Sterling
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.
Telo
Telo provides a developer-friendly identity platform that helps you verify users, enrich contact data, and prevent fraud using authoritative telecommunications data and real-time intelligence across global networks.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Sterling | Telo |
|---|---|---|
| Website | sterlingcheck.com | telo.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 0 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1975 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | Atlanta, USA |
Overview
Sterling
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.
Telo
Telo is a modern identity intelligence platform designed to help you verify and enrich customer data with precision. By tapping into authoritative telecom sources, you can instantly validate phone numbers, identify line types, and attach accurate names to anonymous contacts. This helps you clean up your CRM, reduce failed deliveries, and ensure you are communicating with real people rather than bots or fraudsters.
You can integrate these capabilities directly into your existing workflows using their developer-first APIs. Whether you are a small startup looking to prevent sign-up fraud or a large enterprise needing to maintain high-quality lead data, the platform provides the building blocks to secure your ecosystem. It eliminates the guesswork in identity verification, allowing you to focus on building trust with your legitimate customers.
Overview
Sterling Features
- 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.
Telo Features
- OpenCNAM. Access real-time caller ID data to see the name associated with any phone number during inbound or outbound calls.
- Number Portability Lookup. Identify the current carrier and line type for any number to ensure your messages and calls reach their destination.
- Contact Enrichment. Automatically update your database with accurate names, addresses, and carrier info to keep your customer records clean and actionable.
- Fraud Risk Scoring. Detect high-risk numbers and potential scammers before they enter your system by analyzing behavioral patterns and carrier data.
- Developer-First APIs. Integrate identity verification into your apps quickly with well-documented REST APIs designed for high-volume production environments.
- Global Coverage. Verify identities across hundreds of countries using a vast network of international telecommunications data sources and partnerships.
Pricing Comparison
Sterling Pricing
Telo Pricing
- Pay-as-you-go usage
- Access to OpenCNAM
- Carrier lookup tools
- Standard API rate limits
- Email support access
- Basic documentation
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Volume-based discounts
- Higher rate limits
- Dedicated account management
- Custom contract terms
- Priority technical support
Pros & Cons
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
Telo
Pros
- Highly accurate caller ID data from authoritative sources
- Simple REST API integration for fast deployment
- Excellent documentation for developers and engineers
- Reliable uptime for mission-critical verification tasks
Cons
- Usage-based costs can scale quickly with volume
- Limited features for non-technical business users
- Pricing details require account creation to view