HiveRef vs RefNow
HiveRef
hiveref.comRefNow
refnow.comSide by side
| Figure | HiveRef | RefNow |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | A$29/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 5 |
| Spec score · Reference Check Software | 9.1 (#2) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Audit trail | Actions, notices and acknowledgements are timestamped and logged for each check. | Reference activity records text, email and phone-call attempts in one centralised delivery log. |
| Company legal name | The operator is HiveRef Pty Ltd, Australian company ACN 697 040 136. | The company identifies itself as RefNow Ltd, company number 12118557. |
| Data location | Personal information is stored in Sydney on AWS ap-southeast-2, while application processing uses US-based Vercel infrastructure. | The privacy policy says customer data is currently stored in Europe, with safeguards for overseas processing. |
| Headquarters | HiveRef describes Australia as its headquarters and primary market; its legal documents identify New South Wales, Australia. | London, England, UK |
| Purpose | HiveRef automates structured employment reference checks for small and medium businesses. | RefNow automates employment reference checks for hiring teams, including reminders to candidates and referees. |
| Retention | Reference reports are retained for 12 months, referee contact details for 90 days, and candidate consent records for seven years. | The privacy policy says personal information is generally retained for seven years unless no longer needed sooner. |
| Support | The contact page says messages receive a response within one business day. | Basic packages include email support; additional support options include email and phone support, with optional specialist training. |
| What it does | HiveRef automates structured employment reference checks for hiring organisations and produces reports with AI assistance, integrity signals and audit trails. | RefNow is a cloud reference-checking service connecting employers, candidates and referees to collect employment references online. |
Plans
HiveRef
- Pay as you goA$4, paid once
- CoreA$29 a month
- GrowthA$49 a month
- ScaleA$98 a month
- VelocityA$298 a month
RefNow
- Free accountFree
- Paid version£12.99, paid once
- Digital ID/DBS ChecksPriced on request
- RefNow ReferencePriced on request
- RefNow RespondPriced on request
In their own words
HiveRef
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.
RefNow
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.