--- title: "Xref Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Xref Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Reference Check products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/157672/xref/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-28" --- # Xref Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 28, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Xref ## What is Xref? Xref is a best-in-class solution that offers automated reference, pulse and exit surveys. Xref gathers data-driven feedback and actionable insights for confident people management - from candidate to departing employee. Our user-friendly technology is backed by local support teams, offers multi-language capabilities and meets the highest global compliance standards (ISO27001). Xref is accessible from any device and integrates with leading HR tools and ATS platforms for seamless workflows. ## What is Xref used for? [Reference Check](https://www.capterra.com/reference-check-software/)[Background Check](https://www.capterra.com/background-check-software/)[HR Analytics](https://www.capterra.com/hr-analytics-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 95 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 97% Neutral 3% Negative 0% ### Starting price Free trial available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Xref?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/xref-xref/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Xref 4.7 (95) VS. [4.8 (4,322)](https://www.capterra.com/p/205015/Deel/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price $5 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.7 (95) Ease Of Use 4.8 (239) Value For Money 4.5 (69) Value For Money 4.7 (217) Customer Service 4.7 (70) Customer Service 4.7 (225) ## Xref alternatives [4.6 (3,653)](https://www.capterra.com/p/110968/BambooHR/reviews/) Starting price $10.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 95% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.3 (3,081)](https://www.capterra.com/p/133745/Paycor-Perform/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 87% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.6 (238)](https://www.capterra.com/p/156106/Hibob/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.6 (125)](https://www.capterra.com/p/127883/VidCruiter/reviews/) Starting price $5000.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars ## FAQs about Xref Overview ### What problems does Xref solve? Xref solves the time-consuming, manual work of requesting, chasing, and documenting candidate references. Automated reminders, customizable reference templates, status tracking, ATS integrations, and IP-based fraud alerts help recruiters and talent acquisition teams manage high-volume hiring, verify referee responses, and move qualified candidates to offer stages faster. Answer based on 54 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Xref? Xref is most used by recruiters, talent acquisition teams, and HR professionals who manage candidate screening and reference-checking workflows. Recruitment managers and coordinators use it to collect, review, and share referee feedback during hiring, while branch managers and people advisors use consistent reports to support hiring decisions and candidate records. Answer based on 95 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Xref built for? Xref is used by HR and talent acquisition teams, particularly enterprise organizations (44%) in Human Resources (13%). It also serves small businesses (32%) and midsize businesses (24%), with Staffing and Recruiting accounting for 13% of reviewers and Non-Profit Organization Management 12%. Its most common use is reference checking, reported by 85% of reviewers. Answer based on 95 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Xref? Xref includes core talent management and onboarding capabilities, centered on reference checking. Its most-discussed features include automated reference requests and reminders, candidate and referee process-stage tracking, customizable reference templates, and fraudulent reference detection through IP address monitoring. API integrations and reports support recruitment workflows and response review. Answer based on 41 reviews Overview ### How does Xref fit into the recruitment process? Xref supports the reference-checking stage by sending requests when candidates move forward and showing each candidate's progress in one place. Recruitment teams value the automated follow-up, quicker offer-stage decisions, and integrations with applicant tracking workflows. Adoption can take time, and some users find the available stage options more complex than needed. Answer based on 17 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Xref integrate with? Xref integrates with 5 third-party recruiting platforms: Avature, Bullhorn, iCIMS, JobAdder, and SmartRecruiters. These catalog integrations cover applicant tracking and talent acquisition workflows, giving Xref compatibility with widely used hiring systems. Answer based on 8 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What training and onboarding options does Xref offer? Xref provides in person training, live online sessions, webinars, and documentation to help teams get started. In person training supports direct, face-to-face instruction, live online sessions allow guided remote setup, webinars cover scheduled topic-based learning, and documentation offers written reference material for self-paced review. Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Xref offer, and how do users rate the experience? Xref offers Email/Help Desk, FAQ/Forum, Knowledge Base, 24/7 Live Rep, and Chat support. Users generally describe the customer service team as responsive, helpful, and willing to customize templates. Some users, however, report difficulty accessing support, occasional technical access issues, and room for improvement in technical assistance. Answer based on 12 reviews Features and Usability ### How well does Xref handle reference checks? Xref makes reference checks faster and easier to manage through automated requests, reminders, status tracking, and readable final reports. Recruiters and mid-sized hiring teams value the reduced phone and email follow-up, candidate visibility, and reference verification signals. Some organizations want more role-specific check templates or broader screening options. Answer based on 23 reviews ## Features AI summary Based on 813 Reference Check reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of reference check software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Email Reminders** (**31%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Reference Request Automation** (**33%**) - **Background Screening** (**32%**) Xref supports all three of the features reviewers rate most important: **Email Reminders**, **Reference Request Automation**, and **Background Screening**. Together, these capabilities help businesses keep reference checks moving, reduce manual follow-up, and verify candidate information more efficiently, allowing teams to make faster and more informed hiring decisions. Reference Request Automation 4.7 (19) 78.95% of 19 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Ability of the software to take the manual effort out of the process of requesting and collecting references Background Screening 4.4 (9) 66.67% of 9 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Researching and validating a person's criminal, educational, job or financial records Email/Online 4.5 (13) 69.23% of 13 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important The method of requesting and completing tasks or providing/accessing information Compliance Management 4.5 (11) 54.55% of 11 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Track and manage adherence to policies for any service, product, process, or supplier Alerts/Notifications 4.5 (11) 54.55% of 11 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges Status Tracking 4.5 (11) 63.64% of 11 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Track the status over time for a request, process, asset, or transaction Xref 49 features ### All Features - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Alerts/Notifications: Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Background Screening: Researching and validating a person's criminal, educational, job or financial records - Benchmarking: Compare key metrics for the business against prominent players in the industry - Bulk Reference Request: Ability to request multiple references in the same batch - Candidate Scoring: Assign a qualitative score to a candidate - Compliance Management: Track and manage adherence to policies for any service, product, process, or supplier - Customizable Branding: Add customized logos and colors to align with company branding - Customizable Questions: Tailored or customizable questions for more targeted and relevant data collection - Customizable Reports: Alter the layout and content of reports - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Data Import/Export: Import and export data to and from software applications - Data Verification: Process of checking different types of data for accuracy to avoid errors or inconsistencies - Education Verification: Verify an individual's educational past, including degree, training, or certification claims, among others - Email Reminders: Reminders sent via email - Email/Online: The method of requesting and completing tasks or providing/accessing information - Employee Database: Electronic storage of staff/employee contact information and job status in a centralized repository - Employee Engagement: Tools to improve and measure employee satisfaction and involvement - Feedback Management: Collecting, analyzing, and utilizing feedback from users or customers to improve a product or service - Fraud Detection: Identify and prevent suspicious activity - HR Management: Automates core HR functions such as talent management, employee evaluation and learning management - Identity Verification: Validating the identity of an individual or entity through verification of personal information or credentials - Mobile Access: Access software remotely via mobile devices - Offboarding: Closing out contracts by reviewing contract/project completion, finalizing payments, and ensuring terms and compliance as been achieved - Onboarding: Process of familiarizing new clients, stakeholders or employees with the company, a new location, or a service - Online Applications: Ability to fill out and submit application forms on the web - Performance Management: Organize and manage the accomplishments and development of employees or performance of applications or systems - Performance Metrics: A set of indicators that tracks the performance of networks, applications, systems, teams, etc. - Question Library: Pre-written repository of questions that can be reused within a course or for assessment or interviews - Real-Time Notifications: Notifications that are delivered to users as soon as an event occurs - Real-Time Reporting: Active reporting of data and metrics - Records Management: Ability to record, store, update, and retrieve information - Recruitment Management: Tools to find, assess, and hire suitable candidates for a job within an organization - Reference Checking: Process used by hiring managers to get more information about a candidate by contacting previous employers - Reference Request Automation: Ability of the software to take the manual effort out of the process of requesting and collecting references - Reminders: Timed notification for any upcoming task, deadline, appointment, or activity - Reporting & Statistics: Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns - Reporting/Analytics: View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data - Screening Services Integration: Screening performed by employees working for the vendor. Software functionality is offered on top of these services. - Secure Data Storage: Securely stores data to prevent data loss or breaches - Self Service Portal: Online portal through which end users can access the system, manage tasks, or obtain information - SSL Security: Security protocol that ensures secure, encrypted communication over the internet, safeguarding sensitive data from unauthorized access - Status Tracking: Track the status over time for a request, process, asset, or transaction - Survey Builder: Create and manage surveys - Survey Library: Repository of pre-built questionnaires that can be used as is - Surveys & Feedback: Gauge satisfaction and receive information for improvement and success - Talent Management: Integrate with Talent Managment software to better track learners progress and training sessions - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.6 (95) 4.6 Based on 95 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.5 (69) ### Starting price Free trial available Value for money 4.5 (69) 4.5 Based on 69 reviews ## Integrations [ Bullhorn](https://www.capterra.com/p/140531/Bullhorn-Recruiting-Software/)[ ICIMS](https://www.capterra.com/p/93248/iCIMS-Recruit/)[ JobAdder](https://www.capterra.com/p/135918/JobAdder/)[ SmartRecruiters](https://www.capterra.com/p/123833/SmartRecruiters/)[ Avature](https://www.capterra.com/p/188984/Avature/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.7 (70) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.7 (70) 4.7 Based on 70 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.7 Based on 95 reviews Filter by rating Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(68) 4(24) 3(3) 2(0) 1(0) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful Verified Reviewer TA specialist Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Save time and get in-depth responses " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 July 28, 2020 Fantastic! It's easy to use and the staff are lovely. Always happy to help :) Pros It saves me so much time. I also get a lot more information than I would over the phone. It's easier than trying to write down what someone is telling you. It can be done in the reference's own time which can be over the weekend or out of hours which means they can focus and put time into their responses. It's such a wonderful product I can't imagine not having it! Cons Ability to self load credit Ability to alter email addresses or edit the references Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Recruitment Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Why go anywhere else " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 January 14, 2020 The systems solves the problem of reaching referees outside of our business hours more so when we need to do an international reference check. The referee can do it when they have time. You will never regret using XREF. Wow amazing ! Pros I have nothing but good things to say, the ease of using this system, so easy to use, nothing is ever too hard for anyone that works at XREF, you can truly see that people love working at XREF and it shows in their customer service. The product is second to none and i will never use another system. As a recruiter for many years , we never like constantly calling referees who might say they are too busy to talk or just not answer for days. XREF takes away the pressure of trying to call referees and gives that time back to do other things. I just dont understand why you would not want to use XREF. You really feel like you are part of the team. Amazing system/Product and people! Cons I cant say anything bad about the system. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer HR Generalist Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Xref" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 January 9, 2020 Positive! customer service has been awesome and the company has shown openness to input and enhanced their platform. Pros Easy to use and creates an efficiency in my work flow to avoid the back and forth with references. Cons While it's a fairly straight forward platform there is alot of individual windows that require me to go in and out for each reference on each candidate. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Talent Acquisition Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Xref - review" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 18, 2020 The experience is positive and one that I would not give up given the many benefits it allows for all stakeholders. It definitely reduces our time to fill given the timeliness of submitting all information. Pros The software is extremely easy to navigate for all parties; employer, referee and candidates. It provides updates/reminders/customization and visibility on when the references have been completed or if there are delays the candidate can follow up with the referee. The document is easy to read and provides "norms" which is extremely helpful when comparing other candidates responses to the market. The template allows enough room for those who want to respond with extensive answers and provides follow up details of the referee if needed. Given the ease of use the references are produced in a timely way and allows us to progress to offers quickly reducing our time to fill. Cons There could be the opportunity for further customization however this does not cause any issues for our organsiation. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer Recruiter Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "My experience with Xref" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 16, 2022 I use Xref to find good quality candidates to hire. It helps me weed out the good from bad and exposes a lot of red flags for me. Pros The feature i like most about Xref is that it will automatically send you potentially fraudulent references Cons In the beginning steps, after sending the Xref out, I wish it would tell me if had been accessed by the candidate. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Andrew C. Head of Talent Acquisition and Mobility Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Ease of use is the best!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 August 8, 2022 Pros We have always been happy with the services of Xref. The ease of use, the automation and customisation are just a few of the many benefits of this platform. Cons I don't feel there is anything we're missing in the software and we are very happy with all the features. The only potential negative is that the product isn't the cheapest. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer HR/Admin Coordinator Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "My Experience using Xref" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 8, 2022 In a summarised way, It is a good software to use for references. I have even recommended to my HR friends. Pros It is easy to use and to teach, its is very effective and user friendly. Xref also helps to authenticate the references because it give you the opportunity to know everything that happened around the reference, by tracking every action done on the link. It also saves on time because it gives referees automatic reminders to complete the reference. Cons Non that I can mention for now because to be honest, I really like using the software. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer nurse recruiter Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "great tool" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 8, 2022 overall i love the tool and would recomend it to everyone Pros makes it easy to get info back quickly. i would recommend this product Cons interface confuses some older users. maybe some work could be done to make it easier for odler users Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. KD Kristin D. Recruiter Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "User friendly and uncomplicated" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 17, 2022 Pros Xref makes collecting references easy. It also makes it very easy to weed out bogus responses. Cons I do not like the meter at the top that categorizes negative and positive reviews. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RE Reviewer CEO Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "You cant afford NOT to use XRef" 5.0 January 16, 2020 I took time for us to get uptake from the consultants, and we do not use XRef every time, but it is essential tool for us when we are refencing contractors, and high volume roles, not as relevant for our executive search business. Pros 1\. Saving consultants time (and hence us money) 2. Turnaround of references 3. Quality of references 4. Pricing model (not Saas) Cons 1\. Getting consultants to change the way they work, which was helped by XRef hiring a customer success manager 2. Not having the opportunity to business develop when reference checking Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/157672/xref/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.