HireRight vs Sterling

HireRight

• ✓Best-in-class I-9 and employment eligibility verification tools
• ✓40+ years of background screening experience and industry expertise
• ✓Strong support for DOT-regulated transportation employers
• ✓Comprehensive drug testing network with 10,000+ collection sites
• ✓Broad international coverage for global hiring programs

Sterling

• ✓Truly global coverage across 240+ countries for international hiring
• ✓Deep enterprise integrations with Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, and Oracle HCM
• ✓PBSA-accredited with SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications
• ✓Full-service health and drug screening network included
• ✓Dedicated account management and implementation support for enterprise clients

HireRight

• !Pricing is not publicly listed and requires direct sales engagement
• !Turnaround times can vary depending on the type of check requested
• !Platform UI has been described as less modern than newer competitors
• !Customer service quality can be inconsistent based on account tier

Sterling

• !Pricing is enterprise-focused and not transparent — requires custom quotes
• !Complex implementation can take weeks for large enterprise deployments
• !Less suitable for small businesses due to minimum volume requirements
• !Some users report the self-service portal UI feels dated

HireRight

• →Transportation or logistics company needing DOT-compliant drug and background screening
• →Large enterprise managing I-9 employment eligibility with audit trail requirements
• →Multinational corporation needing a single vendor for global background checks

Sterling

• →Enterprise HR team running background checks across multiple countries
• →Large organization needing deep Workday or SAP integration for automated screening
• →Healthcare or finance company requiring regulated-industry compliance certifications

HireRight

HireRight is one of the longest-established background screening providers, serving over 40,000 organizations worldwide. The company offers comprehensive employment screening including criminal background checks, drug testing, I-9 and employment eligibility verification, motor vehicle records, and education and employment verification. HireRight is well-known for its I-9 compliance tools, which are especially valuable for employers subject to government audits. The platform integrates with major ATS and HCM systems and offers strong support for regulated industries including transportation, healthcare, and financial services.

Sterling

Sterling is a global background screening provider serving thousands of enterprise clients across more than 240 countries and territories. The platform offers comprehensive employment screening services including criminal records, international checks, employment and education verification, drug and health screening, and identity verification. Sterling's deep integrations with enterprise HR systems like Workday, SAP, and Oracle make it a go-to choice for large multinational organizations. The company is PBSA-accredited and holds multiple security certifications, making it suitable for regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government contracting.