Last updated: July 23, 2026
Looking for a myBackCheck Alternative?
myBackCheck is Sterling Backcheck’s candidate platform, and it earns its place: when an employer runs its screening program through Sterling, candidates complete their checks there and results flow to the organization automatically. If that is your situation, use the link your employer sent you. This page is for everyone else.
Plenty of people need a criminal record check without an employer-side platform attached: a landlord asked for one, a licensing body wants one on file, a volunteer role requires it, or you simply want to see what a check reports before someone else orders one. Instant Record Check serves that situation directly: the same RCMP and CPIC data, results typically in about 15 minutes, at a published price.
Instant Record Check vs. myBackCheck: Key Differences
| Feature | Instant Record Check | myBackCheck (Sterling) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Published: $59.97 CRC / $66.97 CRJMC | Set at checkout, varies by check type |
| Speed | Typically about 15 minutes | Typically minutes to days, by check type |
| Who it serves | Individuals and SMBs directly | Candidates of employers screening through Sterling |
| Result delivery | To you, to share as you choose | Through the Sterling platform to the requesting organization |
| B2B option | Self-serve portal, no contracts | Enterprise screening programs |
| Data source | RCMP/CPIC | RCMP/CPIC via police partners |
Why People Choose IRC for Self-Serve Checks
The result belongs to you. A check you order yourself arrives in your hands, and you decide who sees it: attach it to a rental application, a licensing file, or three different job applications. Nothing sits inside an employer’s screening pipeline.
Published pricing, no platform account to maintain. $59.97 for a CRC, $66.97 for a CRJMC, paid per check. There is no ongoing account ecosystem to manage after your result is delivered.
Small organizations get the direct route. Sterling’s platform is built around employer screening programs. A five-person company that just needs two candidates checked can use the IRC business portal with no volume commitments and no enterprise onboarding.
Services Available
- Criminal Record Check (CRC) — From $59.97
- Criminal Record & Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) — From $66.97
- Vulnerable Sector Checks — police-issued only; our guide explains when one is required and how to apply
- Reference Checks — Professional reference verification services
What Our Users Say
“I recently found out this existed and it made our lives so much easier. We use it for all our volunteer applicants.” — Tracy Millard
“I had to get a criminal record check done during covid and this process was safe and easy from the comfort of my home.” — Alicia Jordan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Instant Record Check the same as myBackCheck?
No. myBackCheck is the candidate screening platform operated by Sterling Backcheck, a First Advantage company, and Instant Record Check is a separate, unaffiliated Canadian provider. Both run criminal record checks; the companies, platforms, and pricing are entirely independent.
My employer told me to use myBackCheck. Can I use Instant Record Check instead?
Follow your employer's instructions. When an organization runs its screening through Sterling, your results need to flow through their platform, so use the link they sent you. Instant Record Check is the right tool when you are getting a check on your own initiative or your employer accepts a result you provide.
How does pricing compare?
Instant Record Check publishes its prices: $59.97 for a Criminal Record Check and $66.97 for a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, paid per check with no account required beyond the application. myBackCheck pricing is set in its platform at checkout and varies by check type.
Instant Record Check Team
Writing on criminal record checks and background screening in Canada.