--- title: First Advantage Reviews meta_title: 'First Advantage Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 111 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how First Advantage works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 3.4 review_count: 111 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-17' parent_category: name: Pre-Employment Screening url: https://www.g2.com/categories/pre-employment-screening --- # First Advantage Reviews **Vendor:** First Advantage **Category:** [Background Check Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/background-check) **Average Rating:** 3.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 111 ## About First Advantage First Advantage delivers comprehensive background check and drug screening solutions that enable employers and housing providers to make confident applicant choices, reduce risk, and maintain compliance. With offices worldwide, First Advantage leverages leading technology and some of the industry’s largest global capabilities to complete background checks in 200+ countries and territories. If you’re looking for employee or resident background check solutions that enable fast and reliable decision making, we’re your First Advantage. For more detailed information on First Advantage products and services, visit fadv.com. ## First Advantage Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users commend the **exceptional customer support** at First Advantage, noting friendly reps and reliable assistance. (15 reviews) - Users appreciate the **ease of use** of First Advantage, highlighting its user-friendly system and quick service. (15 reviews) - Users appreciate the **quick and responsive customer service** of First Advantage, enhancing their overall experience. (12 reviews) - Users appreciate the **responsive customer support** at First Advantage, highlighting effective communication and prompt issue resolution. (8 reviews) - Users commend the **knowledgeable staff** at First Advantage for their friendly support and effective problem-solving. (7 reviews) - Speed (7 reviews) - Background Checks (6 reviews) - Users appreciate the **genuine kindness** of customer service agents, enhancing their overall experience with First Advantage. (5 reviews) - Staff Expertise (5 reviews) - Staff Helpfulness (5 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users report **poor customer support** , facing delays and multiple departments, leading to frustration and unresolved issues. (10 reviews) - Users often face **significant delays** with First Advantage, affecting hiring processes and causing frustration during support calls. (7 reviews) - Users express concern over **lack of clarity** in processes, leading to confusion and inefficiencies in managing results. (7 reviews) - Users report significant **process delays** in background checks, hindering hiring goals and causing frustrations with timelines. (5 reviews) - Users find the **complex processes** of First Advantage frustrating, as multiple departments complicate simple requests and resolutions. (4 reviews) - Time-Consuming (4 reviews) - Poor Onboarding (3 reviews) - Expensive (2 reviews) - Integration Issues (2 reviews) - Limited Access (2 reviews) ## First Advantage Reviews ### 1. Middle of the Road Background Check Solution **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** The integration with Jazz is great and makes the process very quick. The user face online is Lao pretty easy to navigate. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** It takes weeks to build any additional background check packages and customer support doesn't always know how to help. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We're using Sterling for background checks and employment verification. ### 2. Background Check Software - First Advantage **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Government Relations | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 28, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** The system is straightforward, and it is easy to find the background checks that we use. I can also count on the results to come back quickly, which allows us to continue our hiring process in a timely manner. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I cannot save background check setups to use everytime. I would like to just have a pre-set selection for each of our departments or positions. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We have uncovered issues that would have prevented candidates from being successful before hiring them. ### 3. Worst Company I have had the displeasure of working with **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Amber D. | Human Resources Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 31, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Absolutely nothing good about this company **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** It has been months since I submitted 3 background checks. They are still on hold even after having my company fully credentialled and calling their customer service MULTIPLE times just to get told that Credentialing hasn't gone through yet. If I wasn't forced to use this company to get our Contractors licenses for my company, I would swear never to touch this company again. Honestly the worst customer experience of my life! **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I would be solving problems if there "customer Service" people ever called back? ### 4. Sterling provides a valuable, reliable background check service. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Real Estate | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 26, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Typically Sterling successfully completes criminal background check services within 3-5 business days. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Sterling also offers other services outside of criminal background checks. One of which is their employment verification process, this process is not reliable and often times takes a lengthy amount of time to complete or comes back with insufficient information. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are utilizing Sterling for their background check screening services as well as their employment verification services. The benefits Sterling provides is a timely, thorough criminal background check screening. ### 5. User friendly and best customer support **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Government Administration | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 24, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I love the dashboard and various graphs, reports, information that can be easily pulled up. The graphs track so many different things like accident comparisons per year. Their customer support team is always ready to help! The medical/license expiration reports are very useful for our DOT drivers. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** The system is a little particular sometimes, the dashboard is convinient but it only shows driver reports from the last 30 days **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am able to easily track driving records including any suspensions. Email alerts are very helpful and all reports are time stamped once reviewed. ### 6. My favorite Background Check Tool! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 14, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Sterling is thorough, trustworthy, and makes me feel confident in clear and concise background checks. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Sterling can be particular about specific dates (date started job, ended job, etc.) but while sometimes it can get caught up, I appreciate how thorough they are. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** After using multiple other talent solutions, I find Sterling to be the best. Their customer service is incredible! **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We feel confident hiring candidates after Sterling clears their background check. ### 7. Would not recommend Sterling Background Services from the perspective of applicant **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 17, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Some of the customer service representatives are very helpful, have good English and are knowledgeable. It is good that the background check results are visible online to the applicant. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** The customer service representatives by phone are not able to see the background check application an application submitted only the employee verification team, a separate team can see it. That means when you call to follow up on your background check t The customer service team cannot talk directly by calling or Instant Messaging or communicating directly in any way to the employment verification team. The employment verification team used a phone number to verify employment as the default method of verification during a pandemic when team members around the world are almost all working from home. Then once the customer service team was notified by phone that email should be used to verify employment the message, the message did not get relayed to the employment verification team and phone was still used. The case was then closed and it was determined that employment could not be verified even though they only had used telephone to verify and not email. Once a case is closed Sterling does not go back and try to verify employment. There is no flexible process to incorporate new information into a file either before and especially after a case is "closed" even if there was an error in the process along the way. The process is very robotic, not smart and streamlined, bureaucratic, inefficient, not centralized, impersonal and slow. There is not sense of accountability that I feel that the organization cares for my time or wants to solve my problems quickly. The technology and databases are not connected from the call center to the internal employment verification teams. Does not seem like an agile and proactive problem solving or empathetic led organization. When I asked to speak to a supervisor the representative mentioned it would take 1 hour to speak to one. When the supervisor called me back after 1 hour which I was unsure would happen, I accidentally hung up and no one called back again. Several times when I called I was disconnected and only once was called back. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Background check when applying for a job. ### 8. Foolish people with 0 common sense **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer & Network Security | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 24, 2021 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** * They request too many documents, and they dont open them before sending you a request for the same document!! * They don't believe in Intra Company Transfer, they want experience letter!! * If they have done your background check before 4 years, they will again ask you everything again and again multiple times. Just to prove they are very strict with background check. * Also it means the people requesting the documents are dumb. * The background check continuous till the day of joining!! * Everything is outsourced, and most of the employees are interns. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Not solving anything, may be creating more problems. ### 9. Very bad customer experience **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Accounting | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 28, 2020 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Nothing, it is slow and kill the opportunity for candidate sometimes by delaying the process **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Never have phone responsed in customer service. One case went through 5 to 6 verification specialists with nothing doing real work. They only asked for documents from candidate and if the candidate give some documents which is not according to their format. They ignore them and push Candidate to finish the job they should do. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** This company ruin other people's opportunity and waste Employer's time and money by outsourcing to indian ### 10. Sterling talent solution makes exceptional maneuvers of background screening testing of candidates. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bruce M. | S Relationship Manager - TMT Banking, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 23, 2020 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Sterling Talent is human resources solution that makes hiring much effective and recruitment of employees much simpler. It offers many benefits and helps in drug testing of candidates with any serious health issue. Employee forms and on-boarding services are also provided by it. You can do workforce monitoring in a more efficient manner. It provides the functionality of batch processing .The customer is really satisfied with company’s services and support provided is above reproach. The self service portal allows you to download the reports. You can make schedules of drug tests and medical appointments. Also the status of applicants can be tracked very easily. The reminders and alerts are there to notify you every single detail through emails and also it makes use of dashboards. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Above all mentioned advantages, the stumbling blocks gathered by Sterling talent solution includes its time consuming trait as it takes a lot of time to carry out the process. And company takes much time to give response as well. The billing process is also overwhelming thus needs more improvement to stand out. The updated versions are not up-to mark and have the same problems as with previous ones. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Sterling being seamless well suited automated software is strongly recommended. The user interface is steadiness and easy to navigate. It strengthens the pillars of reliance and wellbeing. You can make better business decisions through the accurate results offered by Sterling Talent solutions. ### 11. This Software used for Background check. **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sai N. | Payroll Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 13, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I like the best about this software is we can easily initiate background check and Durg test. This software is the one of the best one and they try to work fast on checks. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** There is nothing which i can say i dislike about this of software every things work well. i would like to advise this could make more perfect for this one if they take more less time to complete the checks. even though this is the most used and one of the best one. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** I would like to recommend this software as this is the one of the best and fastest to complete on checks, once you start using this one you will get to know that this will be the best among other. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We had a issue which was time taking with other software's to clear the checks soon, when started using this one find it amazing, the time taking for checks is less and they provide the correct information about all candidates. ### 12. Outstanding Background operations & Good supporting team **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sai K. | Onboarding & Compliance Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 10, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Sterling Background portal, Best service in background verification's and drug screening. Very impressive support team I've seen. We have a good business with you guys, and working with you since the last two years and it was amazing experience. We always look forward to more successful endeavors. Where in i would definitely refer anyone to go with SterlingOne Talent solutions and experience a good business ahead. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Of-course, we have claws everywhere but only in few situations but there are taken care by the Sterling team in timely manner. I would appreciate the team who is working on it accordingly to clear the claws and dislikes. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We usually do background screenings, Drug screening on a daily basis. Benefits is all about good results which we had with the sterling team. I really like using Sterling portal for all my active client's background screening. ### 13. Sterling Talent (BGC) **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sandeep K. | Talent Acquisition Specialist, Staffing and Recruiting, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 09, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** One application where can complete the full Background Check of a consultant. Initiation process is easy to understand and even we can track the status of each applicant, track the status of the drug screen. Even we get the notifications through the email and on the Dashboard. coming to Dashboard its very clear with all the options in it. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Sometime the process of checking the history of the alerts is delayed in updates. Time taking process completing some checks. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** Highly recommend this software to other as this is simple and easy to use and understand. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** On-board Initiation,Background Check, Criminal Check, Employment History, Drug Screen.compared to other Background checks sterling is less time taking. ### 14. Sterling Talent Solutions Review **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Public Relations and Communications | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 23, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It is super easy to search in order to find a background check quickly. Also, I love that it shows when the ordered is completed, along with status of the order. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I have not found anything that I dislike about this program. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** It can take a while to get used to, but once you figure it out it is such a great system to have in the workplace. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** The benefits are that all of the background checks we have ever run are in one place, along with kept very organized. ### 15. Great background tool **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Security and Investigations | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 23, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** The dashboard, so you can quickly search for applicants results **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I dislike not having the option to control the log out time. I appreciate the security precaution but it can be an inconvenience **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** Their platform is awesome and one of the best I have used. I would highly recommend using Sterling Talent Solutions. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Sterling Talent Solutions is a great tool. It notifies you once an applicants background has processed so you can proceed with the next steps in the on-boarding process ### 16. I had a good experience with Sterling and prefer it over other background check companies/services. **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Staffing and Recruiting | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 05, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It's really easy to add a la carte items to your background order. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I dislike that the background check does not automatically start running after the candidate consents to the background check. Sometimes I am slowed down by having to log back in and initiate the background check manually. Other services/companies allow me to start the BGC immediately upon completing the consent. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Sterling makes it easy, for the most part, to run a background check and the customer service team is always available to help. Other companies do not have as good of customer service. ### 17. Love Sterling **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Security and Investigations | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 19, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Its fast, great customer service and easy to read results. all recruiters have access to pull information **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** logging in and resetting our accounts. it locks you out. other than that i dont have another issues **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** its worth the price, very fast and accurate **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** we can customize what background profile we need, fast results ### 18. First time in staffing and using Sterling made the experience smoother **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stephanie R. | Staff Performance Manager, Staffing and Recruiting, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 12, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It makes the screenine process more simplier. You can run the background and begin the onboarding and he confident of the accurate results **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Fairly new to the staffing industry and Sterling is the 1st one I've used so its still all new to me **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Accurate background to where they go for direct hire theres no discrepancies ### 19. Solid Background Check Vendor **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Hospital & Health Care | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 24, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** The user experience has been very well received. We have a lot of hiring managers that are required to check certain statuses. This give them a simple way to do that. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** From time to time the platform can be a little hard to navigate but overall its been great. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** They are our background vendor and they provide us the flexibility to grow and expand. ### 20. Communicative and Fast **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** There was always someone available to speak with and my email were always responded to - most of the time sooner than expected **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Everyone was very helpful the only thing that was a drag was having to provide W2s for past jobs but it was understandable why they were requesting them **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Direct deposit was set up for me prior to beginning so I got paid on time and have never had an issue ### 21. I had an ok experience **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kathryn A. | Professional Recruiter, Financial Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 03, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It was easy to navigate in the first few steps **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** It took forever to get the results back and I would always run into something going wrong and had to call in **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I used it to run background checks ### 22. Pretty good service **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Staffing and Recruiting | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 11, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I like the website the most. It is easy to make orders and see the results clearly. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I dislike the wait times and lack of communication. Backgrounds can be pending for two months and they do not communicate that. Also, employment and education verifications are done poorly and take way too long. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We use Sterling to run background checks, verify employment, and education. ### 23. Sterling Rocks! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Cosmetics | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 19, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** The quickness of their results and simplicity **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Nothing, everything is super easy to use and to understand **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** It has helped us place employees for proper positions do to their MVRs ### 24. Sterling Background Check System **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Warehousing | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 20, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** This software is very user friendly and simple to understand. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Pending reports take too long to come back. Some reports come back in as little as 4 minutes, while others take as long as 2 weeks. Just too big of a gap. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** A wonderful tool to add to your collection. Makes background checks just another step in the process. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I run Nationwide Criminal Backgrounds on all of my employees and potential employees using Sterling Talent Solutions. ### 25. Sterling Review **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Goods | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 18, 2019 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Helps colleagues keep track of potential candidates when going through the hiring process **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Sometimes information doesn’t come through quick or doesn’t update as fast it should sometimes **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Easy to keep track of potential candidates and helps make the hiring process more efficient..... ### 26. Product is good - service could improve **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 20, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It's a good product as far as background checks, drug tests, I-9 verification and general needs relating to these items.The background checks are usually returned in a timely fashion and we have never received any incorrect information. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** The customer services - when everyone is running smoothly, it is fine, but when you need help, it is very tough to get any. The company has definitely gone through some very rough patches. At one point, they changed the process of their drug testing without telling us. This caused a huge headache for several weeks and was only resolved after numerous phone calls and emails. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** If you can find another vendor, use it. This is probably a good product for a much larger, less personal company. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are not solving business problems with Sterling. We utilize it's services and are happy with the quick turnaround with background checks and drug tests. ### 27. Easy setup and simple follow up **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jean-Luc R. | Assistant Director of Development and Communications, Non-Profit Organization Management, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 24, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I like the ease of the system. I work with a lot of volunteers, so being able to upload a spreadsheet of names and emails makes the job a lot easier. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Occasionally there are glitches where volunteers will get locked out and I have to resend the invitation. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** The data upload feature makes Sterling Talent Solutions easy to use when it comes to running background checks on numerous volunteers. I highly recommend it. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are ensuring that we have volunteers at our campsites that are trusted and safe. ### 28. Overall good Background software, slow sometimes **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Allied Universal R. | Talent Acquisition Specialist, Staffing and Recruiting, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 12, 2017 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Email notifications when background is clear. Clear and concise scoring system to determine if a candidate is eligible for hire. Great customer service when there is an issue. Account manager for our company is great. Can easily re-send background checks when necessary and run manual background checks very simply if needed. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Sometimes backgrounds take a very long time to come back, even when the candidate does not have a criminal record. This causes problems and sometimes causes us to lose applicants and hires. Emails from Sterling go to SPAM folders for many email providers slowing the process and causing on-boarding problems. This is probably the most frustrating thing with Sterling. Many applicants are delayed days and weeks because they cannot find the background check email and we eventually have to re-send it, delaying the hiring process even further. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** I would make sure to communicate with your applicants every step of the way through their background check process. It is incredibly important to let your prospective employees know that their background will be going to their SPAM folder immediately after you send it to them, so that way they can easily locate it. Filling out the background can also be tricky for some applicants so make yourself available to take your applicants step by step through the process. The directions on Sterling can be a little confusing so some people need assistance submitting the background correctly. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Streamlining our background check and drug testing process. Faster hiring and reduction of overtime when the software works properly. ### 29. Many opportunities for improvement **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rebecca B. | National Sales Recruiter, Automotive, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 12, 2017 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Criminal searches are completed quickly and accurately for the most part. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Customer facing roles are outside the US. While I find that frustrating, it is even more so for candidates. I often get complaints from candidates that they had a hard time understanding the representative they spoke with. Furthermore, candidates are very skeptical of the authenticity of the call. Employment verifications are handled poorly and candidates are often asked for tax documentation for verification purposes. In those cases, I am forced to handle the verification myself. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** Customer facing operation should not be outsourced to India. It's frustrating for both the customer and their candidates. Employment verifications are handled poorly. What Sterling can't complete in a week, I do in 10 minutes. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I appreciate that Sterling offers onboarding document completion. It's beneficial to have the background check and onboarding in one system. ### 30. Good database of employee for the background research. **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 23, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** The company work culture and enviornment is wonderful. They will hear you for any suggestions and I find the database as well as the interaction with the team is good. They always come back to you if you ask for any employee's details in time. Worked with First advantage long back. Received good services from the team. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I donot dislike this, Nothing to dislike. I received a good response to my queries and in time. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** God services, accuracy and in timely manner so what else you want. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Background check of employees which was majorly a task we had with First advantage. Got it solved and responded in time. ### 31. Sterling Talenteise **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Angela H. | Project Management Support Consultant, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 24, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Quick and easy process to run background investigations and I like that you can e-sign. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** There really wasn't anything I disliked. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Quick and efficient way to run background investigations on employees. ### 32. This software has been an amazing asset and tool for my company **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Telecommunications | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 26, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It’s a very simple and easy to use software. I like that the interface is user friendly and simple. Also the few times I have had to use it getting results has never taken long which is a blessing **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I honestly can’t think of a single complaint. The software is great **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** These days a new hire candidate can quite literally at times be too good to be true. As trusting as I am verification is a must and this software is an easy and simple way to achieve that ### 33. First Advantage Background Checks **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Hospital & Health Care | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 19, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** This is a very easy to use system to use for both the company and the candidate. Results are very timely in most situations and customer service can be reached when needed. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I do dislike that hold times for customer service can be very long at times. That is very frustrating when needing an update on a background check and no ETA is shown online. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** I recommend using it for background checks - mostly ease of use! **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** It solves running background checks efficiently 9 times/10! ### 34. Helpful for leasing consultants **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Real Estate | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 08, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** First advantage has great customer support and was user friendly when running checks on future residents **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** First advantage was often slow and took hours to approve someone **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** First advantage helped us keep our community safe by running checks ### 35. First Advantage review **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Staffing and Recruiting | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** First Advantage is easy to use and navigate. It’s very user friendly. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** First Advantage can pull some inaccurate information for candidates with generic names. For example, I had a candidate who was 21 years old and lived in PA his whole life. It came back with information from someone with the same name in a different state for a different age. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** First Advantage offers options to do extensive background screens, which is great for clients that deal with sensitive information. ### 36. First Advantage **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Carrie A. | HR Coordinator, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 20, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I like that it is easy to submit background searches. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** I dislike that it requires a Middle Name or Middle Initial, but that is not in red like all of the other requirements. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are able to complete background checks in a short amount of time. ### 37. Cheap and simple **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Health, Wellness and Fitness | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 06, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I like that most background checks are instant and takes only a few minutes **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Customer service is very spotty and doesn't often help **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** so often we need quick background checks. ### 38. Sterling Review **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** There is an ETA of when the background check will come back. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Sometimes, the ETA is not always accurate depending on county of candidate. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** ETA of when the bg check will come back is not always accurate. Sometimes it is. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** The dashboards we have built in our ATS system are not correct. Candidates are not moving from the dashboards "background check consent form sent" to the "In progress candidates". Integration is broken. ### 39. No issues **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Staffing and Recruiting | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 27, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Used for screening applicants. We didn't have super strict screening material guidelines and used it rather simply. But that was exactly it, simple and easy. No problems experienced, but very basic use required. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Layout of resulting information in applicant screening, totals on points would be great **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Screening applicants, lower turnover rate based when decision is based upon extra information provided here. ### 40. Sterling Talent Solutions is a great choice for background checks **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Transportation/Trucking/Railroad | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 27, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Sterling Talent Solutions background check service is very easy to use. They do a wonderful job at keeping you up to date on the status of your order. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Sometimes orders take a little too long. Sometimes the reports are not easy to follow. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Sterling Talent Solutions helped the company I used it with stay compliant with DOT regulations. ### 41. First Advantage Experience **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Health, Wellness and Fitness | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 13, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Easy to run a background check and can get estimated dates it will be done **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Many times when running the background check, it doesn't actually show an estimated date to be done. This happens a lot with background checks that I'm waiting over a few days on. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** It's mainly used to ensure background checks are just run for those positions that need it. ### 42. First Advantage is great **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Restaurants | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 11, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I like the how easy it is to navigate on their website and find what I need. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** They don't send emails when the background check is complete. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** I highly recommend First Advantage. It's a great tool for background checks that's easy to use. They also check education and prior employment. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** They provide background checks for all our new hires at the corporate level. ### 43. Perfect for what we need **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Civic & Social Organization | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 01, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It's an easy and quick background checking system. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Would like it to search a bit further into what we need **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** Good background checking system. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** We have to background check volunteers that work with our programs. It's a great tool and resource to have without having to pay an extraordinary price. ### 44. Sterling Background Checks **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Hospital & Health Care | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 17, 2017 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Background checks have a very quick turnaround time and reports are easy to read **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Website is not very user friendly and is somewhat difficult to use **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** Maintain a good relationship with your account rep- the customer service reps are not very helpful **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Benefits include quick TAT on background checks and HR paperwork can be sent through Sterling as well ### 45. Mediocre **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Real Estate | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 25, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Sterling gets the job done. It gives you the step-by-step in submitting basic background checks. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Although it gets the job done, that’s where it ends. It is not user friendly and is not modern. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** The benefits we’ve gained are using a sound system to run our background checks. ### 46. Sterling Talent Solutions **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Staffing and Recruiting | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 19, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** Turnaround time. Most of our checks come back when we need them, in the event when they dont it does cost us a customer sometimes **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Customer service is not always good at responding to open tickets **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Gaining more clients because of well known name ### 47. Do not recommend. **Rating:** 0.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Human Resources | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** There are so many better vendors out there that are more responsive with a better product. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Poor customer service. Slow response time. Product could be made more efficient, modern, and user friendly. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Hire great talent with a streamline, efficient hiring process and due diligence system. ### 48. Sterling Talent Solutions - Gold! **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 17, 2017 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** I like how wide-ranged everything is; there is every type of training, seminar, etc. It can appeal to a very wide range audience which I think is fantastic. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** There isn't anything that I dislike thus far about Sterling Talent Solutions at this time. I think that it's pretty great. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** I think it is a very good and useful company that can bring a lot of different things to the table- it can satisfy almost anyones needs in the HR world. I think its pretty acceptable for companies to use and get the most of it as well. **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** I think that there are a lot of benefits that I have seen with Sterling talent solutions- their software is pretty flawless and haven't experienced any hiccups or negative feedback from using their tools. ### 49. First Advantage Review **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Restaurants | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 19, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** It was quick and easy, and straightforward **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** It makes you account for all of your time (from a certain year on, even if you were in school or not working) **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Background checks for future employees ### 50. Easy to Navigate **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 17, 2018 **What do you like best about First Advantage?** So easy to initiate a background check for a candidate. **What do you dislike about First Advantage?** Hard to get in touch with customer service - chat messaging. Would be easier if I could actually speak with someone. **Recommendations to others considering First Advantage:** N/A **What problems is First Advantage solving and how is that benefiting you?** Background checks. ## First Advantage Discussions - [What is A-Check Global used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-a-check-global-used-for) - [What do you know about First Advantage?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-do-you-know-about-first-advantage) - [How Good Is First Advantage background check?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-good-is-first-advantage-background-check) - [What does First Advantage look for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-first-advantage-look-for) - [What shows up on a First Advantage background check?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-shows-up-on-a-first-advantage-background-check) - [View First Advantage pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/first-advantage/reviews?page=2§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-22+02%3A27%3A25+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=f37bc1a5-51ea-4c76-bf39-7ced0ee30870&secure%5Btoken%5D=ef8f4027cca408644caae6b13888e2640f603cc45ee06c83555c65553af8d3e0&format=llm_user) ## First Advantage Integrations - [Bullhorn](https://www.g2.com/products/bullhorn/reviews) - [UKG Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/ukg-pro/reviews) ## First Advantage Features **Background Check Administration** - Screening and Assessments - Compliance - Dashboard **Drug Testing Administration** - Screening and Assessments - Compliance - Dashboard - Integrations **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization **Agentic AI - SAP Store** - Autonomous Task Execution - Multi-step Planning - Cross-system Integration - Adaptive Learning - Natural Language Interaction - Proactive Assistance - Decision Making **Background Check Data** - Real-Time Tracking - Platform Search - Alerts and Notifications **Drug Testing Data** - Real-Time Tracking - Alerts and Notifications **Background Check Additional Functionality** - Integrations - Mobility - Messaging **Drug Testing Additional Functionality** - Mobility - Messaging - Payment **AI Insight Check - Background Check** - Insight Check **Platform** - Customization - Integration APIs - Internationalization - User, Role, and Access Management - Dashboards **AI Investigation and Verification - Background Check** - Verification ## Top First Advantage Alternatives - [Checkr](https://www.g2.com/products/checkr/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (435 reviews) - [HireRight](https://www.g2.com/products/hireright/reviews) - 3.9/5.0 (180 reviews) - [GoodHire (a Checkr company)](https://www.g2.com/products/goodhire-a-checkr-company/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (270 reviews)