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HiveRef

hiveref.com

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Spec score 9.1 #1 of 17 in Reference Checking Software

What it is

HiveRef automates structured employment reference checks for small and medium businesses. Users can turn a job description into a tailored questionnaire, edit it, or start from a template. Automated reminders follow up with referees, who complete mobile-friendly forms that typically take 2 to 3 minutes. Reports provide an AI-assisted summary, integrity signals, a timestamped audit trail, and PDF export. Signals such as IP address, submission timing, email type, and network context are offered for human review; HiveRef says it does not decide whether to hire or reject a candidate. It describes GDPR as its global design baseline and says it reflects Australian Privacy Principles where Australian law applies. Reference data is stored by default in a Sydney-region database. Zapier can trigger automations when checks are created or completed and create pre-filled check links; API access is also available. Plans range from A$4, paid once for a candidate check to monthly subscriptions. Every included check allows up to 10 referee responses, and extra checks cost $4.00 each on every plan.

Spec sheet

What it does
HiveRef automates structured employment reference checks for hiring organisations and produces reports with AI assistance, integrity signals and audit trails.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Purpose
HiveRef automates structured employment reference checks for small and medium businesses.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Audience
HiveRef describes its typical users as office managers, founders, or people and culture leads working without a dedicated HR department.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
API
The Zapier integration page documents API-key authentication and endpoints for hooks, check lists, and prefilled check wizards.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Support
The contact page says messages receive a response within one business day.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Headquarters
HiveRef describes Australia as its headquarters and primary market; its legal documents identify New South Wales, Australia.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
AI decision boundary
HiveRef states that it makes no automated hire or no-hire decision; the hiring organisation remains responsible.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
AI questionnaires
Users can paste a job description to generate a tailored questionnaire, then edit it or use a template library.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Android package
APKPure lists HiveRef Reference Checks as Android package com.hiveref.app, developed by HIVEREF PTY LTD, with a latest update dated 23 August 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apkpure.net
API authentication
The documented API uses bearer API keys generated in dashboard Settings > API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
API endpoints
The public integration documentation lists endpoints for organisation verification, webhook subscription, prefilled wizard links and recent or completed checks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Apple app size
The App Store lists the app size as 46.3 MB and English as its language.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Apple listing
The Apple App Store lists HiveRef as a free Business app by HiveRef Pty Ltd for iPhone and iPad, with in-app purchases.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Apple privacy labels
Apple’s listing says the developer reports collection of user content, identifiers and usage data, with the disclosure not verified by Apple.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Apple requirements
The App Store listing requires iOS 16.4 or later, iPadOS 16.4 or later, and macOS 12 with Apple silicon for Mac compatibility.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Audit trail
Actions, notices and acknowledgements are timestamped and logged for each check.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Automated reminders
Secure invitations and background reminders are sent to referees without manual follow-up.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Candidate self-service
Candidates can enter their own referee details through a secure, time-limited link, and bulk CSV intake is supported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Company legal name
The operator is HiveRef Pty Ltd, Australian company ACN 697 040 136.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Compliance scanning
AI scans employer questions and referee responses for possible data-protection issues, flags findings and preserves the original response.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Data location
Personal information is stored in Sydney on AWS ap-southeast-2, while application processing uses US-based Vercel infrastructure.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Decision-making
HiveRef says it does not make automated hire or no-hire decisions; reviewers remain accountable for the hiring decision.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Founding background
The about page says the founding team has more than 50 years of combined talent and HR experience across Australia, Europe, the USA and Southeast Asia.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Fraud signals
Reports surface IP, submission timing, email-type and network-context signals for human review.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Integration
HiveRef integrates with Zapier to trigger automations when checks are created or completed and to generate pre-filled check links.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
International transfers
For EU and UK data transfers to Australia, HiveRef says it uses European Commission Standard Contractual Clauses and the UK IDTA.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Licence
HiveRef is proprietary software: its terms say HiveRef Pty Ltd owns the platform, algorithms, designs and documentation and grants clients a limited non-transferable internal-use licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Limit: integration breadth
The maker’s integrations documentation publicly describes Zapier; no broader native ATS integration catalog is listed there.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Limit: legal responsibility
The terms place responsibility for jurisdiction-specific compliance and lawful use on the client organisation, and state AI scanning is not legal advice.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Limit: response cap
Every included candidate check is limited to 10 referee responses, with additional candidate checks charged at $4.00 each.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Limit: screening scope
The product does not replace criminal-record or credit screening, so buyers needing those checks need another service.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Plan limit
Extra candidate checks cost $4.00 each on every plan, and each included check allows up to 10 referee responses.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Praise: affordability
A Reddit commenter said a growing recruitment startup moved from Xref to HiveRef because it was more affordable and had an app.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Praise: workflow organisation
A Reddit discussion described automated requests, centralised responses and organised reference workflows as the main improvement over email and voicemail.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Privacy baseline
HiveRef says GDPR is its global design baseline and that it reflects Australian Privacy Principles where Australian law applies.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Reference scope
The service handles employment references and is not a criminal-record or credit-screening provider.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Reminders
Automated reminders follow up with referees, whose mobile-friendly forms typically take 2 to 3 minutes to complete.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Reports
Completed checks include an AI-assisted summary, full answers, integrity signals, PDF export and time-limited sharing links on higher plans.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Retention
Reference reports are retained for 12 months, referee contact details for 90 days, and candidate consent records for seven years.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Role-based questions
Users can paste a job description to generate a tailored questionnaire, edit it, or use saved templates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Scope limit
HiveRef states it handles employment reference checks and is not a criminal-record or credit-screening tool.Read 4 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Security controls
The privacy policy states TLS 1.2-or-higher in transit, AES-256 at rest, least-privilege role controls, administrative MFA, security testing and access-event logging.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Zapier integration
Zapier can trigger workflows when checks are created or completed and can generate prefilled check links from candidate data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com

Plans and prices

Pay as you go A$4, paid once $4 per candidate check one candidate per check · up to 10 referees · credits never expire · fraud detection and integrity signals Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Core A$29 a month $29/mo; 8 candidates/month up to 10 referee responses per candidate · 2 users · AI question generation · custom questionnaire builder · template library · automated reminders · fraud detection/IP signals · PDF export Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Growth A$49 a month $49/mo; 20 candidates/month up to 10 referee responses per candidate · 4 users · AI question generation · custom questionnaire builder · template library · automated reminders · fraud detection/IP signals · PDF export Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Scale A$98 a month $98/mo; 50 candidates/month up to 10 referee responses per candidate · unlimited users · organization branding · shareable report links · AI question generation · automated reminders · fraud detection/IP signals · PDF export Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com
Velocity A$298 a month $298/mo; 160 candidates/month up to 10 referee responses per candidate · unlimited users · organization branding · shareable report links · bulk candidate CSV export · priority support Read 15 Oct 2026 · hiveref.com

Every HiveRef plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Generates editable questionnaires from job descriptions
  • Automated reminders and mobile-friendly referee forms
  • Reports include audit trails and PDF export
  • Zapier integration and API access
  • Extra candidate checks cost $4.00 each

Limits

  • Each check allows up to 10 referee responses
  • Does not cover criminal-record or credit screening
  • Core plan includes 8 candidates per month
  • Reference data defaults to a Sydney-region database

Who it suits

HiveRef suits office managers, founders, and people and culture leads who work without a dedicated HR department. It covers employment references, not criminal-record or credit screening.

HiveRef in depth

Read the full write-up

HiveRef is employment-reference software for small and medium businesses that want a consistent way to request and review references. It suits lean teams without dedicated HR staff, especially when they value structured reports over a broad screening suite. Its per-candidate allowances and reference-only scope are the main constraints to weigh.

Overview

HiveRef organizes employment reference checks from questionnaire through report, with email as its reference channel. It is a focused choice for teams that need repeatable reference collection; it is not a criminal-record or credit-screening service. Its reports assist reviewers, but HiveRef says hiring decisions remain the responsibility of people rather than an automated hire-or-no-hire system.

HiveRef says GDPR is its global privacy design baseline and that it reflects Australian Privacy Principles where Australian law applies. Reference data is stored in a Sydney-region database by default. That default matters to organizations weighing data location requirements, while the stated privacy approach is relevant to teams handling candidate information.

Key features

Questionnaires and reminders

A user can paste a job description to generate a tailored questionnaire, edit the result, or begin with a template. Automated reminders follow up with referees, and mobile-friendly forms typically take two to three minutes to complete. This combination can reduce manual coordination for office managers and founders, though the workflow centers on email rather than multiple reference channels.

Reports and integrity signals

Reports bring together an AI-assisted summary, integrity signals, a timestamped audit trail and PDF export. Signals such as IP address, submission timing, email type and network context give human reviewers context to examine; they are not presented as an automated hiring decision. The reporting is useful for a documented review process, but reviewers remain accountable for interpreting it.

Automation and support

Zapier can trigger automations when checks are created or completed and create pre-filled check links. The integration documentation covers API-key authentication and endpoints for hooks, check lists and prefilled check wizards, making it more practical for teams that want to connect reference checks to existing workflows. HiveRef also says it aims to respond within one business day and that customers speak with someone who built the product.

Pricing

HiveRef has a free plan and a free trial, alongside usage-based and monthly options. Every included candidate check permits up to 10 referee responses; extra checks cost $4.00 each on every plan. That response cap is important for roles where a team routinely requests more than ten references.

PlanPriceAllowance and fitPay as you goA$4, paid once$4 per candidate check, covering one candidate and up to 10 referees; credits never expire. A good match for occasional hiring without a recurring subscription.CoreA$29 a month8 candidates/month and 2 users. It suits a small team with modest, steady hiring, but leaves less room for volume or additional seats.GrowthA$49 a month20 candidates/month and 4 users. This raises both hiring capacity and team access over Core.ScaleA$98 a month50 candidates/month and unlimited users. The higher allowance and open seat count suit a larger or more collaborative team.VelocityA$298 a month160 candidates/month and unlimited users. It is aimed at substantially higher check volume; teams with lower needs may not use the larger allowance.Monthly plans trade unused capacity for a recurring allowance, while pay as you go credits do not expire. Extra checks are charged at $4.00 each on all tiers, so teams near their monthly ceiling should account for overages.

Platforms

HiveRef supports Android, iOS and web, and offers API access. The mobile-friendly referee forms complement those options for respondents, while the documented API and Zapier integration give teams a route to workflow automation.

Who it's for

HiveRef is best suited to office managers, founders and people and culture leads at small or medium businesses without a dedicated HR department. It is a sensible fit when the need is structured employment references, reminders and reviewable reports. Organizations seeking criminal or credit screening, or a hiring decision made automatically, should choose a different kind of service.

Pros and cons

Pro: Job-description-based questionnaires, templates and automated reminders help lean teams standardize requests without relying on manual follow-up.

Pro: Audit trails, PDF reports and integrity context support a documented human review.

Pro: Pay-as-you-go credits never expire, and higher monthly plans increase candidate capacity without imposing a user cap.

Con: Each check covers no more than 10 referee responses, and additional candidate checks cost $4.00 each.

Con: Email is the sole reference channel, and the product does not cover criminal-record or credit screening.

Con: Data is stored in Sydney by default, which may not fit every organization's regional requirements.

Alternatives

Choose Xref Engage if your organization already has an active Xref Enterprise subscription and wants a paid option available on Android, iOS and web; it requires that enterprise subscription and carries an additional cost.

Credibled is worth considering when an API sandbox for testing without real checks is useful, or when its NGO reference check priced at C$4.50, paid once fits the requirement. VerifyRef is another credit-based option: its 5 Credits plan is $33 as a one-time purchase and its 20 Credits plan is $119 as a one-time purchase, with credits that never expire.

RefNow offers a credit-based model with bulk discounts and subscriptions; one credit covers up to 10 references for one candidate. The Reference Checker may suit teams that want email and SMS reminders, with its Single Users (monthly) plan at £40 a month per user. VITAY is another option to compare.

Jointl is a freemium alternative with an Ultra plan at $99 a month or 999 USD billed annually. Referoo is another paid alternative to consider.

For a broader comparison, see Reference Check Software.

Verdict

HiveRef is a strong fit for a small or medium business that needs structured employment references, automated chasing and reports that keep a human reviewer in control. Its flexible pay-as-you-go credits and higher-volume monthly tiers accommodate different hiring rhythms. Look elsewhere if your process needs more than 10 referee responses per candidate, screening beyond employment references, or a data location other than Sydney by default.

Verdict

HiveRef organizes reference collection, reminders, and reporting while leaving hiring decisions to human reviewers. Check plan candidate limits and the 10-response cap when choosing a tier.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to HiveRefAll alternatives →