European Background Screening Software

#1 Pescheck

Enschede, Netherlands Founded 2015 From €36 (Standard), €64 (Enhanced) or €146 (Complete) per screening, pay as you go Demo on request

Best for: Companies hiring in the Benelux and DACH regions that want published euro prices

• Operating company. PESCHECK B.V.
• Jurisdiction. EU (Netherlands)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr, Sterling

Pescheck is a screening platform from PESCHECK B.V. in Enschede, the Netherlands, registered under KvK number 70886393 and, by its own account, founded in 2015. It also lists a Munich address, and the about page names GDPR, ISO 27001 and a private investigator licence among its standards.

Its three packages are priced per screening: Standard from €36, Enhanced from €64 and Complete from €146, with no contract mentioned. The integrations page lists 166 systems, naming Personio, AFAS, Recruitee, Bullhorn, Teamtailor and Workday, and says most run through Kombo. The data security page states ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and links to a Trust Center, but no hosting region.

Standout feature. The only provider here whose public price list has three euro tiers that map cleanly onto the package structure of US vendors.

#2 Veremark

London, United Kingdom Packages from $42 (Essential), $144 (Professional) and $183 (Executive) per candidate; single checks from $14; prices shown in US dollars Demo on request

Best for: Employers hiring across several countries that want published candidate packages

• Operating company. Veremark Ltd
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr, Sterling, HireRight

Veremark is run by Veremark Ltd, registered in England and Wales under 11681510 at an address on Great Portland Street in London. The company says it covers over 180 countries with 40+ checks, and states that Employrite is now part of Veremark. The site also lists offices in New York state, Manila, Sydney, New Zealand, Singapore and Dubai.

Pricing is shown per candidate: Essential at $42 covers two references and an identity check, Professional at $144 adds employment history and social media checks, and Executive at $183 adds an academic check and a global sanctions search. Single checks start at $14. The pricing note says platform prices are in US dollars. Verepass lets candidates keep and reuse their results, and the policy names ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2 Type II, FSQS and Cyber Essentials.

Standout feature. Candidates keep their own results as a Verepass credential that they can reuse with later employers.

#3 Zinc

England (city not stated), United Kingdom Not published; free account sign-up, quote for volume Demo on request

Best for: UK employers in regulated sectors such as finance, care and education

• Operating company. Zinc Work Ltd
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr, Sterling

Zinc is the product of Zinc Work Ltd, registered in England and Wales under 10961635, with an ISO 27001 certificate number (267532) printed in its footer. The pages checked do not state its city or its founding year. Its focus is UK regulation, with sector pages for the FCA, CQC and Ofsted.

The DBS service covers Basic, Standard and Enhanced checks including Barred List search, and a built-in eligibility checker maps a job title to the correct level. For candidates abroad, the criminal check page states coverage in 195 countries with turnaround up to 3 days, and 10% of checks completing in 2 days. Pricing is not published, and the homepage names a Greenhouse integration in a Pleo case study.

Standout feature. A DBS eligibility checker that chooses the certificate level from the job title, plus overseas criminal checks in 195 countries.

#4 Validato

Zurich, Switzerland Pay-as-you-go with no subscription; amounts not published Demo on request

Best for: Financial, energy and critical-infrastructure employers in the DACH region

• Operating company. Validato AG
• Jurisdiction. Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Servers in Switzerland (stated 100%)
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr, Sterling, HireRight

Validato is a Zurich provider of background checks and human risk management. The legal notice names Validato AG at Claridenstrasse 34 (UID CHE-182.894.304), a Slovak company Validato (Slovensko) a.s., and correspondence addresses in Vienna and Frankfurt. The homepage calls it a European-native provider and states screening in 200+ countries.

Its checks page maps services to NIS2, DORA, MiFID II, EBA Fit and Proper, AMLD6, ISO 27001, TISAX and BSI C5. The homepage states 100% storage on servers in Switzerland, ISO 27001 certification and deletion to customer specification within 120 days at most. Customers use a WebApp or an API, in German, English or French; screening is pay-as-you-go with no subscription, but no amounts are published.

Standout feature. The clearest data-location statement in the category, with every check mapped to a named European regulation.

#5 EveryCheck

Rennes, France Founded 2015 Not published; demo request Demo on request

Best for: French and Spanish-speaking HR teams verifying CVs and degrees

• Operating company. WEBCHECK SAS (EveryCheck)
• Jurisdiction. EU (France)
• Where the data sits. France (OVH, Roubaix)
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr, HireRight

EveryCheck is operated by WEBCHECK SAS, registered at the RCS of Rennes under 812 803 724 with a share capital of €10,493. The company says it was founded in 2015 by Yohan Zibi and Jérôme Mourey to bring Anglo-Saxon background check practice to the French market. Pages are in French, English and Spanish.

The solution page lists CV conformity, diploma verification, employment checks and reference collection from managers, peers or clients, plus integrity checks combining a criminal record extract, directorships, PEP, sanctions and online reputation. The homepage states data is stored in France on ISO 27001-compliant infrastructure, and the legal notice names OVH in Roubaix as host. No prices or ATS list were found.

Standout feature. A French CV-and-diploma verification service that names its French host in the legal notice.

#6 EBC Global

Cardiff, United Kingdom Lite £49 per month per user; Pro £100 to £299 per month per user; Enterprise bespoke; 12-day free trial Demo on request

Best for: Recruiters and care, education and security employers screening with DBS

• Operating company. EBC Global Ltd
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr

EBC Global is EBC Global Ltd, company number 10115814, at Lambourne House in Cardiff. It states that it is a DBS Responsible Organisation and Registered Body and that applications are submitted and countersigned automatically. Its founding year is not stated on the pages checked.

The model is software seats: EBC Lite at £49 per month per user, EBC Pro at £100 to £299 per month per user, a bespoke Enterprise tier and a 12-day free trial. According to the vendor, average processing fell from 23 days to around 10, and 1 in 2 Enhanced DBS checks return within 24 hours. An API ties 7 integrated checks to ATS, CRM and workforce systems, and DVLA licence and right-to-work checks are listed.

Standout feature. The only provider here sold by software seat, built for teams that run DBS applications every working day.

#7 Verifile

Bedford, United Kingdom Founded 2004 Custom packages and ad hoc checks; no amounts published Demo on request

Best for: Public sector and regulated employers that buy via UK frameworks

• Operating company. Verifile Limited
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr, HireRight

Verifile has been trading since 2004 according to its copyright line. Its privacy notice lists three UK group companies, Verifile Holdings Limited (07450770), Verifile Limited (05129976) and WorkPass Limited, at Priory Business Park in Bedford. The ultimate owner is not stated on the pages read.

The pricing page offers customised packages or ad hoc checks with volume-based pricing, and names the CCS G-Cloud 14, CPC, ESPO, FSQS and Achilles frameworks. Packages can be built for BPSS, BS7858 and FCA standards, and the catalogue includes activity checks, character references, CV comparison, gap analysis and passport validation against the machine-readable zone. A background check API page explains ATS-integrated screening.

Standout feature. Five named UK procurement frameworks, which lets public bodies buy it without a separate tender.

#8 eSafeguarding

Nottingham, United Kingdom Standard £32.00 and Enhanced £53.00 inc. VAT for 0 to 100 checks; ID checking £12.00 inc. VAT extra Demo on request

Best for: Small employers and charities that need DBS checks only

• Operating company. Affinity Workforce Solutions Ltd (eSafeguarding)
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr (UK criminal checks only)

eSafeguarding is a trading name of Affinity Workforce Solutions Ltd, named in the privacy policy as parent and data controller, at Maid Marian Way in Nottingham. The pages checked do not give a registration number or founding year, and the site is a DBS service, not a general screening suite.

The pricing page splits each fee into the check, an admin fee and VAT. For 0 to 100 checks, Standard is £20.00 plus £10.00 admin and £12.00 VAT (£32.00), Enhanced is £41.00 on the same basis (£53.00), Volunteer is £12.00, and ID checking is £12.00 including VAT extra. Cheaper admin bands apply from 101 checks. No API was found.

Standout feature. A fee table that separates the check, the admin fee and VAT on every line.

#9 Personnel Checks

Blackburn, United Kingdom Basic £44.00, Standard £44.00, Enhanced £65.00, Volunteer £24.00; right to work £5.50; DVLA £10.50; online ID £6.00 Demo on request

Best for: Employers wanting listed prices for DBS plus a few add-on checks

• Operating company. Personnel Checks Limited
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr (UK only)

Personnel Checks is Personnel Checks Limited, company number 08101751, part of PC Group, with Blackburn as its location. The footer lists DBS registration number 30002500007. The ownership of PC Group above that is not stated on the pages read.

Listed prices are Basic and Standard at £44.00, Enhanced at £65.00 and Volunteer at £24.00, with right to work at £5.50, a DVLA licence check at £10.50 and online ID verification at £6.00. Enhanced includes a £41.00 DBS fee and Standard includes £20.00. The homepage says freelance tutors and carers can apply for Enhanced checks directly through an umbrella body, and Access NI is supported.

Standout feature. A self-employed route that lets freelancers apply for an Enhanced check through an umbrella body.

#10 Due Diligence Checking

Syston (Leicester), United Kingdom Founded 2002 Fees listed on its DBS cost page (see website); no amounts seen Demo on request

Best for: Care, education and recruitment employers needing DBS plus references

• Operating company. Due Diligence Checking Ltd
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. Not stated on the pages checked
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr (UK only)

Due Diligence Checking is Due Diligence Checking Ltd, registered under 4466929 at an address in Syston, Leicester. It states that it has processed pre-employment checks since 2002 and describes itself as a Registered Body and Umbrella Body for the DBS.

The menu lists DBS, Access NI and PVG, international criminal record checks, reference, qualification and social media checks, and BPSS and BS7858 security screening. The homepage states ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 accreditation, and an integration API connects to HRIS and applicant systems. The DBS cost page returned an error when we checked, so no fees are quoted here.

Standout feature. DBS, Scottish PVG and Northern Irish Access NI under one umbrella body, with ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 stated.

#11 ToFindOut

Stockholm, Sweden Report packages without published amounts Demo on request

Best for: Swedish employers hiring through Teamtailor, Visma or Jobylon

• Operating company. ToFindOut AB
• Jurisdiction. EU (Sweden)
• Where the data sits. Not stated; transfers outside the EU/EEA only for checks in that country
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Checkr, Sterling

ToFindOut is ToFindOut AB, organisation number 556720-7500, at Kungsgatan 44 in Stockholm. The site works in Swedish, and the founding year and ultimate ownership are not stated on the pages read.

The menu lists report packages, international checks, supplier checks, drug testing and security vetting, without amounts. The integrations page names Teamtailor, Grade Onecruiter, Visma and Jobylon. The privacy policy says personal data leaves the EU/EEA only where a check is performed in the relevant country, and that candidate data is available for 14 days and summarised in a digital report.

Standout feature. A privacy policy that limits transfers outside the EU/EEA to checks actually performed in that country.