Tool profile
RefNow: cost, fit and limits
RefNow is a UK-focused hiring compliance service that automates reference collection and sells DBS checks, digital right to work ID checks and AI-powered CV screening on a credit basis. The maker is not stated on the vendor pages.
What to know first
RefNow sells through credits: one referencing credit collects up to ten references from one candidate, and Digital ID check credits cover UK right to work checks. No prices appear in the page text read, and discounts for early-stage companies and charities are offered on request. RefNow Screen, described as AI-powered CV screening, is the one named AI product. No certification or headquarters is stated.
RefNow at a glance
| Maker | Not stated on the vendor pages, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Background Check Software in 2026, rank 10 of 12 |
| Website | refnow.com |
Who RefNow is best for
Small UK employers
Credits for references, DBS checks and right to work checks suit a team that hires occasionally and wants no separate contract for each check type.
Charities and early-stage companies
The pricing page offers discounts to early-stage companies and charities on request, which lowers the cost for organizations with tight budgets.
Teams that mostly chase references
Automated reminders and question profiles take over the follow-up work, and fraud detection runs on submitted references. A recruiter who spends hours on referee follow-up can hand that work to the system.
RefNow plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Credit-based plans | Custom quote | Referencing credits where one credit collects up to ten references, Digital ID check credits for UK right to work, and optional add-ons bought separately. |
Checked November 2026.
What RefNow does
- RefNow Reference
- Automated reference checks send reminders to referees and use question profiles, so a recruiter does not chase each referee by email. The pages read do not give a reminder schedule.
- Fraud detection
- Submitted references pass through fraud detection, and a delivery log with an audit trail records when each request went out and was answered. The pages read do not say how fraud is judged or how a flagged reference is handled.
- RefNow Verify
- Basic, standard and enhanced DBS checks are handled in one place, which suits UK roles that need a criminal record disclosure. The pages read give no price or turnaround for those DBS levels.
- RefNow Screen
- AI-powered CV screening is described as a way to shortlist candidates fast. The pages read give no model name, accuracy figure or data rule for it.
- Digital ID credits
- Digital ID check credits give passport-level verification for UK right to work checks, and extra credits can be bought as add-ons. The pages read give no price for credits or the number of credits per check.
How RefNow handles your data
The FAQ says RefNow is committed to GDPR and uses encryption and access controls. No certification, hosting region, retention period or rule on training models, including for the CV screening product, was stated on the pages read, so the vendor's policy was not checked for this. The maker and headquarters are not named, which makes it hard to identify the data controller. Request the processing agreement and the subprocessor list before sending candidate data.
Where RefNow falls short in practice
- No visible prices. Credit prices are not in the page text read, so cost per reference or per DBS check cannot be calculated before talking to the vendor.
- UK-centered coverage. The named products are UK DBS and UK right to work, so employers hiring elsewhere have fewer checks to order from this vendor. Employers hiring outside the UK have fewer checks to order here.
- Support tiers. Basic packages include email support, and phone support comes with the additional support options, according to the FAQ. The pages read do not give a price for those support options, so ask before relying on phone support.
Alternatives to RefNow
RefNow: common questions
How does RefNow pricing work?
RefNow sells credit-based plans. One referencing credit collects up to ten references from one candidate, and Digital ID check credits cover UK right to work checks. No prices appear in the page text read, and early-stage companies and charities can ask for a discount.
Does RefNow use AI?
RefNow Screen is described as AI-powered CV screening to shortlist candidates fast. No model name, accuracy figure or data rule is given on the pages read. The reference and DBS products are described as automation and fraud detection rather than AI, so test the Screen product with your own CVs.
Which checks does RefNow cover?
RefNow Reference collects references, RefNow Verify handles basic, standard and enhanced DBS checks, and Digital ID credits cover UK right to work. Criminal checks outside the DBS scope, motor vehicle records and international screening were not named on the pages read.
Where is RefNow based?
The homepage lists a UK phone number, but the pages read do not state a headquarters or a legal entity. Ask for the company registration details and the data controller name before signing a data processing agreement or sending candidate information.
Is phone support included with RefNow?
Basic packages include email support. Phone support comes with the additional support options, according to the FAQ. The pages read do not give a price for those options, so ask whether phone support is needed for your volume of reference requests.