Refapp
Refapp is a Nordic SaaS platform that automates digital reference checking and background screening for recruiters, serving 1,500+ enterprises, staffing firms, and public sector organizations across 34 countries with research-based questionnaires, ATS integrations, and benchmarking analytics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersGöteborg, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Refapp does
Refapp, operated by Swedish private limited company Talentwise AB, is a cloud-based SaaS platform that automates reference checking and background screening for recruitment processes. Founded in 2016 by Philip Sjögren and headquartered in Göteborg, the platform sends research-based, role-specific questionnaires to references, automates reminders and report generation, verifies reference identity via BankID, Freja ID, and Vipps, and flags suspected fraud through anomaly detection on IP, phone, and email signals. An add-on Background Checks module verifies identity, criminal history, finances, and education, while Refapp Insights benchmarks candidate responses against peers in similar roles.
The platform serves large enterprises, staffing and recruitment agencies, public sector organizations, and small-to-medium businesses, with named customers including Randstad, Manpower, Volvo Group, Polestar, Peab, Skanska, PostNord, Norion Bank, Lyko, Jula, Poolia, Teamtailor, Helsingborgs Stad, and Gävle Kommun. It integrates natively with leading Nordic ATS platforms such as Teamtailor, Jobylon, Visma, Talentech, Workable, and Intelliplan, and operates offices in Göteborg, Stockholm, Turku, Moss, and Toronto.
Refapp employs 30-32 people and uses a usage-based subscription pricing model with a 14-day free trial and consultative direct sales motion. The company reports 1,500+ customers across 34 countries, 50,000+ recruiter users, over 1 million checks conducted annually, and an NPS of 85. Certifications include ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, and GDPR-compliant processing with annual third-party penetration testing.
Refapp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Refapp
- Legal name
- Talentwise AB
- Website
- https://refapp.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Refapp is a Nordic SaaS platform that automates digital reference checking and background screening for recruiters, serving 1,500+ enterprises, staffing firms, and public sector organizations across 34 countries with research-based questionnaires, ATS integrations, and benchmarking analytics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Refapp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Göteborg
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Refapp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Platform Subscription / Usage-Based Licensing: Refapp operates on a usage-based subscription model where customers pay per use, with pricing adapted to the customer's needs and usage patterns. Both smaller actors and large organizations are accommodated.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Usage-based pricing adapted to customer needs and usage volume |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Refapp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Refapp is a cloud-based SaaS platform that automates digital reference checking and background screening for recruiters and hiring teams. The platform collects role-specific reference responses through automated questionnaires, verifies candidate identity via BankID/Freja ID/Vipps, performs digital background checks, and delivers structured, shareable reports with benchmarking — directly or via integrations with leading ATS systems.
Product overview
Refapp is a unified SaaS platform for digital reference checking and background verification. The core product is Digital Reference Checking with an optional Background Checks module and Refapp Insights benchmarking add-on. The platform operates as a standalone solution or integrates seamlessly with leading ATS platforms. Features include automated workflows, research-based role-specific questionnaires, fraud detection alerts, GDPR-compliant processes, and professional reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Digital Reference Checking Automated digital reference checking platform that sends role-specific questionnaires to references, collects structured responses, detects counterproductive work behaviors, and delivers professional shareable reports. Used by recruiters and HR teams in enterprises, staffing firms, and the public sector.
- Background Checks Digital background verification service covering identity, criminal history, financial information, and education credentials. GDPR-compliant with digital candidate consent; delivered standalone or via ATS/API integration, with most reports returned within hours.
- Refapp Insights Benchmarking add-on module that compares a candidate's reference responses against other candidates who applied for similar roles, providing data-driven context for scores and risk indicators across roles.
Quantifiable outcome
- 359 hours saved — nearly 9 weeks of full-time work — in one summer recruitment of 500 temporary workers (Helsingborgs Stad)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Refapp
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Refapp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability4 records
Feature13 records
Refapp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TeamtailorcoreRefapp integrates seamlessly with Teamtailor's ATS, allowing customers to initiate reference checks directly from Teamtailor with a single click. Teamtailor also uses Refapp internally for its own global recruitment across 23 countries.
- JobyloncoreIntegration partner enabling reference checks to be initiated from the Jobylon recruitment platform. Lyko uses this integration for large-scale recruitment reference checking.
- Visma (Recruit/Talent Solutions)coreIntegration partner enabling reference checks directly from Visma's recruitment system. Used by Gävle Kommun for their recruitment processes.
- Talentech (HR Manager)coreIntegration partner (Talentech / HR Manager by Talentech) enabling direct reference checking from their ATS platform.
- WorkablecoreIntegration partner enabling reference checks directly from the Workable ATS platform.
- IntelliplancoreIntegration partner. Poolia uses Intelliplan integrated with Refapp for their recruitment operations.
- FairsightminorStrategic partner for webinars on faking in recruitment and reliable candidate data. Collaborated on a webinar exploring research on manipulation of tests, CVs, and interview responses.
- TrustcruitminorGuest on RecTalks podcast episode #35 to discuss data utilization in Talent Acquisition and HR.
- AdwayminorGuest on RecTalks podcast episode #32 discussing social recruitment marketing and candidate experience across platforms.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Refapp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RefNow: APAC-based automated reference checking platform with growing international presence. Comparable product offering targeting recruiters seeking faster, structured reference collection.
- HireRight: Global background-screening provider covering criminal, identity, education, and employment checks. Overlaps directly with Refapp's Background Checks module and competes for the same enterprise hiring customers.
- SkillSurvey: US SaaS for online reference checking and credentialing with research-based questionnaires. Closest US-side analog to Refapp's research-driven, role-specific questionnaire approach.
- Checkr: US-based AI-driven background check platform expanding into Europe. Competes with Refapp in the broader pre-employment screening category, particularly for high-volume enterprise and staffing customers.
- Xref: Australia-headquartered SaaS platform for digital reference checking, with global expansion. Closest direct competitor to Refapp in terms of product, automated workflow, and target customer (recruiters and HR teams).
- Trustcruit: European reference-checking SaaS focused on data-driven candidate verification. Direct peer offering a similar automated reference workflow and even referenced in Refapp's own ecosystem partnerships.
- Sterling: Global background-screening and identity-verification provider serving enterprises and staffing firms. Comparable in scale and regulatory rigor, competing for similar enterprise RPO and staffing accounts.
- Veremark: Digital background-checking SaaS covering employment, education, criminal, and reference verification. Direct competitor to Refapp's combined reference + background check offering for global hiring teams.
Broad incumbents
- Workday: Global enterprise HR and HCM platform with built-in talent acquisition capabilities. Could bundle reference/background workflows into its suite, representing an incumbent threat to standalone vendors like Refapp.
- HiBob: Mid-market HR platform popular in European tech and growth companies. Overlaps indirectly via adjacent HR workflows and could expand into reference checking as it broadens its talent suite.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Refapp social profiles
Digital presenceRefapp compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Refapp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Refapp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Refapp subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Refapp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Refapp M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Refapp
What does Refapp do?
Refapp is a cloud-based SaaS platform that automates digital reference checking and background screening for recruiters and hiring teams. The platform collects role-specific reference responses through automated questionnaires, verifies candidate identity via BankID/Freja ID/Vipps, performs digital background checks, and delivers structured, shareable reports with benchmarking — directly or via integrations with leading ATS systems.
Is Refapp a public or private company?
Refapp is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Refapp founded?
Refapp was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Refapp based?
Refapp is headquartered in Göteborg, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Refapp make money?
One revenue line is on record: platform Subscription / Usage-Based Licensing.
Who are Refapp's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RefNow, HireRight, SkillSurvey, Checkr, Xref, Trustcruit, Sterling and Veremark. Broad incumbents are Workday and HiBob.
Does Refapp have an API?
Yes. Background checks are processed via API, enabling direct integration with customer ATS systems. Most background check results are delivered directly via API connection within a few hours. The platform allows customers to initiate background checks and receive reports through API integration with their recruitment systems.