The Reference Checker vs Xref Engage

The Reference Checker automates job-reference requests and follow-up for employers. A customer can send requests directly to referees or have job seekers register and request them. The web portal sends email messages and reminders, and an anti-fraud algorithm helps identify whether references are genuine. Email and question templates can be customised; the service also creates branded PDF references and supports digital signatures. Reporting breaks down statistics and information by team and user. The company says it offers integrations with many CRM and ATS systems and a documented API, but customers need to contact it to check support for a particular system. There is no stated limit on request volume. Requests come from the company’s central email address, not the customer’s own. The company says the portal complies with UK GDPR and lists hosting certifications including ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, SOC 1, SOC 2 and SOC 3. Plans start at £40/user/mo, with a free two-week trial and free setup.

Xref Engage provides employee engagement, Leadership 360, onboarding and pulse surveys for collecting, analysing and sharing organisational feedback. Users can select expert-designed templates or create their own questionnaires. Employees complete surveys on desktop or mobile, and surveys are available globally. Anonymous and repeat surveys, automated reminders, industry benchmarking, eNPS tracking and demographic filtering are supported. Data Studio lets teams explore metrics and download or share reports. Xref’s workplace psychology team can advise on survey curation. Xref says the platform is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, encrypts data with TLS 1.2 in transit and AES 256 at rest, and conducts annual independent penetration tests. Customers can choose AWS storage regions in Sydney, Frankfurt, Toronto or North Virginia. Engage requires an active Xref Enterprise subscription and costs extra. Pricing starts at $70/mo (annual), with a free trial offered.