Best reference checking software in the UK (2026): 6 compared
Six platforms UK employers shortlist, described fairly from their own websites, with a plain "choose it if" for each one.
What is the best reference checking software in the UK?
There is no single answer: it depends on your volume, your sector and whether you want other checks bundled in. RefAssure suits teams that want pay-per-reference pricing from 80p with no subscription. RefNow and Amiqus offer references alongside right to work and DBS checks. Zinc and Veremark add wider background screening. Xref suits larger teams on subscription plans.
What reference checking software does.
Request
You enter the candidate and their referees. No spreadsheets and no ringing round.
Consent
The candidate agrees before any referee is contacted. On RefAssure they sign online and it is timestamped.
Chasing
Referees who have not replied get automatic reminders. This is where most of the time saving comes from.
Report
Answers come back as a report with an audit trail you can file or show at inspection.
Six platforms, in their own terms.
Based on each provider's public website, checked October 2026. Features and terms change, so confirm with each supplier.
RefAssure
UK platform for references and employment history. 99p to 80p per reference, no subscription, no VAT added. 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days, signed PDF audit trail. No DBS or right to work checks. Choose it if you want references done well at a known price with no commitment.
RefNow
London-based platform for automated reference checks, with DBS, right to work and ID checks, and employment verification for former staff. It highlights fraud detection and ATS integrations. Subscription or quote-based. Choose it if you want references, DBS and right to work from one supplier.
Xref
Reference and background check platform used by SMEs and enterprises worldwide, with integrations, staff surveys and AI reference summaries. Subscription plans by company size, quote for enterprise. Choose it if you want referencing inside a wider HR setup at scale.
Zinc
Screening platform covering references, criminal record, right to work, employment verification, qualifications and financial checks, with plans by hiring volume. Subscription or quote-based. Choose it if you want verified employment facts and other checks alongside referee views.
Veremark
Background screening covering criminal record, identity, right to work, employment history and references, with international coverage and an instant employment report. Subscription or quote-based. Choose it if you hire across several countries and want one screening supplier.
Amiqus
Identity and onboarding platform with ID verification, AML, right to work, DBS and BPSS checks, plus automated employment references. Used in legal, financial services, property, healthcare and recruitment. Subscription or quote-based. Choose it if references are one step in a wider identity and compliance workflow.
How to choose reference checking software
All six will get a completed reference back faster than chasing by hand. Four questions narrow the field quickly.
1. How many references do you send?
If you hire occasionally or seasonally, a monthly subscription means paying in months when you do not hire. Pay per reference tracks usage. At high, steady volumes with bundled checks, a subscription can make sense.
2. What does your sector expect?
Care providers, schools and NHS teams need clear evidence: candidate consent, timestamps and a report you can show an inspector. Software gives you the evidence; the responsibility stays with you. With RefAssure you add the questions your sector expects to your template once. Our guides for care providers, schools and healthcare explain what regulators look for.
3. Bundled screening or references alone?
If you run DBS, right to work or identity checks on every hire, one supplier for everything reduces admin. If references are the job, a focused tool keeps it simple. RefAssure does references and employment history and nothing else.
4. Can you see the price before you talk to sales?
Most suppliers here sell plans or quotes, which is normal for bundled screening. RefAssure lists every pack on its pricing page. Whatever you choose, ask about per-user fees, minimum terms, VAT and whether unused allowances roll over.
For an overview of the product, see reference checking software.
Where RefAssure fits.
A focused tool for references and employment history, priced per reference, with the chasing done for you.
- Median turnaround about 23 hours across 229 completed references in October 2026, half within 24 hours
- Replies sent by email instead of the form are captured and forwarded to you
- Upload your own PDF or Word form and it becomes a template in about 20 seconds
- Unlimited team members, shared credits and UK data hosting
Choosing software: questions
More in the full FAQs.
How much does reference checking software cost?
Prices are hard to compare because most suppliers sell subscriptions or quotes. RefAssure publishes its prices: 10 credits for £9.99 (99p each) down to 250 for £200 (80p each), with no VAT added. Check each supplier's own pricing page for current terms.
Do I need a subscription?
Not necessarily. RefAssure is pay per reference with no monthly fee, no contract and credits that never expire. See reference checking with no monthly fee.
Which platforms also do DBS and right to work checks?
According to their websites, RefNow, Zinc, Veremark and Amiqus offer right to work and criminal record checks alongside references. RefAssure focuses on references and employment history. See our guides to right to work checks and DBS checks.
How long does automated reference checking take?
It depends on your referees. On RefAssure, across 229 completed references in October 2026, the median was about 23 hours and half came back within 24 hours. 4 in 10 arrived after an automatic reminder.
Does reference checking software integrate with my ATS?
Some suppliers advertise ATS integrations, including RefNow and Xref. RefAssure does not offer ATS integrations: you add a candidate on the web in a couple of minutes.
What should I look for on data protection?
Look for candidate consent before referees are contacted, clear data hosting and an audit trail. RefAssure collects signed online consent first and hosts data in the UK.
Related guides
See the price before you commit.
Your first reference is free. Then from 80p, with no subscription.