HireRight vs Sterling:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, HireRight had more branded searches than Sterling among background check services worldwide. HireRight was estimated to have 119K branded searches compared to Sterling’s 18.1K, and held a 37.5% Share of Search versus Sterling’s 5.7%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, HireRight or Sterling?
Compare the background check services recruiters choose between. 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.
Share of Search by month for HireRight, Sterling. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Checkr | HireRight | Accurate Background | Certn | Sterling | GoodHire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39.4% | 38.2% | 7.5% | 5.1% | 8.6% | 1.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.2% | 36.3% | 7.2% | 5.2% | 8.1% | 0.88% |
| Dec 2025 | 42.8% | 37.7% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 7% | 1.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 49.4% | 32.4% | 6.3% | 4.7% | 6% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 57.1% | 27% | 5% | 3.8% | 6% | 0.98% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.3% | 29.4% | 4.8% | 4.2% | 5.4% | 0.88% |
| Apr 2026 | 49.2% | 32.6% | 6.5% | 4.7% | 6% | 0.97% |
| May 2026 | 47.3% | 33.9% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 0.83% |
| Jun 2026 | 40.6% | 38.6% | 7.3% | 5.7% | 7.2% | 0.62% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.1% | 39.1% | 7.3% | 5.7% | 6% | 0.79% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.8% | 37.5% | 7.5% | 6.7% | 5.7% | 0.76% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the HireRight and Sterling comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- HireRight was ahead of Sterling in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, HireRight’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide moved from 38.2% to 37.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 121K to 119K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Sterling’s estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide moved from 8.6% to 5.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for background check services worldwide in August 2026?
3 changes
In August 2026, Certn overtook Sterling to rank 4th among background check services worldwide, at 6.7%.
In August 2026, HireRight lost estimated Share of Search among background check services worldwide, from 39.1% to 37.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Sterling worldwide fell 33.2% over 11 measured months, from 27.1K to 18.1K in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HireRight’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.
Put your own brand in this comparison
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