Hiring people across countries is great and tricky. You need checks for identity, criminal records, employment and education history, sanctions, and more. You also must follow rules like FCRA in the US or GDPR in Europe. Below are seven top background screening companies you can trust for global teams. Checkr is first, as requested, and each entry includes features, strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.

Quick note on terms you may see

• Identity verification – proving the person is who they say they are.

• Criminal record check – looking up national or local court records.

• Employment and education verification – contacting prior employers or schools.

• Continuous monitoring – watching records after hire for new alerts.

• ATS integration – connects with your applicant tracking system.

• FCRA and GDPR – example compliance laws in the US and EU.

• Turnaround time – how fast checks finish.

• Global coverage – which countries the provider can screen.

1. Checkr — Best for modern, scalable global screening

What it is
Checkr is an AI-driven background screening platform with strong automation, an easy API, and integrations to many ATS and HR systems. They offer international checks in 200+ countries and focus on speed and candidate experience. 

Key features

• API and pre-built ATS integrations.

• International criminal searches, identity document checks, employment and education verification.

• Automated workflows and customizable screening packages.

Strengths

• Fast turnaround and automation reduce hiring delays.

• Scales from startups to large enterprises.

• Good candidate experience – clear instructions and status updates.

Weaknesses

• Advanced international checks can be complex and sometimes need manual validation.

• Pricing can grow with volume and add-on services.

Ideal for
Companies that hire globally and want a modern API-first platform that integrates with ATS and HRIS tools.

2. Sterling — Deep global reach and enterprise services

What it is
Sterling (now part of the First Advantage family after recent corporate moves) is known for wide coverage and a full set of screening and identity products. They focus on enterprise-grade services and compliance for many industries. 

Key features

• Global criminal searches and identity verification.

• Pre-hire and continuous monitoring services.

Strengths

• Very broad country coverage and deep local knowledge.

• Robust reporting and enterprise account support.

Weaknesses

• Large-scale focus can mean higher cost for very small teams.

• Integration and implementation can take more time than simpler providers.

Ideal for
Large enterprises and regulated industries that need global reach and strict compliance support.

3. HireRight — Solid global screening with many product options

What it is
HireRight offers global background checks, drug testing, employment eligibility, and verifications across many countries. It is a long-standing player in global screening. 

Key features

• Global employment and criminal checks. 
• Tools for candidate experience and compliance workflows.

Strengths

• Mature processes for complex verifications.

• Useful for companies with mixed hiring needs (contractors, full-time, global).

Weaknesses

• Platform feels more traditional compared with newer API-first providers.

• Turnaround time varies significantly by country.

Ideal for
Organizations that need flexible screening packages and have a mix of global hiring use cases.

4. First Advantage — Enterprise-grade and broad international capacity

What it is
First Advantage provides screening and identity verification globally, and emphasizes compliance, multilingual support, and AI-enabled tools. They recently moved to consolidate market share through acquisitions. 

Key features

• Screening in 200+ countries, multilingual support, and AI tools.

• Employment, education, criminal checks, and identity services.

Strengths

• Strong global footprint and enterprise features.

• Focus on compliance and localized processes.

Weaknesses

• Integration complexity for smaller teams.

• Pricing tends to target mid-size and large employers.

Ideal for
Global enterprises that want a dedicated screening vendor with strong compliance support.

5. Certn — Fast, developer-friendly global screening

What it is
Certn is a newer, tech-forward screening company that focuses on speed, simplicity, and developer-friendly tooling for global checks in 200+ countries. 

Key features

• Instant identity checks, criminal searches, and employment verification across many countries.

• Low-dev and no-dev integration options for fast setup.

Strengths

• Quick setup, competitive pricing for mid-market.

• Good balance of automation and manual checks for tricky countries.

Weaknesses

• Some deep or niche verifications may still require manual processes.

• Coverage nuance varies by country – always check for specific markets.

Ideal for
Startups and scaleups that need fast global checks and easy API integration.

6. Onfido — Specialist in identity verification for global hires

What it is
Onfido focuses heavily on identity verification and document checks using machine learning. It is a top choice when identity theft or forged documents are a core risk. 

Key features

• Document authentication, biometric checks, and identity reports.

• Integrations for onboarding and KYC flows.

Strengths

• Excellent for digital identity checks and anti-fraud.

• Strong tech for verifying passports, IDs, and selfies.

Weaknesses

• Less focused on deep employment or education verification than some screening specialists.

• May need to add a background screening partner for criminal or employment checks.

Ideal for
Companies hiring remotely who need strong identity verification – fintech, marketplaces, and high security teams.

7. GoodHire — Small business friendly with clear pricing

What it is
GoodHire aims at small to mid-size businesses with transparent pricing, easy-to-use tools, and essential screening options. They offer many screening types but focus on simplicity. 

Key features

• Simple packages for criminal checks, drug testing, employment verification, and more.

• Built-in compliance help and candidate-friendly UX.

Strengths

• Affordable plans and a clear, simple interface.

• Fast for domestic US checks and user-friendly reporting.

Weaknesses

• Less global coverage depth than enterprise vendors; international checks possible but limited.

• Not built for complex global compliance needs out of the box.

Ideal for
Small businesses and local teams that want straightforward, budget-friendly screening.

Clear comparison – side-by-side highlights

• Best for modern scalable global screening – Checkr (API, 200+ countries).

• Best enterprise global depth – First Advantage and Sterling (broad local networks).

• Best identity verification – Onfido (document and biometric checks).

• Best fast, developer-friendly option – Certn (easy integration, global reach).

• Best for small businesses – GoodHire (simple pricing, easy setup).

How to pick the right provider for your global team

1. Decide what you must check – criminal records, employment, education, identity, drug tests, sanctions lists.

2. Check country coverage – some countries limit what you can screen. Confirm the vendor supports the exact countries you hire in.

3. Look for compliance support – FCRA, GDPR, local privacy laws matter. Choose vendors experienced in your regions.

4. Integration needs – do you need API access and ATS/HRIS integration? If yes, choose an API-first vendor.

5. Turnaround time vs accuracy – faster is nice, but some countries take longer. Balance speed with thoroughness.

6. Candidate experience – clear instructions and an easy interface reduce dropouts.

7. Cost and scale – watch for per-check fees, setup costs, and volume discounts.

8. Adverse action and record handling – ensure the vendor supports legal processes for adverse action where required.

SEO and HR concepts included

Employment background checks, criminal record checks, identity verification, international screening, global coverage, FCRA compliance, GDPR, ATS integration, API, continuous monitoring, turnaround time, candidate experience, employment verification, education verification, sanctions screening, KYC, AML, onboarding, compliance, vendor integrations.

Short conclusion – which is best?

If you need a single recommendation for global teams that balance speed, integrations, and broad country coverage, Checkr is an excellent starting point because of its API-first platform, broad international capabilities, and strong automation. For very large, heavily regulated enterprises that need the deepest local presence and compliance support, First Advantage or Sterling (now part of First Advantage) may be a better fit. For identity-heavy use cases pick Onfido, and for small teams choose GoodHire or Certn depending on whether you want simplicity or developer-friendly global checks.