Imagine having the ability to uncover vital information about anyone with just a few clicks.
January 6, 2025
People search sites offer this power, providing access to everything from contact details to criminal records. According to the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA), 95% of US employers conduct employee background screening for potential hires.
To help you navigate people search sites, we've put together this guide based on my experience as an HR professional specializing in background check screening. We've assessed the best free and paid people search platforms, focusing on usability and compliance with privacy regulations.
Our expert picks will help you find the information you need while respecting privacy standards. Keep reading to discover the top people lookup sites.
» Check out our best phone number lookup sites & services.
Our review team, consisting of data analysis professionals and consumer advocates, evaluated various people search sites using direct testing and comprehensive research.
They incorporated user feedback, scholarly research, customer reviews, and industry insights to determine the best people lookup platforms. The team assessed each platform based on the following criteria:
With access to over 6,000 data sources, PeopleFinders has helped users search billions of records spanning the last 40+ years. In addition to basic contact information, it offers detailed background checks, including criminal records, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and court records in its Premium Membership.
Why we chose PeopleFinders: If you're receiving frequent unknown calls, the reverse phone search allows you to identify the mysterious caller. Once you've identified the perpetrator, you can block them to avoid unwanted interruptions. The platform also offers a $9.95 intro special for both subscription options.
Our experience: We were very impressed with the address lookup feature when planning a surprise party for a coworker. We used it to find and contact friends they had mentioned before. The process was simple and straightforward, and the addresses were accurate.
Pros
Cons
Read full PeopleFinders review
BeenVerified combines several searches into one report, including phone, email, and address lookup. This simplifies the process if you need someone's detailed information quickly.
The platform also provides criminal record checks, helping you stay informed about an individual's legal past. This is crucial for maintaining security, as about one in three American adults has a criminal record,
Why we chose BeenVerified: Its asset search feature allows you to uncover someone's property ownership, making it a valuable tool for conducting financial background checks. This is particularly useful for investors who want to confirm someone's financial stability before engaging in business transactions.
Our experience: We recently checked our employees' work histories and licenses with BeenVerified. It was incredibly reassuring to see firsthand that everyone's qualifications were legitimate. This tool is invaluable for gauging the honesty of coworkers and clients.
Pros
Cons
TruthFinder lets you search hidden areas of the internet, uncovering in-depth details about people, like their chat room activity and passport numbers. The self-monitoring deep web feature can help you maintain your privacy. It tracks your online presence and notifies you if your credentials are compromised.
Why we chose TruthFinder: TruthFinder's interactive maps use visual aids to display addresses associated with your search subjects, making it easier to understand their locations at a glance. This feature is perfect for visual learners and researchers who prefer information presented in a different format.
Our experience: We used TruthFinder to verify the contact details of a job applicant. We were happy to see that it provided extensive contact details, including phone numbers and email addresses, that matched what he gave us.
Pros
Cons
PeopleLooker provides a searchable database of combined public records from numerous sources. Its mobile app is useful for conducting a background check on someone while traveling. It's also handy if you’re a busy professional who needs flexibility in accessing information.
The customer-focused service ensures you get what you pay for without hidden fees or misleading tactics. The company doesn't conceal information behind escalating paywalls.
Why we chose PeopleLooker: It delivers rapid search results, which is perfect when you need quick information. The interface is user-friendly, with a simple design and large print. This makes navigation easy, even for those with limited tech skills or vision impairments.
Our experience: We turned to PeopleLooker to find the social media profiles of our coworker's potential new roommates. It was a surprisingly practical way to learn more about their online presence.
Pros
Cons
» Learn what causes a red flag when doing a background check.
Intelius offers a reverse email lookup feature to verify email addresses. This tool is particularly helpful for companies that want to connect with professional contacts. Verifying email addresses can prevent fraud and ensure your communications are legitimate.
Plus, it has a public data suppression tool, demonstrating its commitment to accurate information and helping you combat misinformation.
Why we chose Intelius: With a people search membership, you can try the reverse phone feature for five days at $0.95. You can also trial address lookups for seven days at the same price. These are great options if you want more detailed reports on a budget.
Our experience: We found that real estate investors and those curious about property ownership can benefit from Intelius’ Property Records service. This feature gives information on a person's asset ownership and address history to help investors make purchasing decisions.
Pros
Cons
Instant Checkmate searches millions of national records, including traffic violations, criminal offenses, and arrest reports, providing you with clear insights into a person's background.
Whether you want to find an old friend's contact information or ensure your community's safety by identifying registered sex offenders, this platform supports your needs. You can easily access mugshots of registered sex offenders in your area, empowering you to stay informed and prioritize safety.
Why we chose Instant Checkmate: Instant Checkmate allows you to search for names, criminal records, and government watchlist status. You can find out if agencies are monitoring an individual and the reason why they're on a watchlist. 256-bit encryption ensures your searches remain confidential, so you can investigate without raising suspicions.
Our experience: We appreciated that Instant Checkmate includes an inmate checker among its services. This thoughtful feature allows previous victims to monitor inmates' location and release dates across the US.
Pros
Cons
Read full Instant Checkmate review
US Search is one of the first online public record search tools and started out in 1995 as a way to find old friends and relatives. It now uses millions of federal, state, and county databases to aid the search efforts of individuals and legal teams.
It compiles everything from a person's social media presence to their car's VIN number into one detailed report. The service is affordable, offering unlimited searches for a reasonable monthly fee.
Why we chose US Search: US Search helps you connect the dots by expanding your search to include a person's network. When available, the platform shows you your search subject's friends, relatives, and neighbors, providing a more comprehensive picture.
Our experience: We tested US Search's robust asset search feature by attempting to estimate a coworker's net worth. The tool revealed her vehicle history and ownership of a small apartment, allowing us to make an educated guess about her overall assets.
Pros
Cons
Lets you try out premium search features for just $1
Whitepages is a trusted people-finding service with more than 30 million monthly customers. It uses algorithmic search technology to refine your results. Instead of throwing a bunch of outdated data at you, it verifies that email addresses are active and deliverable. To ensure your anonymity, it offers the Hide My Email feature to generate a unique account for its services.
Why we chose Whitepages: Unlike other services that offer limited "free" services without real value, Whitepages offers a 5-day trial at just $1. With it, you'll gain access to phone numbers, emails, addresses, and property information.
Our experience: We chose Whitepages' premium package for its Speed Search feature. We could effortlessly upload a list of names and instantly receive multiple reports, saving us valuable time.
Pros
Cons
Spokeo stands out for its massive database. It pulls over 12 billion data records from over 5000 distinct public sources. Spokeo expanded beyond public government records to include eCommerce, networking, and dating site data. This has made it a favorite service tool for people in real estate, law enforcement, and debt collection.
Why we chose Spokeo: Its sophisticated search engine uncovers a new level of personal details. Under wealth data, you can see a person's investments and even their estimated salary.
Our experience: We found Spokeo to be the ideal date preparation tool. It compiles extensive personal details, like hobbies and interests. It even uncovers social media, gaming, and music accounts. With Spokeo, you'll be well-equipped to navigate any first-date conversation.
Pros
Cons
» Find out why you should do background checks when dating online.
Offers free API integration for sales intelligence
TruePeopleSearch is an outstanding tool for finding people and learning more about them—all for free. It pulls information from more than 6000 data sources and it's all refreshed daily, making it as accurate as any paid service. Its user-friendly interface and extensive database make it a top choice for anyone looking to conduct people searches without any cost.
Why we chose TruePeopleSearch: We chose TruePeopleSearch for its free API access to over 120 billion records. The API can be used for contact enrichment and sales or marketing intelligence. You get 100 matches monthly with no setup, monthly fees, or contracts.
Our experience: We really liked that none of our own data was at risk while using the services. There are no accounts and no sign-up or login forms. It also uses SSL encryption to ensure you can find people safely and privately.
Pros
Cons
Best People Search Sites - Free and Paid
Best for
Pricing
Searches offered
Smartphone apps
Free version
PeopleFinders
Finding family members and associates linked to a person
From $24.95/month
Background, people, criminal background, reverse phone number, address, reverse
Android and iOS
Yes
BeenVerified
Finding associated social media profiles
From $19.49/month
People, reverse phone number, background, address, email, property, white pages
Android and iOS
No
TruthFinder
Managing your digital footprint
From $23.52/month
People, reverse phone, background, reverse address, public records, reverse email, dark web
Android and iOS
No
PeopleLooker
Receiving notifications when reports change
From $19.19/month
People, phone numbers, relatives, addresses, criminal records, email, photos, court records, property, B2B, unclaimed money, background
Android and iOS
No
Intelius
Searching nearby sex offenders
From $21.35/month
People, reverse phone, background, public records, criminal, traffic, reverse address, people directory, phone directory, trending names
Android and iOS
No
Instant Checkmate
Verifying inmate release dates
From $35.7/month
Person, birth information, phone numbers, criminal records, traffic records, court records, phone reports
Android
No
US Search
Compiling an individual's asset value
From $59/month
Addresses, phone numbers, social media profiles, email addresses, criminal, arrest, traffic records, assets, employment history, financial information, bankruptcies, and civil judgments
No
No
Whitepages
Verifying currently active emails
From $5.99
Android and iOS
No
Spokeo
Accessing over 12 billion data records
From $19.95/month
People finder, reverse phone lookup, reverse email lookup, court records, criminal records, sex offender records, marriage and divorce records, family history lookup, work and wealth data.
Android
Yes
TruePeopleSearch
Finding detailed personal information for free
Free
Name search, phone search, address search, email search, reverse phone lookup, reverse address lookup.
iOS
Yes
This online tool or website allows you to search for and find information about individuals. These services typically aggregate data from various public and private sources to compile profiles on people, including their contact information, addresses, social media profiles, and other publicly available details.
Most people search finders require you to input basic information about the person you're searching for, such as their name, location, or age. The service scans multiple databases and returns relevant information about the individual from public records, social media profiles, and other online sources.
People search finders may provide information with varying levels of accuracy and completeness. Depending on their sources, some services offer more comprehensive or current data.
To ensure you get the most accurate and up-to-date information, choose a people search site that uses reliable sources like government records and verified online profiles. Top providers, like PeopleFinders and BeenVerified, invest in thorough data checks and have features that improve your search experience.
When evaluating your options, consider factors such as data quality, scope, and transparency. This will help you find a dependable people search site that delivers the information you need.
» Learn more about the do's and don'ts of background checks here.
What's the most accurate people search?
The most accurate people search services access extensive, up-to-date databases. Top services like TruthFinder, Intelius, and BeenVerified gather information from public records, social media, and other sources for detailed reports. These sites maintain high accuracy through regular data updates.
What's the best way to search for a person?
The best way to search for a person is to use a combination of online tools and resources. Look up their name with keywords like hometown, age, workplace, or phone number. Public records databases and government websites can also provide valuable data, like legal information.
Is there a 100% free people search?
Yes, Unmask and That'sThem offer 100% free people search services. You can browse public records about individuals without charges, making them accessible options if you're on a budget.
How do people search sites get your information?
People search services gather information from various public and private sources, like property records, courts, marriage licenses, and social media profiles. Additionally, some sites purchase data from third-party companies specializing in collecting and selling personal information.
Are people search sites accurate?
People search sites can vary in accuracy depending on the site and its sources. It also depends on your search subject’s presence in public records and online databases. However, regardless of how accurate the information seems, it's wise to verify the details from multiple sources.
Dustin contributes to Top10.com as a seasoned technical recruiter. By drawing from his experiences with tech giants like Lyft and Google, he offers insights into effective background checks and the importance of secure hiring practices.