RefNow
RefNow automates employment reference checks for hiring teams, including candidate and referee reminders.
What RefNow is
RefNow automates employment reference checks for hiring teams, including candidate and referee reminders. Candidates provide referee details, and referees submit responses through a secure, mobile-friendly questionnaire. The platform tracks requests and automation attempts in real time and uses algorithms to detect fraudulent references. RefNow says it partners with LinkedIn and YOTI to verify reference authenticity and provide additional candidate insights.
Teams can download PDF reference reports and manage users through permission groups. RefNow also offers Right to Work checks and Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks. The maker lists more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations, as well as an Open API for custom integrations. One referencing credit covers up to 10 references from one candidate; bulk discounts and subscriptions are available. RefNow Respond handles incoming references for former employees after candidate consent, then generates and sends a PDF report. RefNow is available on the web and through an API, and offers a 14-day trial.
Good
- Mobile-friendly questionnaires for referees
- Automated reminders and real-time request tracking
- Offers Right to Work and DBS checks
- Lists more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations
Watch out
- Pricing is credit-based, but no price is listed
- One credit covers references for a single candidate
- Data is stored in Europe
Who it suits
RefNow suits hiring teams that collect employment references and want request tracking, reminders, and reports. Its listed customer types include healthcare providers, recruitment agencies, retailers, and startups.
Verdict
RefNow brings reference collection, screening checks, and reporting into a web platform with API access. Teams should account for its per-candidate credit coverage when planning reference volume.
Plans and prices
From RefNow's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free account | Free | Five reference requests included for a new account |
| Paid version | £12.99, paid once | Free version and free trial also offered · One-time price shown by Software Advice |
| Digital ID/DBS Checks | Priced on request | Right-to-work verification · basic/enhanced DBS checks · reminders · downloadable PDF · audit trail · user/team management · Book a demo |
| RefNow Reference | Priced on request | Automated references · reminders · question profiles · fraud detection · audit trail · user/team management · talent pool · reporting · analytics · Bulk discounts and subscriptions available |
| RefNow Respond | Priced on request | Automated references · CSV upload · self-service requests · customizable PDF reports · instant reports · tenant/mortgage checks · HR/ATS integrations · analytics · Book a demo |
The facts
Each one read from RefNow's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audit trail
- Reference activity records text, email and phone-call attempts in one centralised delivery log.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Automated reference collection
- The platform sends automated email, SMS and phone reminders to candidates and referees and tracks responses.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Branding
- A paid custom-branding add-on supports custom text, logos, colours, email styling and PDF styling.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Credit limit
- One referencing credit allows collection of up to 10 references from a single candidate.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Custom questions
- Question profiles allow configurable reference questionnaires, and advanced setup is estimated at 30–60 minutes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data location
- The privacy policy says customer data is currently stored in Europe, with safeguards for overseas processing.checked 15 Oct 2026
- DBS checks
- Digital ID/DBS functionality includes Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks with downloadable PDF results.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The Help Centre contains workflow guides, Yoti identity-verification steps, browser troubleshooting and input-format articles.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Ex-employee references
- RefNow Inbound/Respond automates consent-based incoming reference requests for former employees and generates reports.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Fraud detection
- RefNow uses multiple data points and warning techniques to help detect fraudulent references.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integration examples
- Listed integrations include Greenhouse, Workable, Workday, Oracle HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, ADP Workforce Now, Okta and UKG Pro.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations and offers an Open API for custom integrations.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations count
- RefNow advertises more than 65 ATS and HRIS integrations.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Intended customers
- RefNow describes its customers as including healthcare providers, recruitment agencies, retailers, and startups.checked 5 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: country coverage
- A Software Advice reviewer found passport-verification functionality difficult to locate for countries outside the UK and Ireland.checked 15 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: occasional document issues
- GetApp reviewers mention occasional document-import formatting problems and needing an internet connection to access files.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: restrictive reference emails
- Reviewers report that personal referee email addresses may be blocked by the requesting organisation, limiting some legitimate referees.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- 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.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- RefNow lists its head office at 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, England, WC2H 9JQ.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The company identifies itself as RefNow Ltd, company number 12118557.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Founded and size
- LinkedIn lists RefNow as privately held, founded in 2019, headquartered in London and employing 2–10 people.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- London, England, UKchecked 28 Sep 2026
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