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The Best Background Check Services

Where Can You Get the Best Background Checks ?

In today's digital age, having access to reliable background checks can be incredibly valuable. Whether you're curious about a new neighbor, considering a potential romantic partner, or verifying the credentials of a childcare provider, a background check can provide peace of mind. But first, let's get on the same page about what background checks are.

Background checks are comprehensive reports that compile various public records and data about an individual. These checks can include information such as identity verification (names, aliases, relatives), contact information (current and previous), social media profiles and activity, criminal records, court records, employment history (past and current), and education verification (degrees earned and schools attended).

Saturday, February 15th

2025 Background Check Service Reviews

SpyFly  Review Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award 5 Star Rating

SpyFly

5 Star Rating Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

SpyFly is everything you could want in a background check service: the pricing is straightforward, the search interface is quick and accurate, and over 1,000 people have given this company a 5-star rating. Even more, SpyFly doesn't make you wade through screen after screen of progress bars or try to draw you in with what "might” be on your target's report. "A” rated by the Better Business Bureau, SpyFly has a reputation we can get behind, and we're pleased to give this background check platform our own perfect score.

Find Out The Truth Review 4 Star Rating

Find Out The Truth

4 Star Rating

Find Out The Truth does background checks that are all handled by a licensed private investigator with at least five years of experience, setting it apart from automated online services. With over 20 years in business and an "A+" rating from the BBB, this company offers a variety of background check options, including international searches and FCRA compliant reports. Prices range from $9.95 to $299.95 per report, and results may even be available same-day. While thorough, Find Out The Truth lacks extensive customer feedback and has minimal social media presence. Although we'd like to see more in that department, we still give Find Out The Truth a high rating as a great option if you need a detailed, professional background check with a la carte pricing and no annoying subscriptions to cancel.

US Search Review 3.5 Star Rating

US Search

3.5 Star Rating

Since 1994, US Search has worked to connect people with one another, often through reverse address and phone lookups. It's the highest-ranked of the four PeopleConnect platforms on our list, and the least expensive at $19.86/month for unlimited reports. While we're glad that the overall feedback from US Search users is positive, including an "A+” rating from the BBB, we're not convinced that this platform is different enough from its sister sites to earn a higher rating. Check out the higher-ranked background check services on our list before you commit to US Search.

Intelius Review 3 Star Rating

Intelius

3 Star Rating

As one of four services offered under the PeopleConnect umbrella, Intelius is one of the better of that bunch. Initial search results are more accurate than two of its sister platforms, and customer service seems to be more responsive. You'll still have to wade through an unreasonably long process to get to your reports, and many users say you should expect disappointment in the results once you've paid for them. However, an "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB is enough to keep Intelius off the bottom of the barrel.

Truthfinder Review 2 Star Rating

Truthfinder

2 Star Rating

PeopleConnect is the company behind four of the background check services on our list, and TruthFinder is one of them. Like its "sisters”, this service will lure you in with tempting tidbits that might match the person you're searching for, but users say that the end result is almost always lacking in detail, outdated, or just plain incorrect. While you could take advantage of the 5-day trial for just a dollar, people say that canceling before the subscription automatically kicks in or renews is problematic.

Info Tracer Review 2 Star Rating

Info Tracer

2 Star Rating

Reputation-wise, InfoTracer is a great option for background checks. You won't find hundreds of people rushing to the BBB to claim that this is a scam: you'll get what you pay for, and lots of users have praise for the helpful, available 24/7 customer service team at this company. However, when it came to the subject of our background check, InfoTracer fell flat on its face when almost every other service on our list correctly identified the individual (and some even found him under both known aliases). You could try InfoTracer for $2.95 and see if it delivers what you need during that one-week trial, but our results (or lack thereof) have resulted in a below-average rating from us.

Spokeo Review 2 Star Rating

Spokeo

2 Star Rating

Spokeo is one of the most user-friendly background check platforms we've found. You won't be bombarded with flashing lights and "Did you know??” messaging here: just enter what you know of who you're searching for, and in just a minute or two, you'll see what Spokeo comes up with. It's really affordable to give it a try, at just $0.95 for a 7-day trial (which includes the report for the person you searched for). But, Spokeo absolutely missed the mark with our test case, when many rival platforms had no problem showing us the right person (and several others with the same name).

Instant Checkmate Review 1.5 Star Rating

Instant Checkmate

1.5 Star Rating

Instant Checkmate is in the same family of sites as US Search, Intelius, and TruthFinder, but winds up lower on our list. Why? Despite offering an enticing 5-day trial for just $1, this particular platform has earned more than 1,000 one-star reviews, and people say that it's almost impossible to cancel before the trial ends. The reports aren't thorough enough, and the process of even running the initial search can take up to 20 minutes. We've dropped Instant Checkmate even further in our ratings.

PeopleFinders Review 1.5 Star Rating

PeopleFinders

1.5 Star Rating

PeopleFinders used to be one of our favorite background check services. There's no arguing that they've been around a long time (since 1999) and they give you a good preview of each person that might be a match to the one you're researching, including known aliases, relatives, age, and location. But, not only did PeopleFinders fail to identify our test case individual, but it also has a really bad reputation (including an "F” from the Better Business Bureau) for shady billing tactics. We strongly recommend looking at the more reliable background check platforms in our evaluation and skipping PeopleFinders.

BeenVerified Review 1 Star Rating

BeenVerified

1 Star Rating

BeenVerified has been providing background checks for almost 20 years from its headquarters in NYC. In theory, you'll have access to the standard panorama of information here: addresses, criminal records, reverse phone searches, property records, and so on. However, BeenVerified requires you to pay for a week-long trial or a monthly plan before showing you anything they might have about the person you're searching for. Those costs have gone up recently, and many people have complained to the BBB about being roped into a long-term subscription while getting lackluster (or inaccurate) information in the reports. BeenVerified remains at the bottom of our list for background check services.

Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Accessing these reports has never been easier. There are many services that pull from a wide range of databases, including criminal records, court documents, and public records. The more sources they check, the more accurate and thorough the report will be, and it goes much further than what you'll get with a basic Google search.

But, these searches don't come for free. The cost of running a background check can vary widely depending on the depth of the information and the service provider. Basic checks that include identity verification and contact information can be relatively inexpensive, often ranging from $10 to $30. More comprehensive checks that include criminal records, court documents, and employment history can cost between $50 and $100. Fortunately, many services offer subscription plans, allowing you to run multiple checks per month for one monthly fee (usually under $30).

While background checks can be incredibly useful, there are some common pitfalls to be aware of. First, take results with a grain of salt. Public records can contain errors, and common names can lead to incorrect matches. Always verify critical information through multiple sources if possible. There are also legal limitations to be aware of: the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) restricts the use of background checks for employment, tenant screening, insurance underwriting, and other purposes without explicit permission. Be sure that you are using background checks legally and ethically.

With all of that in mind, are you ready to start digging? Here are some helpful criteria you can use to choose a background check service:

  • Comprehensive data sources. Make sure that the service pulls from a wide range of databases, including criminal records, court documents, and public records. The more sources they check, the more accurate and thorough the report will be.
  • Accuracy and reliability. Look for reviews and ratings to gauge the accuracy and reliability of the provider. Some services are known for more accurate data, while others may have outdated or incomplete information.
  • User-friendly interface. The background check service should have an easy-to-navigate website or app that allows you to quickly input information and receive reports.
  • Cost and value. Some background check platforms may advertise low initial costs but have hidden fees for accessing full reports or premium features. Read the fine print and understand the total cost before committing.

To help you get the right background check service and avoid any potential pitfalls, the super-sleuths at Top Consumer Reviews have tested out some of today's most well-known providers. Investing in a good background check platform can be a worthwhile expense to give you that added peace of mind in your personal and professional life. Now get out there and see what you can find out!

The Best Background Check Services Compare Background Check Services Compare Background Check Service Reviews What are the best Background Check Services Best Background Check Service Reviews

Background Check Service FAQ

The information provided by a background check is determined by the service you select. Common details include traffic offenses and arrest records, known addresses and phone numbers, property ownership and court cases. Some of the more thorough services even attempt to track social media profiles and look for the individual's presence on the Dark Web.
That also depends on which provider you use to run the check. Most services make it more affordable to pay for a month of access than to run a one-off report. For example, one service charges $29.95 for a single background check, but $29.89 for a month of unlimited reports! You can take advantage of the longer subscription terms to research to your heart's content!
There are lots of reasons you might want to do a background check. Maybe you're in charge of a membership list that has outdated information and you need to track down the new contact details for a few people. Or you might be curious about your new neighbors and want to get some insights before you reach out (though, honestly, that might be a little creepy!). Background checks can also give you some peace of mind if you're into the online dating thing, to make sure that seemingly nice man or woman really is who they say they are before you meet in person.
Usually just a few minutes. You'll enter the information you have, like name and any known addresses, and then you might be asked to provide other details or confirm preliminary results as a match.
Absolutely! It's a great way to determine what someone else might find if they check YOU out! It can also give you a heads-up if you're going to have a background check done for some official purpose, like applying to be a foster parent or for a job that requires one. If you find something in your results that's inaccurate, it gives you time to get it fixed or to prepare an explanation for your agency or prospective employer.
Yes. You may not use consumer background check services to gather information to make decisions about tenant screening, insurance, employment or consumer credit. These all require FCRA-compliant platforms, which typically involve the consent of the person being screened. If you need a background check for any of these purposes, be sure to choose a service specifically designed to be legal and compliant.
This varies widely by service. Some providers really go to great lengths to return accurate results, while others seem to just scour the internet and dump every remotely-possible match they find. It's a good idea to read reviews and check out a background check provider's reputation before paying to run reports.
Most of the time, there isn't. However, many background check services give you a free trial, ranging from a day or two to a full week. Who knows, you might even be able to get the information you were looking for in that timespan and not need to continue on as a paid subscriber!
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The Best Reviews of Background Check Services