TechRadar Verdict
If you’re conducting a lot of social media searches and delving into the depths of the internet, then TruthFinder could be a solid choice for you. It offers unlimited searches with all payment plans but can be slow at times.
Pros
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Unlimited phone and address lookups
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Unlimited background checks
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Ability to refine your search
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Up-to-date information
Cons
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No free trial option
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Expensive memberships
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Searches take too long
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Limited support options
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TruthFinder is a comprehensive online service that allows users to search through extensive databases, including public records maintained by various government agencies as well as social media profiles. By utilizing advanced algorithms, the platform effectively sifts through an immense volume of data to deliver detailed reports on the individuals you’re researching. This capability can be particularly useful in a variety of reasonable situations, such as verifying the identity of a prospective neighbor, reconnecting with an old friend, or gathering information relevant to personal safety.
However, it is crucial to understand the ethical guidelines surrounding the use of TruthFinder. The service is not intended for conducting employee background checks, tenant screenings, or verifying consumer credit information. Furthermore, users must adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which prohibits using such platforms for any purpose that could infringe upon an individual’s privacy or rights.
Think of TruthFinder as a streamlined resource for accessing publicly available information that can otherwise be cumbersome to compile independently. The data it aggregates comes from reliable and authorized sources, ensuring that users can trust the integrity of the information provided. According to the company's claims, these sources are regularly updated, allowing for the removal of inaccuracies and ensuring that users receive the most accurate and relevant information possible.
Here’s a look at how we liked TruthFinder.
TruthFinder: plans and pricing
TruthFinder provides a variety of flexible pricing options tailored to different user needs, making it accessible for anyone seeking detailed information about individuals.
1. People Search Subscription: For comprehensive searches, the monthly subscription is priced at **$28.33**. Opting for a bi-monthly subscription will cost you **$47.03**, which breaks down to **$23.52 per month**. This plan grants you access to a wealth of data, offering unlimited person reports and location reports. You'll receive insights into social media profiles, location history, and much more, ensuring you're equipped with thorough information.
2. Reverse Phone Lookup: If your primary interest lies in contacting someone via their phone number or obtaining limited personal details, the Reverse Phone Lookup plan is available for just $4.99 per month. This economical option proves invaluable if you're specifically seeking someone's employment history, as well as email and phone information associated with that number, providing you with targeted results without the extras.
3. Reverse Email Lookup: For those needing to gather information through email correspondence, the Reverse Email Lookup plan costs $29.73 per month. While the reports you obtain through this plan may offer less detail than the comprehensive People Search plan, you benefit from unlimited email reports sent directly to your inbox, streamlining your access to the data.
4. Customization Options: If the preset plans offered do not perfectly align with your needs, you can reach out to their customer support team to customize a plan that suits your requirements. This flexibility allows you to tailor your experience, ensuring you receive the most relevant information.
5. Offline Access and Additional Services: Have the convenience to download and view reports offline for an additional $3.99 monthly fee, making it easy to access your data anytime, anywhere. Furthermore, TruthFinder offers a Dark Web Monitoring service for $2.99 a month, which monitors known hacker forums to protect your passwords and personal credentials from potential breaches.
Payment Options: TruthFinder supports a variety of payment methods, accepting major credit and debit cards, as well as digital payment platforms like PayPal and Amazon Pay, ensuring a hassle-free checkout experience.
With these well-rounded options, TruthFinder makes it easy for users to gain valuable insights and ensure their online safety, whether they're searching for a person, investigating a phone number, or safeguarding their digital presence.
TruthFinder:: features
TruthFinder offers many of the same features that you’d expect to find with other background check services. These include searches that cover both public and private sources, plus the ability to identify potential associates and relatives of your search subject.
If TruthFinder correctly manages to identify the person you are searching for, you could receive a report containing many essential details about their life. These will be collated from birth records, social media profiles, and criminal and traffic records.
The TruthFinder platform also offers self-monitoring tools, meaning you can view your record to see what potential employers, or other people who search for you, will see on the platform. Through TruthFinder, you can even claim a particular record as your own. If you do this, you’ll be able to correct factual inaccuracies on it or hide it from other TruthFinder users.
If you’re getting suspicious calls from a number that you don’t recognize, you may be able to use TruthFinder to identify its owner via the reverse phone lookup feature. In some cases, TruthFinder may even be able to reveal social media profiles or photographs associated with the number you are searching for.
TruthFinder: interface and in use
The TruthFinder interface is slick and easy to use. To perform a search, all you need to do is enter the search subject’s name and their local city. Next, TruthFinder will ask questions to help narrow down possible results, such as the gender, age, and known locations of the individual being searched for. You are also requested to provide your first and last name, email, and zip code.
After that, TruthFinder will display a series of loading screens and progress bars. However, although these pages are visually attractive, it’s hard to avoid the feeling that they are presented for show. There are also enticing statements about how you may be “shocked” to see what is in this individual’s report, and you also have to verify that you are over 18 years old. There is also some marketing as 5-star favorable service reviews are flashed non-stop during the process.
Eventually, TurthFinder will show you a list of candidates who match your search query. You can identify the correct person based on a few factors, such as address and social network. During our testing, TruthFinder successfully identified the majority of people we tried searching for.
Once you’ve found the correct person, you’ll have to pay for your report before opening it. The final report screen is a lengthy interactive document containing a wide range of information on your search subject, including location history, contact information, and possible relatives. Strangely, TruthFinder also includes extraneous information in reports, such as horoscopes and astrological signs.
TruthFinder: support
If you run into trouble or have any difficulty using TruthFinder, you can turn to the help section of the platform’s website. Unfortunately, the information presented here isn’t as detailed as we’d like, but there are some articles on essential topics such as “Cancel Account” and “Is TruthFinder Safe?” Consequently, If you need assistance, you’ll probably be better off contacting the service via the toll-free number, which is available Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 10 PM ET. TruthFinder support staff are available on weekdays and work extended hours, so your query will be responded to quickly.
There are not many companies that offer 24/7 customer support, and unfortunately, TruthFinder is not one of them.
We were disappointed to find limited other options, such as chat, videos, or a user forum. We also did not find a direct email or a support portal. While not perfect, the support system that is in place will surely answer your queries fairly quickly.
TruthFinder: security
The service offered is secure and private, ensuring that the person you’re looking up will never be able to know that you tried looking them up, using their phone, email, or any other personal information. Data protection is entrusted to the 256-bit encryption mechanism, an encryption protocol used by the US Army, which will safeguard all of your classified information. Moreover, the platform employs SSL certificates from Cloudfllare Inc. guaranteeing your privacy and data security. An additional layer of security can be obtained by utilizing the platform’s Dark Web Monitoring services, but if you’re a diligent and conscientious internet user, you can skip the expense.
TruthFinder: the competition
One major limitation of TruthFinder is that you can’t use the service to complete pre-employment background checks as it is not FRCA compliant. If you are looking for such a service, consider People Trail instead. People Trail is licensed to perform pre-employment background checks and doesn’t require you to sign up for a lengthy membership as TruthFinder does.
PeopleFinders is another background checking service in direct competition with TruthFinder. If you’re not keen on TruthFinder’s hefty monthly cost, you’ll be glad to hear that PeopleFinders’ prices start at a more budget-friendly $2.95.
TruthFinder: final verdict
TruthFinder is a highly useful tool designed to help users locate long-lost relatives, reconnect with friends, or verify the information available about themselves in the public domain. As one of the top-rated platforms for conducting background checks, it enables you to obtain comprehensive reports on individuals, which can include details such as criminal records, address histories, and social media profiles.
In addition to standard background checks, TruthFinder offers reverse phone lookup capabilities, allowing you to identify callers by entering their phone numbers. This feature can be particularly handy if you receive calls from unknown numbers or want to know more about who might be contacting you.
Moreover, TruthFinder provides a service that checks whether your personal information, such as email addresses or Social Security numbers, is being sold on the dark web. This feature is crucial for protecting your identity and personal data in an increasingly digital world.
The website is recognized for its reliability and security, ensuring that your searches are confidential and that your personal information is protected. However, it is important to note that a monthly membership fee is required if you wish to conduct unlimited searches. If you only need to perform a one-time search, it may be more cost-effective to explore alternative services that offer pay-per-report pricing, which allows you to obtain the specific information you need without committing to a monthly subscription.
We've also highlighted the best background check service for individuals.
Jonas P. DeMuro is a freelance reviewer covering wireless networking hardware.
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