Best Background Check Sites To Search & Verify People

Looking to reconnect with an old friend or ensure someone new is trustworthy? People search sites give you access to public records and contact details, making it easy to find the information you need. Now, if you’re curious about how employers or landlords screen candidates, background check services provide detailed reports to help make informed decisions.

From searching for family members to vetting potential tenants, you’ll find the best options to suit your needs. In this guide, we’ll explore the top background check sites for both personal and professional uses. Keep reading to choose the perfect platform for your specific requirements!

Background Check Sites

There are background check sites for personal searches and FCRA-compliant ones for professional use. Below are examples from both categories.

Best Background Check Sites for People Search:

• TruthFinder: Best For Detailed Individual Information
• BeenVerified: Best For Accessing Multiple Public Records
• Instant Checkmate: Best For Quick Background Checks
• Intelius: Best For Reconnecting with Old Contacts
• Spokeo: Best For Identifying Unknown Callers
• PeopleFinders: Best For Extensive Background Searches
• InfoTracer: Best For Comprehensive Public Data Access
• CocoFinder: Best For International Background Checks
• US Search: Best For Locating US-Based Contacts

Best FCRA-Compliant Background Check Sites:

• TransUnion SmartMove: Best for Tenant Screening Efficiency
• Checkr: Best for Automated Hiring Solutions
• First Advantage: Best for Comprehensive Employment Checks
• HireRight: Best for Global Workforce Screening
• GoodHire: Best for Fast and Flexible Background Checks
• Veremark: Best for Global Compliance and Customizable Packages
• RentSpree: Best for Cost-Effective Rental Solutions

Best Background Check Sites for People Search

These websites specialize in people searches, providing comprehensive information for those cases when you need to find someone by name, address, phone, email and more. They are generally simple to use, but cannot be used for employment and tenancy purposes.

Best FCRA-Compliant Background Check Sites

Below are the FCRA-compliant background check sites that meet legal standards for accuracy and privacy. These services ensure reliable and lawful information for employers, landlords, and individuals.

What is a Background Check

A background check verifies someone’s personal, professional, or financial history. Employers, landlords, and others use it to confirm important details like criminal records, job history, and education. According to the Professional Background Screening Association, over 95% of U.S. employers rely on background checks during the hiring process to ensure trustworthy candidates.

These checks help prevent risks by catching discrepancies, such as false information on resumes, which 75% of employers report finding. They also ensure compliance with laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which protects individuals’ privacy and ensures accuracy in background screening. A proper background check helps make informed, safe decisions.

Types of Background Checks

Screening checks come in various forms, each serving a unique purpose. Common background check types include criminal background checks, which reveal any legal offenses, and employment background checks, which verify a person’s job history and qualifications. Credit checks are used to assess financial responsibility, especially for housing or loans.

Other types include driving record checks, which focus on traffic violations, and education verification, which confirms degrees and certifications. Professional license checks ensure someone is properly licensed in their field, and employers often use drug screening. Each type of check provides specific insights based on your needs.

Best Employment Background Check Companies

When looking for employment background check services, it’s essential to know which companies are FCRA-compliant and suitable for professional use. 

For employment purposes, Checkr and GoodHire are excellent options. Both comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), ensuring legal, reliable reports that include criminal history, employment verification, and other key information.

How to Run a Background Check on Someone?

Running a background check on someone is very simple but requires the right tools. First, you’ll need their consent, especially for employment or housing purposes, to comply with FCRA. 

Once you have permission, use a reputable background check service, input the person’s information, and select the type of check you need. Within a short time, you’ll get a detailed report that covers criminal, employment, and sometimes financial history.

How Long Does a Background Check Take? 

The time it takes to complete a background check can vary. Simple checks like basic criminal records or driving history can take as little as a few minutes, while more in-depth reports, like employment verification or federal checks, may take several days to a week. Always account for processing time when planning background checks for important decisions.

What Does a Background Check Report Show?

A background check report provides a comprehensive view of a person’s history. It typically includes criminal records, employment verification, education credentials, and sometimes financial data like credit history.

Depending on the type of check, it may also show driving records, professional licenses, or even social media activity. These reports help verify the accuracy of an individual’s information.

How to Run A Background Check on Myself?

Running a background check on yourself is a smart move if you’re preparing for a job interview or housing application. Start by using a reliable background check service, input your personal information, and select the types of checks you want to run. This allows you to see what potential employers or landlords may find, giving you a chance to correct any inaccuracies before they do.

How Did We Choose the Best Background Check Sites?

Choosing an accurate background check service site can be confusing. There are so many different companies out there, and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. To help you find the right one for your needs, we’ve put together this detailed guide to choosing the best background check site.

Screenings Offered

First, let’s talk about what you should look for in the best background check websites. There are three categories of background checks: criminal records, employment history, and driving records. You’ll want to ensure the site you choose offers all three types of background checks. 

Also, it should abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and state laws governing the search. You also want to ensure the company provides expedited processing times to get your results faster than ever!

Easy of Use

Ease of use is a crucial factor when choosing a background check site. A complicated or clunky interface can waste your time and cause frustration. Look for platforms with intuitive navigation, clear steps, and easy access to results. Some services even offer mobile apps, allowing you to perform checks conveniently from anywhere. An efficient, user-friendly experience is key!

Reputation

The first thing you should do is look for a reputable site that can provide reliable information. It is important to know the presence of fake sites that claim they offer helpful information but don’t have it. Ensure the site is accredited by the fair credit reporting act to keep safe with your search.

A good reputation means that other people who have used these services before would recommend them. It is so because they were satisfied with the services offered by these sites. This will give you confidence in knowing that if something goes wrong with your report, you can get help. Other people can help with their expertise on how to correct it or even help you get through it if necessary.

Cost of the Service

Next up is the price — how much does it cost? This is another important consideration when choosing a background check service company. If it costs too much money, it might not be worth it for personal use at home (or even for business purposes). 

Keep in mind that some background check companies offer discounts for bulk orders. So, go for the best background search service that offers affordable, accurate, and detailed information on its search parameters.

Additional Services 

Additional services mean other things like criminal history or driving records. There could be other types of reports, such as credit reports, paid tax liens, and employment records too! Check if the background check companies offer credit history reports, credit monitoring, or criminal record checks. 

All these things can be helpful when trying to ensure someone is who they say they are. Or has all their ducks in line before signing on with them according to the state and federal laws.

Best Background Check Sites FAQs

What Is A Background Check?

A background check evaluates someone’s work history and personal life. It usually includes information from their application form and references. But can also include other contact details such as criminal records like court records, police records, and credit reports. The international background checks reports are given by background check companies with professional licenses.

What Does It Take To Get A Good Background Check?

It depends on what kind of position you’re applying for and what kind of information you need. This can be about your potential employee, someone, or company. 

You have to be careful when hiring someone who will be dealing with sensitive client data or handling large sums of money. You’ll probably want more comprehensive information than just their name and address, contact details, or social media data.

Who Can Do a Background Check?

A background check can be conducted by employers, landlords, or organizations to verify someone’s criminal, employment, or credit history, but they must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and obtain the individual’s consent. 

Individuals can also run background checks for personal reasons, like vetting a roommate, but must use legitimate services that comply with federal and state laws to ensure accuracy and legality.

How Do I Know Which Site Is Right for Me?

There are many different types of sites available on the internet today for employment verification. Some focus on providing information about individuals while others deal with companies. 

Also, other background check services offer comprehensive data for more thorough screenings. It is important to choose wisely when choosing which site is right for you. Not all sites offer accurate information about people living in your area or working at your place of employment.

Are Background Checks Local or National?

Background checks can either be local or national, depending on the type of information you’re looking for. Local background checks focus on records within a specific county or state, such as criminal histories or court documents. These can be useful if you’re only interested in a certain region.

National background checks, however, pull data from various state and federal databases. They provide a broader look into someone’s history, covering potential criminal records, employment, and sometimes financial data. When choosing between local or national checks, it’s important to consider the level of detail you need for your search.

What is a Criminal Background Check?

A criminal background check is an online search through public records databases. The background report shows if someone has been arrested or convicted of a crime. 

This includes charges and convictions from all 50 states in America as well as federal crimes like drug charges or weapons charges. These searches will also show if someone has been arrested but not convicted of a crime. So you can see if there may be any reason why they might have been arrested.

Is There a Free Background Check Site?

Yes, you can find free background check services online, but keep in mind that free reports provide only basic and limited information. For more comprehensive searches and detailed data, it’s highly recommended to pay for a full report or subscribe to a plan.

Best Rated Background Check Sites: Key Takeaways

The best way to find a reliable background check service is thorough research. With today’s security concerns, choosing a site that provides accurate results is important. Make sure the company complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and follows state laws, which helps you avoid legal complications and ensures trustworthy information. 

FCRA compliance guarantees that you get accurate details on criminal records and civil penalties. All the sites on our list offer valuable services, but it’s essential to do homework and pick the one that best suits your needs!

Disclaimer: Some background check sites are just for personal use and conducting basic people searches. Others, such as those used by potential employers, must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This law limits the types of information you can find on other people. If you’re an employer or landlord using a background check for professional purposes, be sure to choose a site that’s FCRA compliant. Using a people search site that doesn’t comply with the FCRA to screen potential tenants, domestic workers or employees is illegal.

The information available on our 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 services we mention do not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through our website or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review each service’s Terms of Use.