Which is better, Zinc or SkillSurvey Reference?

SkillSurvey Reference edges out Zinc based on user ratings across 486 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — Zinc may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between Zinc and SkillSurvey Reference?

Key differences between Zinc and SkillSurvey Reference include pricing (Zinc starts at $55.60 vs SkillSurvey Reference at undisclosed); target audience (Zinc targets Medium Business while SkillSurvey Reference serves Large Enterprises); free trial availability (SkillSurvey Reference offers one, Zinc does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Zinc and SkillSurvey Reference offer a Free trial?

SkillSurvey Reference offers Free Trial, but Zinc does not.

Who are the typical users of Zinc?

Zinc is designed for Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of SkillSurvey Reference?

SkillSurvey Reference is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business.

What is the starting price of Zinc and SkillSurvey Reference?

The starting price of Zinc is $55.60/Month. Pricing for SkillSurvey Reference is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to Zinc?

Some top alternatives to Zinc include WebHR, Checkmate, SkillSurvey Reference, Refty, Crosschq.

What are the best alternatives to SkillSurvey Reference?

Some top alternatives to SkillSurvey Reference include AutoRefs, Checkmate, Refty, Xref, Artboard Studio.

Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference vs Xref Comparison

Last updated: May 18, 2026

Zinc

2.9(111 reviews)

Starting at $55.60 /Month

Medium Business
Small Business

Zinc is a reference check software that makes it easy for managers and employees to: 1. Capture information during a reference check, while it is fresh 2. Automatically organize the content and send it to anyone in the c…

View Pricing Read Reviews

SkillSurvey Reference

4.4(486 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

SkillSurvey Reference is the ultimate tool for reference checking. It captures candidate responses and automatically calculates new rankings based on weighted input from references. SkillSurvey Reference is the perfect s…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Xref

4.6(598 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Free Trial
Individuals
Large Enterprises

Xref is an innovative new reference check software that allows users to quickly collect, organize, and analyze data on candidates. A recruiter who is tired of outdated paper methods of conducting reference checks, this S…

View Pricing Read Reviews

SkillSurvey Reference leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 486 reviews.

Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference vs Xref — at a glance

Feature	Zinc	SkillSurvey Reference	Xref
Rating	2.9 / 5	4.4 / 5	4.6 / 5
Reviews	111	486	598
Starting price	$55.60 /Month	Contact for pricing	Contact for pricing
Free trial	No	Yes	Yes
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Medium Business, Small Business	Large Enterprises, Medium Business	Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
Category	Reference Check Software	Reference Check Software	Reference Check Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud	SaaS/Web/Cloud	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	—	Available	—
Support modes	Online	24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online	24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
Certifications	—	—	SOC 2, GDPR
Data residency	—	US	Global

Key differences between Zinc and SkillSurvey Reference

Pricing: Zinc starts at $55.60 /Month. SkillSurvey Reference pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: SkillSurvey Reference offers a free trial; Zinc does not.
Target audience: Zinc is built for Medium Business and Small Business, while SkillSurvey Reference targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
User satisfaction: SkillSurvey Reference scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
Deployment: Zinc supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; SkillSurvey Reference supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference vs Xref — 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

	Zinc (27) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	SkillSurvey Reference (178) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	Xref (340) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Zinc

Best for simple, automated reference checks in small to mid-sized teams.

Choose if

You need a straightforward, low-training reference check tool for SMBs.
You want Slack integration to automatically notify hiring teams of updates.
You value quick setup with customizable templates and branded check requests.

Consider alternatives if

Your organization requires complex, highly customizable background check workflows.
You need extensive integrations beyond Slack and basic HR systems.

SkillSurvey Reference

Automates and streamlines reference checks for medium to large hiring teams.

Choose if

You need to save recruiter time with automated reference collection and ranking.
Your ATS or CRM requires seamless integration with reference checking tools.
You want automated reminders to improve reference response rates and speed hiring.

Consider alternatives if

You are a small business with low hiring volume and limited budget.
You require highly customizable reference questions or advanced checking features.

Xref

Best for streamlined, automated reference checks in mid-to-large recruitment teams.

Choose if

You need seamless integration with applicant tracking systems to reduce manual work
You want automated reminders to ensure timely completion of reference checks
You prefer a simple, user-friendly interface for both recruiters and candidates

Consider alternatives if

You require highly flexible or self-service questionnaire customization options
You are a small business or individual with a limited budget seeking low-cost solutions

Zinc: Best for simple, automated reference checks in small to mid-sized teams. SkillSurvey Reference: Automates and streamlines reference checks for medium to large hiring teams.

Description	Zinc is a reference check software that makes it easy for managers and employees to: 1. Capture information during a reference check, while it is fresh 2. Automatically organize the content ... Read More about Zinc	SkillSurvey Reference is the ultimate tool for reference checking. It captures candidate responses and automatically calculates new rankings based on weighted input from references. ... Read More about SkillSurvey Reference	Xref is an innovative new reference check software that allows users to quickly collect, organize, and analyze data on candidates. A recruiter who is tired of outdated paper methods of ... Read More about Xref
Entry Level Pricing	Starts from $55.60	Not Available	Not Available
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Get Free Trial	Free Trial available
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	2.9 (111)	4.4 (486)	4.6 (598)
Best Company Size	1-50 employees51-500 employees	51-500 employees500+ employees	51-500 employees500+ employees
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help	Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

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 Zinc, SkillSurvey Reference and Xref 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	$55.60	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	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.

SOC 2	—	—	✓ Yes
HIPAA	—	✗ No	✗ No
GDPR	—	—	✓ Yes
ISO 27001	—	—	✗ No
Single Sign-On (SSO)	—	—	✓ Yes
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	—	—	✓ Yes
Data Encryption	—	—	✓ Yes
Audit Logs	—	—	✓ Yes
Data Residency	—	🇺🇸 US	🌐 Global

Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	2.9 (based on 111 reviews)	4.4 (based on 486 reviews)	4.6 (based on 598 reviews)
Rating Distribution	20 5 0 0 2	127 49 2 0 0	266 64 10 0 0
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Buyers generally appreciate Zinc's ease of use and automation but note limitations in advanced features and some negative reviews. What buyers like Ease of use Automation of reference checks Customer support Common complaints Limited advanced features Presence of unrelated negative/spam reviews	Buyer sentiment Users generally praise the tool for significantly streamlining and speeding up the reference checking process, though some find setup and customization limited or confusing. What buyers like Ease of use Integration with ATS/CRM Automation and time savings Common complaints Setup complexity Limited customization options	Buyer sentiment Users generally praise Xref for its ease of use, automation, and integration capabilities, though some express concerns about pricing and limited questionnaire flexibility. What buyers like Ease of use Automation of reminders Integration with applicant tracking systems Common complaints Limited questionnaire customization Pricing concerns
Pros and Cons	Streamlined and automated reference check process saving time and effort User-friendly interface requiring minimal training Responsive and helpful customer support Limited advanced features or customization options Some negative or spam reviews affecting overall rating	Streamlines and automates the reference checking process, saving recruiter time Integrates well with ATS and CRM systems for seamless workflow Automated reminders improve reference response rates and speed up hiring Initial setup and configuration can be challenging for new users Limited flexibility in customizing questions and adding advanced features	Seamless integration with applicant tracking systems reducing manual effort User-friendly interface for both administrators and candidates Automated reminders ensuring timely completion of reference checks Limited flexibility in editing or creating questionnaires Pricing perceived as expensive compared to similar tools
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	No Customers information available.	ADP ApplicantPRO Bullhorn	Airbus KPMG Xero

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	1 Screenshots	3 Screenshots	1 Screenshots
Videos	2 Videos	1 Videos	4 Videos

Alternatives

Alternatives	WebHR 4.3 Checkmate 4.9 SkillSurvey Reference 4.4	AutoRefs 5 Checkmate 4.9 Refty 4.9	SkillSurvey Reference 4.4 Refty 4.9 Referoo 4.8

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, Zinc or SkillSurvey Reference?: SkillSurvey Reference edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 2.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Zinc and SkillSurvey Reference offer a free trial?: SkillSurvey Reference offers a free trial. Zinc does not.
What is the starting price of Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference?: Zinc starts at $55.60 /Month. SkillSurvey Reference starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to Zinc?: Top alternatives to Zinc include WebHR, Checkmate, SkillSurvey Reference, Refty, Crosschq.
What are the top alternatives to SkillSurvey Reference?: Top alternatives to SkillSurvey Reference include AutoRefs, Checkmate, Refty, Xref, Artboard Studio.

Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference vs Xref Comparison

Zinc

SkillSurvey Reference

Xref

Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference vs Xref — at a glance

Key differences between Zinc and SkillSurvey Reference

Compare Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference vs Xref — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Zinc

SkillSurvey Reference

Xref

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 Zinc, SkillSurvey Reference and Xref on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Zinc vs SkillSurvey Reference User Reviews & Rating Comparison

List of Customers

Customers

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Frequently asked questions