First Advantage vs HireRight:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, HireRight had more branded searches than First Advantage among background check platforms worldwide. HireRight had about 118,000 branded searches, while First Advantage had 110,000. HireRight made up 13.4% of all background check platform searches we track, and First Advantage accounted for 12.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about background check platforms, First Advantage and HireRight each appeared in three of the five answers. HireRight was mentioned before First Advantage in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
HireRight, about 7% more searches than First Advantage
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
HireRight, named ahead of First Advantage 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, First Advantage and HireRight were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. HireRight was listed before First Advantage 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 First Advantage or HireRight more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for First Advantage and HireRight 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 HireRight, First Advantage. 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 First Advantage and HireRight comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: First Advantage took it in November 2025, HireRight took it in December 2025.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HireRight’s share of searches among background check platforms worldwide moved from 13.7% to 13.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 120K to 118K.
How did search popularity change for background check platforms worldwide in September 2026?
0 changes
Neither First Advantage nor HireRight moved beyond provider rounding among background check platforms in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using First Advantage’s and HireRight’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.
First Advantage
1 branded search term
- first advantage
HireRight
3 branded search terms
- background check hireright
- hireright
- hireright app
Other head-to-heads among background check platforms
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