Best Personal Background Check [Our Reviews and Comparisons]

If you’re searching for the best personal background check software, look no further than our detailed reviews of various products available on the market. In this article, we will detail the main features, benefits, and downsides of seven different background check programs. 

Best Personal Background Check Comparison Table

Company	Features	Website
BEST PICK	Offers a $1 trial for 5 days of website usage Mobile app available Chance to opt-in to identity theft protection included in the membership fee	https://backgroundhawk.com/instant-checkmate
	A high rate of accuracy in the data and information it pulls Search for contact information, criminal history, and so much more	https://backgroundhawk.com/truthfinder
	Offers basic and affordable people search with options to upgrade for marriage and divorce records. Reverse phone lookup so that you can figure out the source of an unfamiliar number that you’ve been getting calls from. Provides thorough criminal records at both the state and federal levels.	https://backgroundhawk.com/intelius
	Court runner service; a real person verifies the report information Offers opportunity to remove information about yourself Property check feature for potential homeowners	https://www.peoplelooker.com/
	Compiles information into a simple, easy-to-read report Includes both financial and criminal history information Recently introduced a mobile app version of their website	https://www.beenverified.com/
	The website is intuitive and easy to navigate No membership necessary in order to purchase a background check report	https://www.peoplefinders.com/
	Search algorithm allows the website to work almost like Google Pulls contact information, criminal history, and educational background Offers searching via name, phone number, or email	https://publicseek.com/

Once we provide you with all of the details of what each personal background check has to offer, we will announce our final verdict and reveal to you which background check software is the best possible one for personal use. There are a lot of options out there, so rest assured that we can summarize all of the highlights and important information in one easily understandable place.

Our Best Personal Background Check Reviews and Comparisons

1. PeopleLooker 

Product Highlights

PeopleLooker is an extremely detailed and dedicated service when it comes to personal background checks. Like almost all other services, they offer the usual information that is available in public records like name, address, and criminal record. However, PeopleLooker also offers a unique service called a court runner.

In short, they will send an actual person to the local court to verify the information provided in the report is accurate.

PeopleLooker’s attention to detail is what makes them such a strong competitor in the background check market. They offer an extensive array of extra services on top of the typical background check report, which really sets them apart as an extremely helpful company.

Features 

• Court runner service; a real person verifies the report information
• Offers opportunity to remove information about yourself
• Property check feature for potential homeowners

What We Like About PeopleLooker

There’s a lot to love about PeopleLooker. To begin, the fact that they send a real person to the court in order to provide double verification on the information that was pulled by the background check software. This is a great service for those who want to make absolutely certain that the public records information they pull about an individual is perfectly accurate.

Another great thing about PeopleLooker is that it gives you the opportunity to get rid of inaccurate information about yourself in the public records database. For example, if you perform a search on yourself and see that something incorrect is coming up, you can let PeopleLooker know and they will remove it from their database. 

PeopleLooker is also fantastic for people hoping to purchase a home. Their background check service can provide you physical details about the home you’re interested in like the year it was built and the actual square footage, as well as the ownership history. In short, you can see who owned the property before you and know better what you might be getting into!

What We Don’t Like About PeopleLooker

PeopleLooker is undoubtedly worth the money, what with all of the extra services they make available to their customers, but it does come at a slightly higher cost than other background check companies. Many of the awesome services that PeopleLooker boasts do cost an extra fee, so that is important to keep in mind.

Furthermore, like the services mentioned previously, PeopleLooker does not perform scans of the dark web. Overall, if you are hoping to figure out if someone is involved in some shady business, PeopleLooker will probably not be able to help you with that, but chances are that it can help you with dozens of other things.

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PROS

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• Court runner service provide double verification of public records information
• Information removal option to get rid of false data about yourself
• Property lookup provides ownership history of most buildings
• Multiple membership options available

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CONS

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• Higher price tag than other companies with extra fees for certain services
• No dark web scanning feature available

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2. Intelius 

Product Highlights

Intelius is a public records company that is based in Seattle, WA. This background check allows you to find people, even if you only have limited information. This software is fairly basic and is best suited for personal research purposes. For example, if you’ve just started dating someone or you’ve met a new friend, Intelius can provide you with basic information like contact details and education history. 

Features 

• Offers basic and affordable people search with options to upgrade for marriage and divorce records.
• Reverse phone lookup so that you can figure out the source of an unfamiliar number that you’ve been getting calls from.
• Provides thorough criminal records at both the state and federal levels.

What We Like About Intelius

One of the things that we like the most about Intelius is the fact that it is fairly affordable and even provides basic information for free. In short, if you’re just trying to find a long-lost relative’s address or phone number, you won’t have to worry about spending a significant amount of money; chances are that Intelius can provide it to you for free.

Another great thing about Intelius is that it offers something that many other background check websites usually don’t: educational history. Intelius will tell you every school, college, or university that the person you are searching for has attended. In short, if your most recent blind date claims to have gone to Harvard or Yale, you can verify that information yourself.

What We Don’t Like About Intelius

Intelius has gotten some negative feedback for providing inaccurate reports. Some users of the service claim that the reports they got from Intelius were missing information or the details weren’t as up-to-date as they expected them to be. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything Intelius reports isn’t correct, it does mean you should be both wary and willing to double-check the details you receive.

One of the most notable complaints that customers have about Intelius is that they have deceitful pricing plans. In short, you can do a simple search for fairly cheap, but Intelius will then sign you up for a premium subscription without informing you, and then will even charge you again if you cancel before your trial period is up. 

In short, many consumers feel as though Intelius purposefully fails to mention the finer details of their pricing plans, which has led to a considerable number of users being charged for services they didn’t even realize they signed up for in the first place. 

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PROS

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• Affordable basic searches
• Divorce and criminal records available
• Offers education history information
• Reverse phone number lookup service

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CONS

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• An ongoing debate among consumers about report accuracy
• Questionable pricing practices

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3. BeenVerified 

Product Highlights

BeenVerified pulls information into a report for your background check needs, pulling from government records, public databases, and even social media. Not only will the report include information like criminal background, but it will also pull from consumer reporting agencies and financial institutions. 

This background check company was established in 2007 and has been around for almost fifteen years, so you can rest assured that they have both a stable and reputable history of helping consumers find the information they need about a variety of people. 

Features 

• Compiles information into a simple, easy-to-read report
• Includes both financial and criminal history information
• Recently introduced a mobile app version of their website

What We Like About BeenVerified

BeenVerified is a reputable company that has been trusted by countless customers for many years. One of the best things about their service is the breadth of knowledge that they can pull about the person that you are conducting a background check on. Not only can they produce the usual information that would be available in public records, but they can also pull credit information and social media profiles. 

Another great thing about BeenVerified is that they have a mobile app available. If you prefer to work from your phone or if you need to do a background check on someone while you are on the go and away from your computer, this feature can be extremely useful. 

Furthermore, one of the most common features of background checks software nowadays is the reverse phone lookup. This allows you to type in a phone number (for example, an unfamiliar one that you might be receiving suspicious calls from) and find out who the owner of that number is.

BeenVerified is awesome because they offer that, as well as reverse address lookup and reverse email lookup. In short, they can really help you uncover the information that you need. 

What We Don’t Like About BeenVerified

While BeenVerified has a handful of negative reviews on the Better Business Bureau website, it seems that these all come from an unrealistic expectation of the depth of knowledge that a background check can provide. 

In general, one of the only complaints that we have about BeenVerified is that they tend to be a little more expensive than other services on the market. However, sometimes it is worth paying a little bit more money for a background check service that has been around for a while and has been delivering dependable results for over a decade.
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PROS

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• Provides a significant breadth of information
• The mobile app allows you to conduct a background check from your phone
• Reverse phone, email, and address lookup
• Pulls social media profiles and credit information

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CONS

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• Slightly more expensive than other background check services
• No free trial available

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4. PeopleFinders 

Product Highlights

PeopleFinders is another background check service that has an easy-to-use interface and provides reports that are not difficult or confusing to read through. This website has a fantastic rating on the Better Business Bureau, so there’s no question that it is both legitimate and reputable. 

Features 

• The website is intuitive and easy to navigate
• No membership necessary in order to purchase a background check report

What We Like About PeopleFinders

PeopleFinders is among the most top-rated personal background check services available on the current market, so we love that we know that it comes with glowing reviews and a simple interface. 

Furthermore, as mentioned previously, PeopleFinders does not require users to pay for a monthly subscription or membership in order to access their services. Instead, you can purchase individual reports as you need them. This is a fantastic feature because, in some cases, you might only want to pull one background check report and then be done with it.

With PeopleFinders, you can do that without having to deal with the hassle of paying for and then canceling a monthly membership fee. 

What We Don’t Like About PeopleFinders

There aren’t many bad things to say about PeopleFinders, but some of the most common complaints about their service are that it hasn’t always been the most accurate. While some background check services do have issues with accuracy, this isn’t always the software’s fault. For example, background check reports pull from public records, which can be outdated or incorrect. 

Also, some of the negative reviews of PeopleFinders claim that it does scan the dark web, so the limited breadth of information that this service can pull might be a downside for you if those of the type of details you are in search of about a person. 

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PROS

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• Great reviews and ratings from the BBB
• No membership or subscription required to purchase a report
• Pulls extensive amount of information, including criminal history
• One of the more affordable options available to consumers

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CONS

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• Some complaints about inaccuracy
• Does not scan the dark web in the background check report

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5. Instant Checkmate  

Product Highlights

Instant Checkmate is a user-friendly personal background check company with a website that is clean and fairly easy to navigate. This makes it a great option for people who might not be the most tech-savvy or who have never conducted a background check on someone before. 

It offers a simple search option that will allow you to type in someone’s phone number or email address, which can usually come in handy if you are trying to quickly verify someone’s identity in an online post or on a dating website.

Features 

• Offers a $1 trial for 5 days of website usage
• Mobile app available
• Chance to opt-in to identity theft protection included in the membership fee

What We Like About Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate is one of the more basic personal background check services, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth trying out. It offers pretty much all of the same basic information that you can get through other websites, including contact information and public records details, but it is all done through a particularly pleasant interface that is very easy to use. 

Another thing that we like about Instant Checkmate is that you can try it out for 5 days for only a dollar. While some other sites might offer a free trial, they might not be as accurate or simple to navigate as Checkmate, so the small cost is absolutely worth it in this case.

What We Don’t Like About Instant Checkmate

Something that we don’t like about Instant Checkmate is that they are not transparent when it comes to their pricing plans for memberships. They do not have the costs associated with their background check services listed anywhere on their website, so users will not find out how much they are required to pay until they’ve already attempted to make a search. 

Some other complaints include the fact that the website is occasionally slow to load. This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker in our opinion, considering that background checks are often pulling quite a lot of information from a vast array of sources. 

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PROS

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• An affordable trial before purchasing a membership is required
• Clean and user-friendly interface with limited glitches and lags
• Identity-theft protection
• High ratings when it comes to information accuracy

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CONS

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• Lack of transparency when it comes to service costs
• Website is prone to slowness and lagging

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6. PublicSeek  

Product Highlights

PublicSeek is a personal background check company that has a mission of reconnecting you with individuals that you may have lost touch with, such as old classmates or childhood friends. Based in New York, PublicSeek boasts a sophisticated algorithm in their search feature, allowing you to tailor your searches using keywords. 

Features 

• Search algorithm allows the website to work almost like Google
• Pulls contact information, criminal history, and educational background
• Offers searching via name, phone number, or email

What We Like About PublicSeek

PublicSeek is a reputable background check company with acceptable reviews across a variety of online platforms. This service is best suited for looking up information about a blind date or an old friend you might have lost touch with. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of some of the fancier background check services, PublicSeek knows sticks with simplicity and it works well for them.

One of the best things about PublicSeek is that they have particularly friendly and helpful customer support. This is a positive aspect that shouldn’t be ignored when it comes to background check companies. For example, if you have a question about the level of accuracy or about pricing plans, PublicSeek will be sure to offer you a helping hand without the headache of typical customer support systems. 

What We Don’t Like About PublicSeek

Like many of the other personal background check services mentioned in this article, PublicSeek requires users to enroll in and pay for a subscription in order to receive a report containing the background check information. While this might not necessarily be a downside if you conduct personal background checks regularly, it is a little annoying for those who just want one report. 

Also, like almost all personal background check companies, PublicSeek is not certified by the Fair Credit Reporting Agency. This means that, although PublicSeek can pull financial and credit information about an individual for you, you cannot use that information to approve or deny them for any financially-related applications such as a loan or apartment lease.

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PROS

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• A reputable, trustworthy company
• Best for helping users reconnect with old friends and family members
• Fantastic customer support
• Information provided is as accurate as possible

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CONS

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• A monthly subscription is required to purchase a full background check 
• No option to purchase a single one-time report
• Not certified for anything other than personal use

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7. TruthFinder  

Product Highlights

TruthFinder is a personal background check service that has a premium level of accuracy associated with its name. Although all background check companies pull from public records and therefore might fall victim to public database inaccuracy, TruthFinder has been mentioned by countless users as being much more reliable and accurate than other services. 

TruthFinder offers all of the typical information that can be found in the average personal background check service such as contact information, criminal records, marriage and divorce records, and social media accounts. However, even though it can provide the same information as others, we still believe that TruthFinder is a viable choice for many potential personal background check users. 

Features 

• A high rate of accuracy in the data and information it pulls
• Search for contact information, criminal history, and so much more

What We Like About TruthFinder

TruthFinder is one of the personal background check companies that has fully embraced the modern era and created a mobile app available on both iOS and Android. This is great if you prefer to use your phone instead of a computer in order to get things done.

Furthermore, whether you decide to use TruthFinder via the app or the traditional website, the interface is simple and very easy-to-use.

In general, TruthFinder places a lot of emphasis on the importance of being user-friendly. The reports that they compile with the information they pulled are simple and easy to read, even for those who may have never seen a background check report before.

They also provide extremely helpful instructions on how to read and interpret background check reports so that customers are not ever left questioning what is being presented to them. 

In fact, TruthFinder’s dedication to transparency is one of the best things about this company. It ensures a feeling of trust between customer and company, which is what makes TruthFinder so highly-rated when it comes to reputation. They explicitly explain how background check information can and cannot be used, making sure that all of their customers are completely aware of the complexities of the service provided. 

What We Don’t Like About TruthFinder

One of the downsides of TruthFinder is that they do not offer a trial membership option. In short, you won’t be able to try out the service for little or no cost; your only option is to pay for a subscription first and hope that TruthFinder will provide you with what you need afterwards.

Furthermore, TruthFinder does not allow users to purchase individual reports, so signing up for a paid membership is the only way to access their services.

Another thing about TruthFinder that isn’t necessarily bad, but is fairly useless, is the fact that it includes astrological information in the background check reports. It is highly unlikely that anyone looking to conduct a background check on someone would also be desperate to know if they and the person being looked up are astrologically compatible.

Overall, we found this feature strange and unnecessary.  

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PROS

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• Available as a mobile app on iOS and Android
• Intuitive website interface that is simple to use
• Dedication to transparency and accuracy
• Offers instructions on how to read background check reports

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CONS

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• No trial membership
• No opportunity to purchase individual reports
• Unnecessary astrological information provided 

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FINAL VERDICT 

After all of that information and level of detail, what is our final recommendation? We’ve settled on a personal background check company that goes above and beyond the typical features. In a market that is fairly saturated with websites that can provide the same details on contact information, public records, and social media, we chose a company that can do all of that and more.

Our choice for the best personal background check is PeopleLooker! Not only do they have glowing reviews and an extremely positive reputation with the BBB and a variety of other reviewing platforms, PeopleLooker is also dedicated to accuracy and quality. 

We love that PeopleLooker offers their court runner service, which sends a real human employee to the court to double-check and verify all of the public records information that was pulled by the software. Another unbeatable service offered by PeopleLooker is the chance to remove false information about yourself.

If you see anything inaccurate about yourself, you can help improve the quality of information and protect your personal reputation by removing that from the database. 

Those are just a couple of the fantastic extra features that PeopleLooker can offer to customers on top of the typical background check information. While these extra services usually cost a separate fee, we believe that they are totally worth it. 

In general, although PeopleLooker tends to be on the higher end of the cost scale when it comes to personal background check service, it is undeniable that their clean reputation, dedication to accuracy, and multiple subscription options make them the best in the game. If you’re looking for the best personal background check on the market, look no further than PeopleLooker!