Backgrounds Online Review
Backgrounds Online is a Sacramento background screening provider with published packages from $29.95 per applicant, no monthly fees or minimums, a yearly SOC 2 Type 2 audit and ATS integrations.
Best for
- Employers that want published package prices and no monthly commitment
- Teams that want consent and adverse action forms supplied
- Employers whose ATS is among its partners, or who can use its XML API
Not ideal for
- Employers that need same-day results for most checks
How we evaluated Backgrounds Online
This review rests on the 14 facts this page shows, each checked against the source listed under “Sources”, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score uses only those verified facts, as our methodology explains; third-party ratings, where we quote them, never count in the score.
Our verdict
Backgrounds Online is a Sacramento screening provider with published packages from $29.95 to $99.95 per applicant, no monthly fee or minimum, free consent and adverse action forms, a yearly SOC 2 Type 2 audit and PBSA accreditation. It says most checks finish in three to five business days.
Strengths
Published package prices
Basic $29.95, Standard $49.95 and Comprehensive $99.95 per applicant.
Evidence: Price transparency: Published3
No monthly fee or minimum
You pay only for the reports you order, with no account fee or minimum volume.
Evidence: Pricing model: Per check2
SOC 2 Type 2 and PBSA
A yearly SOC 2 Type 2 audit and PBSA accreditation.
Evidence: SOC 2 Type II: Yes4
Compliance forms included
Disclosure, release and adverse action forms are provided at no charge.
Evidence: FCRA disclosure and consent: Yes5
Weaknesses
Several-day turnaround
Most checks take three to five business days by its own account.
Evidence
Turnaround time: Most background checks within 3-5 business days (vendor-stated)6
Court and verification fees extra
County fees beyond the included counties and third-party verification fees can be added.
Evidence
Extra costs: Additional county court fees beyond the counties a package includes, Third-party verification fees charged by employers or schools3
Price at a glance
Quick answers
- How much does Backgrounds Online cost?
- Backgrounds Online packages cost $29.95 (Basic), $49.95 (Standard) and $99.95 (Comprehensive) per applicant, with no monthly fee, no minimum and no fee to open an account.Based on Pricing model: Per check2
- Does Backgrounds Online charge monthly fees?
- No. There are no monthly or recurring fees and no minimum number of checks; you are billed only for the reports you order, on a monthly invoice.Based on Pricing model: Per check2
- What fees does Backgrounds Online add to the package price?
- County court fees beyond the counties a package covers, and fees that past employers or schools charge for verifications, can be added on top of the package price.Based on Extra costs: Additional county court fees beyond the counties a package includes, Third-party verification fees charged by employers or schools3
- What does the Backgrounds Online Standard package include for its price?
- Standard, at $49.95 per applicant, adds seven-year county criminal court searches in up to five counties and a seven-year federal criminal court search to the Basic searches.
Coverage of core background check services capabilities
Each core capability we evaluate in Background Check Services, checked against Backgrounds Online’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.
10 verified of 13 core capabilities
Background Check Services
- FCRA disclosure and consent5
- Identity and SSN trace3
- County criminal search6
- National criminal database3
- Sex offender registry search3
- Employment and education verification3
- Motor vehicle records3
- Drug and health screening3
- Adverse action workflow6
- Individualized assessment support · not verified yet
- Dispute and reinvestigation · not verified yet
- State and local rule handling · not verified yet
- ATS and onboarding integration7
Specifications
Fit
- Industry focus
- Construction, Education, Financial, Government, Insurance, Manufacturing, Medical, Nonprofits, Real estate, Retail, Staffing agencies, Technology, Transportation1
Product
- Modules
- Criminal and court records (county, state, federal, national database), Sex offender registry and global watchlist, Employment, education, reference and credential verification, Motor vehicle records, Employment credit reports, Drug screening (5, 10 or 14 panel), Healthcare sanctions (FACIS, OIG/SAM), International criminal and identity searches, Criminal monitoring3
Support
- Support channels
- Phone, email, dedicated account manager1
Backgrounds Online integrations
Native integrations: A–H
Native integrations: P–W
Backgrounds Online integration coverage
The 10 apps that background check services products document most often, and whether Backgrounds Online documents each.
10 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by Backgrounds Online; median of the 21 products compared: 5
- Workday · documented by 18 of 21
- iCIMS · documented by 16 of 21
- Greenhouse · documented by 15 of 21
- Bullhorn · documented by 12 of 21
- ADP · documented by 10 of 21
- Lever · documented by 10 of 21
- SmartRecruiters · documented by 9 of 21
- BambooHR · documented by 8 of 21
- Dayforce · documented by 7 of 21
- SAP SuccessFactors · documented by 7 of 21
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier, API or named by the vendor), 21 live background check services products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Backgrounds Online alternatives
Backgrounds Online: frequently asked questions
How long does a Backgrounds Online background check take?
Backgrounds Online says most checks are completed within three to five business days.
Is Backgrounds Online SOC 2 audited?
Yes. It undergoes a SOC 2 Type 2 audit each year, conducted by A-LIGN, and it is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Does Backgrounds Online provide consent and adverse action forms?
Yes. It supplies the disclosure and release form and the pre-adverse and adverse action letters at no charge, and applicants can enter their own details online.
What is Backgrounds Online used for?
Backgrounds Online is a background check services product built for small businesses, mid-market companies, and enterprises. Its modules include Criminal and court records, Sex offender registry and global watchlist, Employment, education, reference and credential verification, Motor vehicle records, and 5 more.
What are the best alternatives to Backgrounds Online?
In our background check services ranking, the highest-scored products other than Backgrounds Online are Checkr, Certn, and Turn. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Backgrounds Online alternatives.
Does Backgrounds Online have an API?
Yes. Backgrounds Online offers an API (XML web service).
What does Backgrounds Online integrate with?
Documented examples include ADP, BambooHR, Bullhorn, Cadient, and 23 more. Every documented connection: Backgrounds Online integrations.
How this page was made
What it is built from
14 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Nov 10, 2026.
Method
Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology
Independent review
Our independent review of Nov 10, 2026 asked for changes. How we review
Hands-on testing
We have not tested Backgrounds Online hands-on: this page uses public information only.
Who made it
The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us
Independence and errors
Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction
Compare Backgrounds Online pricing for your team
Backgrounds Online publishes its prices by plan. Answer up to 4 quick questions and see it next to the 2 alternatives that fit you best; a provider that takes requests through us can then quote you.
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.We may earn a fee.
How we make money
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.
Backgrounds Online
Sources
The 9 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com“Construction Education Financial Government Insurance Manufacturing Medical Non-Profit/Volunteer Notaries On-Demand Real Estate Retail Small Business Staffing Technology Transportation” “Backgrounds Online 1915 21st St. Sacramento, CA 95811”
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/faqs/getting-started“No, there are no monthly or recurring fees. You will only be billed for the reports you order.”
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/products-and-services“Choose a screening package for the position you're filling or customize your own.” “* Up to 5 counties/districts. Additional county court fees may apply. ** Additional third party verification fees may apply.”
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/soc2-report“We voluntarily undergo a type 2 SOC 2 audit each year to demonstrate our deep commitment to maintain strong security controls”
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/faqs/security-compliance
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/faqs/products-services“Most of our background checks are completed within three to five business days.”
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/ats-integration
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/technology“We provide services for both submitting screening requests and retrieving results through XML.” “Backgrounds Online utilizes an XML formatted web service description language.”
- Backgrounds Online backgroundsonline.com/why-us“Backgrounds Online is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA - formerly the NAPBS) and SOC 2 certified .”