--- title: "Certn vs First Advantage: Which is searched more?" description: "Is Certn or First Advantage more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Background check platforms set worldwide. 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/compare/certn-vs-first-advantage" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Certn vs First Advantage: Which is searched more? Is Certn or First Advantage more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Background check platforms set worldwide. 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 - **Compared**: Certn and First Advantage - **Competitive set**: Background check platforms - **Market**: Global - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **Certn Share of Search**: 1.6% - **First Advantage Share of Search**: 12.5% ## Is Certn or First Advantage more popular in search? - In September 2026, First Advantage had more branded searches than Certn among background check platforms worldwide. First Advantage had about 110,000 branded searches, while Certn had 13,700. First Advantage made up 12.5% of all background check platform searches we track, and Certn accounted for 1.6%. - First Advantage was ahead of Certn in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Certn’s share of searches among background check platforms worldwide moved from 1.5% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 13.1K to 13.7K. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, First Advantage’s share of searches among background check platforms worldwide moved from 12.6% to 12.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 110K. ## Top background check platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, First Advantage was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Certn was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. First Advantage was listed before Certn in three out of four answers. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Checkr | 1st | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | HireRight | 2nd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | First Advantage | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | GoodHire | 4th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Certn | 5th | 2 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | BeenVerified | 6th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Accurate Background | 7th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Sterling | 8th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Veremark | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about background check platforms - Asked ChatGPT "Which background check platform should I use?": 1. Checkr, 2. Certn, 3. BeenVerified - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best background check platforms?": 1. Checkr, 2. GoodHire, 3. HireRight, 4. First Advantage, 5. Certn - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best background check platform for hiring screening?": 1. Checkr, 2. First Advantage, 3. HireRight, 4. Accurate Background, 5. Sterling - Searched Google, AI Overview "background check platform": 1. Checkr, 2. HireRight, 3. First Advantage, 4. GoodHire, 5. BeenVerified, 6. Sterling - Searched Google, AI Overview "pre employment screening": named none of the brands we track Not named in any answer: Veremark. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 20, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for background check platforms worldwide in September 2026? Neither Certn nor First Advantage moved beyond provider rounding among background check platforms in Sep 2026. ## Month by month | Month | Certn estimated searches | Certn Share of Search | Certn rank | First Advantage estimated searches | First Advantage Share of Search | First Advantage rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | 13.1K | 1.5% | 7 | 110K | 12.6% | 4 | | Nov 2025 | 11.3K | 1.4% | 7 | 110K | 13.2% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | 10.8K | 1.3% | 7 | 90.5K | 11.3% | 4 | | Jan 2026 | 11.3K | 1.3% | 7 | 90.5K | 10.8% | 4 | | Feb 2026 | 11.2K | 1.2% | 7 | 90.5K | 10% | 4 | | Mar 2026 | 13.7K | 1.3% | 7 | 110K | 10.3% | 4 | | Apr 2026 | 13.8K | 1.3% | 7 | 110K | 10.7% | 4 | | May 2026 | 16.8K | 1.7% | 7 | 110K | 10.9% | 4 | | Jun 2026 | 13.8K | 1.6% | 7 | 110K | 12.7% | 4 | | Jul 2026 | 13.8K | 1.6% | 7 | 110K | 12.8% | 4 | | Aug 2026 | 16.8K | 1.9% | 7 | 110K | 12.6% | 4 | | Sep 2026 | 13.7K | 1.6% | 7 | 110K | 12.5% | 4 | ## How each brand is measured Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Certn’s and First Advantage’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. - **Certn**: Measured on the search terms “background check certn”, “certn”, “certn background check”, “certn background screening” and “certn co”, summed into one figure. - **First Advantage**: Measured on the search term “first advantage”. - [Certn profile](/demand/global-en/brands/certn) - [First Advantage profile](/demand/global-en/brands/first-advantage) - [All background check platforms worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/background-check-platforms): The set both shares are measured inside, 9 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Certn or First Advantage more popular in search? In September 2026, First Advantage had more branded searches than Certn among background check platforms worldwide. First Advantage had about 110,000 branded searches, while Certn had 13,700. First Advantage made up 12.5% of all background check platform searches we track, and Certn accounted for 1.6%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Certn vs First Advantage: Which is searched more?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/certn-vs-first-advantage This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/certn-vs-first-advantage. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.