and candidates
Comprehensive reporting that simplifies compliance audits
Cons
Turnaround times can vary by jurisdiction
Customer support response times can be slow
Pricing structure is complex for smaller organizations
Who Should Use Sterling?
Perfect for HR teams and recruiters at mid-market and enterprise companies who need to automate high-volume global background checks and identity verification.
Best for Company Sizes
small-business
mid-market
enterprise
Popular Industries
healthcare
retail
financial-services
Our Verdict
Sterling is a reliable choice if you need a scalable, global solution for background screening and identity verification. You will benefit from its deep integration capabilities and mobile-first candidate experience, which helps keep your hiring pipeline moving quickly.
While turnaround times can sometimes fluctuate depending on the specific records being searched, the platform's compliance features provide significant peace of mind. Highly recommended for organizations that prioritize a thorough, tech-forward approach to workplace safety and need a partner that can scale with their international growth.
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