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RefNow

refnow.com

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Spec score 8.7 #4 of 33 in Reference Check Software

What it is

RefNow automates employment reference checks for hiring teams, from collecting referee details to delivering reports. Candidates provide referee details, and referees respond through a secure, mobile-friendly questionnaire. The platform tracks requests and automation attempts in real time, sends reminders, and uses algorithms to identify potentially fraudulent references. RefNow says its LinkedIn and YOTI partnerships help verify reference authenticity and provide additional candidate insights. Teams can download PDF reports and manage users with permission groups. The service also offers Right to Work checks and Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks. The maker lists more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations and an Open API for custom connections. RefNow Respond automates incoming references for former employees after candidate consent, then generates and sends a PDF report to the requester. One reference credit covers up to 10 references from one candidate; bulk discounts and subscriptions are available, but no plan price is listed. RefNow is available on the web and through an API, and is based in London, England.

Spec sheet

What it does
RefNow is a cloud reference-checking service connecting employers, candidates and referees to collect employment references online.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Purpose
RefNow automates employment reference checks for hiring teams, including reminders to candidates and referees.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Integrations
The maker lists more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations and offers an Open API for custom integrations.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Support
Basic packages include email support; additional support options include email and phone support, with optional specialist training.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Headquarters
London, England, UKRead 28 Sep 2026 · refnow.com
Company
RefNow Ltd lists its head office at 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ; the opened maker pages do not state a founding year.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Audit trail
Reference activity records text, email and phone-call attempts in one centralised delivery log.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Automated reference collection
The platform sends automated email, SMS and phone reminders to candidates and referees and tracks responses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Branding
A paid custom-branding add-on supports custom text, logos, colours, email styling and PDF styling.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Company headquarters
RefNow lists its head office at 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, England, WC2H 9JQ.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Company legal name
The company identifies itself as RefNow Ltd, company number 12118557.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Credit limit
One referencing credit allows collection of up to 10 references from a single candidate.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Custom questions
Question profiles allow configurable reference questionnaires, and advanced setup is estimated at 30–60 minutes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Data location
The privacy policy says customer data is currently stored in Europe, with safeguards for overseas processing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
DBS checks
Digital ID/DBS functionality includes Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks with downloadable PDF results.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Documentation depth
The Help Centre contains workflow guides, Yoti identity-verification steps, browser troubleshooting and input-format articles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.refnow.com
Ex-employee references
RefNow Inbound/Respond automates consent-based incoming reference requests for former employees and generates reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.ie
Founded and size
LinkedIn lists RefNow as privately held, founded in 2019, headquartered in London and employing 2–10 people.Read 15 Oct 2026 · uk.linkedin.com
Fraud detection
RefNow uses multiple data points and warning techniques to help detect fraudulent references.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Integration examples
Listed integrations include Greenhouse, Workable, Workday, Oracle HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, ADP Workforce Now, Okta and UKG Pro.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Integrations count
RefNow advertises more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Intended customers
RefNow describes its customers as including healthcare providers, recruitment agencies, retailers, and startups.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Licence position
Terms state that RefNow owns or licenses the website software and content, prohibit code modification and reverse engineering, and grant no user intellectual-property interest.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Limit: country coverage
A Software Advice reviewer found passport-verification functionality difficult to locate for countries outside the UK and Ireland.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.ie
Limit: editing and form flexibility
Trustpilot’s review summary reports complaints about being unable to edit after submission, lacking a save option and having rigid fields or confusing questions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Limit: occasional document issues
GetApp reviewers mention occasional document-import formatting problems and needing an internet connection to access files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Limit: restrictive reference emails
Reviewers report that personal referee email addresses may be blocked by the requesting organisation, limiting some legitimate referees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.refnow.com
Notable product news
The homepage announces that RefNow is preparing an AI CV Screening product and is collecting early-access registrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Praise: ease and speed
Independent reviewers repeatedly describe the workflow as easy, clear, straightforward, fast and time-saving.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Praise: reminders and automation
GetApp reviewers say reminders help keep work on track and automation removes manual paperwork and speeds reference requests.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Public API
RefNow advertises an Open API for building custom integrations; API access and unlimited usage are add-ons.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Rating on Capterra
4.7 out of 5 from 472 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store
5 out of 5 from 2 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on G2
4.6 out of 5 from 171 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
4.7 out of 5 from 471 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Software Advice
4.7 out of 5 from 468 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.ie
Rating on Trustpilot
4.6 out of 5 from 3,306 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Reference collection
Candidates enter referee details and referees submit references through a secure, mobile-friendly questionnaire.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Reference verification
RefNow says it partners with LinkedIn and YOTI to verify reference authenticity and provide additional candidate insights.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Reports and teams
Users can download PDF reference reports and manage multiple users and teams with permission groups.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Respond product
RefNow Respond automates incoming references for former employees after the candidate approves consent, generating and sending a PDF report to the requester.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Retention
The privacy policy says personal information is generally retained for seven years unless no longer needed sooner.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Right-to-work checks
The service supports right-to-work verification and international candidate share codes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Screening checks
RefNow offers Right to Work checks and Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
SDKs
The pages opened describe an Open API but do not state that RefNow publishes SDKs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Security and GDPR
RefNow states that it complies with GDPR and uses secure storage, encryption and access controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Security and privacy
RefNow says it is GDPR compliant and uses secure storage, encryption, and access controls; its privacy policy says data is currently stored in Europe.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Self-hosting
The opened pages describe a hosted web service and do not state that self-hosting is available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
SSO and bulk tools
Referencing Plus adds SSO login, bulk candidate upload, bulk PDF download and advanced reporting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Support channels
Support is provided through onboarding specialists, email tickets, an in-platform/help-centre chatbot and phone support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.refnow.com
System requirements
The opened product pages do not specify browser, operating-system or hardware requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Talent Pool
Talent Pool lets customers expand candidate pools while collecting employment references.Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
Tracking and fraud detection
The platform tracks reference requests and automation attempts in real time, sends reminders, and uses algorithms to detect fraudulent references.Read 5 Oct 2026 · refnow.com

Plans and prices

Free account Free Five reference requests included for a new account Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Paid version £12.99, paid once One-time price shown by Software Advice Free version and free trial also offered Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.ie
Digital ID/DBS Checks Priced on request Book a demo Right-to-work verification · basic/enhanced DBS checks · reminders · downloadable PDF · audit trail · user/team management Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
RefNow Reference Priced on request Bulk discounts and subscriptions available Automated references · reminders · question profiles · fraud detection · audit trail · user/team management · talent pool · reporting · analytics Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com
RefNow Respond Priced on request Book a demo Automated references · CSV upload · self-service requests · customizable PDF reports · instant reports · tenant/mortgage checks · HR/ATS integrations · analytics Read 15 Oct 2026 · refnow.com

Every RefNow plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Automates reminders and request tracking.
  • Offers Right to Work and three DBS check types.
  • Lists more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations.
  • One credit covers up to 10 references per candidate.
  • Includes PDF reports and permission groups.

Limits

  • No plan price is listed.
  • One credit is limited to one candidate.
  • Basic packages include email support.

Who it suits

RefNow may suit hiring teams in healthcare, recruitment, retail, and startups that need to collect and track employment references. Teams using ATS or HRIS software may value its listed integrations and Open API.

Verdict

RefNow specifies a broad reference workflow, screening checks, and options for integrating it with hiring systems. The credit model and lack of a listed plan price make it important to clarify costs for a particular volume.

Where Specifiction places it

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