Independent research on 267 HR & workforce products. Facts checked against vendors’ official documentation.

We may earn a referral fee. We may earn a referral feeHow we make money

LeadChange Group

First Advantage Review

by First Advantage Corporation

First Advantage provides employment background screening, identity verification and monitoring solutions, with services spanning over 200 countries and territories.

Company size
Small businesses, enterprises1
Pricing model
Per check2
Integrations
100+3

Best for

  • Employers that want screening inside Workday, iCIMS, Bullhorn or another ATS
  • High-volume hiring in staffing, retail, gig and transportation
  • Regulated industries such as healthcare and financial services

Not ideal for

  • Buyers who need published per-check prices before signing up
  • Employers that only run a handful of checks a year and want a flat package price online
By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Based on 16 sources, most recently checked
How we evaluated First Advantage

This review rests on the 19 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

First Advantage fits employers that screen at volume and want background checks inside their ATS or HCM: it lists 100+ integration options including Workday, iCIMS and Bullhorn, RESTful APIs, and screens in over 200 countries and territories. It holds SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and PBSA accreditation, and reports that 90% of U.S. criminal screens close in one day. It is less suited to buyers who want to compare prices online: small businesses pay per screen after signing up, and enterprise pricing is quoted.

Show

Strengths

  • Large integration footprint

    First Advantage lists 100+ flexible integration options, including Workday, iCIMS and Bullhorn.

    Evidence: Notable integrations: Workday, iCIMS, Bullhorn3

  • Wide screening menu

    Listed services include criminal, drug and occupational health, identity, employment and education verification, driving records and monitoring.

    Evidence

    Modules: Criminal background checks, Drug and occupational health screening, Financial checks, Tax credit solutions, Fingerprinting, Identity verification, Employment, education and credential verification, Motor vehicle records, Monitoring (criminal, driver, healthcare, sanctions), Form I-9/E-Verify, Social media checks, Due diligence investigations4

  • Credentials and API access

    The trust center lists SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and PBSA accreditation, and a REST API is available.

    Evidence: SOC 2 Type II: Yes5

  • Reported fast criminal turnaround

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

    Evidence

    Turnaround time: 90% of U.S. criminal screens close in one day6

  • Candidate dispute process

    Candidates can dispute a report online, by phone or by email, and reinvestigations are generally completed within 30 days of receipt.

    Evidence: Dispute and reinvestigation: Yes7

Weaknesses

  • Quote-only pricing

    No prices are shown before signing in: small businesses open a free account and pay per screen, and larger employers get pricing from sales.

    Evidence: Pricing model: Per check2

How many people work at your company?

Some products only serve certain team sizes: those that do not fit yours drop out.

Price at a glance

  • Pricing model

    Per check2

  • Price transparency

    Quote only2

First Advantage plans and prices

Quick answers

How much does First Advantage cost?
First Advantage does not publish prices. Small businesses open a free online account and pay only when they screen; larger employers get a quote from sales.Based on Pricing model: Per check2
Is First Advantage a public company?
Yes. An SEC filing lists First Advantage on NASDAQ under the ticker FA, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.Based on Ownership: Publicly traded8
Does First Advantage integrate with Workday?
Yes. First Advantage lists Workday among its 100+ flexible integration options, alongside iCIMS and Bullhorn.Based on Notable integrations: Workday, iCIMS, Bullhorn3
Does First Advantage do drug testing?
Yes. It lists drug and occupational health screening among its services.Based on Drug and health screening: Yes9

Coverage of core background check services capabilities

Each core capability we evaluate in Background Check Services, checked against First Advantage’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 consent2
  • Identity and SSN trace10
  • County criminal search10
  • National criminal database10
  • Sex offender registry search10
  • Employment and education verification11
  • Motor vehicle records12
  • Drug and health screening9
  • Adverse action workflow · not verified yet
  • Individualized assessment support · not verified yet
  • Dispute and reinvestigation7
  • State and local rule handling · not verified yet
  • ATS and onboarding integration3

Specifications

Fit

Industry focus
Financial Services, Gig, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Staffing agencies, Technology, Transportation13

Product

Modules
Criminal background checks, Drug and occupational health screening, Financial checks, Tax credit solutions, Fingerprinting, Identity verification, Employment, education and credential verification, Motor vehicle records, Monitoring (criminal, driver, healthcare, sanctions), Form I-9/E-Verify, Social media checks, Due diligence investigations4

Integrations

API
Yes14
API type
REST14

First Advantage integrations

10 integrations we document, by how they connect. First Advantage says it has 100+ integrations.

Partner and marketplace apps

First Advantage integrations

First Advantage integration coverage

The 10 apps that background check services products document most often, and whether First Advantage documents each.

7 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by First Advantage; median of the 21 products compared: 5

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.

Background Check Services

Where it ranks

First Advantage alternatives

Alternatives to First Advantage

Security and compliance

  • SOC 2 Type IIYes5
  • ISO 27001Yes5

Implementation and support

Typical implementation
Standard background check integration can be activated in days, not weeks3
Implementation fee
None on small business self-serve accounts; enterprise setup fees not published2
Support channels
Support portal, chat15

About First Advantage Corporation

Founded
200316
Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia, US8
Ownership
Publicly traded8

All First Advantage Corporation products

First Advantage: frequently asked questions

Is First Advantage SOC 2 certified?

Yes. Its trust center lists a SOC 2 Type 2 report, along with ISO/IEC 27001:2022.

Is First Advantage legit?

First Advantage is an established screening company: founded in 2003, listed on Nasdaq under FA and headquartered in Atlanta, it holds PBSA accreditation and its trust center lists SOC 2 Type 2.

What is First Advantage used for?

First Advantage is a background check services product built for small businesses and enterprises. Its modules include Criminal background checks, Drug and occupational health screening, Financial checks, Tax credit solutions, and 8 more.

What are the best alternatives to First Advantage?

In our background check services ranking, the highest-scored products other than First Advantage are Checkr, Certn, and Turn. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: First Advantage alternatives.

Which is better, First Advantage or Certn?

Our First Advantage vs Certn comparison sets out when each one fits.

What are the pros and cons of First Advantage?

Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: large integration footprint, wide screening menu, and credentials and API access. It is less suited to buyers who need published per-check prices before signing up and employers that only run a handful of checks a year and want a flat package price online.

Does First Advantage have an API?

Yes. First Advantage offers an API (REST).

Is First Advantage good for small businesses?

First Advantage lists small businesses among the company sizes it is built for (small businesses and enterprises). It ranks #7 of 8 in our background check services for small businesses.

How long does it take to implement First Advantage?

First Advantage states a typical implementation of standard background check integration can be activated in days, not weeks. Implementation fee: none on small business self-serve accounts; enterprise setup fees not published.

How this page was made

  • What it is built from

    19 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

    Passed our independent review on Nov 2, 2026. How we review

  • Hands-on testing

    We have not tested First Advantage 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

Is First Advantage right for your team?

First Advantage quotes its prices. Answer 4 quick questions to see 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.

Get my shortlist

First AdvantageLeadChange Score 5.6

We may earn a fee.

Sources

The 16 pages this page's facts come from. The date beside each is our last check of the facts taken from it (the oldest, when they differ). The numbers beside the figures above link here.

Quotes from the sources
  1. First Advantage fadv.com/solutions/enterprise-background-checks“Enterprise Background Checks at Scale”
  2. First Advantage fadv.com/solutions/small-business-background-checks“Pay Only When You Screen With pay-as-you-go pricing, no account setup fees, and no minimum screening volume, you can order checks when you need them.”
  3. First Advantage fadv.com/integrations“Integration Partner Ecosystem: 100+ flexible integration options including Workday, iCIMS, Bullhorn, and more.” “Activate a standard background check integration in days, not weeks, with our unique combination of proprietary automated onboarding tools and white-glove service.”
  4. First Advantage fadv.com/solutions/background-checks“Criminal Background Checks Drug & Occupational Health Solutions Financial Tax Credit Solutions Fingerprinting Identity Solutions Due Diligence Solutions Verification Solutions”
  5. First Advantage trust.fadv.com“Compliance SOC 2 Type 2 ISO/IEC 27001:2022” “ISO/IEC 27001:2022 ISO/IEC 27701:2025 ISO 9001:2015”
  6. First Advantage fadv.com“90% U.S. criminal screens close in one day”
  7. First Advantage fadv.com/candidates
  8. First Advantage (SEC filing) sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024119269/fa-ex99_1.htm“First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a leading global provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions” “Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories”
  9. First Advantage fadv.com/solutions/pre-employment-drug-screening
  10. First Advantage fadv.com/solutions/criminal-background-checks
  11. First Advantage fadv.com/solutions/verified
  12. First Advantage fadv.com/solutions/transportation
  13. First Advantage fadv.com/industries“All Industries We Serve Business Services Education Financial Services Gig Economy Healthcare Hospitality & Restaurant Industrials Non-Profit Retail Staffing Technology Transportation”
  14. First Advantage fadv.com/api“Our Background Check API Makes Connecting Easy” “REST API BACKGROUND SCREENING”
  15. First Advantage fadv.com/contact“Find answers and solutions. Chat with an expert. Get the support you need.”
  16. First Advantage fadv.com/about-us“Founded in 2003, We Aim to Deliver”

Vendor? Reach buyers comparing First Advantage

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.