Trying to decide between Xref and Sterling? Both are industry-leading solutions, but which one is the best fit for your business? In this detailed comparison, we evaluate their features, pricing, ease of use, and customer support to help you make an informed choice. Whether you need advanced automation, better scalability, or user-friendly interfaces, this guide breaks down everything you need to know to select the right software for your needs.
Explore other software products that may fit your needs before making a final choice.
Compare ratings, pricing, descriptions, buyer fit, integrations, category features, product details, alternatives, and SoftwareWorld’s final conclusion with Xref on the left and Sterling on the right.
Xref
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Sterling
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See ratings, free-trial availability, starting price, and a short description for each product in two dedicated columns.
Software
Xref is a powerful yet user-friendly software developed to streamline and enhance the reference-checking process for hiring managers and recruiters. With Xref, you can easily request, collect, and manage candidate...
Read more about Xref
Software
Sterling is a leading background check software designed to streamline the hiring process for organizations by providing comprehensive background screening solutions. This platform offers a suite of services, including criminal...
Read more about SterlingCompare the popular integrations highlighted on each profile and open the full integration list for either product when you want deeper detail.
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Open any shared category to compare the features selected under that category for both products.
Features shown here belong only to the Background Check Software category.
| Feature | Xref | Sterling |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Screening | Listed | Listed |
| Background Screening | Listed | Listed |
| Recruitment Management | Listed | Listed |
| Records Management | Listed | Listed |
| Real Time Monitoring | Listed | Listed |
| Instant Check | Listed | Listed |
| Data Verification | Listed | Listed |
| Self Service Portal | Listed | Listed |
| Employment Eligibility Verification | Listed | Listed |
| Online Applications | Listed | Listed |
| Reference Checking | Listed | Listed |
| Fraud Detection | Listed | Listed |
| Job Application Management | Listed | Listed |
| Screening Services Integration | Listed | Listed |
| Compliance Management | Listed | Listed |
| Employee Onboarding | Listed | Listed |
| Feedback Management | Listed | Listed |
| Batch Processing | Listed | Listed |
| Applicant Tracking | Listed | Listed |
| Identity Verification | Listed | Listed |
| Criminal History Verification | Listed | Listed |
| Education Verification | Listed | Listed |
| Candidate Profiles | Listed | Listed |
| Drug & Health Screenings | Listed | Listed |
| Artificial Intelligence | Not listed | Not listed |
Features shown here belong only to the Reference Check Software category.
| Feature | Xref | Sterling |
|---|---|---|
| Survey Library | Listed | Listed |
| Activity Dashboard | Listed | Listed |
| Bulk Reference Request | Listed | Listed |
| Survey Builder | Listed | Listed |
| Background Screening | Listed | Listed |
| Reference Checking | Listed | Listed |
| Reporting & Statistics | Listed | Listed |
| Referral Tracking | Listed | Listed |
| Alerts/Notifications | Listed | Listed |
| Applicant Tracking | Listed | Listed |
| Email Reminders | Listed | Listed |
| Feedback Management | Listed | Listed |
| Compliance Management | Listed | Listed |
| Candidate Scoring | Listed | Listed |
| Reference Request Automation | Listed | Listed |
| Recruitment Management | Listed | Listed |
| Reporting/Analytics | Listed | Listed |
| Real Time Notifications | Listed | Listed |
| Self Service Portal | Listed | Listed |
| Status Tracking | Listed | Listed |
| Artificial Intelligence | Listed | Not listed |
Compare deployment, device support, pricing model, support channels, and target company size for both products.
Explore alternatives to Xref and Sterling before making a final choice.
Explore other software products that buyers may consider instead of Xref.
Explore other software products that buyers may consider instead of Sterling.
This comparison brings public profile information, category-specific feature selections, review visibility, and clearly labeled sponsored placements together in a structured format so you can evaluate both products with confidence.
Each section keeps Xref and Sterling in clearly separated columns so you can compare equivalent information without losing context.
Shared categories open into their own feature comparisons, helping you review use-case-specific capabilities rather than only broad product claims.
Sponsored products stay outside the detailed comparison, and paid placements are clearly labeled so the core comparison remains focused on Xref and Sterling.
Profile pages, category pages, integrations, and alternatives are linked throughout the page so you can continue your research from the same comparison.
