How To Get Information On Someone
How to Find Information on Someone Online: 7 Simple Steps
If you want to track a person down, the web is awash with potential resources. You can find anyone online with the help of search engines, social networks, and public records among other tools.
Whether it’s a lost friend, a rogue landlord, or an old teacher, you should be able to locate them with a bit of digging. Here are steps to finding information about someone online.
1. Check Google Search
Google should always be your first port of call. A simple search could reveal all sorts of information about a person, including their job, family, and the city they live in.
If the person in question has a common name, try using some of Google’s Boolean search operators to narrow your focus. It’s also worth checking out Google News. It will reveal any recent notable achievements or infamous scandals.
2. Set Up a Google Alert
If you can’t find any information using Google, try setting up some Google Alerts. If something about the person you are looking for appears on the web in the future, you’ll receive a notification in your email inbox.
To set up a Google Alert, head to and enter the person’s name in the search box. Click on Show Options to customize settings such as language, region, and notification frequency.
3. Check Other Search Engines
Google isn’t the only show in town. There are lots of search engines out there. They all have differing search algorithms, meaning you’ll be able to dig up alternative nuggets of information by using them.
4. Check Mainstream Social Networks
Estimates suggest that the number of social media users worldwide stands at around 4. 2 billion as of January 2021. As a result, there’s a strong chance that the person you want to track down is out there somewhere.
You should scan all the usual haunts such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But make sure you don’t overlook LinkedIn. Some professionals may maintain their LinkedIn profile as their only social media presence.
5. Check Public Records
“Public records” is a broad term. Which records are available online is hit-and-miss. If you’re in luck, you might be able to find a person’s birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, and more.
You also be able to check documents such as land use certificates and company registers to see if the person has any entries connected to their name.
Sites to look at include:
Zabasearch
Zabasearch is a good starting point, but it will return a massive amount of information. It pulls information from openly available records like court records, voter registration information, and Yellow Pages etc. To manage the deluge of information, you can narrow it down to a state, for example.
Most of the information is available free of charge, and you should exhaust all your search options before taking the paid route.
VitalRec
VitalRec will help you find birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees for every state, county, and town records office in the United States.
The site also has some international records. Countries covered include Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, the U. K., Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Sweden.
The National Sex Offender Public Website
The National Sex Offender Public Website—or NSOPW for short—is the U. S. list of registered sex offenders.
It contains the databases for all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, U. territories, and Indian Country.
Military Records
Veterans’ Service Records are available through the National Archives in the United States. It includes photos, documents, and searchable databases are available.
Note that the data is not exhaustive. The National Archive’s curators admit the majority of the information is not available online. That’s especially true for pre-World War I records.
Copyright Records
If the person you’re trying to find is a writer, musician, or otherwise involved in the creative arts, you might find a reference to them in the United States Copyright Office. The department’s records are all searchable online.
You can search for both personal names and corporate names. Other countries maintain their own equivalent searchable databases.
Patent Records
Similarly, if the person you want to track down is a scientist or inventor, you might find them in the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s public records.
You can search by name, design mark, keywords, and more. Again, other countries have comparable databases.
Federal Bureau of Prisons
There’s a chance that the person is incarcerated. After all, almost one in every 100 American adults is behind bars.
If they’re a convicted criminal, they might not show up on social media or in some of the other sites we’ve discussed. So, you can check the nationwide list of detainees on the official Federal Bureau of Prisons website.
6. Check Niche Search Engines
Still no luck? Don’t worry; you’re not out of options yet. Next up, check out some deep search engines. They specialize in specific industries, regions, and social networks.
Some niche search engines that will help you find someone online:
PeekYou
PeekYou scans people’s social media accounts along with references to a person’s username on other sites and blogs. You need a name and (optionally) a phone number to begin.
Pipl
Pipl is excellent at uncovering phone numbers, addresses, and links to public records. You can refine your search by city, state, and zip code to get a narrower selection of hits.
Find a Grave
If the person you’re looking for is deceased, you could head to the Find a Grave website. It is the world’s most extensive database of information about graves and tombstones. It is a collection of user-submitted photos and content.
At the time of writing, there are 170 million memorials you can search through. There is a mix of ordinary deceased people and departed famous people.
In the same vein, has millions of official cemetery records from thousands of cemeteries around the world.
Data is available for the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Poland.
Lastly, it’s worth poking around on a few niche social networks. You’d be surprised at the diversity in the number of smaller sites out there. There are networks specifically created for investors, beer lovers, neighborhood communities, and more.
It’s Easy to Find People Online
The diverse array of tools we have covered should help you get up and running in your bid to find information about someone online.
As long as you work through all the sources in a logical manner (and spread your net wide enough), you’re almost sure to be able to find the person you are looking for eventually.
13 Websites to Find People on the InternetLooking for lost friends? Today, it’s easier than ever before to find people on the internet with these people search engines.
Read Next
About The Author
Dan Price
(1613 Articles Published)
Dan joined MakeUseOf in 2014 and has been Partnerships Director since July 2020. Reach out to him for inquires about sponsored content, affiliate agreements, promotions, and any other forms of partnership. You can also find him roaming the show floor at CES in Las Vegas every year, say hi if you’re going. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Consultant.
More
From Dan Price
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals!
Click here to subscribe
Best Free People Finder | LoveToKnow
Using one of the best free people finders can help you get information to stay informed or help you reestablish contact with someone you’ve lost touch with. While there are numerous people finders online today, they aren’t all equal. See what you can expect with some of the most popular and highly rated people search websites.
1. is a large digital identity database that receives more than 50 million unique visitors each month. Its basic services are 100 percent free. For the best search results, use the person’s full name, city, and state or zip code. However, the database does allow you to search even if you have more limited information. You can search by name, last name only, or name and state.
The free information you’ll receive includes names, including middle initials, landline phone numbers, full street addresses, and in many cases previous addresses and primary family member. You do not have to sign up for an account or give your email address to use the basic free people finder on
The company is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A- rating. It has been recommended by a variety of websites and bloggers, including The Windows Club, a digital and tech review, that says is helpful in terms of finding basic details about a person. For more comprehensive information, does offer a premium service that starts at about $5 with a limit of 20 lookups per month.
2. Pipl Another popular option is Pipl. This free search tool is unique in that it allows you to search with only one piece of information: name, email address, user name, or phone number. Location is optional when conducting a search. It is free, and you don’t have to sign up for an account or enter your email address or other identifying information when using Pipl.
The results you get will vary depending on how much information you have for the search criteria. If you enter a username, for example, you will get a list of possible results for that username from various public profiles, such as eBay, Flickr. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and more. If you have the landline phone number, results may include the street address and associated or previous addresses, a list of associated people (which may be family members), additional names such as maiden names, and age. The more information that is publicly available on social media or other profiles, the more information you are likely to find here, especially if you are using a username or email address for your search.
While using the website is totally free, there are a number of sponsored results that appear with the search results and if you are doing multiple searches, you will have to verify you are human. Pipl has been recommended on variety of blogs and websites, including Beebom’s top 10 list of people search engines, where it’s praised for its accuracy of results and ability to be used in most countries.
3. Intelius Intelius offers a basic people search for free, and you are not required to sign up, create an account, or provide personal information. You have the option to look up a person by name (first name and middle initial are optional) or by reverse phone search. When using a name search, you can narrow results by location if you know it (city and state). The information Intelius provides is based on public record searches. A basic free search may yield current and previous cities of residence, companies where the person has worked, names of people he or she is related to, age, and high schools and/or colleges where the individual has studied. Additional information is available for an extra cost, but the free search shows via a check mark if date of birth, phone number, and current address are available with the fee. This starts at just under a dollar, and then has tiers for more advance information. A people plus search is just under $7 and provides social networks and email addresses, and a background check is about $40 (provides a criminal check as well as information on liens, bankruptcies, lawsuits, and marriages or divorces). They also offer monthly membership plans for advanced searches.
Intelius is a BBB accredited business with an A+ rating, and is a member of the Online Trust Alliance, an internet society initiative dedicated to promote trustworthy business practices. While the customer review rating on the BBB is 98 percent positive, there tend to be concerns regarding the paid services in terms of accuracy and cost. Reviews on Consumer Affairs average three out of five stars. It is recommended by The eBusiness Guide as one of the top 15 free people finders and is also listed as one of the best eight people search engines according to Social Positives, a website dedicated to information on social media and technology.
4. offers completely free information people searches to the general public. You can search by name or do reverse phone or reverse address search for someone. If you are using the name option, you can also input the city, state, or zip code if you know them to narrow your results. The initial search interface is simple and clean, but there are on-page ads once you click to get your search results.
Free results may include name, landline phone number, age, and associated names such as a maiden name. In addition, this people finder stands out because it includes full lists of complete previous addresses, and it may include lengthy lists of possible relatives and even possible associates. While the website itself does not offer memberships or additional paid results, you will find sponsored results for background checks on the results page. This website has been recommended by some bloggers and reviewers and was listed as one the best 12 websites to find people online according to an article on Makes Use Of (MUO). MUO noted the website offered in-depth results – although the best results appeared with both name and location.
5. US Search Although US Search offers background checks for a fee like Intelius, they also offer free people searches. To do a search, a last name is required, although for best results a last name and state are suggested. You can include city and state if you know both. You can also do reverse searches by phone number and address (you need to have a complete address if conducting an address search). Once you put in your search criteria, you’ll get results which may include full names, current and previous cities and states of residence, companies currently and previously worked at, and possible relatives. To get full addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth, you will need to pay an additional fee. Expanded search fees start at under $3 and go up to about $40 for a background check. One of the unique aspects of the free people search on this website is you can narrow your results according to an alias the person might have used, age, and previous or current address. You can even narrow results with the name of a person’s relative.
This website has a B+ rating from the BBB, although it’s not accredited. It is listed as one of the top three people search engines according to Top Consumer Reviews and was listed as one of the best background check services according to A Secure Life.
6. BeenVerified You don’t have to sign up for an account to get preliminary basic search results at BeenVerified. You can search by name or name and location, phone number, email, or property address. It offers prompts to help you narrow or help your search, such as adding a city, middle initial, or approximate age. Although the basic search is completely free, it is not as comprehensive as some of the other websites. You can find possible past and current cities and states, previous or associated names, age, and relatives. To obtain any information beyond that, Been Verified does require you to sign up for an account and pay a subscription fee. They offer one month memberships with unlimited reports for less than $30 a month, and a discounted rate of less than $20 a month for unlimited reports when you sign up for a three-month subscription.
Been Verified is listed as a top source according to The eBusiness Guide, and according to Top Ten Reviews, scores above average in terms of accuracy.
7. Find People Search At Find People Search, you can look up information by name, with may optional additional search fields to narrow results, including location, approximate age, maiden name, phone number, date of birth, and social security number. Like many identity search tools, the more information you have the better. Including seemingly minor details like a middle initial can help enhance search results. No email or account sign ups are required. The free information you can find on this site can include past and present addresses (although you may find some duplicates in the address section), age, landline phone number and phone service company, and a substantial list of possible relatives or associated persons. There is also a map view to show address locations with this search tool. For additional information, you can sign up for a personal or business subscription; personal subscriptions are less than $20 for three months and business subscriptions are less than $50 for three months.
With an average rating of 4. 3 stars on Facebook, this is a well-respected site among most users. Those who have visited the site appreciate it is actually free and are fairly satisfied with the accuracy of the results.
8. That’s Them One of the more recent identity search tools available, That’s Them, has fewer reviews and ratings than some of the other sites, but they offer free basic searches that include age range, landline phone number, and address. In addition, they offer some other information that’s not seen on many of the other sites, including general financial information, the person’s occupation, education level, and whether or not he or she is a pet owner. You can search by last name only but for best results, search by the full name and as much of the location information as possible. Other ways you can search are by email, reverse phone lookup, or reverse address search. There is also an expanded search page. This website was mentioned by LifeWire as one of the top search tools for email address searches.
9. LinkedIn Although it’s not marketed as a people search engine, LinkedIn can be extremely useful to finding people for free. The website does require you to create an account to join and look for connections you may know, but it’s completely free. Since this website was created as a venue for professional networking, you’ll find many people include a substantial amount of detail, including work histories, locations, and more. Using the search bar is straightforward and easy, but you can also browse by alumni and the LinkedIn suggestions of people you may know. You can also import your email addresses to help find people. If you choose to search by the person’s name, you also have the option of using additional filters, such as company, to help you find who you are looking for.
LinkedIn gets top marks from places like PC Magazine, who call it ‘the best online professional network there is. ‘ also praises the site, saying that’s it’s one of the most underrated search engines online. To get the best results, according to, make sure to use as many additional pieces of information as you can when searching to help narrow your results – consider email addresses, colleges, employment, location, job title, and suggestions to help you find the person you are looking for.
10. Facebook People Search Using Facebook to track people down is another popular and free way to locate people. You can search for people with a basic name search without having an account, but you’ll be restricted in terms of what information you can see without an account. Information is also restricted based on the person’s profile settings. If you do have an account, you can easily search for people you know and use filters including hometown, current city, high school or college, mutual friends, and employers. Facebook no longer offers graph search tools that were considered invasive, but there are still plenty of filters you can use to find people you are looking for. The Discover People feature, in fact, is an addition to the site that helps facilitate new connections, taking it to another level in terms of finding people.
According to Sprout Social, Facebook averages more than two billion active users each day, so it’s easy to see why this could be a go-to source for finding people. Tech Advisor also mentions the ease of using different searches to track down old friends or acquaintances, so it’s definitely a contender when it comes to finding someone you may be searching for.
© 2021 LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved.
The Best People Search Sites in 2021 – Hosting Tribunal
Want an efficient tool to search for old acquaintances or check potential professional relations?
Our reviews of the best people search sites will help you find exactly what you need.
We used the following ranking methodology:
We started by finding all the relevant sites.
We checked what search features & prices they offer.
We tested them to find real people and evaluated their effectiveness.
Ready to start exploring? Find the best people search site for you in the list below!
Last Updated: October 14, 2021
Advertiser disclosure
This page may contain links to our partners’ products and services, which allows us to keep our website sustainable. This means that may receive a compensation when you sign up and / or purchase a product or a service using our links. However, all opinions expressed in this article are solely ours, and this content is in no way provided or influenced by any of our partners.
Top 8 People Search Sites at a Glance
1. Intelius
Intelius is the best people search engine for those who want granular, fully customizable reports. Use its advanced reverse phone lookup for gun licenses, criminal records, bankruptcies, and more. No membership required.
FULL REVIEW
Education records
Detailed & accurate background check on criminal & court records
Reverse phone & address lookup
Global people searchUS only
2. Truthfinder
With extremely detailed reports stretching back in time, Truthfinder tops most people search websites. Use its free mobile app to get a PDF copy of its accurate reports on lost family members or college friends.
Recent correct data
Free mobile app
Affordable pricing
Global people searchUS and Australia
Downloadable reportsCharged extra
3. InstantCheckmate
InstantCheckmate is the site with the most detailed information about law violations. Its exhaustive reports and intuitive mobile apps make it the best choice for criminal record searches. See for only $1 reports on warrants, convictions, court, arrest and inmate records, and traffic infringements.
5-day trial for only $1
Unlimited reports
Simple & easy to use
Mobile appYes, for Android
4. PeopleFinders
PeopleFinders is best for running in-depth background checks. The search goes way back and delivers an abundance of information. PeopleFinders is available on all devices, with a simple and intuitive interface. You can download its accurate reports for a small fee.
Rich information search
Good historic data
Simple & easy to use interface
Downloadable reports$0. 50 to download
5. US Search
US Search is one of the first search engines for people ever created. Reliable and practical, it will offer you a US-based search, with the option to run the check in a specific state only. The reports are precise and detailed, and the design practical and easy.
Very low prices for basic searches
Accurate & up-to-date address finder
Accurate & up-to-date telephone information
Global people searchUS Only
6. Spokeo
Spokeo is one of the best people lookup sites for social media and location info. It’s a US-only service that provides in-depth reports that offer even personal interest insight. Basic searches are free and you can receive reports in PDF format. There is a free Spokeo app for Android users.
Mobile app
Easy to use, uncluttered interface
Elegant & straightforward search
Free PlanFree for basic results
7. Pipl
Pipl is top of the list of free people search engines. This global service gathers the data internationally and directs you to other people finding services. One of the fastest and easiest people search engines, it delivers an abundance of basic data. It’s web-based, and you can use it on Windows and Mac.
Great accuracy
Super fast & easy search
Large amount of easy to obtain data
8. Zoominfo
Zoominfo internet people search is best for B2B people searches. Its business database is unparalleled, and the UI is seamless and elegant. It’s a global contact data vendor with a free trial, free Community edition, and Android and iOS mobile apps. Its Pro version is one of the best options out there!
Global database
Provides accurate locations of businesses
Works on mobile devices, the Web, cloud, & as SaaS
The Best People Search Websites – Detailed Reviews & Comparison
People search sites help you reconnect with family members, old friends, or classmates and find out vital information about people you don’t know. They’re also a valuable tool for avoiding fraud and staying safe.
Imagine how time-consuming it would be to find your long-lost cousin’s current address. Or to run a real-life, non-digital background check on someone you have just met and are unsure if they are truthful about who they are. It would take days or weeks to gather information yourself. Perhaps you would end up finding nothing at all.
That’s why we at HostingTribunal decided to review and rate the best people search sites, which gather the publicly available data from government agencies and databases and compile it for you for a fee.
Here’s what we found.
The best sites for finding people are:
Intelius
Truthfinder
InstantCheckmate
PeopleFinders
US Search
Spokeo
Pipl
Zoominfo
Disclaimer: The services work better in certain countries. Make sure to check whether yours is part of their coverage before purchasing a product.
Legal Disclaimer – The sites on this page are NOT Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRA) according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The services listed below can’t be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or related purposes.
The 8 Best People Search Sites in 2021 – Detailed Reviews
Includes education records
Detailed and accurate background check when providing information on criminal and court records
Another consumer favorite looking at people search websites is the reverse phone and the address lookup.
US search only
You can’t download the reports
Marriage and address information inaccuracy
What Is Intelius?
Intelius is a public records search service and one of the easiest tools to use to acquire information about individuals. Intelius serves 300 million requests a month, gathering public records from government and numerous other databases.
As a result, it’s one of the most reliable background check companies out there and is well-designed, overall. Many think of it as the best people search engine available today.
Intelius Pricing
Intelius offers monthly subscriptions, and its prices are standard and quite affordable.
Naturally, they vary from one type of check to another. Background check costs $39. 95, whereas a Criminal Record search costs $14. 95 statewide or $29. 95 nationwide.
The use of its reverse address search engines comes in the price range from $4. 95 to $14. 95.
A report without a criminal record is available for $6. 95, and you can purchase the most basic plan for only $3. 95.
Monthly Premier and Premier Plus plans are $19. 95 and $29. 95, respectively, and they might be a better option if you plan on running multiple checks on more individuals. There is a seven-day free trial period.
Intelius User Reviews
The main advantages users listed were the affordable plans and the options to choose subscriptions that best suit your needs. Users gave mixed feedback about the accuracy of the service. One of the main complaints that kept coming up was a large number of hidden fees.
We Recommend Intelius for…
Intelius is great for investigative searches, as it includes criminal records search in the background check.
Unlimited checks within the monthly subscription
Very detailed reports, which go back 15 years in some cases
No trial period
Only monthly subscriptions
You can’t buy individual reports
What Is Truthfinder?
Truthfinder is a top people search finding service to trace down and connect with family members or college friends. It allows you to perform background checks on individuals and get the most recent contact info.
In its reports, Truthfinder includes a phone number, email address, property ownership information, criminal and job history, and educational background. You can also see social media accounts, names of coworkers and associates, family members, and friends. Even roommates or former romantic partners feature in certain reports.
Consumers like Truthfinder for its intuitive design and accurate detailed reports. It is highly ranked and easily one of the best person finder options out there.
Truthfinder Pricing
In terms of payment, the only option is monthly. A one-month plan with TruthFinder costs just under $30 per month. If you decide to go for the three-month subscription, the monthly price drops to $26. If you were to do one check a day, it would mean you would be paying around 99 cents per report.
Truthfinder User Reviews
A good contender for the title of the best people search engine, Truthfinder gets excellent reviews when it comes to reliability and providing the most recent data.
Although they rarely complain about the accuracy, users comment negatively on the number of promotional emails they get.
We Recommend Truthfinder for…
Truthfinder is perfect for checking your own data and connecting with old friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and classmates. This tool can be one of the best solutions when looking for a relative you have lost contact with.
Detailed & accurate criminal records search
You can check your own records & remove them
Pricey
Hidden costs
No consumer reports, nor tenant or employment screenings
What Is InstantCheckmate?
InstantCheckmate is a simple and reliable people-finding service tool with an easy-to-use interface.
The data is compiled from public data using federal, state, and county records. You can search for phone numbers, emails, birthdays, addresses, and criminal records, as well as voter registration or sex offenders registry.
You can even find things like bankruptcy information and social media handles. It is the best website to investigate someone you suspect of having a criminal record.
InstantCheckmate Pricing
For a 5-day trial offer, you will need only $1, and you can test the service yourself. It is a great deal if you don’t need multiple reports.
A one-month membership price will set you back $34. 78.
The three-month plan comes at a regularly discounted price of $27. 82 per month.
You will need to pay $19. 99 per report for Premium reports and an additional $1. 99 per PDF.
Watch out for the end of your subscription period, as the membership will renew automatically.
InstantCheckmate User Reviews
Most users complain about the billing practices. Automatic renewal at the end of the billing cycle, along with the confusing or unclear pricing, and additional costs for in-depth reports draw ire.
People searches reviews show users who are unhappy with customer support. All the same, the tool is portrayed as very decent in most reviews on functionality.
We Recommend InstantCheckmate for…
InstantCheckmate is superb for detailed criminal records search and background check.
Low prices
Accurate data
No marriage records
Poor report design
United States searches only
Social media handles & work history excluded
Email & phone records are sometimes lacking
What Is PeopleFinders?
PeopleFinders is a background check tool that gathers information from public data and is one of the best people search sites. It’s available on all devices (mobile, laptop, and desktop), which gives you the ability to perform a background check at any time. It is very affordable and offers a great amount of data.
PeopleFinders Pricing
A basic monthly subscription comes at $24. 95. There are initial $1 trials that may last for a week or three days.
One report is available for $39. 95 each, which is about average. Scaled-down people search reports, which don’t include legal information, cost $1. 95 each. It costs $0. 50 to download the reports you buy.
PeopleFinders User Reviews
People Finders reviews report cancellation issues. Customers were unable to cancel the service without performing many steps and were often unsuccessful even if they were under the impression that they had managed to cancel the subscription. In many cases, this has led to subsequent billing issues and unwanted costs.
Some users were not pleased by the fact that the initial process looks like it leads to a completely free trial when it is actually $1 for the first week.
We Recommend PeopleFinders for…
PeopleFinders is the best match for those looking for the lowest prices and a basic report.
Detailed & accurate property records
Accurate and up-to-date address finder
Accurate and up-to-date telephone information
People data is protected against online identity theft
Outdated website interface
Details about plans & prices is hidden
Criminal records search is incomplete & lacking
There is no mobile app available, PDFs, or a free trial
Additional searches are pricey & have a very low rating
What Is US Search?
US Search is one of the oldest people search companies, founded way back in 1994. It performs basic background checks, and you can use it to find out where your old friends or lost relatives live. The basic information provided is accurate and up to date. If you are looking for an established company that has been around for quite some time, US Search fits the bill.
US Search Pricing
A one-time people search is only $2. 45, and you’ll get the name, age, address and address history, phone numbers, relatives, and associates. With an OmniSearch subscription, the unlimited basic search comes at $20. Background Check, with a more detailed information report, is $40
When searching for criminal records, there is a one 1 State Criminal Records search for $15, which will provide you with the results from the state you inquired about.
US Search User Reviews
Overall, US Search receives consistently bad reviews regarding multiple areas of service.
From unclear pricing and hidden costs, unethical marketing practices such as delaying service until customers enter a new billing cycle, to plain false advertising. Almost everything related to payment was brought up as an issue.
Customer service receives low reviews, as did technical development. A list of complaints about what the searches don’t include is even longer than the list of payment issues.
We Recommend US Search for…
US Search is the best option if you need to find people and conduct very basic multiple searches. Prices are low enough, and the straightforward simple data will be provided in most cases with enough accuracy. US Search will not reveal credit histories, birthdays, or any sensitive information as a form of protection from identity theft.
PDF reports
Elegant and straightforward search
The extra info contains interesting facts
Common names require narrowing down
Limit on the number of searches is hidden
200 profile views is an extra $21 per month
Marriage data is often incomplete and outdated
What Is Spokeo?
Spokeo is one of the best people search sites that will provide you with basic background data through its easy to navigate and pleasant to use layout.
The prices are affordable, and the extra nuggets of information are interesting.
What’s more, it has a large amount of data pulled from publicly available services and 12 billion online records.
Spokeo Pricing
The price of one-month membership at Spokeo is $13. 95, and the three-month plan is $7. 95 a month, which is quite affordable.
Spokeo for business service is there to provide business owners with information that will prevent fraud. The services are only available in the US.
Spokeo User Reviews
As many other people search engines, Spokeo receives negative reviews about hidden costs and misleading advertising. Issues with billing after cancellation are mentioned frequently enough for it to affect the ratings.
What’s more, even though it’s pleasant and easy to use, the number of errors made multiple users go for the option on Spokeo to delete your information.
We Recommend Spokeo for…
Spokeo is good for basic searches of location, address, or phone ownership, as well as reconnecting with friends and family.
Global coverage
Pro plans have awesome value
A bit pricey
The free trial is limited
What Is Pipl?
Pipl is the best people search engine for global search. It helps verify identities and prevent financial fraud and offers excellent social media data search. It is one of the most popular people search engines because of the ease of use and the wide search net with accurate results. The Pipl search engine is a global tool used in financial and insurance industries, as well as for private searches.
Pipl Pricing
As it does not offer reports, pricing is based on matches.
Here are are the price categories:
Contact $0. 05 per match or $0. 10 per match with Premium Data Coverage. You’ll get a name, age, gender, address, and landline phone number.
Social $0. 10 per match or $0. 20 per match with Premium Data Coverage. You’ll get contact info as well as images, associates, and social handles.
Business $0. 20 per match or $0. 40 per match with Premium Data Coverage. You’ll get everything from contact and social info plus job, education, cell number, and email address.
There are complaints about unclear pricing and misleading offers. Some users report that too many searches block their IP address. Additionally, there are time-consuming verification protocols and too much proving you’re not a robot.
Pipl User Reviews
We Recommend Pipl for…
Pipl is great if you need to check the identity of someone you’ve just met. It is used by small businesses and large companies alike, especially in the insurance and finance sectors.
Clean, fast, easy to use interface
Unmatched business contact database
Provides a hierarchy of contacts inside a company
Works on mobile devices, the Web, cloud, and as SaaS
Extremely reliable phone search results as well as email address base
Well-integrated with other platforms such as Salesforce and Linkedin
Unclear pricing
It is by far the most expensive option
What Is Zoominfo?
Zoominfo is an intelligence platform currently hosting 202, 000 paid users from 15, 000 companies, providing analytics from 14 million businesses.
It offers an online record from its database about people, businesses, and companies to other sales, marketing, and recruiting teams.
The focus falls on business people worldwide and in the US and conducts an international people search.
It comes with a superb database and leading tech solutions.
On top of that, Zoominfo integrates with a number of enterprise-grade software, including CRM systems like Salesforce and some of the leading autoresponders.
Zoominfo Pricing
Zoominfo pricing is around $4900 a year per 5000 leads. That means a lead is just under a dollar if you commit to this number of searches.
There is a free trial available and a free Community Edition. When you subscribe to it, you agree for business info to be added to the database, so it doesn’t come with no strings attached.
The Free edition offers ten contacts a month, which drops somewhat due to errors. Still, it’s perfect for sporadic use.
Zoominfo User Reviews
Zoominfo gets excellent reviews across the board with the expected number of errors. It’s the best search engine for finding people if you opt for the pro edition.
Reviews say it’s not easy to find data for people in small companies, though. While the engine provides very reliable results for big and well-known businesses, there’s a bigger margin for error when it comes to smaller companies.
We Recommend Zoominfo for…
Zoominfo is ideal for B2B sales and marketing teams for large volume searches. On the other hand, the free edition is the best free people search if you need to conduct only a couple of searches a month.
Great People Search Sites that Didn’t Make the Cut
Companies that come up most often as good resources for people lookup are Whitepages, PeekYou, ZabaSearch, and the classic Google search engine.
Whitepages allows you to conduct a simple search even before you subscribe, and will provide you with an address and a phone number right away, its strength lies in criminal records search which comes at an affordable price.
PeekYou is a completely free service best used for social and casual searches, and it uses the information accessible to the public and it will not reveal financial or health information.
Zaba Search offers aggregated public records reports and with one of the options they offer you can even see if anyone is searching for you online. In a group of their own, you have the searches on social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn, which will often yield more than reliable and sufficient with a bit of additional typing effort. Keep in mind this is the case with some people search services when you have to navigate through their offers and popups.
How We Ranked the Best People Search Sites
Looking at search sites is a bit different than doing our usual VPS reviews, but we didn’t let that dent our thoroughness. When ranking these services, we took the following into account:
Ease of use – We examined the layout and ease of using the website, as well as being mobile-friendly (usually by offering an app).
Pricing – We compared the prices of people finder sites. Does a service offer good value for money?
Database – We considered the wealth of information. What does a service provide and what does it not?
Features – We checked if a service actually delivered what it had promised.
Accuracy – We checked if reports on the accuracy of the data that is provided.
User reviews – We read user reviews and complaints.
What Are People Search Engines?
The amount of data grows exponentially, but how do the people search sites function exactly?
How People Search Sites Collect Info
People search engines collect data available to the public from public records. This is data that you could try to gather yourself, but it would be hard and time-consuming. Instead, the services gather this data for you and provide a compiled report.
How to Use People Search Engines
You will need the name, address, or phone number of the person you are looking up. The more data you can provide to the people finder tool, the more narrow the search will be. A middle name is often very useful in avoiding too many duplicate results. Some services will offer a free trial. Others will request a small fee for one search, while still others will be available only with full membership.
How to Delist from People Search Sites
Once you have performed a background check on yourself, most services will offer an option to erase your information from their database for a fee. In some cases, the process will be automated. In others, you will be required to contact customer service. The typical procedure involves finding the opt-out page, entering your name and email address, and waiting for confirmation.
Wrap up
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Whether it is your daughter’s new boyfriend or a new coworker whose story does not check out, you’ll feel better after confirming they are who they claim to be. And the best people search sites are there to help you.
The thing is: There are plenty of options for searching or checking up on someone, but not all are reliable or affordable. Once you have found the one that suits your needs, read the fine print, find out the duration of trial periods, and don’t wait until the last minute to cancel a subscription. This way, you’ll be able to avoid the downsides of using people finder websites.
FAQ
What is the best website to find someone?
As best people search sites for 2021 and those that are often mentioned as the best people search on Reddit include Whitepages, Pipl, Intelius, Instant Checkmate, BeenVerified, Find People Search, True People Search, That’s Them, US Search, and, finally, job search sites and platforms like Linkedin and Facebook search engines. Make sure you check out our in-depth reviews to choose the one that’s right for you.
How can I trace someone for free?
You can find a person for free on some of the search websites such as Pipl. Other people search service providers have free trials. Some services like Intelius will offer a free preliminary search before providing a full paid report.
Additionally, you can trace someone through Google News Archives or the Social Security Death Index in case the person is deceased. Totally free people search sites often provide limited data, so consider ones with affordable fees.
What is the best way to search for a person?
Companies like Facebook and LinkedIn provide a good amount of data through their persons’ search engine. But if you need more than just the basic info, the best way to find people is to invest in a report with one of the best people search sites and background check companies on our list. This way, you won’t have to go through phone books, birth certificates, or death records. These platforms will do the work for you, gathering data from the people search free public records available to them.
Frequently Asked Questions about how to get information on someone
How do I find information on a person for free?
Best Free People FinderWhitepages.com. Whitepages.com is a large digital identity database that receives more than 50 million unique visitors each month. … Pipl. Source. … Intelius. … TruePeopleSearch.com. … US Search. … BeenVerified. … Find People Search. … That’s Them.More items…
What is the best site to find information on someone?
The best sites for finding people are:Intelius.Truthfinder.InstantCheckmate.PeopleFinders.US Search.Spokeo.Pipl.Zoominfo.
How can I find details of a person by name?
Use Advanced People Search Tools. If you want to find details of a person and you only have basic details like name and location, you can use people search tools online. … Do a Google Search. Nowadays, Google has become synonymous with ‘ find it’. … Try Reverse Phone number Lookup. … Conclusion.
