Which is better, Checkmate or Checkster?

Checkmate edges out Checkster based on user ratings across 24 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — Checkster may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between Checkmate and Checkster?

Key differences between Checkmate and Checkster include pricing (Checkmate starts at $17 vs Checkster at undisclosed); target audience (Checkmate targets Large Enterprises while Checkster serves Medium Business); free trial availability (Checkster offers one, Checkmate does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Checkmate and Checkster offer a Free trial?

Checkster offers Free Trial, but Checkmate does not.

Who are the typical users of Checkmate?

Checkmate is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of Checkster?

Checkster is designed for Medium Business, Enterprise.

What is the starting price of Checkmate and Checkster?

The starting price of Checkmate is $17per check. Pricing for Checkster is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to Checkmate?

Some top alternatives to Checkmate include SkillSurvey Reference, Refty, Xref, Crosschq, Referoo.

What are the best alternatives to Checkster?

Some top alternatives to Checkster include SkillSurvey Reference, Refty, Crosschq, Vitay, HiPeople.

Checkmate vs Checkster vs RefNow Comparison

Last updated: May 18, 2026

Checkmate

4.9(24 reviews)

Starting at $17 per check

Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Checkmate is a cloud-based reference check software that streamlines the reference checking process. Checkmate allows users to store candidates' reference information online, enabling them to see everything from one pla…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Checkster

4.7(94 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Free Trial
Medium Business
Enterprise

Checkster is a powerful reference checking platform, designed to verify, screen, and select honest candidates before they are hired by an organization. It streamlines the hiring process by gathering essential data and tr…

View Pricing Read Reviews

RefNow

4.6(418 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Individuals
Freelancers / Consultants

RefNow is an automated recruitment tool which helps HR managers when it comes to the referencing process. Employers can create a reference request for potential candidates and then request their most recent referee detai…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Checkmate leads on user satisfaction with a 4.9-star rating across 24 reviews.

Checkmate vs Checkster vs RefNow — at a glance

Feature	Checkmate	Checkster	RefNow
Rating	4.9 / 5	4.7 / 5	4.6 / 5
Reviews	24	94	418
Starting price	$17 per check	Contact for pricing	Contact for pricing
Free trial	No	Yes	No
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business	Medium Business, Enterprise	Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business
Category	Reference Check Software	Reference Check Software	Reference Check Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud	—	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android
API	—	—	—
Support modes	Online	—	Online
Certifications	—	—	—
Data residency	US	US	US

Key differences between Checkmate and Checkster

Pricing: Checkmate starts at $17 per check. Checkster pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: Checkster offers a free trial; Checkmate does not.
Target audience: Checkmate is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Checkster targets Medium Business and Enterprise.
User satisfaction: Checkmate scores higher with a 4.9-star average.

Compare Checkmate vs Checkster vs RefNow — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Reference Check Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	Checkmate (22) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	Checkster (70) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	RefNow (2031) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Checkmate

Best for HR teams needing streamlined, automated reference checks with ATS integration.

Choose if

You want a user-friendly interface that saves time and boosts productivity.
You need automation for reminders and reference checks to improve hiring efficiency.
Your team requires seamless ATS integration and automated suspicious reference detection.

Consider alternatives if

You are a small company with a very simple hiring process and minimal complexity.
You require extensive third-party app integrations beyond the limited marketplace offerings.

Checkster

Best for streamlined, automated reference checks with unbiased feedback.

Choose if

You need a simple, time-saving reference checking process for mid-sized companies.
Your team values automated, unbiased feedback to improve hiring accuracy.
You want quick turnaround with consolidated reporting for efficient decision-making.

Consider alternatives if

You require extensive customization of reference check workflows.
You need broad integrations with multiple third-party HR tools.

RefNow

Best for SMBs needing simple, fast, and secure automated reference checks.

Choose if

You are a small to medium-sized business hiring frequently and want streamlined referencing.
Your HR team values an easy-to-use interface with quick reference completion.
You require role-based access controls with strong SSL encryption for data security.

Consider alternatives if

You are a large enterprise needing complex, multi-stage reference workflows.
You want a fully integrated ATS and reference checking platform in one solution.

Checkmate: Best for HR teams needing streamlined, automated reference checks with ATS integration. Checkster: Best for streamlined, automated reference checks with unbiased feedback.

Description	Checkmate is a cloud-based reference check software that streamlines the reference checking process. Checkmate allows users to store candidates' reference information online, enabling them ... Read More about Checkmate	Checkster is a powerful reference checking platform, designed to verify, screen, and select honest candidates before they are hired by an organization. It streamlines the hiring process by ... Read More about Checkster	RefNow is an automated recruitment tool which helps HR managers when it comes to the referencing process. Employers can create a reference request for potential candidates and then request ... Read More about RefNow
Entry Level Pricing	Starts from $17	Not Available	Not Available
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Free Trial available	No free trial
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.9 (24)	4.7 (94)	4.6 (418)
Best Company Size	51-500 employees500+ employees	51-500 employees501-2000 employees	1-50 employees51-500 employees
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help	Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo	Checkmate has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

Compare Checkmate, Checkster and RefNow on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option
Starting From	$17	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Page		Pricing information not available
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business Individuals Freelancers	Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business Individuals Freelancers	Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business Individuals Freelancers
Platforms Supported	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Windows	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Windows	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Windows
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing	Get help choosing

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

HIPAA	✗ No	✗ No	✗ No
Data Residency	🇺🇸 US	🇺🇸 US	🇺🇸 US

Checkmate vs Checkster User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.9 (based on 24 reviews)	4.7 (based on 94 reviews)	4.6 (based on 418 reviews)
Rating Distribution	22 0 0 0 0	59 11 0 0 0	1459 412 111 22 27
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Users consistently praise Checkmate for its ease of use, automation capabilities, and time-saving features, though some find the feature set overwhelming initially. What buyers like Ease of use Automation and efficiency Customer support Common complaints Feature complexity for new users Limited integrations marketplace	Buyer sentiment Users consistently praise Checkster for its ease of use, time-saving automation, and accurate, unbiased reference feedback that improves hiring decisions. What buyers like Ease of use Time savings Accuracy of reference feedback Common complaints Limited customization Restricted integrations	Buyer sentiment Users generally praise RefNow for its ease of use, efficiency, and clear interface, though some experience challenges with verification and editing processes. What buyers like Ease of use Quick reference processing Clear form layout Common complaints Verification process complexity User confusion during editing
Pros and Cons	User-friendly interface that saves time and enhances productivity Automation features for reminders and reference checks improve efficiency Excellent 24/7 customer service and support Feature richness can be overwhelming for new users without adequate support Limited marketplace for additional apps and connectors restricts advanced functionality	Streamlines reference checking process, saving time and effort User-friendly interface with clear instructions for candidates and recruiters Automated unbiased feedback collection improves hiring decisions Limited customization options restrict advanced user needs Constrained marketplace for additional apps and connectors limits extensibility	Easy to use and navigate interface Efficient and quick reference completion process Clear and straightforward form layout Verification process can be cumbersome requiring additional apps or LinkedIn login Occasional user confusion leading to accidental data deletion during editing
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews	Read reviews

List of Customers

Customers	MARS Meridian Farmlands	ABB Randstad Trilogy	NHS Hasbro River Island

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	No screenshots available.	No screenshots available.	3 Screenshots
Videos	No videos available.	1 Videos	3 Videos

Alternatives

Alternatives	SkillSurvey Reference 4.4 Refty 4.9 Xref 4.6	SkillSurvey Reference 4.4 Refty 4.9 Crosschq 4.7	AutoRefs 5 SkillSurvey Reference 4.4 Refty 4.9

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Checkmate or Checkster?: Checkmate edges out the other on user ratings (4.9 vs 4.7). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Checkmate and Checkster offer a free trial?: Checkster offers a free trial. Checkmate does not.
What is the starting price of Checkmate vs Checkster?: Checkmate starts at $17 per check. Checkster starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to Checkmate?: Top alternatives to Checkmate include SkillSurvey Reference, Refty, Xref, Crosschq, Referoo.
What are the top alternatives to Checkster?: Top alternatives to Checkster include SkillSurvey Reference, Refty, Crosschq, Vitay, HiPeople.

Checkmate vs Checkster vs RefNow Comparison

Checkmate

Checkster

RefNow

Checkmate vs Checkster vs RefNow — at a glance

Key differences between Checkmate and Checkster

Compare Checkmate vs Checkster vs RefNow — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Checkmate

Checkster

RefNow

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Compare Checkmate, Checkster and RefNow on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Checkmate vs Checkster User Reviews & Rating Comparison

List of Customers

Customers

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Frequently asked questions