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1 Reviews

SentryLink Background Check Review 2026

Dave Platt
David Platt is an expert in background check and data management, with vast experience in military access credentials through SureID, a biometric security provider. His understanding of internet security has been enriched by a Bachelor of Science degree at Portland State University. Recognized for his deep expertise, David contributes insightful articles for top10.com.
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June 27, 2025

2 min

sentrylink
Price
$19.95 per report
Reports offered
Criminal history & SSN trace
Cancelation policy
No subscription/auto‑renew

In a Nutshell

SentryLink is a Maryland based background screening service with more than a decade of experience in job applicant screening and general background check services. The company focuses on criminal background and driving records. SentryLink covers the majority of the United States along with the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

SentryLink Pros & Cons

Pros

One simple price
Reports are generated quickly

Cons

No discount for multiple reports
Information is not sorted chronologically
sentrylink

SentryLink at a Glance

8.6
Editorial Score

Cost

$19.95 per background and driving records report, $7 SNN validation. All prices per report with no monthly or annual fees
8.0

Reports

Criminal background for potential employees, volunteers, or tenants as well as driving records report and SSN Trace and Validation
9.0

Confidentiality

Account information stored securely, provides background information from public records with choice to opt-out of their database
8.0

Customer Support

Support available Monday-Friday, 9am to 6pm Eastern by phone or email with online resources and FAQ
8.0

BBB Rating

BBB accredited with A+ rating and minimal customer complaints
10.0

Available Searches

Search InquiriesServicesAccuracy Grade
Background SearchVA
People SearchxN/A
Criminal Background SearchVA-
Reverse Phone Number SearchxN/A
Reverse Email SearchxN/A
  • Background Search

Built upon the social security number tracing tool, SentryLink’s background search function is an exhaustive aggregator which pulls a wealth of useful information from databases around North America. The search returns information including names, associated names, and a full address history for the target.

  • Criminal Background Search

The criminal background check included in the SentryLink toolkit is a nationwide analysis of the criminal record of any given candidate. With the right information, SentryLink can search a number of databases maintained at the county and federal levels. The report will provide standard background check information including date, record number, description and sentencing information for each individual offence. . Individual comments and release descriptions are also held on file and can be included in the report.

Case Study

To assess the validity and accuracy of SentryLink’s services we attempted to find the information about its Chief Information Officer Frank McLean. Unfortunately, SentryLink doesn’t offer free trials or basic search facilities to non-paying customers, and we were unable to run a search. The tool is designed for use at a personal or corporate level. This means that in order to conduct a search one has to be in possession of a piece of the target’s private data, such as drivers license number or social security number. If you do sign up for a membership, you can expect the search to be conducted simply and easily. With the data based nature of the system, results will appear within seconds.

Fees

  • National Criminal Background Check: $19.95
  • Driving Records: $19.95
  • SSN Trace and Validation: $7.00

If you are looking for a more in-depth report, and one that focuses on an individual's legal history, a single criminal background check report may be purchased for $19.95. Despite not having a free trial or membership opportunity, discounts are available for corporate or high volume checks. Additionally, driving records are available from $19.95 to $31.95 depending on the state. The SSN Trace and validation service is available for $7.00.

Methodology

SentryLink doesn’t offer any verification features which means that the majority of its reports are available instantaneously. Social Security Traces (Background Checks) consult a national database and will return basic information (names, addresses etc.) on the same day they are ordered. More extensive information including the property/driving records may require up to three business days for the SentryLink research team to fully analyze.

Reliability

SentryLink has a long history of delivering fast and accurate reports to clients around North, South, and Central America. With more than 500 million records in the criminal database, aggregated from federal records, the SentryLink data is unrivalled in its clarity. Online reviews of the Maryland-based background check company are almost universally positive, and commend the service for its no-nonsense approach to reporting. Only the most relevant and useful information is included within the clients’ reports.

Safety & Security

SentryLink is a company with a long history of ensuring data security and client confidentiality. The website is protected by a Deluxe SSL certificate, affording the data portal an incredible level of encryption security to ensure that no data can be leaked or intercepted. All customers are given private credentials for account access.

Customer Support

The automated nature of SentryLink’s reports ensures a smooth and hassle-free process though the customer support team is available to assist with problems between 9am - 6pm (EST). E-mail is the quickest and most effective method to reach customer service through a support ticket system. The company also maintains a retail outlet in Greenbelt Maryland with a reliable customer service team.

Bottom Line

SentryLink is one of the oldest and most successful background screening agencies on the internet. The crowning feature of the Maryland-based outfit is the Criminal Background Check, though the Social Security Trace and Driving Records are also comprehensive systems. The SentryLink website might look a little dated to modern users but it runs on a powerful engine that delivers excellent results.

sentrylink
Dave Platt

David Platt is an expert in background check and data management, with vast experience in military access credentials through SureID, a biometric security provider. His understanding of internet security has been enriched by a Bachelor of Science degree at Portland State University. Recognized for his deep expertise, David contributes insightful articles for top10.com.

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Trustpilot reviews
See what some customers are saying about SentryLink
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Spiro Bogdanos
1 year ago
I've been waiting 3 months for an…
I've been waiting 3 months for an employment background check. Every time I contact customer service, they just say that orders are not refundable, there is no estimated time for completion of my order, and that I can stop my background check early with no refund if I want to see what has been done so far. So in my experience, this is the definition of a scam. They took my money for an order they can not deliver, and refuse to provide a refund or resolution. Here is a copy of my order page: "Your order id is xxxxxxx and your order was placed at 2024-09-30. 57 business days have elapsed since your order. (Reports placed on weekends, or weekdays after 4pm Eastern, are considered as starting the next business day.) We have received some information that may affect delivery time for this report: 10/4/2024 6:27:06 AM Dear valued client, we have reached out to the court for an ETA. They are not able to provide an exact date at this time, but your report is being processed. Thank you for your patience while we work with our external partners. 10/30/2024 6:38:58 AM Dear valued client, we have reached out to the court for an ETA. They are not able to provide an exact date at this time, but your report is being processed. Thank you for your patience while we work with our external partners. 11/25/2024 6:45:51 AM Dear valued client, we have reached out to the court for an ETA. They are not able to provide an exact date at this time, but your report is being processed. Thank you for your patience while we work with our external partners. 12/23/2024 6:47:50 AM Dear valued client, we have reached out to the court for an ETA. They are not able to provide an exact date at this time, but your report is being processed. Thank you for your patience while we work with our external partners. We are working on your report. Once we have finished, we will send a notification to the e-mail we have on file for you."