Eleven of fourteen models named Checkr first on the direct prompt; three named Certn. Checkr was named by fourteen of the fourteen models and Certn by thirteen and Checkr carries 63 labels and Certn 37, so the shares are not directly comparable.
Named in two categories this edition.
Named in one category this edition.
Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category; every quote names the model and the prompt it came from. Both figures come from the background screening page.
Across every category in the November 2026 Edition, Checkr and Certn were named in the same answer ninety-three times, of the 194 answers naming Checkr and the 102 naming Certn. In those answers Certn took the first choice three times and Checkr fifty-nine.
| Model | Direct | Paraphrase | Comparative | Budget-constrained | Scale-constrained | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | ||||||
| GPT-5.4 mini | ||||||
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | ||||||
| Perplexity Sonar | ||||||
| Grok 4.20 | ||||||
| Mistral Small | ||||||
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | ||||||
| Llama 4 Maverick | ||||||
| Qwen 3.7 Flash | ||||||
| Kimi K2 | ||||||
| GLM 4.7 FlashX | ||||||
| MiniMax M2.5 | ||||||
| GPT-6 Luna | ||||||
| Muse Glimmer 30B |
Bold names in an answer are the products the judge labeled a first choice; a model naming several gives each of them that label. The full answer text for every row is in the record.
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Six of eight in this category shown.
“Checkr drew 469 of the 1,051 complaints the CFPB received in 2025 about the 8 employment background check company names studied, 44.6%, more than any other screening company” Muse Glimmer 30B · negative prompt · hard negative
“Even large, fully accredited employment background screeners (e.g., *Checkr, First Advantage, HireRight, Sterling*) are legitimate, FCRA-compliant CRAs, but job seekers and employers frequently register complaints about them” Gemini 3.5 Flash · negative prompt · soft negative
“Tops CFPB complaints (469 in 2025, ~45% of total for major firms). Users report frequent inaccuracies, delays in results, and frustrating support.” Grok 4.20 · negative prompt · soft negative
“Checkr is widely considered the "Apple" of background checks—featuring a mobile-first applicant experience, an open API, and aggressive use of AI” Qwen 3.7 Flash · comparative prompt · first choice
“mid-market modern screening platforms (like Checkr, Rippling built-in checks, or GoodHire) often outperform legacy enterprise vendors” Gemini 3.5 Flash · scale prompt · first choice
“I'd recommend starting with Accurate ... or Checkr if you prefer a modern, automation-focused platform. Both are well-suited” Claude Haiku 4.5 · paraphrase prompt · first choice
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Three of four in this category shown.
“Checkr or Certn offer the best combination of modern technology, transparent pricing, scalability, and integration capabilities” Kimi K2 · direct prompt · first choice
“Certn is the cheapest option at $13.99/month, making it a strong choice for budget-conscious businesses” Mistral Small · budget prompt · first choice
“If you need the absolute lowest price per report: Choose Certn.” Qwen 3.7 Flash · budget prompt · first choice
Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category, each against each. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.