ClearStar review
Broad global screening with configurable packages, integrations, and API access.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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 validation through ClearID, employment and education verification, motor-vehicle-record screening, and global coverage across 230+ countries. Candidate registration, digital consent, e-signature, status tracking, reporting, and adverse-action workflows support teams managing screening at scale. Its web and API access also suit organizations that want either a browser-based workflow or integration into existing systems.
The published packages are Basic, Standard, and Professional, with pricing handled through sales rather than fixed public amounts. Basic includes a National Criminal Database search and the first 3 county court criminal record checks. Standard adds 1 education verification and 2 employment verifications. Professional adds 2 professional reference verifications to the Standard inclusions. These tiers provide a clear progression from core criminal screening to broader candidate verification, while configurable packages can support different hiring policies. Organizations comparing costs should expect a request-based buying process rather than self-serve checkout or a free plan.
ClearStar’s strongest fit is an employer that needs broad screening coverage alongside HR ecosystem connectivity. Integrations include SAP, Paycor, Workday, Eightfold.ai, Dayforce, SmartRecruiters, and Employ, while API access supports connected workflows. Mobile candidate invitations and real-time tracking can help coordinate registration and review across distributed hiring teams. The platform also includes compliance controls for FCRA, EEOC, and jurisdiction-specific requirements, plus pre-adverse and adverse-action workflows. Employers seeking only occasional basic checks may find the sales-led model and broad feature set more than they need; global organizations with varied screening requirements are the clearer match.
ClearStar pros and cons
- 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
ClearStar fact sheet, pricing and score →
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