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First Advantage vs Accurate Background

The short answer

Neither publishes prices. First Advantage, a NASDAQ-listed company based in Atlanta, offers drug and occupational health screening, fingerprinting, tax credits and monitoring, 100+ integrations, SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Facts checked
Best for
Employers that want screening inside Workday, iCIMS, Bullhorn or another ATS

Choose First Advantage if

  • You want tax credit services and fingerprinting from your screener.
  • You use iCIMS, Workday or Bullhorn.
  • You want SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001.
  • You are a small business that wants no setup fee and no minimums.
Best for
Large or multinational employers that need global screening with ATS integration

Choose Accurate Background if

  • You want customer support around the clock.
  • You want credit checks and social media searches in one service list.
  • You order checks at high volume through a client platform.
  • You hire in aviation, construction, insurance or staffing.

LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.

Scorecard

First Advantage wins 2Accurate Background wins 12 ties

First Advantage vs Accurate Background by dimension
DimensionFirst AdvantageAccurate Background
PricingNeither lists prices: First Advantage shows none before sign-in and charges small businesses per screen with no setup fee; Accurate sells through contracted agreements. Quote onlyQuote onlyQuote only
CapabilitiesAccurate adds credit checks, sanctions, global searches and a rules-based adjudication engine. First Advantage adds fingerprinting, tax credits and due diligence investigations. Criminal Background Checks, Verifications, Driving History, Drug & Health Screening, Form I-9 & E-Verify, Credit Checks, Identity verification, Monitoring Services, Sanctions, Social Media Searches, Global Searches, Business Intelligence10 of 13 core capabilities13 of 13 core capabilities
IntegrationsFirst Advantage lists 100+ integrations and a REST API with a sandbox. Accurate lists more than 60. 100100 native60 native
Fit and supportFirst Advantage runs a small business offer and serves enterprises, with a support portal and chat. Accurate serves small businesses through enterprises with 24/7 support. Small businesses, enterprisesSmall businesses, enterprisesSmall businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises
SecurityFirst Advantage holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. Both are PBSA accredited; Accurate Background names no SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification on the pages we reviewed. YesSOC 2, ISO 27001None verified

Key differences

Where First Advantage and Accurate Background differ (6)
AttributeFirst AdvantageAccurate Background
Pricing modelPer checkQuote only
Best forSmall businesses, enterprisesSmall businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises
Native integrations10060
Founded20031997
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia, USIrvine, California, US
OwnershipPublicly tradedPrivate
Show 2 attributes where they are the same
Where they are the same (2)
AttributeFirst AdvantageAccurate Background
Price transparencyQuote onlyQuote only
Open API

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Neither lists prices: First Advantage shows none before sign-in and charges small businesses per screen with no setup fee; Accurate sells through contracted agreements.

Capabilities. Accurate adds credit checks, sanctions, global searches and a rules-based adjudication engine. First Advantage adds fingerprinting, tax credits and due diligence investigations.

Integrations. First Advantage lists 100+ integrations and a REST API with a sandbox. Accurate lists more than 60.

Fit and support. First Advantage runs a small business offer and serves enterprises, with a support portal and chat. Accurate serves small businesses through enterprises with 24/7 support.

Security. First Advantage holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. Both are PBSA accredited; Accurate Background names no SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification on the pages we reviewed.

Neither one?

Checkr

Checkr has the highest LeadChange Score in Background Check Services after excluding these two (8.4/10).

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, First Advantage or Accurate Background?

First Advantage suits an employer that wants tax credits, fingerprinting and named security certifications; Accurate suits one that wants 24/7 support and credit checks in the same service list.

What kind of background check does First Advantage run?

Criminal checks, drug and occupational health screening, financial checks, fingerprinting, identity verification, employment and education verification, motor vehicle records and ongoing monitoring.

How fast is First Advantage?

First Advantage reports that 90% of US criminal screens close in one day, with automation on about 90% of US criminal searches.

Is Accurate Background a private company?

Yes. It is privately held and describes itself as the largest minority-owned global provider of employment background screening.

Do First Advantage and Accurate Background integrate with Workday?

Yes. First Advantage names Workday among its integrations, and Accurate lists Workday as a premiere partner.

What are First Advantage alternatives?

Accurate Background is one among quoted screeners, with 24/7 support. HireRight, Checkr and GoodHire are other providers we compare.

Is First Advantage or Accurate Background more secure?

Only First Advantage states SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001.

First Advantage or Accurate Background? Your answer in 3 questions

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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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.