Top 10 Online Background Check Companies: The Best Websites for Background Checks

Is there someone new in your neighborhood and you want to ensure the safety of yourself and your family? Or perhaps you're trying online dating and one person seems ideal, but you are unsure if they are who they claim to be? 

The good news is that running a background check on anyone is easily achievable with numerous companies eager to assist you. They have access to public databases, such as criminal records, sex offender registries, and even traffic court records. To aid in choosing a background checker that meets your needs, we have compiled a list of the top 10 background check sites for your reference.

1. TruthFinder: The best site for background checks and public record searches

2. Instant Checkmate: A top public records search service for personal and family safety

3. BeenVerified: Best for conducting background checks using mobile apps

4. CocoFinder: The best 100% free background checking site and more

5. Intelius: The best background check site for fast and accurate reporting

TruthFinder: The best site for background checks and public record searches

TruthFinder can promptly scan all local and federal records in order to gather information about the search subject. This information is then provided to you in an easy-to-read background report, which includes personal and contact details, date of birth, educational background, employment history, social media accounts, any online images, and current location.

In addition, this background check report covers arrest and court records, criminal convictions, and even traffic violations. This background check service also provides additional features such as vehicle ownership records and firearm licenses, including hunting licenses and permits for concealed weapons. As a distinctive feature, TruthFinder also reveals the subject's horoscope sign and offers a compatibility check with your own star sign for a small additional fee. 

To conduct a background check on TruthFinder, simply input a person's name into the search box. With just a click, TruthFinder can supply all publicly available information related to that identity.

Pros:

• Secure and private searching

• In-depth background reports

• A single monthly fee for unlimited checks

Cons:

• No free trial

• Extra charges apply for downloading reports as PDF

Try TruthFinder, The Top Background Check & Record Search > > 

Instant Checkmate: A top public records search service for personal and family safety

Instant Checkmate is an online public records search service that allows you to discover whether someone you know has a criminal history. 

By scouring through millions of databases available to the public, Instant Checkmate can provide a comprehensive assortment of information about your search target. It reveals arrest records for felonies, misdemeanors, and even speeding tickets, as well as their physical address, education history, employment history, social media profiles, and any online photos. 

In addition to running background checks on specific people, Instant Checkmate also offers a popular feature, Sex Offenders Search, which provides information on all registered sex offenders in your area. Instant Checkmate also offers a handy mobile app. However, this is currently only available for Android users, while an iOS app is still under development. 

Instant Checkmate prioritizes the security and privacy of its users. Your searching record is completely secure and confidential as the subject of the search is unaware that a background check is being conducted.

Pros:

• Sex offender search function

• $1 for a 5-day trial

• Search safely and confidentially

Cons:

• Reports are generated slowly

• The reviews for customer service are poor

Enhance Safety: Use Instant Checkmate Public Records Search Today > >

BeenVerified: Best for conducting background checks using mobile apps

BeenVerified is a public background search service that can assess a wide range of information, including records from banks, credit unions, mailing lists, and property files. 

This enables individuals to find background information about others, including email addresses, phone numbers, current and former addresses, property records, criminal history, work history, and social media profiles. However, it does not include searches of gun license databases and traffic violations. 

Additionally, BeenVerified can be used to run a reverse username search using the subject's username from social media platforms. This feature allows users to investigate someone's background despite not knowing their real name. 

BeenVerified is available as a mobile app for both Android and iOS. Utilizing its mobile app enables users to conduct background searches anytime and anywhere. 

Pros:

• Username search option

• Search financial databases

• Highly praised mobile apps

Cons:

• Information is not always updated

Discover BeenVerified – Top Mobile App for Background Checks > >

CocoFinder: The best 100% free background checking site and more

CocoFinder is a top-rated people-search tool with a background search function that accesses data from all public records, registries, and archives and reports the results within a few minutes. This information ranges from people's criminal history and property holdings to online images. 

One of CocoFinder's main advantages is that it provides a completely free background search service. Customers are not required to sign up for an account before using it. However, this does not mean that CocoFinder is less reliable than other paid services. In fact, CocoFinder provides insights into hidden background information faster and more efficiently than most of its competitors.

In addition to providing background search service, CocoFinder also features a reverse phone number lookup, reverse address lookup, and reverse email lookup. Its comprehensive reverse lookup tools make it one of the best people search tools on the market. 

Pros:

• Provides completely free background checks

• Generates search reports quickly and efficiently

• Grants access to all government databases

Cons:

• Search capabilities are limited to the USA only

Discover CocoFinder: Free, reliable background checks and more > >

Intelius: The best background check site for fast and accurate reporting

Recognized by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, Intelius is considered an exceptional background check website. It provides valuable information drawn from all available public records, conveniently gathered for easy viewing through the Intelius app. 

Intelius background check services offer a variety of information, including full names with alternate name options, birthdates, physical addresses, criminal and traffic records, marriage and divorce history, and employment and educational background. 

Many background check websites face a common issue: multiple users sharing the same name. To expedite and improve the accuracy of its reports, Intelius prompts supplementary search questions like "Is this person over 30?" or "Has this person ever resided in Wisconsin?" 

Furthermore, for those instances when the person's correct name is uncertain, Intelius features a reverse phone lookup search. This tool can provide details such as names, social media profiles, any online images, and possibly relatives and associates.

Pros:

• Uses various methods to narrow down search

• Wide range of databases

• Mobile apps available

Cons:

• Pricing plans are not transparent

• Customer service is limited

Experience Intelius: Top Site for Quick, Precise Background Checks > >

Checkr: The best background check for pre-employment screening

Unlike many other background checking and people search sites, Checkr is designed primarily as a pre-employment screening tool, in compliance with the FCRA and local regulations. 

Checkr has several key features that make it invaluable to employers. One of these features is Criminal Records check, which gathers all available information from court records, arrest records, charges, and convictions. Employers can also review a candidate's driving record to check for any violations and confirm the validity of the license. Additionally, Checkr provides access to a candidate's civil records, including Family Court Matters, restraining orders, tax claims, and bankruptcies. 

The Education Verification feature of Checkr allows employers to vet a candidate's academic history through public education databases and verify any qualifications and degrees earned in the US or in over 200 other countries. Moreover, Checkr's Employment Verification feature can confirm a candidate's work history and experience, allowing employers to rely less on merely resumes or verbal reference checks.

Pros:

• Accurate and detailed pre-employment checking

• Can authenticate qualifications earned in the U.S. and overseas

• Conducts screening in over 200 countries

Cons:

• The report turnaround time is slow

Choose Checkr: Unbeatable Pre-Employment Background Checks Today > >

GoodHire: The best background check for government agency-level screening

GoodHire is an FCRA-compliant pre-employment background check service, checking all criminal history databases and current court records to find convictions or pending cases. GoodHire also authenticates the information provided by the candidate in terms of past employment, education, and professional qualifications, including motor vehicle licensing and driving records.

GoodHire offers candidate screening services for government agencies and is authorized to carry out checks that involving sealed records, such as searches of arrest and conviction records related to crimes against children. This is relevant in cases where candidates are applying for adoption or for jobs working with children and the elderly.

One of GoodHire's features is the True Me platform, which allows individuals to run a background check on themselves before applying for a job. This feature empowers individuals to review their own background information and address any potential concerns.

What's more, GoodHire does not rely exclusively on online data. GoodHire's search specialists can make actual contact with previous employers and academic institutions, and all information obtained from public records is manually reviewed to ensure its legality and accuracy.

Pros:

• Excellent customer support

• High-level screening for government agencies

• Manual checking of online data for greater accuracy

Cons:

• More expensive than competitors

• Not multilingual

Trust GoodHire: Superior Government-Level Background Checks Now Available > >

HireRight: The best in criminal records checking for pre-employment background checks

A criminal record is a factor that potential employers should consider in their hiring decision. HireRight specializes in conducting criminal record checks for employers. Alongside state and federal criminal records, HireRight also checks public databases in Canada and the UK. They can conduct checks of public records in over 200 other countries too. They have online access to data and a network of live agents worldwide, enabling recognition of a person's history within and outside of the US.

A separate feature allows for a person's name to be checked against the Sex Offenders Register. Despite some reporting restrictions on actual convictions, HireRight can inform you if the person's name appears on the register.

HireRight also offers a Prohibited Parties check to identify if a person is on a US Government watch list for specially designated foreign nationals, terrorists, narco-traffickers, or individuals barred from conducting business in the US or under economic sanctions.

Additional services include vehicle license checks, traffic violation inquiries, verification of professional qualifications, and authentication of previous employment history.

Pros:

• US and international checking

• Specialized background checking for Prohibited Parties

• Integrates with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Cons:

• Previous users mentioned poor customer support

Secure HireRight: Premier Pre-Employment Criminal Records Checking > > 

PeopleLooker: The Best Option for Secure and Private Online Background Checks

PeopleLooker is a people search site that allows you to locate someone and discover everything there is to know about them. Its key features include genealogy searches and social media searches. The background checks it incorporates include criminal convictions, a sex offender registry, and court records.

As a people search tool and background check service, PeopleLooker comes highly rated for its swift search speed. Capable of uncovering all the necessary information from millions of databases within mere seconds, it often delivers results instantaneously. This includes details such as names, phone numbers, addresses, information regarding relatives, among other relevant data. 

It also ensures a high level of search privacy by processing all search requests using secure SSL certificates. However, PeopleLooker is not accredited under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), meaning it cannot legally be used for employment checks or assessments of creditworthiness for loans, among other things.

Pros:

• Social media searching

• Fast and user-friendly

• High-level of search privacy

• 7-day trial period for $1

Cons:

• Cannot be used for employment or credit checks

Choose PeopleLooker, Top Option for Secure Online Checks > >

PeopleFinders: Best for accurate and reliable background checks

PeopleFinders is a comprehensive online background search service. Its extensive database and user-friendly design make it an ideal option for learning more about the people in your life. 

It can perform exhaustive checks through local, state, and national databases across every US adult. These checks yield a wealth of data such as contact details, address history, criminal records, social media profiles, employment records, and educational background.

The service also offers a Free Preview feature, which allows users to conduct a test search. Upon entering the subject's name, PeopleFinders provides a list of results featuring the person's data. The user can then opt to pay for access to the full information.

PeopleFinders also allows for self-searches. This feature enables you to find out what information about you is publicly accessible. This way, you can manage your online presence more effectively by controlling the information that is available to others online.

PeopleFinders is readily accessible across multiple platforms. You can conveniently use it through mobile apps on any smartphone or tablet.

Pros:

• Dependable and accurate searching

• Free Preview feature

• Manage your own online presence

• Mobile apps available

Cons:

• Mandatory cancelation fee

Discover PeopleFinders: Your Key to Reliable Background Checks > >

Conclusion

In today's digital world, just about all information, including all government records, is available online. As this list of the top 10 background check companies illustrates, any information held on a public database can be accessed through a background check, sometimes on a global scale. 

Choosing the most appropriate background checking tool can be confusing at first. However, by focusing on the key features, you can decide which company excels in the areas that genuinely meet your needs.