The best people search finder services make it easy to search for someone, and should provide up-to-date information from public databases, to make it easier to find long-lost friends and family members.
That's not all, though. The best people search finders can also help find out if a repeat caller is legitimate or a scammer, and provide better returns on your search results than a typical web browser. If you are looking to build you family tree, you may want to take a look at the best genealogy tools instead.
Our experts have tested 7 of the best people search finder services, and have ranked them on their time to search, user friendliness, device compatibility, and pricing.
As a result of our testing, these are the best people search finders that we would recommend, ranked here to give you the best options to choose from.
We've also listed the best background check service for individuals.
Benedict has spent over 7 years writing about security issues, covering everything from major data breaches and cyber attacks, to the malware and credentials thefts that threaten livelihoods and personal security. He has a passion for security products that keep people safe, and the knowledge to help them make the right decision.
Our top three best people search finder services
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The best people search finder services and engines of 2024 in full:
Best people search finder overall
The interface for Instant Checkmate is one of the best I have seen, making it easy to navigate my way around, as well as producing neatly presented reports. It also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a testament to the accuracy of its results.
It offers unlimited reports that provide information such as phone numbers, criminal records, court records, weapon permits, location history, relatives and more. However, I did find that searches can be slow. You can search via reverse phone lookup, and via city and ZIP codes.
Instant Checkmate is a fairly expensive service, being more pricey than some of its rivals. Person reports cost $35.47 for a single month, and $85.14 for 3 months (which works out to $28.38 per month). Reverse phone lookups, however, only cost $5.99 a month, and I have spotted special offers in the past, such as a 5-day trial of the phone lookup service for $1.99.
To get this, though, requires going through the entire phone search process and then canceling at the end, which I feel is a very obtuse way to flag the promotion to users.
Read the full Instant Checkmate review.
Best people search finder for detail
Intelius is one of most popular people finder services on the market, seeing a huge amount of requests per month. Given its advanced feature set and fast, accurate results, it’s not hard to see why.
I found during my tests that it also managed to uncover some information that other services failed to get, like education history, making it a great pick if you’re looking to prioritize details.
The interface is again clean and ergonomic, with results displayed clearly. It also offers reverse phone lookup, and can find data such as address history, phone numbers, bankruptcies, sexual offenses, assets and arrest records, among others.
The pricing for Intelius people search is $25.11 for one month with unlimited reports, or a bi-monthly membership which works out to $21.35 per month, or $42.69 at full cost. The five day trial for Reverse Phone Lookup and People Search is $0.95, then $35.30 per month, however this tier does not include Related Persons, Business Ownership, Assets, Criminal Records, Traffic Records or Court Records within the People Search. The Address Lookup with People Search is $0.95 for a seven day trial, charged at $34.95 per month afterwards, but also does not include the same detailed people search function. Downloading reports in PDF format also costs an extra $3.99 per report.
Read the full Intelius review.
Best people search finder for speed
The interface for US Search is intuitive and results are delivered quickly, including details such as properties (and their value), phone numbers, employment and education history.
I did find a fair number of inaccuracies in the results during testing, though, so if you’re looking to use US Search for credit checks or vetting employees, then you may want to look elsewhere.
US Search offers two subscription plans - $59 per month for an unlimited number of reports, which is slightly more expensive relative to other services. Currently, there is also an annual plan charged at $599 per year, which works out to around $49.92 per month.
However, you have to complete the whole search process before you can get the above pricing information, and the phone lookup offer was only flagged to us after waiting around on the results page for a while; no wonder users have complained about the less than upfront pricing. There is also no option to purchase single reports.
Read the full US Search review.
Best value people search finder
Whitepages is another service that has been around for a while, and it has some great value plans. It also has great mobile apps, which can’t be said about other services, such as US Search (which has none).
There are premium plans that offer additional features, such as reverse phone lookup, background checks, public records and contact info. These costs can mount up, though.
I found the interface is easy to navigate, and if you do experience any issues, then Whitepages has a well-regarded customer support service on hand.
Prices are good for some of the premium services, which are also clear in their purpose. The contact information plan is just $5.99 per month, with background reports being charged at $11.99 per report, making it ideal for infrequent searches. There is also a business plan which costs $9.99 for 20 lookups, or 100 for $22.99.
I was also hit with a 5-trial for $1, but only after waiting around on the payment page at the end of my search.
However, the top business plan is more expensive than comparable rivals, and only allows for 200 lookups and 20 background reports per month, coming in at $32.99 per month.
Keep in mind that the person you are searching for may not show up if they have chosen to opt out of Whitepages.
Read the full Whitepages review.
Best people search finder for mobile
One of the standouts of TruthFinder is its great mobile app. It also has an A+ rating from the BBB, like Instant Checkmate, and it also claims to have more than 60,000 five star reviews.
It offers plenty of details in its reports, including names, addresses, email, phone, and public records - plus there is also reverse phone lookup. A unique feature of TruthFinder is DarkWeb search, which costs an extra $2.99 per month. This can let you know if your search target has had their identity leaked on underground websites and forums.
I was also impressed with its mobile app, being among the best in the sector. However, I didn’t find the support options to be the best, and I was also beset with long wait times and some annoying popups.
There is no free trial for TruthFinder either, and no option to purchase single reports - there are only subscription tiers that offer unlimited reports. The plans are at least easy to understand, though, offering unlimited people search for $28.33 per month, or at a discounted $23.52 per month at an upfront bi-monthly charge of $47.03.
Read the full Truthfinder review.
Best user-friendly people search finder
BeenVerified is owned by Intelius, which also owns Instant Checkmate and US Search. Social media information and vehicle data can be found, as well as the usual criminal records and property listings.
This is another service with a user-friendly interface - one of the best in fact - and you can download reports in PDF format. The customer support is also very helpful.
However, there is no free option or option to purchase single reports. The website also requires you to complete the lengthy search process before revealing the pricing, without even showing you if you’ve found the person you’re looking for, which is a major hindrance.
At time of writing, the pricing is $29.99 for one month, but reports aren’t unlimited - you only get 100 per month. The 3 month membership, charged at $58.48, works out to $19.49 per month but that’s still only for the same number of reports per month.
Cancellation is also a hassle, requiring you to call or email to disable auto-renewal. Keep in mind that it is possible to opt out of BeenVerified, so the person you are looking for may not show up for this reason.
Read our full BeenVerified review.
Honorable mentions
I found the initial search to be far quicker than other services on this list, however the search does not include social media lookup. It was also difficult to find the pricing options and included features for each membership. The mobile app is, however, superior to other services.
The basic membership, which includes contact info, aliases, relatives, and known associates costs $24.95 per month. The premium membership costs $29.95 per month, but includes a more detailed search with property records, assets, business records, criminal records, bankruptcies, liens, judgments, and more. The memberships do not say how many searches are included, but in our initial testing showed we were able to run unlimited searches.
A single report with basic details costs $0.95, and includes a three day trial which, if not cancelled, is charged at the same rate as the standard membership. A fully detailed report costs $3.95 with a three day trial. If left to run it's course, the trail then turns in to the premium membership charged at its usual price.
There is no annual discount, and I found that the basic search does not include as detailed of a report as the other services on this list.
Read our full PeopleFinders review.
How we test the best people search finder services
We've tested the best people search finder services and engines across numerous aspects, like the type of searches they perform, how long they take to complete checks, and the simplicity of their user interface.
We evaluated how easily users could use each search finder to find people they might know, and we considered whether the service could be accessed easily through mobile platforms and whether there were any human guidance features.
We also looked at their pricing plans and whether they were flexible regarding their offerings and pricing, among other things. Here are the full criteria:
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Search detail
A people search finder should return quality and up-to-date results. This is a key factor in our testing as we know that when searching for a friend or family member, the more detail the better. The last thing you want is to think you have found the right person, and then up contacting the wrong person and wasting your money on a result.
Typically, the best people search should include:
- Full name
- Phone numbers
- Address information
- Relatives
- Education history
- Social media profiles
- Traffic offenses
- Arrest records
- Sexual offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Court records
- Judgements
- Mugshots
- Bankruptcies
- Felonies
- Assets
- Weapons permits
Time to search
Depending on how detailed your search is can vary the search time quite a bit. In our testing however, we used the same name, city, and state when conducting a search to try and keep the playing field as level as possible. Some sites may have a significantly larger catalog of individuals, meaning that the search may take slightly longer but return more detailed results. The opposite is also true, however, in that a search can be very quick but return poor quality results.
User friendliness
Navigating a people search finder should be a simple experience for the user. But this doesn't just relate to the search itself. It might be the case that you want more information on what a search could return before paying, meaning that the site should also have detailed information on how the search works and what to expect that is easy to find. Pricing plans and membership details should also be easy to spot and navigate, so you know exactly what your paying for, how long your subscription will last, and how many searches and records you will be able to do in that time.
Compatibility
Searching on a mobile device or tablet is also a factor in our testing, as we know that not everyone will be searching from a PC. If using a web browser through a portable device, the search should still work and be easy to use. An extra bonus is if the service has a dedicated mobile app to increase usability.
Pricing
When conducting our testing, we compare all of the features above against its cost to ensure you get the best deal. Some services may be more expensive, or more detailed, or easier to use, which is why we display our rankings by use case, with the best overall evaluated as having the best of all the criteria compared to its cost.
How to choose the best people search finder service
One of the first questions you should ask yourself when considering a people finder service is: what kind of information are you looking for?
Many of these services will use the same set of public databases, which can of course lead to a lot of them producing the same results. However, some have extra features that may be useful to your search, such as reverse phone or email lookup, and some uncover records that not every service does, such as education history. We found Intelius to be one such service in our experience.
Of course, cost is also going to be a considerable factor. Many offer similar pricing schemes, and often subscriptions for reverse phone lookup only are much cheaper. Also, if you only need the odd report or two, then look for services that offer one-time payments for single reports, such as Whitepages.
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| Features | Instant Checkmate | Intelius | US Search | Whitepages | TruthFinder | BeenVerified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (per month) | $28.38 - $35.47 | $21.35 - $35.30 | $49.92 - $59 | $5.99 - $32.99 | $23.52 - $28.33 | $19.49 - $29.99 |
| Unlimited reports | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Mobile App | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Single Reports | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
The best people search finder FAQs
What is a people search finder?
As the name implies, people finder services help you find people. They can do this via a name, or via reverse phone or email lookup, which is useful if you want to trace possible scam callers and the like.
People often use these services to find old friends and family too. Some employers also use them to perform background checks on potential employees, but not all of them are fit for this purpose - if that’s what you’re after, then you’ll want to use the best background check service.
Should I pay to use a people search finder?
Making an initial search on many of these services can yield basic information for free, such as name, age, relatives and general location, so you may get exactly what you’re looking for straight away. You could also search on Google or social media first, as you may find enough data on these sites too.
However, if you want more detailed information, such as criminal records, property details, education history and the like, then paying for a people finder service may be preferable.
Some people finder services offer trial periods, though in our experience these aren’t exactly made clear, and often involve having to hang around on payment or results pages for them to popup.
Some offer single reports for a one-off fee, and others are subscription only. In these cases, reverse phone lookup plans are often much cheaper than full-on people search plans, although naturally they offer less information in their reports.
How do I remove myself from people search finders?
Povilas Reinotas of the data-deletion service Incogni has this to say:
"Exercising the right to remove your data from People Search Sites (PSS) can be more challenging compared to regular data brokers. Firstly, PSS often make it difficult to find the data removal option on their website. They typically only provide a “do not sell my personal information” option, which is required by law but allows them to keep your information for other purposes. In contrast, regular data brokers often accept data removal requests via email.
Moreover, PSS typically require you to fill out a web form to request data removal, if such an option even exists. This is different from regular data brokers, where a simple email request is a lot more likely to suffice. Another complication arises from the fact that the web form often asks for a link to the specific information you want to remove. This could enable PSS to retain some of your information, as you may not be able to locate all the data they have on you. Additionally, some individuals may feel discouraged or hesitant to complete the removal process if it involves conducting a search to find all their information.
Lastly, once you submit a data removal request to PSS, they may require further verification. This could involve providing copies of identification cards, bank statements, or utility bills. This extra step adds another layer of complexity to the process.
In summary, removing your data from People Search Sites involves navigating hidden data removal options, completing web forms, potentially leaving some information behind, and undergoing additional verification measures. This makes the process more intricate compared to regular data brokers."
Povilas Reinotas is a dedicated professional with a strong background in Political Science and International Relations. He has expertise in data protection and privacy law, particularly in relation to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). He has also conducted an in-depth analysis of the "right to erasure" process.
Tested by
Jonas has been working with technology since childhood in the 1970's, starting with BASIC programming on a TRS-80. Through the years, the screens have gotten more colorful, with higher resolution, and both smaller and larger. However, the focus remains the same- finding the best product for the task, and then getting the most out of it.
Rob Clymo has been a tech journalist for more years than he can actually remember, having started out in the wacky world of print magazines before discovering the power of the internet. Since he's been all-digital he has run the Innovation channel during a few years at Microsoft as well as turning out regular news, reviews, features and other content for the likes of TechRadar, TechRadar Pro, Tom's Guide, Fit&Well, Gizmodo, Shortlist, Automotive Interiors World, Automotive Testing Technology International, Future of Transportation and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.
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