BeenVerified vs Sterling:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, BeenVerified had more branded searches than Sterling among background check platforms worldwide. BeenVerified had about 450,000 branded searches, while Sterling had 18,100. BeenVerified made up 51.1% of all background check platform searches we track, and Sterling accounted for 2.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about background check platforms, BeenVerified and Sterling each appeared in two of the five answers. BeenVerified was mentioned before Sterling in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
BeenVerified, about 25 searches for every 1 for Sterling
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
BeenVerified, named ahead of Sterling in 2 of 3 answers
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Top background check platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, BeenVerified and Sterling were each mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. BeenVerified was listed before Sterling in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Checkr1st
HireRight2nd
First Advantage3rd
GoodHire4th
Certn5th- BeenVerified6th
Accurate Background7th
Sterling8th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which background check platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best background check platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best background check platform for hiring screening?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“background check platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pre employment screening”
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.
Is BeenVerified or Sterling more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for BeenVerified and Sterling by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine background check platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for BeenVerified, Sterling. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | BeenVerified | Checkr | HireRight | First Advantage | Accurate Background | Sterling | Certn | Veremark | GoodHire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 51.4% | 14.1% | 13.7% | 12.6% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 1.5% | 0.55% | 0.41% |
| Nov 2025 | 54.1% | 13.8% | 11.9% | 13.2% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 1.4% | 0.48% | 0.29% |
| Dec 2025 | 56.3% | 13.8% | 12.2% | 11.3% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 0.49% | 0.36% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.5% | 17.6% | 11.5% | 10.8% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 1.3% | 0.58% | 0.43% |
| Feb 2026 | 49.6% | 23% | 10.9% | 10% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 0.54% | 0.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 51.5% | 21.1% | 11.2% | 10.3% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.3% | 0.48% | 0.34% |
| Apr 2026 | 53.5% | 17.6% | 11.7% | 10.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.3% | 0.49% | 0.35% |
| May 2026 | 54.5% | 16.3% | 11.7% | 10.9% | 1.9% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 0.51% | 0.29% |
| Jun 2026 | 52% | 14.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 1.6% | 0.58% | 0.22% |
| Jul 2026 | 52.2% | 14.3% | 13.7% | 12.8% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.59% | 0.28% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.5% | 15% | 13.5% | 12.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.59% | 0.27% |
| Sep 2026 | 51.1% | 15.9% | 13.4% | 12.5% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.71% | 0.22% |
How has the BeenVerified and Sterling comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- BeenVerified was ahead of Sterling in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BeenVerified’s share of searches among background check platforms worldwide moved from 51.4% to 51.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sterling’s share of searches among background check platforms worldwide moved from 3.1% to 2.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for background check platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
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.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BeenVerified’s and Sterling’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
BeenVerified
1 branded search term
- beenverified
Sterling
1 branded search term
- sterling background check
Other head-to-heads among background check platforms
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