Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Background Check Software

ClearStar vs HireSafe

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 8 checks side by side
Higher score ClearStar #1 in Background Check Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 7 of 7 features Visit ClearStar
HireSafe #7 in Background Check Software 8.2/10 Paid ✓ 6 of 7 features Visit HireSafe

ClearStar leads on 0 checks, HireSafe on 0, and 8 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 8 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreClearStar · 8.9/10
  • Most featuresClearStar · 7 of 7

ClearStar scores higher on our rubric for background check software: 8.9 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

ClearStar is the better fit for global employers needing broad screening coverage. HireSafe is the better fit for budget-focused employers needing complete checks.

  • ClearStar fits best

    Global employers needing broad screening coverage

  • HireSafe fits best

    Budget-focused employers needing complete checks

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature ClearStar 8.9/10 Visit ↗ HireSafe 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.2
Ranking #1 in Background Check Software #7 in Background Check Software
Best for Global employers needing broad screening coverage Budget-focused employers needing complete checks
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — $19/unit usage-based
Free plan — —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Phone Email, Phone
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR GDPR, 2FA
Integrations 7 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ClearStar 7/7 · HireSafe 6/7
Criminal records ✓ ✓
Identity verification ✓ ✓
Employment verification ✓ ✓
Education verification ✓ ✓
Driving history ✓ ✓
Adverse-action workflow ✓ ✓
API access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Covers criminal, identity, employment, education, and driving checks
  • Supports screening across 230+ countries with mobile digital consent
  • Offers API access and integrations with major HR platforms
  • Criminal, identity, employment, education, and driving-history checks
  • Electronic consent, notifications, and adverse-action documentation
  • Plans start at $19 per screening with phone and email support
Cons
  • Pricing requires a sales conversation and package customization
  • No free plan is available
  • Core packages limit several verification types to set quantities
  • Web-only deployment limits platform flexibility
  • No verified API access is listed
  • Basic National Profile charges extra for federal and motor-vehicle searches
Our verdict

ClearStar is a background screening platform for employers, staffing firms, nonprofits, housing authorities, and government agencies. It combines criminal-record searches at national, federal, state, and county levels with identity…

Read the review →

HireSafe provides cloud-based employment background screening for organizations hiring in the United States and internationally. Its coverage includes county, federal, and multi-state criminal-record searches; SSN validation and applicant…

Read the review →
  1. ClearStarBackground Check Software 8.9Pricing on request
  2. HireSafeBackground Check Software 8.2Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ClearStar — where it wins

    • Covers criminal, identity, employment, education, and driving checks
    • Supports screening across 230+ countries with mobile digital consent
    • Offers API access and integrations with major HR platforms

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a sales conversation and package customization
    • No free plan is available
    • Core packages limit several verification types to set quantities

  • HireSafe — where it wins

    • Criminal, identity, employment, education, and driving-history checks
    • Electronic consent, notifications, and adverse-action documentation
    • Plans start at $19 per screening with phone and email support

    Where it doesn't

    • Web-only deployment limits platform flexibility
    • No verified API access is listed
    • Basic National Profile charges extra for federal and motor-vehicle searches

More comparisons

All background check software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update