First Advantage

First Advantage is an employment screening service for employers that need to check candidates across different roles or countries. It suits both small businesses hiring occasionally and organizations connecting screening to established hiring systems. Its broad screening range and integration options are useful, but buyers who need a fixed, published price should consider alternatives.

Overview

The service combines background checks with identity verification, drug and occupational health screening, fingerprinting, and international checks. Candidates provide the information and authorization needed to start a check, while employers can manage the process online or through connected systems. Coverage across more than 200 countries and territories makes First Advantage relevant to international hiring, although available reports depend on the role, hiring policy, and applicable requirements.

Key features

Small-business workflow

Small businesses can send screening invitations, track progress, and review completed reports online. The pay-as-you-go option has no setup fees or minimum screening volume, which suits employers with irregular hiring needs. Its flexibility comes with less predictability: available reports vary by role and requirements, rather than forming one universal package.

Integrations and API

First Advantage lists more than 100 ATS and HCM integration options, including Workday, iCIMS, and Bullhorn. Its REST API can initiate checks, return results, and send real-time status updates within a connected system of record. The company says the API can process thousands of screens per hour, making it relevant to high-volume programs; integration setup also has dedicated technical support.

Security and support

The Trust Center lists SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27701:2025, and ISO 9001:2015 credentials, along with multi-factor authentication, audit logging, and role-based access control. First Advantage also describes customer care for candidates and employees. These controls and support options matter to teams handling sensitive candidate information, though they do not remove the need to assess fit with an organization’s own requirements.

Pricing

First Advantage uses a paid pricing model, with custom pricing. Its Small Business Background Checks plan is pay-as-you-go, has no setup fees or minimum screening volume, and lets employers choose available reports for the role and hiring requirements. That structure favors occasional screening without a volume commitment, but the absence of a universal price list makes costs harder to compare before discussing requirements. A free plan is also available.

Platforms

First Advantage supports Android, iOS, web, and API access. Employers can use the online workflow for invitations and reports or connect checks to a system of record through integrations or the API.

Who it's for

First Advantage is a strong fit for employers that need several kinds of screening, hire across borders, or want checks to run inside an existing ATS or HCM workflow. Small businesses can use the no-minimum, pay-as-you-go workflow for occasional hiring. It is less suitable for buyers who require a firm, readily comparable price or a fixed report bundle before engaging with sales.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad screening services cover background checks, identity, drug and occupational health screening, fingerprinting, and international checks.
• Pros: More than 100 ATS and HCM integration options and a REST API support connected hiring workflows and high-volume screening.
• Pros: Small businesses can start without setup fees or minimum screening volume.
• Cons: Custom pricing makes upfront cost comparisons difficult.
• Cons: Report availability varies by role and requirements, so employers must select an appropriate scope rather than rely on one standard package.

Alternatives

Background Check Software is a useful place to compare screening products. Choose Accurate Background instead if you want a published Australia package: its Basic Package is $155, paid once, billed Inc GST, and includes police check and identity verification, identity verification, reference check, and employment history verification. Asurint offers a customized screening solution with pricing through a demo or sales inquiry, a similar route for buyers comfortable discussing scope before price. AuthBridge discusses pricing options through sales. Background Pro defines its custom screening program through a tailored quote. BuildSafe is another paid option with a free plan and per-report and monthly plans. Justifacts, KarmaCheck, and Yoono are other paid alternatives.

Verdict

Choose First Advantage if your organization needs broad screening coverage, international reach, or integration with an established hiring system; its small-business workflow also accommodates occasional checks without a volume minimum. Look elsewhere if a published, fixed price or a standard report bundle is essential, since pricing is custom and report choices depend on the role and requirements.