---
title: "Background check services: Which brands are most popular in search?"
description: "Compare the background check services recruiters choose between. Share of Search among Checkr, HireRight, Accurate Background, Certn, Sterling and GoodHire, the background check services Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/background-check-services"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Background check services: Which brands are most popular in search?

Compare the background check services recruiters choose between. Share of Search among Checkr, HireRight, Accurate Background, Certn, Sterling and GoodHire, the background check services Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Background check services
- **Market**: Global
- **Brands compared**: 6
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Checkr, 41.8%

## Which brand is most popular in search among background check services worldwide?

- In August 2026, Checkr was the most searched among background check services worldwide, with an estimated 132K branded searches and 41.8% estimated Share of Search within this set.
- HireRight is in 2nd place, 4.2 percentage points behind at 37.5% Share of Search.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Checkr’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide increased from 39.4% to 41.8%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, HireRight’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide decreased from 38.2% to 37.5%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Certn’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide increased from 5.1% to 6.7%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Sterling’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide decreased from 8.6% to 5.7%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Checkr’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide peaked at 57.1% in February 2026 and was lowest at 39.4% in October 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, HireRight’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide peaked at 39.1% in July 2026 and was lowest at 27% in February 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Accurate Background’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide peaked at 7.5% in October 2025 and was lowest at 4.8% in March 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Certn’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide peaked at 6.7% in August 2026 and was lowest at 3.8% in February 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Sterling’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide peaked at 8.6% in October 2025 and was lowest at 5.4% in March 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Accurate Background rose from 4th to 3rd among background check services worldwide.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Certn rose from 5th to 4th among background check services worldwide.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Sterling fell from 3rd to 5th among background check services worldwide.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, GoodHire held steady: its estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Checkr vs HireRight: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/checkr-vs-hireright): 41.8% against 37.5% Share of Search.
- [Checkr vs Accurate Background: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/accurate-background-vs-checkr): 41.8% against 7.5% Share of Search.
- [Checkr vs Certn: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/certn-vs-checkr): 41.8% against 6.7% Share of Search.
- [Checkr vs Sterling: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/checkr-vs-sterling): 41.8% against 5.7% Share of Search.
- [HireRight vs Accurate Background: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/accurate-background-vs-hireright): 37.5% against 7.5% Share of Search.
- [HireRight vs Certn: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/certn-vs-hireright): 37.5% against 6.7% Share of Search.
- [HireRight vs Sterling: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/hireright-vs-sterling): 37.5% against 5.7% Share of Search.
- [Accurate Background vs Certn: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/accurate-background-vs-certn): 7.5% against 6.7% Share of Search.
- [Accurate Background vs Sterling: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/accurate-background-vs-sterling): 7.5% against 5.7% Share of Search.
- [Certn vs Sterling: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/certn-vs-sterling): 6.7% against 5.7% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for background check services worldwide in August 2026?

- In August 2026, Certn overtook Sterling to rank 4th among background check services worldwide, at 6.7%.
- In August 2026, Checkr gained estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide, from 41.1% to 41.8%.
- In August 2026, HireRight lost estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide, from 39.1% to 37.5%.
- Accurate Background’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 5.6% to 7.5% in August 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for GoodHire worldwide fell 33.3% over 11 measured months, from 3.6K to 2.4K in August 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Sterling worldwide fell 33.2% over 11 measured months, from 27.1K to 18.1K in August 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Checkr | 41.8% | 132K | +5.9% | Checkr |
| 2 | HireRight | 37.5% | 119K | -0.0% | HireRight |
| 3 | Accurate Background | 7.5% | 23.8K | +7.0% | Accurate Background |
| 4 | Certn | 6.7% | 21.2K | +21.9% | Certn |
| 5 | Sterling | 5.7% | 18.1K | 0.0% | Sterling |
| 6 | GoodHire | 0.76% | 2.4K | 0.0% | GoodHire |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Checkr | 124K | 39.4% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | HireRight | 121K | 38.2% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Sterling | 27.1K | 8.6% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Accurate Background | 23.8K | 7.5% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Certn | 16K | 5.1% | 5 |
| Oct 2025 | GoodHire | 3.6K | 1.1% | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | Checkr | 115K | 42.2% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | HireRight | 99.1K | 36.3% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Sterling | 22.2K | 8.1% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Accurate Background | 19.7K | 7.2% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Certn | 14.2K | 5.2% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | GoodHire | 2.4K | 0.88% | 6 |
| Dec 2025 | Checkr | 111K | 42.8% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | HireRight | 97.5K | 37.7% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Sterling | 18.1K | 7% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Accurate Background | 16.1K | 6.2% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Certn | 13.2K | 5.1% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | GoodHire | 2.9K | 1.1% | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | Checkr | 149K | 49.4% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | HireRight | 97.6K | 32.4% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Accurate Background | 19.1K | 6.3% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Sterling | 18.1K | 6% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Certn | 14.2K | 4.7% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | GoodHire | 3.6K | 1.2% | 6 |
| Feb 2026 | Checkr | 210K | 57.1% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | HireRight | 99.1K | 27% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Sterling | 22.2K | 6% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Accurate Background | 18.3K | 5% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Certn | 14.1K | 3.8% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | GoodHire | 3.6K | 0.98% | 6 |
| Mar 2026 | Checkr | 226K | 55.3% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | HireRight | 120K | 29.4% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Sterling | 22.2K | 5.4% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Accurate Background | 19.7K | 4.8% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Certn | 17.3K | 4.2% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | GoodHire | 3.6K | 0.88% | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | Checkr | 182K | 49.2% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | HireRight | 121K | 32.6% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Accurate Background | 23.8K | 6.5% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Sterling | 22.2K | 6% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Certn | 17.4K | 4.7% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | GoodHire | 3.6K | 0.97% | 6 |
| May 2026 | Checkr | 166K | 47.3% | 1 |
| May 2026 | HireRight | 119K | 33.9% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Sterling | 22.2K | 6.3% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Certn | 21.2K | 6.1% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Accurate Background | 19.7K | 5.6% | 5 |
| May 2026 | GoodHire | 2.9K | 0.83% | 6 |
| Jun 2026 | Checkr | 125K | 40.6% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | HireRight | 119K | 38.6% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Accurate Background | 22.3K | 7.3% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Sterling | 22.2K | 7.2% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Certn | 17.4K | 5.7% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | GoodHire | 1.9K | 0.62% | 6 |
| Jul 2026 | Checkr | 125K | 41.1% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | HireRight | 119K | 39.1% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Accurate Background | 22.2K | 7.3% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Sterling | 18.1K | 6% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Certn | 17.4K | 5.7% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | GoodHire | 2.4K | 0.79% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | Checkr | 132K | 41.8% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | HireRight | 119K | 37.5% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Accurate Background | 23.8K | 7.5% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Certn | 21.2K | 6.7% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Sterling | 18.1K | 5.7% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | GoodHire | 2.4K | 0.76% | 6 |
| Sep 2026 | Accurate Background | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Certn | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Checkr | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | GoodHire | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | HireRight | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Sterling | — | — | — |

## What is being compared

- **Accurate Background**: Measured on the search terms “accurate background”, “accurate background background check”, “accurate background background checks”, “accurate background check”, “accurate com” and “accuratebackground”, summed into one figure.
- **Certn**: Measured on the search terms “background check certn”, “certn”, “certn background check”, “certn background checks”, “certn background screening” and “certn co”, summed into one figure.
- **Checkr**: Measured on the search terms “background check checkr”, “checkr”, “checkr app”, “checkr com” and “checkr software”, summed into one figure.
- **GoodHire**: Measured on the search term “goodhire”.
- **HireRight**: Measured on the search terms “background check hireright”, “hireright”, “hireright app” and “hireright com”, summed into one figure.
- **Sterling**: Measured on the search term “sterling background check”.

- [Accurate Background](/demand/global-en/brands/accurate-background)
- [Certn](/demand/global-en/brands/certn)
- [Checkr](/demand/global-en/brands/checkr)
- [GoodHire](/demand/global-en/brands/goodhire)
- [HireRight](/demand/global-en/brands/hireright)
- [Sterling](/demand/global-en/brands/sterling)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among background check services worldwide?

In August 2026, Checkr was the most searched among background check services worldwide, with an estimated 132K branded searches and 41.8% estimated Share of Search within this set. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Background check services: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/background-check-services

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/background-check-services. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.