8 Best Background Check Sites of April 2025

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What to know about background checks

• Nearly one in every three adults have some form of a criminal record according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This highlights why employers and landlords are increasingly relying on background checks to screen candidates.
• Only some types of background check are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which places limits on the kind of information that you can obtain on others.
• People search sites can be a useful tool for finding relatives or doing reverse phone searches. For background checks on potential employees, domestic workers, or tenants, you’ll need to work with an FCRA-compliant company.
• Social media background checks have become a more common part of the recruitment process for many employers despite the ethical and privacy concerns surrounding them.

Our top picks for the best background check sites

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.

FCRA-compliant background screening sites

The following background screening sites all comply with FCRA regulation on consumer reporting agencies, namely the information they can provide and what it can be used for. This means you may use them for employment and tenancy purposes.

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Why we chose it: TruthFinder offers highly detailed reports that cover a wide range of information, from personal assets to criminal records and employment history. Its intuitive app with a straightforward interface makes starting new searches and viewing existing reports easy.

Although the service only offers monthly plans — you won’t be able to pay for one-off reports — the price of TruthFinder’s services is slightly below that of other background check memberships. And for an additional $3.99/mo, it also lets you download reports as PDFs and monitor reports online for updates to their information.

It bears mentioning that TruthFinder was one of two background check sites which were penalized by the Federal Trade Commission in 2023 for deceiving users about the accuracy of their reports and violating FCRA guidelines. Although it has been some time since, this is something to keep in mind as you consider the companies on our list.

Reports may include: first and last name, known aliases, physical address, photos, social media profiles, location history, associated persons, related persons, birth information, phone numbers, email addresses, employment history, educational history, possible associates, business ownership, assets, criminal records, traffic records, court records.

*See disclaimer below for more information.

Why we chose it: Instant Checkmate offers unlimited searches, making it ideal for anyone who needs to conduct background checks regularly. It’s especially thorough when it comes to criminal information, featuring search functions for inmates and traffic, criminal and arrest records.

Another highlight of the platform is its streamlined interface that makes navigation easy — both on browsers and on the handy mobile app. On the other hand, Instant Checkmate’s lack of single-report purchase option means it isn’t as cost-effective for those who only need occasional searches.

Like TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate was penalized by the Federal Trade Commission in 2023 for deceptive business practices and breaking FCRA guidelines. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker — both companies were placed under monitoring by the FTC — but it’s worth considering while choosing a background check site.

Reports may include: birth information, photos, phone numbers, social media profiles, email addresses, address history, employment history, educational history, business ownership, assets, criminal records, traffic records, court records.

*See disclaimer below for more information.

Why we chose it: BeenVerified does VIN and license plate lookups, which provide valuable insight into a car’s past, including accidents, market value, recalls, warranty and ownership history. This makes it a go-to option for used car buyers, automotive professionals and others who may need to run a vehicle history check.

Like other popular background check sites, BeenVerified also features a mobile app to search people, phone numbers, emails and physical addresses. However, it also offers an app specifically for carrying out vehicle checks, making it even easier to keep track of several car records at once.

While the platform is excellent for vehicle searches, it offers less detailed reports in other fields. It’s also easy to miss that BeenVerified’s membership costs $32.89/mo, not $1 or $5 (which are only the price of its 7-day membership for the “Casual” and “Plus” trial plans, respectively).

Reports may include: full name, date of birth, current and past addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, photos, possible relatives and associates, traffic records, criminal records, court proceedings, litigation history, bankruptcy proceedings, education history, employment history, business associations, social media platforms, blogs and websites.

*See disclaimer below for more information.

Why we chose it: Unlike the other people finders on our list, Spokeo lets you pay per individual search instead of forcing you into a subscription. This makes it considerably more affordable (and convenient) than the competition for occasional searches. And if you happen to need a large volume of reports, its $29.95/month membership isn’t expensive compared to other sites.

But Spokeo’s affordability comes at the cost of depth. Its reports are broad, but not as detailed as those of more premium services — they lack detail in criminal history and financial records, for example — and the platform’s short turnaround times can sometimes backfire, leading to inaccuracies.

Reports may include: names, aliases, phone numbers, email addresses, birth information, marital status, education level, hobbies and interests, current and past addresses, nearby residents, neighbors, property records, lifestyle data, investments, estimated salary, family members, household demographics, social media profiles, usernames, dating sites, music and gaming accounts. Criminal records, DUIs and sex offenses also available for an additional fee.

*See disclaimer below for more information.

*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.

Why we chose it: Backgrounds Online checks all the marks when it comes to a great screening service — comprehensive reports, transparent pricing, position-specific searches, and advanced solutions for compliance, to name a few.

For custom packages, Background Online provides an à la carte experience. You can choose between 22 options as you are guided by a dedicated account manager. Moreover, the platform can sync applicant tracking systems (ATS) with its internal web application, which allows you to request checks while providing the necessary information that is available in its database.

As for compliance, the Applicant Self-Submittal feature allows the people you screen to see and approve all necessary compliance documents. Then, Backgrounds Online produces a report for you to make more informed hiring decisions.

Why we chose it: Checkr hosts a variety of dynamic compliance features, including candidate assessment, online adverse action and individualized assessment tools. These tools streamline the recruitment process, which is otherwise rife with regulatory requirements that change frequently and vary region to region.

Background checks are not only a headache for hiring teams, but can also expose your company to compliance risks — violations and litigation can cost a business millions. Checkr’s “compliance engine” combats this by keeping employers updated with evolving regional laws.

The platform also features fast report turnaround times thanks to its AI-powered technology that clarifies and categorizes adverse findings but also estimates processing times. Unfortunately, this has led to some claims of inaccurate results, and the lack of phone support might make it hard to corroborate this with the Checkr. But overall, the company’s commitment to compliance makes it a standout choice for businesses looking to mitigate hiring risks.

The options listed above are only valid for businesses that run less than 300 background checks per year. Custom packages are available for those that run more.

Why we chose it: TransUnion SmartMove was designed for tenant screenings first and foremost. With specialized tools like the ResidentScore — a number that predicts the likelihood of eviction — property managers are able to process potential renters more efficiently.

SmartMove pulls credit data directly from TransUnion, providing accurate financial insights into a potential tenant’s history. The platform’s criminal records and eviction reports help give a fuller picture of an applicant’s risk level, while its pay-per-report pricing model keeps the service free until you decide to fully process an applicant.

One of SmartMove’s standout features is that landlords don’t have to pay for reports — they can ask applicants to cover the cost instead during the process. And although customization options and on the platform are limited, the system is easy to use. Reports are generated quickly, which can help property owners make informed leasing decisions without extensive delays.

Why we chose it: GoodHire’s combination of affordability, ease of use and compliance support makes it a more accessible option for professional background screening. Said options cover a wide range of industries — from IT and banking to healthcare and nonprofits — or can be picked out to target only specific roles you need filled.

GoodHire also comes with several pre-integrated ATS and human resources information systems, such as FCRA compliance tools and adverse action workflows. Compliance tools are especially helpful for smaller organizations to mitigate the potential legal risks associated with employment background checks.

Another highlight of GoodHire is its interface, both on browsers and on its mobile app. The platform’s dashboard provides results and status updates at a glance, with more urgent information clearly visible from the get-go. And your candidates can view their results in the same simple, mobile-optimized format available to you.

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What is a background check — and what does it show?

Background checks are not one, but multiple processes that are undertaken to investigate a person’s past. These involve looking through public and private records for personal information, from personal identifiers like age, physical address and social media profiles, to more sensitive data, such as your social security number, credit history and criminal record.

People carry out checks for a number of reasons. You may want more information on your new next-door neighbor, for example, or to verify that your date really is who he claims to be.

Alternatively, special background checks known as consumer reports may be used by employers or landlords to evaluate potential candidates and tenants. The same goes for people looking to hire domestic workers — including cleaning professionals and nannies.

You can do a background check by going to a website like Instant Checkmate or TruthFinder and providing a name, phone number and/or other common identifiable information. You can even do a check on yourself! Doing so will show you what others would see when looking up your profile on one of these sites — and let you dispute any inaccurate information on you.

Types of background check searches

Broadly speaking, there are two types of background checks: those that comply with FCRA guidelines on consumer reports, and those that do not. The latter are often called “people search websites” because the information found there cannot be used for the purpose of hiring employees or tenancy. Using them this way could lead to serious legal consequences.

The following are popular types of searches, reports or screenings that you might see on a background screening website and what they entail.

1. People search, reverse phone lookups, email lookups and address lookups are all types of simple background checks that are typically offered by non-FCRA compliant services. They often provide the same data on a person — the information you input serves as a “key” to find their profile on a platform’s database.
2. Criminal background checks involve looking through watchlists, sex offender registries, and court records at the county, state, national and federal level for evidence of a criminal history, such as misdemeanors, sanctions and felonies.
3. Verifications mostly focus on two fields: employment and education. Employment verification consists of obtaining information about someone’s professional history to confirm their resume or job application is accurate. Education verification works much the same way, but by looking for information on someone’s credentials or degree.
4. Position specific searches are useful for verifying that a candidate for a job post has the necessary qualifications. For example, you may request a drug screening for a federal position, or a motor vehicle record search if you are hiring drivers.
5. International reports cover different types of background check but are performed to vet people coming from other parts of the world.

These background checks may be offered as individual services or as part of a larger package of services.

How we chose the best background check sites

To pick the best background check services, we reviewed 20 background check companies based on over 40 data points grouped under the following categories:

Cost

We compared the prices of each background check platform, taking into account whether the service worked on a per-report basis or as a subscription service (or both). Price isn’t the end all be all — you get what you pay for, after all — but we favored companies with lower individual reports costs, less fees and a wider variety of plan tiers for those that had membership options.

Features

For basic background checks, or people search sites, we listed and compared the types of information each company includes in its identity verification profiles or reports, including full names, age, email, physical address and other personal identifiable information.

We did the same for FCRA-compliant services, but also considered the breadth of their individual report types, such as criminal reports, driving record checks, employment verification reference checks and drug testing. We favored companies that offered a greater number of these in addition to industry packages and add-ons like global watchlist searches.

Reputation

Many companies in the background checks 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 not based on a comprehensive review of court records.

Customer experience

We evaluated each background check site’s user interface on web browsers and mobile apps (when applicable) to determine if they were easy to navigate and provided key information useful to consumers. Then, to see what customers had to say about each company we researched and read customer service reviews on the Better Business Bureau’s site.

Summary of the Best Background Check Sites of April 2025

People search background check sites

FCRA-compliant background screening sites