Brandwave

How popular isSterling?

In September 2026, people searched for Sterling by name about 18,100 times worldwide, a 33.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 2.1% of all global background check platform searches, placing Sterling sixth out of nine platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about background check platforms, Sterling appeared in two of the five answers and was the eighth most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Sterling is the sixth most searched of 9 competitors and the eighth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. BeenVerifiedShare of searches 51.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  2. CheckrShare of searches 15.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. HireRightShare of searches 13.4%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. First AdvantageShare of searches 12.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. SterlingShare of searches 2.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th

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Top background check platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sterling was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sterling is the eighth most recommended of the nine.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Checkr1st
  2. HireRight2nd
  3. First Advantage3rd
  4. GoodHire4th
  5. Certn5th
  6. BeenVerified6th
  7. Accurate Background7th
  8. Sterling8th
  9. Veremark–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Checkr4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • HireRight3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • First Advantage3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • BeenVerified2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sterling2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Certn2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • GoodHire2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Accurate Background1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Veremark0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about background check platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which background check platforms compete with Sterling?

Sterling against background check platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for BeenVerified, Checkr, HireRight, First Advantage, Accurate Background, Sterling. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBeenVerifiedCheckrHireRightFirst AdvantageAccurate BackgroundSterlingCertnVeremarkGoodHire
Oct 202551.4%14.1%13.7%12.6%2.6%3.1%1.5%0.55%0.41%
Nov 202554.1%13.8%11.9%13.2%2.2%2.7%1.4%0.48%0.29%
Dec 202556.3%13.8%12.2%11.3%1.9%2.3%1.3%0.49%0.36%
Jan 202653.5%17.6%11.5%10.8%2.1%2.2%1.3%0.58%0.43%
Feb 202649.6%23%10.9%10%1.9%2.4%1.2%0.54%0.4%
Mar 202651.5%21.1%11.2%10.3%1.7%2.1%1.3%0.48%0.34%
Apr 202653.5%17.6%11.7%10.7%2.2%2.2%1.3%0.49%0.35%
May 202654.5%16.3%11.7%10.9%1.9%2.2%1.7%0.51%0.29%
Jun 202652%14.3%13.6%12.7%2.5%2.6%1.6%0.58%0.22%
Jul 202652.2%14.3%13.7%12.8%2.5%2.1%1.6%0.59%0.28%
Aug 202651.5%15%13.5%12.6%2.6%2.1%1.9%0.59%0.27%
Sep 202651.1%15.9%13.4%12.5%2.6%2.1%1.6%0.71%0.22%

  1. 1.BeenVerified

    51.1%

    Held 1st. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  2. 2.Checkr

    15.9%

    Held 2nd. 140K estimated branded searches, +6.9% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.

  3. 3.HireRight

    13.4%

    Held 3rd. 118K estimated branded searches, +<0.01% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  4. 4.First Advantage

    12.5%

    Held 4th. 110K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.Accurate Background

    2.6%

    Held 5th. 22.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Sterling

    2.1%

    Held 6th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Certn

    1.6%

    Held 7th. 13.7K estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  8. 8.Veremark

    0.71%

    Held 8th. 6.3K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  9. 9.GoodHire

    0.22%

    Held 9th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, -20.8% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Sterling and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Sterling

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Sterling changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Sterling worldwide fell from 27.1K to 18.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sterling’s share of searches among background check platforms worldwide decreased from 3.1% to 2.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sterling fell from 5th to 6th among background check platforms worldwide.

How did search popularity change for background check platforms worldwide in September 2026?

4 changes

  1. In September 2026, Checkr gained share of searches among background check platforms worldwide, from 15% to 15.9%.

  2. Sterling’s share of searches among background check platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.6% to 2.1% in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Veremark worldwide rose 31.1% over 12 measured months, from 4.8K to 6.3K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for GoodHire worldwide fell 47.2% over 12 measured months, from 3.6K to 1.9K in September 2026.

How are Sterling’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sterling’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • sterling background check

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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