specification: API Commons Plans
specificationVersion: '0.1'
schema: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/interface-research/main/schema/api-commons.yml#/$defs/Plans
provider: Sterling
providerId: sterling-check
created: '2026-07-03'
modified: '2026-07-03'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Background Screening
- Identity Verification
- Compliance
- Gated API
- Plans
description: >-
  Sterling does not publish public, self-serve pricing for its background
  screening services or its API. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated with a
  Sterling (First Advantage) sales representative. Cost is driven by the
  screening products consumed - i.e., billed per background check / per screening
  package, with the price of each check depending on the products bundled
  (criminal searches, employment and education verifications, drug and health
  screening, identity verification, continuous monitoring) and the screening
  region (US, EMEA, Canada, APAC). The API itself is not separately metered; you
  are billed for the screenings you order through it. API access (Client ID and
  Client Secret) is provisioned on request as part of a customer relationship.
notes: >-
  Per-check rates are not publicly documented and vary by contract, volume,
  product mix, and region. Third-party downstream/passthrough fees (for example
  court access or verification fees) may apply on top of Sterling's own charges.
  Verify all pricing directly with a Sterling / First Advantage representative.
sources:
- https://www.sterlingcheck.com/services/api/
- https://apidocs.sterlingcheck.app/
- https://www.sterlingcheck.com/
plans:
- id: sterling-api-access
  name: API Access (Gated)
  type: gated
  description: >-
    Programmatic access to the Sterling API. Credentials (Client ID and Client
    Secret) are requested per screening region and issued for sandbox and
    production. There is no separate API subscription fee; you are billed for the
    screenings you order.
  entries:
  - label: API Access
    name: api_access
    type: flat
    metric: access
    limit: -1
    timeFrame: month
    geo: global
    unit: 1
    price: included with a Sterling screening account (credentials by request)
    userMultiplied: false
  elements:
  - name: OAuth2 Credentials
  - name: Sandbox Environment
  - name: Developer Portal
  - name: Webhook Callbacks
- id: sterling-per-screening
  name: Per-Screening (Usage)
  type: usage
  description: >-
    Billed per background check / screening ordered. The effective price depends
    on the package (which screening products it bundles) and the screening
    region. Rates are quote-based.
  entries:
  - label: Screenings Ordered
    name: screenings
    type: usage
    metric: screenings
    limit: -1
    timeFrame: month
    geo: global
    unit: 1
    price: quote-based per check (varies by package and region)
    userMultiplied: false
  elements:
  - name: Criminal Checks
  - name: Employment and Education Verifications
  - name: Drug and Health Screening
  - name: Identity Verification
  - name: Continuous / Recurring Monitoring
- id: sterling-enterprise
  name: Enterprise / Custom
  type: enterprise
  description: >-
    Negotiated agreements for high-volume screening programs, global/multi-region
    coverage, ATS/HRIS integrations, compliance workflows, SLAs, and volume
    pricing. Contact Sterling / First Advantage sales.
  entries:
  - label: Enterprise Agreement
    name: enterprise
    type: flat
    metric: contract
    limit: -1
    timeFrame: year
    geo: global
    unit: 1
    price: contact sales
    userMultiplied: false
  elements:
  - name: Volume Pricing
  - name: Multi-Region Coverage
  - name: Dedicated Support and SLAs
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com