--- title: "RefNow Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about RefNow Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Reference Check products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/190447/RefNow/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-29" --- # RefNow Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 29, 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)[Users](#users)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) RefNow ## What is RefNow? RefNow allows companies to make smarter, more informed recruitment decisions by providing online employment reference reports. Founded in 2019 from its London Headquarters and now operating globally to serve large organisations, startups, charities and schools. Created out of a frustration with the time consuming referencing process, RefNow's mission is to free up peoples time from referencing with a user friendly platform offering user/team management, custom questions, and ID checks. ## What is RefNow used for? [Reference Check](https://www.capterra.com/reference-check-software/)[Background Check](https://www.capterra.com/background-check-software/) Overall rating Based on 475 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 96% Neutral 4% Negative 0% Starting price £12.99 One Time 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... ## RefNow alternatives Highest Rated [4.9 (49)](https://www.capterra.com/p/183558/Vitay/reviews/) Starting price $699.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% 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 [4.6 (36)](https://www.capterra.com/p/276237/AssureHire/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 92% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.8 (18)](https://www.capterra.com/p/181402/Checkmate/reviews/) Starting price $17.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/190447/RefNow/alternatives/) ## FAQs about RefNow Overview ### What problems does RefNow solve? RefNow solves the slow, fragmented employment-reference workflow by collecting referee details, sending requests and reminders, tracking responses, and presenting clear, structured feedback. It also helps identify employment gaps and correct contact details early. HR teams, recruiters, hiring managers, candidates, and referees benefit from faster screening, reduced follow-up emails, and simpler form completion. Answer based on 263 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from RefNow? RefNow is most used by healthcare and social-care professionals, including nurses, support workers, carers, and care assistants, who manage employment reference requests for regulated recruitment. Education staff, such as lecturers and teachers, use it to provide or collect references, while managers, directors, and CEOs oversee hiring checks and onboarding records. Answer based on 472 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is RefNow built for? RefNow is for small businesses and Hospital & Health Care organizations, which represent 66% and 26% of reviewers. It also serves HR teams, recruitment agencies, charities, education providers, banks, and startups, with Health, Wellness and Fitness (13%) and Education Management (12%) represented. Its common use case is reference checking. Answer based on 472 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of RefNow? RefNow includes reference request automation and reference checking for collecting candidate feedback, with email/online access and mobile access supporting convenient responses. Reminders, alerts/notifications, and status tracking keep participants informed throughout requests. Reporting/analytics organizes collected information for review. RefNow also covers Compliance Management. Answer based on 79 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does RefNow integrate with? RefNow integrates with over 50 third-party tools and platforms, including HR and recruiting systems such as BambooHR, Greenhouse, Cornerstone, Ashby, Avature, Bullhorn, Breezy, CareerPlug, and Factorial. It also connects with AFAS Software, Carerix, Connexys Recruiting Software, Eploy, Flatchr, Fountain, GuideCom HR Suite, HR WORKS, and HR4YOU. Answer based on 7 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What training and onboarding options does RefNow offer? RefNow provides in person training, live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos to help teams get started. In person and live online formats support guided instruction, webinars cover group learning sessions, documentation offers written reference material, and videos provide visual walkthroughs for self-paced review. Answer based on 1 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does RefNow offer, and how do users rate the experience? RefNow offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, knowledge base, phone support, 24/7 live representatives, and chat. Users generally describe support as quick, responsive, caring, and helpful, with clear explanations and useful account guidance. One recurring concern is the need for direct phone assistance during critical situations. Answer based on 32 reviews Features and Usability ### How easy is RefNow for managing employment references? RefNow makes employment reference requests quick and easy for candidates, referees, and hiring teams. Its guided forms, automated requests, status updates, and mobile-friendly access reduce follow-up work and make submissions clear. Some users want more flexible options for private, freelance, or character references, clearer visibility rules, and broader questionnaire customization. Answer based on 173 reviews Features and Usability ### Is RefNow easy to use for reference checks? RefNow provides a simple, organized reference-checking experience that many candidates and HR teams find easy to navigate. Clear forms, error prompts, notifications, and quick uploads help reduce stress during completion. Some users report loading delays, saved information issues, limited back-navigation, difficulty adding users, and a need for save-and-continue-later options. Answer based on 54 reviews ## Who uses RefNow? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 3 years Talk to a software expert to get a free software list tailored to your business needs ## 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%**) RefNow supports all three of the features reviewers value most: **Email Reminders**, **Reference Request Automation**, and **Background Screening**. Together, these capabilities help businesses keep reference checks moving on time, reduce manual follow-up work, and verify candidate information more thoroughly, allowing teams to make faster and more informed hiring decisions. Reference Request Automation 4.7 (279) 71.33% of 279 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Reference request automation helps you save time by streamlining the process. Reviewers appreciate its simplicity, speed, and ease of use, saying it reduces manual effort and makes reference collection straightforward and efficient. Background Screening 4.6 (93) 66.67% of 93 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Researching and validating a person's criminal, educational, job or financial records Email/Online 4.7 (264) 71.21% of 264 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important You get seamless email and online access, making communication and document handling efficient. Reviewers indicate it’s easy to use, professional, and helps quickly transmit information, track requests, and manage tasks online. Compliance Management 4.6 (162) 59.88% of 162 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Track and manage adherence to policies for any service, product, process, or supplier Mobile Access 4.7 (263) 66.16% of 263 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With mobile access, you can use RefNow anywhere, anytime, on any device. Reviewers appreciate the convenience, flexibility, and ease of use, noting it works well for busy users and is compatible with various mobile devices. Reminders 4.7 (185) 63.24% of 185 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important This capability sends reminders to ensure you don’t miss tasks or deadlines. Some reviewers find reminders effective and helpful for staying on track, though a few mention they can be too frequent or arrive too quickly. RefNow 30 features ### All Features - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Alerts/Notifications: RefNow offers timely alerts and notifications to keep you updated on important events. Users think notifications are prompt, reliable, and help them stay informed about progress, document status, and any urgent updates. - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Applicant Tracking: Find and manage potential candidates and their applications and resumes through the recruiting life cycle - Background Screening: Researching and validating a person's criminal, educational, job or financial records - 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 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 - Email Reminders: Reminders sent via email - Email/Online: You get seamless email and online access, making communication and document handling efficient. Reviewers indicate it’s easy to use, professional, and helps quickly transmit information, track requests, and manage tasks online. - Feedback Management: Collecting, analyzing, and utilizing feedback from users or customers to improve a product or service - Mobile Access: With mobile access, you can use RefNow anywhere, anytime, on any device. Reviewers appreciate the convenience, flexibility, and ease of use, noting it works well for busy users and is compatible with various mobile devices. - Real-Time Notifications: Notifications that are delivered to users as soon as an event occurs - 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: Reference request automation helps you save time by streamlining the process. Reviewers appreciate its simplicity, speed, and ease of use, saying it reduces manual effort and makes reference collection straightforward and efficient. - Referral Tracking: Log and store the source of contacts/leads - Reminders: This capability sends reminders to ensure you don’t miss tasks or deadlines. Some reviewers find reminders effective and helpful for staying on track, though a few mention they can be too frequent or arrive too quickly. - 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 - Self Service Portal: Online portal through which end users can access the system, manage tasks, or obtain information - 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 - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes - Workflow Management: Create, design and manage workflows for repetitive tasks --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.7 (473) 4.7 Based on 473 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.6 (386) Free Trial Free Version Basic £12.99 One Time Value for money 4.6 (386) 4.6 Based on 386 reviews ## Integrations [ BambooHR](https://www.capterra.com/p/110968/BambooHR/)[ Paylocity](https://www.capterra.com/p/86714/WebPay/)[ Workday HCM](https://www.capterra.com/p/66908/Workday-HCM/)[ LinkedIn for Business](https://www.capterra.com/p/213505/LinkedIn-for-Business/)[ Breezy](https://www.capterra.com/p/141702/Breezy-HR/)[ Zoho Recruit](https://www.capterra.com/p/125768/Zoho-Recruit/)[ JobDiva](https://www.capterra.com/p/129831/JobDiva/)[ Bullhorn](https://www.capterra.com/p/140531/Bullhorn-Recruiting-Software/) 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 4.6 (402) 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 4.6 (402) 4.6 Based on 402 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.7 Based on 475 reviews Filter by rating Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(360) 4(95) 3(19) 2(0) 1(1) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful Laura C. ### "Great product and service, very simple to use!" 5.0 November 11, 2026 It’s taken away the time-consuming job of chasing references. The process runs itself, it’s easy to adapt for different clients, and I spend much less time on admin. Pros Refnow is really easy to use and simple to adapt to different clients and roles. It’s cut out a lot of the admin time I used to spend chasing references and I’d recommend it to anyone in HR. Cons I don’t have any dislikes, it does exactly what I need it to do, and it does it well. TA Teachers Assistant Teachers Assistant Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "RefNow at its Finest. " 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 November 8, 2026 I had an overall good experience. with the RefNow online reference upload process. I would recommend all employers consider using RefNow a fast way to connect to references. Pros I like that the process was quick, simple and easy. RefNow being and online process gives better protection to individuals given information. Cons No complaints honestly speaking. I think this a fast way for employers to connect with businesses and supervisors. EM Employee Employee Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Reference process" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 September 16, 2026 The fact that I really don't qualify this as an experience speaks well of the product. It was short enough to allow me to get on with my day. Pros Secure. Short. It seems to cover what is necessary and it does not fill space with redundancy. Straight to the point. Cons There is nothing that sticks out. The form completing was effortless and I felt that it was seeking only what was needed. RS Residential Support Worker Residential Support Worker Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "In general I found RefNow easy to useSending this review was difficult, but I got round it. I don't if ever use linked-in and briefly got locked out." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 13, 2026 Generally good. It does what it says on the tin and that is what the applicant needs after having met all the other conditions of the up boarding process. Pros Easy to use, with few possibilities of a technical gliche which is often a hazard in this sometimes digitally complex process. Cons Sending this review was difficult, but I got round it. I don't if ever use linked-in and briefly got locked out. PQ Project Quantity Surveyor Project Quantity Surveyor Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Project Quantity Surveyor" 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 14, 2026 Overall, my experience with RefNow was very good. The platform was easy to use, the reference request process was straightforward, and the communication was clear throughout. Pros The process was simple, quick, and user-friendly. It made requesting and providing employment references easy, and I appreciated the clear status updates throughout the process. Cons Overall, my experience with RefNow was positive. The only area for improvement would be providing more frequent progress updates and clearer timelines during the reference verification process. ID i dont know i dont know Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "What I liked most about RefNow was how quick and straight" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 1/10 June 25, 2026 Pros What I liked most about RefNow was how quick and straightforward the process was. It was easy to use, simple to follow, and made providing reference information much more efficient. I also appreciated receiving clear instructions and updates throughout the process. SW Support worker Support worker Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Learning Curve Security Information Management Questionnaire Design Email Reference Requests Form Completion" 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 November 21, 2025 Learning Curve Security Information Management Questionnaire Design Email Reference Requests Form Completion CR Children residential support worker Children residential support worker Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Refnow magic" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 November 18, 2025 Very good software, desktop, laptop and mobile devices user friendly. It runs smoothly without any hiccups. Pros User friendly design and short straight to the point. Highly recommended even good for beginners. Superb. Cons Nothing at all this far, if they can reduce the number of referees needed. Though it’s good software as it is mobile user friendly. Verified Reviewer 5.0 November 12, 2026 AI summary based on a full review This system provides substantial time savings by automating reference checks and reminders, enabling users to focus on other aspects of their job. There are no drawbacks mentioned, indicating a seamless experience. Log in to unlock the full review, detailed ratings, and pros & cons Qazim A. Application Support & Implementation Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "RefNow Review" 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 July 19, 2023 It is a great experience in general, I was able to conclude my reference in the short possible time. Pros The reminder and follow up,Ease of use,Options in referencing. Cons I can't seem to find 'save and continue later' option. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/190447/RefNow/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. Popular comparisons [HiPeople vs RefNow](https://www.capterra.com/compare/190447-211940/RefNow-vs-HiPeople)[Zinc vs RefNow](https://www.capterra.com/compare/179293-190447/Zinc-vs-RefNow)[Vitay vs RefNow](https://www.capterra.com/compare/183558-190447/Vitay-vs-RefNow)[Discovered vs RefNow](https://www.capterra.com/compare/139913-190447/Discovered-vs-RefNow) [VidCruiter vs RefNow](https://www.capterra.com/compare/127883-190447/VidCruiter-vs-RefNow)[Employment Hero vs RefNow](https://www.capterra.com/compare/144645-190447/Employment-Hero-vs-RefNow)[Checkr vs RefNow](https://www.capterra.com/compare/177814-190447/Checkr-vs-RefNow)