Online background checks may be a really valuable tool, whether you’re conducting them for the safety of your family or you’re just interested in an ex. There are many reasons to do one, and the top background check providers can provide you with results in minutes.
What Exactly Is a Background Check?
A background check is a method of determining whether or not a person is who they claim to be. You may find out about their identification, education, employment history, criminal background, and nearly anything else that piques your curiosity.
When employing new personnel, most businesses do background checks. That is how they ensure the safety of their workplace and employees, minimise unfavourable publicity, and improve recruitment quality.
However, as you might expect, this procedure is not limited to businesses. A background check may be performed by anyone.
So, how do you go about it?
You may either study public record databases yourself or use a service that will conduct a screening for you.
If you’re searching for a less expensive option, conducting all of the investigative work yourself can be effective. Keep in mind that acquiring information in this manner might be time-consuming.
You may always resort to a website that offers background check services for a fee to save time and effort. Despite the fact that you must pay money, you will receive your reports practically immediately. Not to mention, the data they offer is far more accurate. There are many websites that provide background checks for free.
But how good are those websites?
We performed all of the legwork for you.
What Is the Cost of a Background Check?
As previously said, services that allow you to perform a background check for free aren’t always the best resource to utilize when you need to learn more about someone.
For more detailed reports, you must visit websites that provide superior services. They do, as you might assume, provide paid background check services.
As a result, if you want more extensive information, you should be prepared to invest some money.
But how much does a background check set you back?
To begin, we must reiterate that not all background checks are created equal.
- That’s why some companies provide background check services for $10 while others charge $500.
- However, the many payment schemes are perplexing.
- The majority of sites provide one-time reports and monthly memberships, but we also found sites offering 24-hour and quarterly plans. Some even charge per state where you conduct a criminal background check.
How Do You Pick a Background Check Company?
When selecting a background check business, consider what type of check you truly want and for what purpose. If you require a criminal history background check, a business that specialises in reverse phone lookups may not be suitable. Check to see whether the company’s reports contain customised findings and if they are written by subject matter experts in your sector (like transportation, education, or the military).
Check to see if the background check firm is legitimate and accredited. A legitimate organisation will also provide responsive customer service. Determine the firm’s security standards and if the information given is encrypted, as the company may handle sensitive data. One of the most crucial things to look for in a background check firm is how safely and readily the report can be accessed and downloaded.
What should you look for in a reliable background check service?
Accuracy of Information in Reports
Inaccurate reports not only prevent you from satisfying your needs, but they can also expose you to costly liabilities. The top background check services will have a reputation for precision and expertise, allowing you to make an educated selection.
Search Personalization
It’s important to cast a wide net, but not all background checks are created equal. You could want to be more particular and focus on job history or financial records, and you’ll need a business that can narrow down the results to just what you’re searching for. A great background check service will offer several levels of background checks to ensure that you always have the information you want for your scenario.
Utilization Ease
You’re not a private investigator, and you shouldn’t require any professional or technical knowledge to use a background check website. The finest background check websites should be straightforward to use and present information in an easy-to-understand way. The best services offer the simplest method and the quickest turnaround time.
Customer Service
Top background checks will have a robust customer support team that understands the ins & outs of the industry and can answer any queries you may have. If your search keeps hitting brick walls, they should be able to tell you why. Furthermore, record search providers should be focused on providing the greatest results for their consumers rather than trying to upsell searches that aren’t always related to what you need.
A paid search is an excellent technique to get information that you want but may not be able to locate on your own. Most premium services will collect and provide you with the information in an easy-to-read and well-organized style.
Best Cheapest Background Sites in 2022
#1. TruthFinder
TruthFinder is a straightforward public records search engine. It provides access to a wealth of information about people, ranging from birth and death records to prospective relatives and links. Anyone may use the site to obtain information about potential partners, roommates, or long-lost relatives with whom you are attempting to restore a relationship. TruthFinder reports provide a wealth of information, including as to assets, business affiliations, trademarks, bankruptcies, firearms permits, professional licences, and more.
TruthFinder makes it simple to find social media accounts, contact information, and other public records. If you’re looking for information about a new love partner, internet vendor, or family member you’ve lost contact with, the site might be a great resource. TruthFinder may also be used to see if your child’s teacher, softball coach, or new neighbour is on a sex offender list.
Pros
- With the plan, you get unlimited background checks.
- Signing up is simple.
- The reports provide a wealth of information.
Cons
- I can’t afford even one report.
- Auto-renewal must be cancelled manually.
#2. Instant Checkmate
Do you ever wonder what your favourite celebrity does in their spare time? Or perhaps you want to know if the new buddy your son brought home comes from a good household. Whatever your motivation, Instant Checkmate can provide you with the answers you want. Instant Checkmate provides a wealth of information in minutes thanks to comprehensive public record access. And with low-cost plans, you may perform repeated checks without concern.
Instant Checkmate obtains information from official public records, court documents, police records, government databases, and internet sources such as social media accounts. You’re obtaining accurate information from reliable sources. Furthermore, as a means of giving back to the community, Instant Checkmate donates to a number of organisations and non-profits.
Pros
- $1 for a 5-day trial
- Extensive customer service
Cons
- There is a lot of supplementary information on the site.
- There is no comprehensive price page.
- Loading reports takes a long time.
#3. BeenVerified
For almost a decade, BeenVerified has been a trusted brand in the field of background check firms. Over that period, it has assisted over 1 million consumers in locating and verifying information for their specific needs. People searches, reverse phone lookups, criminal records, reverse address lookups, email searches, and public records searches are all available with BeenVerified.
It scours millions of data points for compelling material relevant to your search parameters, such as social network profiles, images, or assets that need to be discovered. Clients have even used BeenVerified as a safety measure, doing background checks on themselves to see what critical information shows up. Whatever your purpose, BeenVerified is a reliable background check option for swiftly obtaining the information you want.
Pros
- 7 million downloads
- One of the most cost-effective solutions
Cons
- Complete confidentiality of searches and search histories
- can not be used to conduct employment checks legally.
- cannot locate individuals outside of the United States
#4. CheckPeople
CheckPeople is a background check website that focuses mostly on criminal records, such as arrests, prosecutions, and mugshots. Other vital information you’ll obtain includes names of current and previous residences, close and distant relatives, and marriage and divorce records. If you want to see if someone is who they claim to be, you may go through possible aliases and other social media profiles created under different identities.
CheckPeople has cheap monthly pricing and allows you to conduct limitless person searches for a modest fee. Furthermore, every search conducted using CheckPeople is 100% private. Nobody can see who you’re looking for, and the person you conduct a background check on will never know.
Pros
- This company specialises in online criminal background checks.
- There are billions of records to look through, and monthly plans allow for unlimited searches.
Cons
- There are no employment records, and no price information has been released.
#5. PeopleFinders
PeopleFinders is one of the most established background check firms in the industry today. PeopleFinders has been in business for over 20 years and has over 10 billion public records to look through. when you’re hunting for information and it appears like no stone has been left unturned. Background checks, person searches, criminal records, and even reverse phone number and email address lookups are available.
PeopleFinders provides an interesting tool that allows you to search for people based on their genealogy background. So you receive their relatives as well as any information on the exact person you’re looking for. This is fantastic if you’re looking for a distant cousin you’ve never met. Furthermore, PeopleFinders provides a single report price, which most other background check services do not.
Pros
- Genealogical Investigator
- There is a one-report price available.
Cons
- Billions of records
- There is no social media information.
- The employment history is hazy.
#6. Intelius
Intelius is one of the most widely used public data background check engines today. Intelius is a safe, dependable, and complete way to access the information you need quickly. It’s used for anything from identity protection to criminal record screening.
Basic background checks, person searches, and reverse phone or address lookups are all possible with Intelius. This is useful, for example, if you are being harassed by an anonymous prank caller. In addition, Intelius provides comprehensive reports that contain full names and aliases, age and date of birth, employment and school records, social networks, and much more. Customers with an Intelius Premium Plus membership may conduct limitless background checks for a single fixed price.
Pros
- First-time members save 50% on Premium Plus plans.
- Intelligent and safe searches
- Reports are sent quickly.
Cons
- After the first month, the cost of the plan doubles.
- Some searches yield several results.
#7. ID True
ID True makes it simple to access the facts you need quickly and effortlessly, whether you need to take charge of your own online profile or want to know more about a problematic party in your life. You may do a totally anonymous search on anyone in the United States without anyone knowing. These investigations will reveal a wealth of intriguing information, such as secret social media accounts, criminal histories and arrests, sex offender status, and any known business associates.
ID True will provide results in just a minute, which most other background check firms cannot match. You’ll be able to conduct a manual search, sort results by last name, and conduct a comprehensive background check on the individual of interest. ID True even offers a new member welcome offer that provides you with the first month for nearly a fifth of the standard price. It’s certainly worth the trial to discover what all the fuss is about with ID True.
Pros
- outstanding first-time offer
- Simple search functions
Cons
- the quickest results
- After the first month, it becomes too costly.
- There aren’t as many search possibilities as there are on other sites.
#8. US Search
US Search is a background check search engine powered by PeopleData. Even if you’ve never used this famous service, you may know the name because it’s been featured on notable news outlets such as 60 Minutes & The Wall Street Journal. It’s a quick and easy way to gain access to criminal records, including sex offender registries, crimes, and misdemeanours.
Depending on what you need to know, you may use this background check service to search local databases, state registers, or even comprehensive countrywide database searches. In addition, US Search provides the greatest search possibilities for acquiring certain sorts of information. A person search, a reverse phone lookup, an email search, a social network search, a property records search, a criminal records search, and a thorough background check are all available.
Pros
- more search possibilities than the majority
- Receive a money-back guarantee.
- large search databases
Cons
- It is not the cheapest choice.
- Reports might be better arranged.
#9. PeopleWhiz
PeopleWhiz is a background screening service that provides subscription plans as well as individual background checks. PeopleWhiz’s proprietary screening system, which has access to over 67 billion public documents, enables it to provide background reports in minutes. It provides consumers with reasonable monthly membership rates and criminal background checks via its user-friendly search tool. Customer care is accessible 24/7 to help users generate reports and answer queries.
Pros
- Easy to use
- 24-hour service
- Several subscription options
Cons
- Extended subscriptions must be paid in advance.
- Criminal background checks are not free.
#10. PeopleLooker
PeopleLooker may be used in a variety of ways. PeopleLooker is an excellent place to look, whether you’re looking for an old friend or family you’ve lost touch with, need information on a prospective love partner, or want some background facts on a potential roommate.
Furthermore, many individuals use PeopleLooker to research items that aren’t necessarily people. For example, if you’re looking at a house, you may learn more about the number of owners, who previously lived there, and who most recently sold the property.
PeopleLooker provides precise and up-to-date information, ensuring that the records in your report are correct and complete.
Pros
- Outstanding application
- excellent user interface
- Lookups for emails, properties, and phone numbers
Cons
- Certain components must be purchased at a higher cost.
- It cannot be used to employ domestic helpers.
FAQs
What information does a background check reveal?
Criminal background checks will identify felony and misdemeanour convictions, any outstanding criminal proceedings, and any history of adult imprisonment. Arrests pending prosecution may also be recorded, as may arrests that did not result in a criminal conviction.
What type of background check is most commonly used by employers?
The most typical type of criminal background check is a county criminal history search. Employers can use these searches to obtain reports from specific county court records.
Is TruthFinder available for free?
There is no free edition or free trial of TruthFinder. TruthFinder must pay public records offices in order to access their files; thus, they charge users for each search.
Is it worthwhile to do background checks?
While not everyone who has made mistakes in the past should be barred from finding work—in fact, some require a firm to give them a chance—the truth remains that when it comes to smart hiring, knowledge is king. Background checks might be an expensive investment, but they are well worth it.