Running a background check on someone is no longer an impossible task! With so many seemingly legitimate sites available, these days, everyone can run a background check on pretty much anyone. Still, this doesn’t mean there aren’t issues you’ll want to be aware of. No one wants to waste money on a site that delivers inaccurate or exaggerated results or end up in legal trouble because they ignored the fine print. But don’t worry! Today, we’re going to take you through some of the best background check services you can use, which are trustworthy, and won’t leave you hanging.
10 Best Background Check Companies: First Look
- Best background check service overall – TruthFinder
- Perfect for criminal background checks – Intelius
- Most user-friendly background check site – Instant Checkmate
- Most affordable option – Infotracer
- Good for one-time searches – Spokeo
- Good for small businesses – GoodHire
- Best for professional and personal record searches – Verified Credentials
- Best background check website for credit checks – Sterling
- Top option for finance businesses – Justifacts
- Easily check traffic offenses – Checkr
1. TruthFinder – Best Background Check Company Overall
Pros
- Mobile apps available
- Also searches social media
- User-friendly
Cons
- No individual report option
- No free trial
TruthFinder has earned the title of being America’s most trusted background checking service to date. It allows you to perform a background check on anyone to uncover arrest records, address history, online profiles, their driving record, and other contact information. It’s fantastic to reconnect with old friends, family or even search for yourself to see what’s out there. The best feature is TruthFinder’s reverse phone lookup, which lets you look up known phone numbers. And it’ll turn up a ton of useful information about them based on that. TruthFinder goes through all the bases of data sources, including state, county, and public records, social media data, the dark web, and more. Unfortunately, TruthFinder doesn’t include free trial options, and its monthly plan isn’t cheap. But, it’s a useful tool to look up a new neighbor who you’re feeling suspicious of, or even a potential date before meeting them.
2. Intelius – Best for Criminal Background Checks
Pros
- User-friendly
- Responsive customer support
Cons
- Expensive membership
- Cancellation fee
Intelius offers a variety of products and different search options to find the info you need. It provides in-depth reports about anyone you’re looking for. Intelius is a public records company that’s been around since 2003 and is also one of the top background search websites available. Users like the fact that Intelius offers a ton of search options. Some of its best features include people search and reverse address lookup. This allows you to look up a street address to find out the name and phone number of the person who lives or works there. Intelius pricing plans are a little costly, and there is also a cancellation fee after the trial period. Yet, people can still use the “one-off” search option without needing to opt for a membership. Because Intelius gets its data from lawsuit filings and local criminal records, it’s effective for running criminal background checks on anyone you suspect.
3. Instant Checkmate – Most User-Friendly Background Check Site
Pros
- Mobile app friendly
- Effective for finding hidden information
Cons
- No individual reports option
- Customer support isn’t the best
Instant Checkmate lets you perform a background check on anyone and is considered to be highly accurate. The platform itself is super easy to navigate, even for novice users. It also allows you to opt for a monthly membership if you’re planning on running many checks. With Instant Checkmate, you get access to some great features. For example, the people search function is easy to use. All you need to provide is the person’s first and last name, including their location, and the software will provide you with their financial and professional data and residential, public record items to boot. Instant Checkmate is useful for looking up your neighbors, researching people you’ve met online, and potential love interests. This tool is also effective for looking yourself up to see what comes up. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with an individual report search option, but you can opt for its five-day trial to try it.
4. Infotracer – Most Affordable Background Check Company
Pros
- Fast service
- 24/7 customer support
- Facial recognition search
Cons
- No education history checks
- No mobile app available
Infotracer’s background check service lets you access its public info at an affordable price. It’s pretty effective for finding out background information about yourself or even a lost family member. Plus, if you opt for a membership plan – you can carry out unlimited background checks. Most of the best background check services don’t give you unlimited checks! This background check service offers various features, including people search, reverse address lookup, criminal records, reverse phone lookups, and more. While it doesn’t offer education background info, it still comes with expansive Public Record Reports, which are very useful. Since Infotracer offers reliable background checks, including criminal history, it can help find out if a certain person you know is on a sex offender registry to feel safer. Plus, it’s also helpful for identity verification to make sure a potential online date is who they say they are.
5. Spokeo – Best One Time Background Check Tool
Pros
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Offers a free trial
Cons
- Not effective for deep background checks
- The business plan is expensive
Spokeo is a pretty popular background check service in the U.S., with almost 20 million users per month. The reason for its popularity is that individuals can get a full name report for only $0.95, and this service is also suitable for businesses. Spokeo includes plenty of features, offers personal identity protection, and is also useful for self-monitoring your data. Its best features are its reverse background check function, where you can see the ID, education history, and court records of the person you’re looking for. Other useful features include using its public search directory, which boasts up to 300 million records alone. While it may not be very effective for more thorough background checks, Spokeo is great for employers who want to check someone’s employment history or even carry out reference checks. Plus, you can find out if your spouse has any hidden dating sites because of its full name search option.
6.GoodHire – Best Background Check Company for Small Businesses
Pros
- Effective for employment verification
- Simple to use
- Good customer support
Cons
- Some states require separate fees for background checks
- Takes a little longer
GoodHire is ideal for business owners or employees who want to carry out a background check on a potential employee. This service is beneficial for running a criminal background check and is very helpful during hiring. The website itself is well laid out, and employees can search from various industry categories, for example, construction, retail, and healthcare. Plus, for any landlords out there, Goodhire is a suitable option for tenant screening. However, some users have complained that criminal background checks can take over a week to process, and depending on which state you’re based in, the fees differ. With that said, GoodHire provides a ton of useful info on their platform about their service.
7. Verified Credentials – Top Background Check Company for Professional and Personal Searches
Pros
- Fast turnaround time
- Can set up unlimited reports
- Offers self background check
Cons
- Expensive
- No trial period
Verified Credentials offers various types of background checks, including both personal and professional checks. So whether you want to see your own public record or check into a potential employee, Verified Credentials covers everything. On the downside, it’s a little pricey, and there is no trial period to try out the service with. But even the standard package covers important bases such as criminal searches and going through the National Sex Offender Public Registry.
8. Sterling – Best Online Background Check for Credit Checks
Pros
- Offers employment screening
- Fast turnaround
- Plenty of support options
Cons
- Pricey
- Users have said that criminal checks take longer
Sterling has been around since 1975, helping clients either carry out personal or business background checks. It also offers plenty of services to opt for, ranging from drug screening to accurate background reports. While the company boasts a quick turnaround time, users have said in reviews that criminal record checks can take a while longer. With that being said, Sterling is a good choice whether you’re a small business owner or if you want to know if your new roommate has anything you should be wary of.
9. Justifacts – Top Online Background Check Service for Finance Businesses
Pros
- Offers I-9 and E-verify solutions
- Provided informative resources and blog
- Affordable rates
Cons
- No trial period
- Not many user reviews
Justifacts background checking service is designed for employers who want to vet a potential employee. It comes with various checks, including criminal history search, drug screening, personal background checks, and much more. It goes even into greater detail by providing credit history and even international checks if you wish. Unfortunately, there aren’t many user reviews about this particular service, but generally, customers are happy with the process.
10. Checkr – Top Background Check Service for Traffic Offenses
Pros
- Easy-to-use
- Fast
- Presents the data in a simple way
Cons
- No trial period
- No mobile app available
Checkr aims to help small and big business owners to make more informed hiring decisions faster. Evidently, the popular company DoorDash claims to use this service to vet their potential candidates. Currently, you can request criminal records, employment screening, and any other civil records you desire using Checkr. Its website is easy to navigate and simple to use. Though, at the moment, Checkr doesn’t offer an iOS or Android app for convenience. Regardless, it boasts a quick process that shouldn’t take over 72 hours, so you won’t need to wait too long to receive the data you need.
Top Background Check Companies: FAQ
What Are Background Check Services?
Simply put, background check services help you find out if the person you’re looking to hire, date, or move in with is who they say they are. It’s a highly professional industry with access to a wide range of public data, including criminal records, employee background info, and other information to confirm their validity. On top of that, background checks are carried out for a variety of reasons. Companies run checks to ensure the person they hire has no previous criminal offenses or to ensure all their details add up. It’s also useful to run background checks on yourself to see what kind of info a future employee can encounter. The most popular type of background checks includes credit, universal, personal, criminal, and international background checks. There are plenty more to suit what you’re looking for, and you can find more information about that on the company’s website.
Why Do Businesses Do Background Checks on New Employees?
There are various reasons why businesses run background checks on new employees. For one, it’s an effective way to ensure that all the claims made during the hiring process match up, and the potential candidate was truthful about their education, history, and experience. A background check is also an effective way of seeing if the employee has any criminal history they should be aware of or any other potential risks. Keep in mind that not all the companies mentioned can vet employees. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is something that all employers need to follow, and certain regulations should be met before conducting background checks. Currently, GoodHire, Spokeo, Justifacts, and Verified Credentials, are suitable for employers who wish to view potential employee background history.
Is It Legal to Run a Background Check for Personal Reasons?
If you’re running a background check on yourself to see what can come up for a future employer or anyone else that wants to search you up, then yes, it’s perfectly legal. However, running a background check on someone else without permission isn’t exactly legal, though many people do it anyway. Nevertheless, rest assured that our top picks are legitimate services that allow users to conduct searches privately and anonymously, without the danger of getting caught.
What Is the Most Accurate Criminal Background Check?
Most background check services offer a thorough criminal check. Not only for employees, but it can also come in handy when moving in with someone new or if you’re curious about a potential online date that’s coming up. TruthFinder and Intelius offer a clear background search on whoever you wish, including background screening. However, keep in mind that these services are not FCRA accredited, which means they aren’t suitable for employers or business owners who wish to screen potential employees.
Which Site Is Best to Carry Out a Background Check on Myself?
Running a background analysis on yourself before a big interview is a smart move and can even get you ahead of the game. Though you might be tempted to rely on a free background check site, it’s best to use a paid-for service, especially if a big promotion or exciting new job is on the line. Whether you’re up for a serious interview or you’re simply curious, try out Instant Checkmate, as it’s super easy to use and effective. Plus, they offer a five-day trial for just $1.00.
Best Background Check Services: The Takeaway
Background screening is becoming more popular than ever, and not just with big background check companies. More people are taking advantage of this system to uncover some hidden truths about their spouse, roommate, or even to find a lost family member. Hopefully, from this list of professional background screeners, you’ll be able to find a service that suits your needs. Whether you’re up for a serious interview or simply curious about a new neighbor or online friend, we recommend our top three picks: TruthFinder, Intelius, and Instant Checkmate. Still, depending on your needs, one of our other picks might be better for you. Have you tried out a background check service? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!