The short answer
Cisive and First Advantage both screen worldwide and offer drug testing, I-9 and ongoing monitoring. Cisive runs PreCheck for healthcare and Driver iQ for transportation, with 24/7 support.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
Cisive wins 1First Advantage wins 2
| Dimension | Cisive | First Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| IntegrationsFirst Advantage lists 100+ integration options, including Workday, iCIMS and Bullhorn, and a REST API with a sandbox. Cisive names Workday, iCIMS and an open API. 100 | 2 documented | 100 native |
| SecurityFirst Advantage lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022 and PBSA accreditation. Cisive states GDPR compliance for its European services. Yes | GDPR | SOC 2, ISO 27001 |
| Fit and supportCisive serves small, mid-size and enterprise employers, with 24/7 support. First Advantage serves small businesses and enterprises. Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises | Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises | Small businesses, enterprises |
| Attribute | Cisive | First Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Quote only | Per check |
| Best for | Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises | Small businesses, enterprises |
| Support channels | Phone, email, web form | Support portal, chat |
| Attribute | Cisive | First Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Price transparency | Quote only | Quote only |
| Open API |
Pricing. First Advantage charges per check, with no setup fee or minimums on small-business accounts. Cisive quotes every program.
Integrations. First Advantage lists 100+ integration options, including Workday, iCIMS and Bullhorn, and a REST API with a sandbox. Cisive names Workday, iCIMS and an open API.
Security. First Advantage lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022 and PBSA accreditation. Cisive states GDPR compliance for its European services.
Fit and support. Cisive serves small, mid-size and enterprise employers, with 24/7 support. First Advantage serves small businesses and enterprises.
Checkr has the highest LeadChange Score in Background Check Services after excluding these two (8.4/10).
First Advantage is easier to start small: pay-as-you-go checks with no setup fee or minimums for small businesses. Cisive quotes after a free assessment. Neither lists a per-check price, so compare quotes for the same package.
Cisive says 78% of its criminal searches close within an hour. First Advantage says 90% of its US criminal screens close in one day. Each vendor measures its own way.
First Advantage publishes SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022 and PBSA accreditation in its trust center. Cisive follows the FCRA and states GDPR compliance for its European services, but names no SOC 2 report.
Cisive’s Driver iQ brand is built for transportation, next to drug testing and ongoing screening. First Advantage offers motor vehicle records, driver monitoring and drug screening.
First Advantage, founded in 2003, is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and listed on Nasdaq as FA. Cisive does not publish its headquarters.
HireRight, Checkr, Asurint, Accurate Background and Certn compete with both for employer screening programs.
Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices. Then, if you like, ask to hear from both.
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LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.
What the LeadChange Score means
A 0–10 editorial assessment built only from verified facts, across six weighted dimensions: capabilities, pricing, integrations, security, fit and support, and data confidence.
Payments, commissions and lead fees are never inputs.
