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Our editorial staff has close to a decade of experience in the background investigations industry, and our team has invested hundreds of hours researching the best background check sites. We’ve vetted 16 background check companies based on over 100 data points and reviewed the extensiveness of their searches, pricing and customer reviews. We also personally tested many of the sites on this list to assess user experience and accuracy of the results. Using this research, we picked the top nine background search sites, which include Checkr, HireRight and First Advantage.
Money’s Main Takeaways
- There are different types of background checks — some are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and some are not.
- If you're conducting background checks on potential employees, domestic workers or tenants, you need a background check company that complies with the FCRA. This federal privacy protection law places limits on the kind of information that you can obtain on others.
- By contrast, people-search background check sites don’t need to follow FCRA provisions. You can use these services to conduct searches on yourself, a new neighbor or someone you’re seeing.
- People search sites can be a useful tool for finding relatives or doing reverse phone searches. However, using them for hiring or tenancy purposes is a federal law violation.
Why Trust Us?
Our editorial team uses its extensive knowledge and experience in the background check industry to independently assess screening companies, ensuring we provide readers with accurate and helpful information. Read the full methodology below to learn more.
- Over 100 data points evaluated
- 16 background check companies vetted
- More than 80 authoritative sources used
Our Top Picks for Background Check Sites of August 2024
People Search Background Check Sites
FCRA-Compliant Background Screening Sites
Best Background Check Site Reviews
People Search Background Check Sites
Unlike FCRA-compliant companies, these background search sites cannot be used for employment or tenancy purposes. You can, however, use them to conduct personal searches.
- Unlimited number of reports
- Deep web monitoring
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
- No option for single report
- FTC lawsuit alleging FCRA violations and deceptive marketing practices
Why we chose it: Instant Checkmate offers unlimited reports for subscribers for a reasonable price.
Customers can use Instant Checkmate to search public records and other available data sources. Its reports contain date of birth, addresses, contact information, criminal convictions and other public information. Unlike many competitors, its subscriptions include unlimited searches and reports.
Instant Checkmate’s subscription search types and pricing is:
- Person Reports for $35.47 a month or $28.38 a month for a 3-month membership (paid upfront)
- Reverse Phone Lookup for $5.99 a month
While both subscriptions include unlimited reports, downloading them costs an additional $3.99 one-time payment.
Upgrading to a premium report ($19.99 per report) will get you additional information if available, such as records of weapons or hunting permits, properties owned and foreclosures or tax liens. They also provide dark web monitoring for $1.99 per month.
We signed up for a 5-day trial to test the service. The search took about 10 minutes and results included address history, possible relatives or associates and traffic infractions. (The subject of our investigation didn’t have felony or misdemeanor charges to find.) While the relatives and address history in the report matched our subject, not all the possible associates and relationships did. Additionally, while the results listed multiple traffic infractions, one was incorrect and we were not able to find the other records when we searched county courts directly.
Instant Checkmate reports may include:
Standard Background Report | Premium Report |
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Learn more on Instant Checkmate's Secure Website >>
- Unlimited reports with membership
- Dark web monitoring upgrade available
- Provides customer support over the phone
- Additional cost to download reports
- Not FCRA-compliant
- FTC lawsuit alleging FCRA violations and deceptive marketing practices
- Some customers claim they’ve had trouble canceling the service or have being billed after cancellation
Why we chose it: We selected TruthFinder because it offers add-on services such as dark web monitoring and a report monitoring feature that alerts you when information on a report has changed.
TruthFinder services include people search, reverse phone number lookup and reverse email address lookup.
TruthFinder’s membership options are:
- People search with unlimited persons and location reports for $28.33 a month (or $23.28 a month if you subscribe on a bi-monthly basis, billed at $47.03 every other month)
- Reverse email address lookup that includes unlimited person and email address reports for $29.73 a month
- Reverse phone lookup for $4.99 a month
For an extra $3.99 a month, you can download reports and monitor them for updates.
For $2.99, TruthFinder also offers dark web monitoring, which alerts you if your credentials appear on the dark web.
When we tested TruthFinder, we found that the search takes about 15 minutes. The report looked very similar to reports from other competitors we also tested. The personal information it reported, which included aliases and possible relatives, matched the subject of our search. However, it lacked a list of relationships, and the individuals listed as possible associates appeared to be people who lived at the same address but at different times.
TruthFinder Person Reports may include:
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*See disclaimer below for more information. Learn more on TruthFinder's Secure Website >>
- Extended customer service chat (6:00 am to 11:30 pm EST)
- Has both Apple and Android apps available
- Download reports at no extra cost
- Limited to 100 reports a month
- Pricing only found at checkout
- C grade with the Better Business Bureau
- Several customers alleged service isn’t clearly labeled as a subscription
Why we chose it: Unlike other background search sites, customers can use BeenVerified to make vehicle searches using the car’s VIN Number.
Our search on BeenVerified took under 10 minutes and the one result it provided was our intended subject. (Other services gave us results for people with the same or similar names.) We found the report to be more detailed than other providers, especially the section on possible relatives, which included addresses. However, some of the relatives listed were inaccurate.
Additionally, unlike competitors who list traffic records based on the subject's partial name, the report included only those under our subject's full name (that is, first, middle and last name).
BeenVerified memberships include standard people search services such as reverse phone, email and address lookup, as well as username search, vehicle lookup, criminal records and arrest warrants.
BeenVerified memberships and pricing are:
- One-month membership for $29.99
- Three-month membership for $19.49 a month ($58.48 in total)
Where BeenVerified stands out among competitors is in providing these services through its mobile phone apps. Its Android and iOS apps have a 3.6 and 4.6 rating in their respective app stores.
When using the apps, users can not only conduct searches on-the-go, but they can also access reports collected on other mobile devices or on their desktops.
BeenVerified reports may include:
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Learn more on BeenVerified's Secure Website >>
- One of the most affordable search services
- Results returned within a minute or so for most checks
- A- grade with the Better Business Bureau
- Complicated pricing structure
- Not FCRA-compliant
- Must purchase Investigator Membership Upgrade to download reports
- Customer reviews allege they were charged for a subscription when they only ordered one search
Why we chose it: We selected Spokeo for our list because its people search services are more affordable than competitors.
With Spokeo, customers can search public records by using a person’s name, email, phone number or street address. Free searches show a person's name, phone and email, along with other publicly available information.
When we tested the service, the search took a little over five minutes. However, it yielded thousands of possible subjects. We had to manually narrow our search by state and city, then look at each profile to find a match.
Additionally, users must pay $19.95 to access details such as age, address history, name variations, properties, licenses and possible relatives.
Spokeo also offers a $19.99 background report upgrade which includes marital status records, bankruptcies, foreclosure and more.
Spokeo reports may include:
Learn more on Spokeo's Secure Website >>
- Multiple plans to choose from
- Subscriptions include unlimited reports
- A+ grade with the Better Business Bureau
- Customer service difficult to reach
- Customers claimed they were charged for a subscription after calling to cancel free trial
Why we chose it: We selected Intelius because it lets customers try out the service without having to commit to a membership.
Intelius, similar to other background check services on this list, offers reverse phone lookup, reverse address lookup and other public records searches. It stands out for its affordable trial offer on some of its membership plans, perfect for people who’d like to do a quick search but don’t want to commit to a monthly subscription.
It also lets you cancel online; however, note that if you don’t cancel during your trial period, you will be enrolled in a monthly membership plan for $35.30 per month.
The first is a $0.95 five-day reverse phone number lookup and people search trial with unlimited phone and person reports. These reports may contain the phone owner’s name, photo, address, associated social media profiles, address history, related persons and more, if available.
The other trial is a seven-day address lookup and people search option for $0.95. Members get unlimited address and persons reports that can include name of the residents, location details, ownership history, property value, evictions and other information about the address.
Intelius also offers the following subscriptions:
- People Search for $25.11 a month (or $21.35 a month for a bi-monthly subscription, billed at $42.69 every other month)
- Reverse Phone Number Lookup (plus people search) for $35.30 a month
- Address Lookup (including people search) for $34.95 a month
When we tested the service, a quick preliminary search yielded a list of several individuals. We then had to select the result most closely matching our search criteria before the report was compiled.
The background report on our subject included their age, known aliases, address history and possible relatives. However, other details were inaccurate, specifically, some traffic records that didn’t match our subject's full name.
Intelius reports may include:
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*See disclaimer below for more information. Learn more on Intelius's Secure Website >>
- Occasional promotional offers
- Good customer support
- No additional fees
- Owned by Intelius, which has an A+ grade with the Better Business Bureau
- Inaccuracies reported by some users
Why we chose it: US Search offers unlimited searches each month for a flat fee with no additional charges, making them a great option if you're looking for background check searches in bulk.
US Search, like all people search services, uses publicly available records from across the U.S. to create its reports. Searches yield basic background information along with financial information (such as assets and real estate holdings), bankruptcies, civil actions, and criminal and traffic records. The user interface for its individual accounts is a little clunky, but the results are easy to read.
US Search markets itself as a service for legal professionals who need to do background research for cases. It may be useful for lawyers as a starting point for their investigations as users can get unlimited reports and unlimited PDF downloads for $59 a month or $599 a year.
US Search offers the following subscriptions:
- Standard Background Report for $19.86 a month (unlimited reports)
- Phone Number Lookup (includes person reports) for $19.86 a month (five-day trial for $1.99)
- Address Lookup (including person reports) for $19.86 a month (five-day trial for $1.99)
We tested US Search and got preliminary results in under five minutes. These results were very broad, showing subjects with similar first or last names. After inputting our subject's middle initial to refine the search, we got one result. We chose to pay the additional $3.99 to download the report and found that the report had our subject’s correct age, known aliases, address history and possible relatives.
US Search reports may include:
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Learn more on US Search's Secure Website >>
*DISCLAIMER: You may not use the non-FCRA approved service mentioned in this article or the information it provides to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. This service doesn’t provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency. (These terms have special meanings under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq., (“FCRA”), which are incorporated herein by reference.)
The information available on this website may not be 100% accurate, complete, or up to date, so do not use it as a substitute for your own due diligence, especially if you have concerns about a person’s criminal history. The service doesn’t make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through their service or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review the service’s Terms of Use.
All product names, logos, brands, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
FCRA-Compliant Background Screening Sites
- Volume pricing for companies that perform over 300 checks a year
- Candidates can use mobile phones to complete forms
- A+grade with the Better Business Bureau
- Some complaints of slow turnaround times
- No customer service number
Why we chose it: An FCRA-compliant service, Checkr offers investigation packages that are perfect for small businesses, doesn’t charge a setup fee and lets customers pay per search.
Checkr is well-suited for small businesses looking for a high-tech approach to employee screening. The company uses AI-powered technology in its searches, which it says can make any potentially adverse findings clearer and easier to categorize. It can also predict how long the check will take and filters information to comply with local laws.
Checkr’s technological approach is not only used internally. This provider offers a mobile portal where candidates can track their screening process and contact support.
Checkr’s standard screenings include SSN trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist records and national criminal records. Checkr’s plans and pricing are:
Essential
Unlimited county criminal search
Professional
Education verification
Employment verification
Customers can also use the service to conduct global watchlist searches and international background checks, along with education and employment verification.
Court searches in certain jurisdictions and DMV records do incur additional fees, which vary by state. Checkr also offers several other individually priced checks as add-ons to its three plans.
In terms of third-party reviews, Checkr holds an A+ grade on the Better Business Bureau website. We evaluated customer reviews on the BBB site and found a pattern of complaints alleging slow turnaround times and difficulties contacting customer service, as Checkr doesn’t list a customer service number on its site.
Learn more on Checkr's Secure Website >>
- Credit reports from TransUnion
- Pay per report; not subscription based
- No add-ons available
- Settled a lawsuit in 2023 filed by the FTC and CFPB for failing to ensure accuracy of reports
- Criminal background checks not available for Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois (Cook County), Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington DC and Wyoming
Why we chose it: We selected TransUnion SmartMove because it offers a fully online tenant screening service and allows customers to pay per check instead of subscribing to a service.
SmartMove by TransUnion offers an easy-to-use online platform where landlords can sign up, send requests and access reports. Likewise, potential tenants can use the platform to input their personal information and provide consent.
However, SmartMove doesn’t just stand out for its online experience. Its three screening tiers allows property owners or managers to select a search that meets their needs and fits their budget. Additionally, customers can choose to either pay for the check themselves or pass on the cost to tenants.
All three tiers include a criminal background check and TransUnion’s proprietary ResidentScore®. This score is based on a tenant's payment history, inquiries and credit utilization, among other factors. (Note that SmartMove doesn’t specify how the score is calculated.) According to TransUnion, the ResidentScore helps them assess applicants with thin credit files and identifies factors that point to unfavorable rental outcomes such as evictions.
TransUnion SmartMove plans and pricing are:
TransUnion SmartMove Pricing
Credit Report
Eviction Related Report
SmartMove touts its access to one of the largest eviction databases as the source for its eviction reports. Its Income Insights reports show an estimate of the applicant’s total income, which helps landlords verify what applicants reported and determine if they’ll need to conduct further income verification.
- Provides info from around the world
- Executive background screening
- Fingerprint background check available
- A grade with the Better Business Bureau
- Site does not include information on pricing
- Difficult to contact customer support
- Focuses only on pre-employment checks
Why we chose it: First Advantage stands out for its international background checks that include ID verification, criminal records search and financial checks, among others.
First Advantage caters to employers — from small family-run businesses to global organizations — by offering screenings that include criminal background, licenses and credentials, driving records, social media accounts and more.
While some services limit their searches to U.S. records, First Advantage offers searches in 16 countries around the world, which could help companies expand their recruitment pools. Employers can also choose post-employment criminal record monitoring and receive an alert if a criminal or adverse motor vehicle record is found for one of its employees.
Standard
Single county criminal search
Choice
- County Criminal (7 year)
- Watch List
Some available add-ons:
- Driver’s License - $6.24
- Education verification - $12.48
- Employment verification - $15.60
First Advantage also has service bundles that can simplify hiring since they include both screening and onboarding. All three tiers include identity, background and drug screening. The second and third tier in particular include the I-9 form check to confirm employee work eligibility.
The company has an A grade on the Better Business Bureau site; however, several customer reviews — including one from an employer — note slow turnaround times and poor experiences with customer service.
Learn more on First Advantage's Secure Website >>
- National and international financial background checks
- Global locations and partners
- Aviation industry screenings
- Mobile app for candidates
- Inconsistent turnaround times
- Subjects have noted inaccuracies in background reports
Why we chose it: HireRight made our list because of its screening packages, which are tailored to particular industries such as hospitality, insurance, technology and transportation, among others.
HireRight customers can choose screening solutions based on the size of their business be it small, mid-size or global. Searches include, among others:
- Criminal record searches
- Identity verification services (to help determine candidates’ work eligibility)
- Verification of candidate credentials, employment and education history
- Civil litigation and media searches
- Drug and health screening
- Driving records checks
- Post-employment monitoring
HireRight’s services don’t stop at pre-hiring, as it also offers post-hiring services such as criminal records monitoring.
No pricing information on the website. For pricing, contact HireRight by filling out a form on its contact page or calling 888-234-5380. |
As each industry must comply with different requirements and regulations, HireRight has ready-made screening packages for 14 different industries; however, it also lets customers pick and choose among its services to create a package that fits their needs.
Although HireRight is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, the company had an A+ grade when it was. (Note that companies must pay the BBB to become and stay accredited). Customer reviews on the BBB website show a pattern of inconsistent turnaround times and some job applicants shared that their background checks took too long, causing delays in their employment start dates.
Learn more on HireRight's Secure Website >>
- Phone, live chat and email customer service available
- Easy-to-read results, optimized for mobile
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau
- Extra charges for some searches
- Charges a set-up fee not listed on its packages
Why we chose it: GoodHire provides small businesses background screening packages with the option of paying for single screenings.
GoodHire, an FCRA-compliant background check service, offers in-depth searches into an individual’s background, gathering information on their credit, education, criminal proceedings and more. This company is a good option for small businesses given it allows clients to pay per screening if the client runs 10 checks or less a year.
Its basic checks include a Social Security number trace, sex offender registry search, global watchlist records check and national criminal records check for $29.99.
GoodHire customers can also add over 100 additional employment screening services, including healthcare sanction checks, professional reference checks, drug screenings and more.
GoodHire’s plans and pricing are:
Tier | Starting price | Screenings |
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Basic+ | $29.99 | Standard screenings |
Essential | $54.99 |
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Professional | $79.99 |
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Similar to other screening companies, GoodHire also offers industry packages that focus on the screening needs of the following industries:
- Construction
- Healthcare
- Non-profits
- Retail
- Staffing
- Technology
GoodHire has phone, live chat and email customer service available Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm eastern time.
Learn more on GoodHire's Secure Website >>
Other background check sites we considered
PeopleLooker
- Easy to contact customer service
- Offers data useful for sales, marketing and recruiting
- Built to plug into platforms like Gmail, Hubspot and Salesforce
- Coverage limited to people in the U.S.
- Not a consumer reporting agency
- Desktop version is less user-friendly than mobile app
This app-based service is able to conduct six types of checks, including people search, reverse phone lookup, and business-to-business information for sales teams.
PeopleLooker doesn’t currently provide pricing on its page. In the past, a one-month subscription cost $23.99 and three months were $57.57 with a limit of 100 searches per month.
Why it didn't make the cut: It offers similar search functions as other providers on the list and doesn’t provide pricing for those services.
Learn more on PeopleLooker's Secure Website >>
PeopleFinders
- Updates data daily
- Extended customer service hours
- Searches limited to people in the U.S.
- Not a consumer reporting agency
PeopleFinders provides searches based on public records for individuals and businesses. Memberships begin at $24.95 a month for reports that may include current and past contact info, reverse phone lookups, addresses, phone numbers, aliases, age, relatives and associates. If you’re looking for arrest records, criminal records, sex offender check or other legal information you must sign up for the $29.95 a month premium membership.
Why it didn't make the cut: PeopleFinders didn’t make the cut because it provides the same services as other providers, but at a higher price.
Background Check Guide
Background checks have become a necessary part of the hiring and leasing process. The following guide explains what a background check is, how it works and the types of information it can turn up.
Table of Contents
What is a background check?
A background check is an investigation into an individual or a company’s past. But while all background checks are similar in that sense, due to consumer privacy protection laws, searches must be conducted in different ways depending on the purpose and subject of the investigation.
For example, searches on potential employees and tenants must follow provisions established by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires background check services to get an individual's signed consent before conducting searches, among other restrictions.
On the other hand, "people search" background search sites — that is, sites for personal use meant for searches on friends, long-lost relatives or neighbors — don't need to be FCRA-compliant and don't need signed consent.
To find out more about what a background check is and the different types of investigations available, make sure to read our article on What is a background check?
How does a background check work?
As we said above, the scope and process involved in a background check largely depends on its purpose and your relationship to the person being investigated.
If a potential employer or landlord wants to run a background check, they must follow the provisions of the FCRA. The same goes for people looking to hire domestic workers — including cleaning professionals and nannies.
Here’s how these types of background checks work:
- Step 1: The potential employer or landlord obtains the individual's signed consent to conduct the search and a separate consent to obtain a credit report, when applicable, and sends them to a background screening company.
- Step 2: The background investigation company conducts court searches, and obtains the credit report, driving records and/or other information requested by the employer or landlord.
- Step 3: The employer or landlord receives the report, evaluates it and makes a decision.
- Step 4: If information included in the report is used to deny employment or housing, the potential employer or landlord must inform the applicant.
- Step 5: The applicant receives a copy of their background check report and the contact information of the company that conducted the searches. They will also receive a notice of adverse action if they were denied the job or property based on findings in the report.
- Step 6: The potential employer or landlord gives the applicant enough time (generally 30 days from receipt) to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information in their report.
The right to dispute is particularly important given that errors or inaccurate reporting is a common customer complaint. For context, we spoke to Ariel Nelson, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, and she stressed that errors are a big issue in the industry.
"The matching practices that the companies use are inadequate, so you end up including other people’s records," Nelson says. She also mentioned how companies include records that haven't been updated or they report the same infraction several times.
This is why, if you receive a notice that information in your background check was used to deny you employment or housing, make sure to check the report carefully. Check that every item reported pertains to you and, if it doesn't, contact the background check provider that conducted the search to dispute the information.
What do background checks show?
This largely depends on the purpose of the search, the report requested and the source of the information. Searches conducted for the purpose of employment or tenancy are typically more comprehensive than people searches (that is, searches on acquaintances, old friends or neighbors).
People searches typically show information that is available in digital databases, including:
- Birthdate
- Relatives
- Address history
- Social media profiles
- Criminal history (if available online)
- Assets and property owned
- Civil litigation
- Tax liens
- Some judgments
- Bankruptcies
Pre-employment screening or tenant searches, on the other hand, might include more in-depth information, as shown below.
Types of Background Check Searches
Background checks — whether it’s a people search or an FCRA-compliant check — involve different types of searches. These can include:
- Identity verification - As the name suggests, this check helps verify someone’s identity by running a social security number trace that corroborates names, date of birth and address history. An identity verification can also involve confirming citizenship or eligibility for work.
- Criminal history records - Criminal background checks include searches of county and federal courts for felony and, sometimes, misdemeanor offenses. Background screeners may also check sex offender registries and global watchlists.
- Note that states regulate the types of criminal records that can be reported and for how long.
- Employment and education verification - Employment checks typically involve calls to former employers confirming the candidate’s previous jobs and employment dates. Education checks confirm a candidate’s degree, the academic institution they attended, the dates of attendance and, in a few cases, GPA and honors the person earned.
- Driving records - A candidate’s MVR includes traffic violations, infractions, accidents, DUIs, whether the license is suspended or expired and the class of license it is (private passenger or commercial).
- Credit history - A consumer report, from at least one major credit bureau, shows payment history, level of debt, loans, bankruptcies, liens and/or collections, although not always the credit score.
- Civil litigation and judgments - Potential employers will usually also search court records for any civil lawsuits, legal disputes or judgments in which the candidate has been involved.
- Fingerprint background check - This level of check is not the norm, unless candidates need security clearance or will handle sensitive information in their day-to-day. This is a more in-depth criminal check given the fingerprints are cross-checked with those in the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
- Social media check - Social media searches look into an applicant's profiles to determine whether they have any inappropriate content or behavior that could reflect poorly on the organization.
How far back does a background check go?
The time period covered by background checks varies according to the type of check conducted. Also, the FCRA and individual states set rules regarding how far back consumer reporting agencies can search.
Different rules can apply to each element of a background check. For example, searches for criminal records usually go back seven to ten years, although felonies can be reported indefinitely.
Driving records reports usually go back 10 years, although this may vary by state. Degree verifications and employment history checks, on the other hand, typically have no time limit.
How to choose the best background check site
Choosing the best background check site for you will depend on the purpose of your search.
If you want to learn more about a person in your life or conduct a search on yourself, you can use a non-FCRA-compliant background check company that offers people search and reverse phone, email or address lookup services.
However, if you're an employer, you need a company that complies with the FCRA and can not only provide timely and accurate information but also meet all applicable state laws and regulations.
Make sure the company you’re considering:
- Complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, especially the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
- Follows best practices for privacy and security given they’ll be collecting and sharing sensitive information.
- Uses reliable and up-to-date sources to provide accurate background checks.
- Has quality control measures in place to ensure the accuracy of their reports.
- Offers transparent and competitive pricing with a breakdown of their fees so that you can understand the costs involved.
- Provides information quickly to avoid lost opportunities or increased risk to the organization.
You should also search for the company on the Better Business Bureau website and consumer review sites. These sites are also useful for seeing examples of customer experiences, complaints and to learn how the company handled the situation.
Best Background Check Sites FAQs
How much does a background check cost?
The cost of a background check depends on the type. Many people search websites (i.e. not for pre-employment or tenant screening purposes) provide several different types at a range of price points. These services can run from around $20 up to $60 or more for a monthly subscription.
Prices for pre-employment checks, which cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands, are not usually available on company websites because they’re based on your specific needs. The final price will depend on factors such as the scope of the check (is it local, national or international), the industry turnaround time and how many checks you want.
How long does a background check take?
As a general rule, background checks from an FCRA-compliant provider can take between one to three business days. However, the depth of the check can affect turnaround times. Many services can provide reports in minutes if they're a simple check, while others, such as FBI checks, can take up to 30 days.
What does a background check show?
This largely depends on the type of background check performed. A pre-employment background check can show a person's credit history, education, driving records along with public records, such as civil or criminal litigation, tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies and more.
Non-pre-employment background checks — for example, checks that that can be performed on "people search" sites — can show where the person has lived, any criminal records available online, sex offender registry listings, and sometimes tax liens or judgments. They could also include searches of the deep web.
How We Chose the Best Background Check Sites
To pick the best background check services, we reviewed 16 background check companies based on over 100 data points grouped under the following categories:
- Testing: We tested the people search services to assess the user experience and search results. We also evaluated the report’s format, accuracy and comprehensiveness of information. We couldn't test pre-employment screening companies because these types of companies need a legally permissible purpose (for example, employment or tenancy) in order to conduct a search.
- Comprehensiveness: We analyzed what type of information each company accesses and includes in its reports. For pre-employment check services, we favored companies that offered industry packages.
- Additional searches and add-on services: We assessed add-ons like global watchlist searches and specialty services such as international searches, employment and education verification.
- Pricing: We compared prices for each service, including the tiers and the costs of available add-ons. We also checked whether a service charged per check or offered monthly subscriptions.
- Customer reviews: To see what customers had to say about each company’s reports, ease of use, turnaround and overall customer service, we researched and read customer service reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site.
- User interface: We evaluated each background check site’s user interface to determine if the sites are easy to navigate and provided key information useful to consumers.
- Legal actions: Many of the companies in this industry have been the subject of legal actions, mostly relating to privacy. We carefully evaluated lawsuits found during our searches and highlighted those that were particularly relevant to consumers or involved regulatory violations. Do note that this research is based on records found online, and not on an comprehensive review of court records.
- Interviews with experts: We spoke with several industry experts, including a former investigator, a consumer law attorney and a human resources professional who regularly uses background check services for the purposes of hiring.
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