10 Best Background Check Sites Today (free and paid options)
Last Updated on October 21, 2024 by John PaulConducting a background check is highly recommended if you’ve just met someone and are unsure whether letting them into your life or headspace is wise. That’s only one of the various situations where you need to know someone’s history. But isn’t it simple? You just ask them head-on.
The problem is that people aren’t honest most of the time. You may get some answers from them, but you can’t be certain they’re all true. Some lie to cover unpleasant facts about themselves, while others just want to deceive you. So, the best thing you can do is to perform a background check to ensure neither happens.
What is a background check?
For the uninitiated, a background check is a process by which a person or an organization (companies, governments, etc.) collects facts and verifies information on someone. It helps identify whether what the person is saying who they are is true and has a basis.
Background checking may sound expensive, but it’s actually not. There are free background check tools out there that can help you do it without spending a single buck. Luckily for you, I’ve curated 10 background check sites that are free and paid below.
In this article
- What Information Can I Get with These Background Check Tools?
- Key Considerations when Choosing A background Check Site/Tool
- Social Catfish – Best Background Check Site for Identity and Criminal Records
- Spokeo – Best Background Check Site for Finding Connections and Genealogy
- PeopleFinders – Best Background Check Site for Hiring and Business Purposes
- Whitepages – Best Background Check Site for General Information Gathering
- Google – Best Free Background Check Site
- US Search – Best Background Check Site for US Public Records
- TruthFinder – Best Background Check Site for Social Media Search
- BeenVerified – Best Background Check Site for Android and iOS
- PeopleLooker – Best Background Check Site for Unclaimed Money
- Instant Checkmate – Best Background Check Site for Finding an Inmate
- Other Things You Need to Know About Background Checking
Key Considerations when Choosing A background Check Site/Tool
There are many background check sites and tools, which make choosing the right one extremely challenging. Upon experiencing different ones, I’ve realized that you need to take into account certain considerations so you can easily select the background check site/tool for you. Here are some of what I’ve found:
- Covered information –.When looking for a name, address, education history, criminal record, financial status, phone number, etc., choose the tool/site that covers them.
- Information sources – To ensure the information is credible, consider their sources such as public records, police reports, government records, news articles, academic records, court cases, etc.
- Detail and Accuracy of Reports – The correctness of the information needs to be considered, too. Referring to user reviews on detail and accuracy can give you an idea.
- Cost– There are free background check sites, but the paid ones allow access to more information. They come at different prices/plans; the typical cost ranges from 4.99 USD to 35 USD per month. Using the free trial period is recommended if offered.
- Additional Features – Some background check tools have unique/additional features that are not present in others such as dedicated image search, criminal search, employment search, location search, username search, etc.
- User Interface and Experience – Some background check sites are easier to use than others because the layout is more straightforward to navigate. This is highly subjective since it will depend on your experience with the tool.
- Legality – The legal compliance of a background check tool depends on the country or state where you may want to use it. In the US, check the site if it complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) before using it to avoid lawsuits.
Disclaimer:
The effectiveness of these paid and free background check sites depends entirely on the accuracy of the information or clue you enter. So, double-check for misspellings and lackings before you enter the info.
| Background Check Site | What’s Included | Scope | Accuracy | Package Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Catfish | names, aliases, addresses, phone numbers, emails, usernames, relationships, social media profiles, criminal records, education, pictures, and websites | local and federal Court cases (recent convictions), public records published online by government agencies, social networking sites | 95% | 27.48 USD/month |
| Spokeo | personal details, financial data, contacts, family and relations, social media profiles, address history, criminal records | Court records (crimes, DUI, sex offenses, etc.) from federal/state level, investments, salaries, lifestyle info, properties, birth records, marriage registrations, past and present location | 95 % | 19.95 USD/month |
| PeopleFinders | Personal information, relations, locations (city and state), criminal records, education | Public records and recent court convictions from federal state and other local sources | 90% | 24.99 USD/month |
| Whitepages | Personal info, criminal records, professional history, property details, traffic records, financial and record reports, locations | Public records, telecom companies, property deeds, federal and local court convictions | 92% | 4.99 USD/month |
| Personal details, social media, news, public documents | Public records available online, news articles, social networking sites | 85% | Free | |
| US Search | Personal information, relationships, phone numbers | Public records (federal level) | 89% | 19.95 USD/month |
| TruthFinder | Personal information, social media profiles, phone numbers | Public records, social networking sites | 88% | 4.99 to 29.73 USD/month |
| BeenVerified | Personal information, locations, emails, vehicle records | Public Records (state and federal level), vehicle manufacturers | 91% | 29.99 USD/month |
| PeopleLooker | Personal details, locations, usernames, emails, unclaimed money | Public records, monetary institutions (remittance, inheritance, etc. | 88% | 23.99 USD/month |
| Instant Checkmate | Personal information, criminal records, inmate details | Public records, federal court records, jail/prison records | 89% | 35.12 USD/month |
1. Social Catfish – Best Background Check Site for Identity and Criminal Records
If you need to check whether someone has a fake identity or a criminal record, Social Catfish can be a great choice. It’s a reverse search service that can serve as a free background check site because of its free basic search option and connection to billions of online sources. Two of the things this search tool specializes in are revealing people's real names and criminal histories.
Yes! You can get their real complete name in just a single click after providing key clues such as phone numbers, usernames, names, locations, and photos. We were able to find such information about certain people.
If there are any suspicious records or criminal history, Social Catfish will also include them in the results for your perusal. This may include but is not limited to sexual assault, tax fraud, homicide, murder, traffic violations, disputes with other parties, and so on.
We find this incredibly useful in identifying whether the person in question is safe to be around, especially if they’ve committed serious crimes. Of course, you will see convictions and acquittals so you know if they’re innocent or not.
Other Social Catfish benefits that can help in background checking:
- Education Records – Social Catfish can help you find proof of someone’s educational attainment, including affiliations with schools and universities. If available, you may even see links to certificates that are named to the target person.
- Contact Tracing – If you can’t contact them, Social Catfish will also show you their possible contacts so you’d have a web or links and information you can start with when looking for them.
These are just a few of the many things you can do with Social Catfish. It can do most of the items mentioned in the previous part as long as they’re available in the database.
Pricing
It has a free basic search option, which allows you to find out someone’s real name and email address. You don’t have to purchase search credits at all if that’s what you just want to search. However, if you want a more advanced information search, there’s a 3-day plan costing 5.73 USD. You may also avail of the 27.48 USD per month if you want unlimited searches with more search results.
We find this pricing acceptable considering that you’d have a more in-depth background search experience.
Advantages:
- You can buy search credits if you’re only going to search for a few pieces of information, which makes it budget-friendly besides having a free search option.
- The search feature is flexible. You can enter different clues such as names, phone numbers, images, usernames, email addresses, locations, and more.
- Social Catfish has been available for more than a decade now. This speaks volumes to its continued usefulness, competency, and improvement.
- It’s easy to use and has a simple interface. You don’t need much technical expertise to navigate and search.
Disadvantages:
- You need to pay per search or subscribe if you wish to continue using the service for long-term use.
How to Background Check using Social Catfish for Free
Here are the simple steps you can take when performing a background check with Social Catfish.
1. Open a web browser on your phone or computer. Then, go to Social Catfish’s official website by clicking on the button below:
2. There, click on the target information you’d like to search. Since you likely know the person’s name already because you’re background checking, you may select the Name option.
3. Enter their name and location and hit the Search button. Provide your email address to receive the results in private. That’s how simple it is!
2. Spokeo – Best Background Check Site for Finding Connections and Genealogy
In case you are concerned if there’s a possible relationship or connection between you and the person you’re background checking, Spokeo might be the one for you. It has a unique feature called Spokeo Connections, which enables users to find links between people.
You can use this if you want to know whether you are connected with the person through a family member or a friend. You may discover if you have mutual connections and contact networks.
In addition to revealing possible mutual connections, you can also use Spokeo to find out someone’s Genealogical records. This means you can see their family tree, including their siblings, parents, children, and other relatives that are available online. This provides more options for you in case you also need to know what kind of family the person belongs to.
Other Spokeo benefits for background checking include:
- Court Records Access – You will see if the person you are trying to hire or be a partner in a business has legal issues that are published.
- Financial Records – Find out if the person has filed for bankruptcy before or is currently struggling with their low credit score.
- Real Estate/Property Information – If you’re going to be purchasing a property or getting into a business with someone’s property on the line, you will get details to enlighten you. This includes information about the real owner of the property, if it was transferred, the current value, and other related info.
Pricing
Spokeo has a free trial wherein you have to search first, and then you will be asked to unlock it to view the free option. However, the results you may get are limited. If you wish to try the full experience at an affordable price, you can avail the 0.95 USD offer that gives you 7 days.
On the other hand, unlimited searches are available at 19.95 USD per month. This is recommended if you are an employer or going into a business with someone. You may visit Spokeo’s official website to get news of discount promos. Just click the button below to proceed.
Advantages:
- It has a simple interface yet search results are comprehensive and detailed.
- The service is connected to billions of online sources and public records.
- Spokeo can show you the results immediately after clicking the search button.
- It’s updated regularly for the latest data and information.
- The monthly subscription is cheaper than other background check sites.
Disadvantages:
- Since it updates regularly, some old information becomes difficult to trace sometimes. You will only see the current updates regarding your search.
- Results can be overwhelming since Spokeo is connected to billions of sources. Some of the results might take a long time to peruse. It doesn’t have an image search option.
How to Background Check Using Spokeo
1. Go to the Spokeo homepage. Then, select the type of background search you wish to conduct (name, email, phone, address, username, etc.).
2. Then, type in the clue you wish to get background information on. Hit the Search Now button afterward and the results should be in for a minute or two.
3. PeopleFinders – Best Background Check Site for Hiring and Business Purposes
If you’re about to hire someone you find sketchy or be a partner to a certain business person you barely know, you need to use a free background check site that has extensive public records access. One with the biggest connection to public records is PeopleFinders. It’s not only connected to a billion sources– it has 43 billion information sources of public records.
We were surprised at how vast it is, which we find useful for checking someone’s employment history, criminal/court records, and business background, including properties owned and their verified certificates.
Besides those, we find PeopleFinder to be jam-packed with other features that can help you conduct a more thorough background search.
It has a reverse phone search that reveals the true identity behind a phone number. We believe this feature is useful in situations where you think you’ve been given a phone number that’s fake or not actually theirs. It can even help you identify scammers if needed. This also goes to the email addresses they provide. PeopleFinder will uncover the person associated with the email address with its Email Address analysis feature.
Pricing
There’s a free trial sometimes, but it’s limited. You may have to check PeopleFinders main website occasionally if you wish to use it for free. Nonetheless, you may avail of a 3-day paid trial at 0.95 USD for basic search. It’s 3.95 USD if you want a trial with complete background checks.
That price is a steal, especially for employers or those venturing into business. Well, if you’re going to hire people every now and then, subscribing to a monthly plan at 24.99 USD is an option.
Advantages:
- It has a vast connection to public records, which can help in different kinds of background checking and purposes.
- The 3-day paid trial is cheap, considering that it will allow you to use the full features of the background check site.
Disadvantages:
- There’s no free trial most of the time (you have to check the website regularly to avail of promos).
- You have to make sure the auto-renewal option isn’t enabled by default. Otherwise, you’d get charged unexpectedly.
- There’s no photo reverse image search option.
How to Search Background Information via PeopleFinders
1. Proceed to PeopleFinders’ official webpage and enter the clue you wish to search for. You can choose between four categories: name, phone number, address, or email.
2. Next, tap the Search button. The reports will be viewable in your PeopleFinders account. So, log in to it and go to your Dashboard. Hit the Your Reports section and you will find all your searches and results there with the background information on them.
4. Whitepages – Best Background Check Site for General Information Gathering
Suppose you only want to gather straightforward information about individuals such as their names, past and present addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and other basic details. In that case, we find Whitepages to be a great tool. It only requires one of the three clues: name, mobile number, and address to conduct a background search. This makes it perfect for general info gathering as you don’t have to go into specifics just to get the data you’re looking for.
Besides basic information, some advanced details about the target individual could also come up on Whitepages’ search results. You may find information concerning the person’s relatives such as their names, phone numbers, and addresses as well. Even individuals associated with the target (friends, workmates, etc.) could appear in the results.
Furthermore, Whitepages could also show you other background records that contain traffic violations, public information, court decisions/criminal activities, and property documents if they’re available and associated with the person you’re looking for.
However, this background check site is best for those who live in the US or background checking on someone who is in the US. That’s because it mostly covers 250 million US adults’ public records. In effect, it narrows the search result as you don’t have to enter the country but a specific address in the US if you’re doing a reverse address search.
Pricing
Whitepages offer free trials sometimes, but more often you have to purchase the 5-day trial, which costs 1 USD. After the trial, you will have to subscribe to a monthly plan starting at 4.99 USD if you wish to continue using the background check site. In our view, the 5-day trial is not bad, especially if you’re in the US. Even the monthly plan is much cheaper compared to the other free background check sites above.
Advantages:
- The information gathered is reliable and from reputable sources in the US.
- Monthly plans are cheaper than other similar sites.
- Its interface is simple and fairly easy to use.
- This background check app has a dedicated app for Android and iOS.
Disadvantages:
- You can only search for individuals (adults) living in the US.
- It doesn’t have a reverse image search function.
How to Background Search with Whitepages
1. Visit the Whitepages website and choose between three background search modes: People, Phone, or Address.
2. Then, enter the required information in the provided text field. Then, hit the Search option and wait for the results.
5. Google – Best Free Background Check Site
As you may know, Google.com is more of a general search engine where you can browse anything that’s on the surface web, including available public records and news articles. However, we were able to use it as a free background check site as it doesn’t have any fees at all despite being connected to billions of information online. You can use it readily on any device that has an internet connection and a web browser.
However, free checks are still limited in range as they may not include criminal records that are relevant to your search. If you want a more complete criminal background check, paid background check sites are highly suggested as they can access more records.
With Google, you can enter different keywords including names, usernames, addresses, phrases, titles, and more. But since it’s a search engine first and foremost, the results you will get are general information that’s associated with the keyword you enter. It could be anything, even websites and links that are not related could appear in the results.
While Google is free, you may need to make an effort to check all the results to find the information about the person you’re trying to background check. This may take some time on your part. But if you’ve entered a piece of accurate information into the search engine and it’s available online, you will definitely be able to find results truly related to it on the top of the results.
Advantages:
- It’s completely free of charge.
- The results are accurate if you enter the correct keyword.
- It can perform reverse image search.
Disadvantages:
- The search results are often broad and take time to check.
- It has ads.
How to Do A Background Search on Google
1. Go to Google.com and type in the name/username of the person on the Search Bar. Either clue is best for Google since you have to be more specific. If you wish to conduct an image search, you may click the Camera icon there and upload the photo.
2. Then, hit the Search button and the results should come in in just a few seconds depending on your internet speed.
6. US Search – Best Background Check Site for US Public Records
If you live in the US and you wish to search for someone’s background in the same country, we find US Search to be a decent option. With its continued development since 1993, it has amassed billions of public records in the US, which we think is particularly useful if your only concern is the basics of someone’s personal information such as location history (addresses), phone numbers, and email addresses.
The US Search was designed for locating friends and family members in the US when it was first released for public use, and you can still use it to this day as a tool to reconnect with long-lost friends and family who are still in the US.
The way US Search works is pretty much the same as other background check sites. Just provide the name of the person and other required information and the tool will give you a previous of the public records related to the info you entered. However, results can be inaccurate on rare occasions as per testing.
Pricing
US Search is priced at 19.95 USD per month. That can be quite expensive considering that the information is only limited to US public records. But if you live there, the price might not be an issue for you.
Advantages:
- Trial is available
- Simple interface and easy-to-use features
- Billions of US Public records
Disadvantages:
- Single background check reports are quite expensive compared to other sites
- Inaccurate results at times
How to Background Search via US Search
1. Go to the US Search website and click on the Get Started Button. Then, choose the type of search you wish to conduct. You can search by name, phone number, or address.
2. Then, confirm when asked “Are you looking for information in order to contact someone?” by selecting the Yes button. Then, another prompt will appear. Just click Yes. Then, enter the required data on the text field and hit Continue.
3. Wait until the search is complete. If the search is incomplete, US Search may ask for additional details. Just fill in the blanks and hit Search.
7. TruthFinder – Best Background Check Site for Social Media Search
In case you are looking for someone’s social media profile and other activities online, we find TruthFinder to be a great option. It is connected to numerous public records online, including social networking sites, and offers unlimited searches regardless of the subscription package you choose. This means that you can search for people’s social networking accounts as many times as you like.
Yes! There’s no need to pay per search if you are searching for different profiles of various people. However, you might be saddened that there’s no free trial option. You have to purchase a membership before you can use the tool. Regardless, we were delighted that the information gathered from social media accounts is up to date.
Pricing
TrustFinder’s pricing starts from 4.99 to 29.73 USD per month. The cost will depend on the kind of plan you want to subscribe to. Given the wide range of plans, it’s really a flexible background check site when it comes to the choices of plans vis-a-vis the various prices.
Advantages:
- Unlimited searches
- Latest background information
- A myriad of monthly subscription packages
Disadvantages:
- No free trial
- Searches can take a long time sometimes
How to Use TruthFinder to Background Search
1. Log in to your TruthFinder account. Then, proceed to the Search Box located on the Dashboard page. Then, select the type of search you want under Search By.
2. Next, type in the needed information and click the Search button. Wait until TruthFinder completes compiling the results. Then, choose the report that’s most relevant to your search and view it.
8. BeenVerified – Best Background Check Site for Android and iOS
If you want a background check site that is available as an app that you can easily access on your phone, we believe BeenVerified is the perfect fit. It is available on Android and iOS devices, which means that you can install and use it regardless of the operating system of your phone.
Like other background check sites, BeenVerified can tap into Public Records and can do reverse searches on someone using names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers. What makes it stand out from others, though, is that it can do a reverse search for information about the vehicle you own or of any used car using its VIN Number. We find that additional feature useful for purchasing cars from someone you barely know.
Pricing
BeenVerified monthly plans are priced at 29.99 USD. That is not cheap at all, but you get to enjoy a 7-day trial period. Only after the trial will you be charged 29.99 USD. That is an equitable compromise.
Advantages:
- The app version is available on iOS and Android
- Can search for vehicle information
- Has a 7-day trial before getting billed
Disadvantages:
- Long waiting time for search results at times
- Some background information reports are outdated
How to Search for Background Information via BeenVerified
1. Sign in to your BeenVerified account on the official website. Then, choose the kind of report from the homepage. You may also use the app version of the service.
2. Provide the information required in the text field. Afterward, hit the Search button. BeenVerified will load to find results. If the service can’t find it, you may be asked to give more details. Do it and hit Continue until you get the results.
9. PeopleLooker – Best Background Check Site for Unclaimed Money
If you want to know whether some money in your name or someone you know is sitting somewhere, unclaimed, PeopleLooker can be a great tool to find that out. It’s a background check site that has a dedicated feature for looking up unclaimed money associated with someone’s name. All you need to provide are the first name, last name, and the state where the person currently resides.
We believe this background check site is being used to check if someone has received money and hasn’t claimed it yet or if there’s an unclaimed inheritance from a late family member or relative. Yes! It can be useful in different situations where unclaimed money is involved. However, you may find “false-alarm” search results at times since some people have similar names. So, it’s important to manage your expectations.
Pricing
PeopleLooker offers a trial period, however, it isn’t free; you have to pay for a 7-day trial for 1 USD. If you wish to continue using the service after that, you need to subscribe to a plan starting at 23.99 USD per month.
Advantages:
- It can search for unclaimed money
- It’s connected to billions of public records
- Has a cheap trial period of 7 days
Disadvantages:
- Inaccurate searches at times
- Limited jurisdiction
How to Background Check With PeopleLooker
1. Get to the PeopleLooker’s website. Then, select the search option that you want to use and provide the information being asked.
2. Hit the Search button and wait for the results. If there are too many of them, you may narrow down the search by adding more criteria, like the State, address, age, etc. of the person.
10. Instant Checkmate – Best Background Check Site for Finding an Inmate
If you are looking for an inmate, convicted, or prisoner who’s currently in a federal prison, we’ve found Instant Checkmate to be the right tool. Aside from its ability to search for criminal records, it has a dedicated search function called Inmate Search, which lets you look up someone in US prisons and find out basic information about them.
This feature covers all of the USA, and you only need to provide the full name of the person and the last location or state you know of them. When the search is complete, you will find the complete name of the person as well as their age, location, sex, and date of release (if they already served their sentence).
Pricing
Instant Checkmate offers limited-time only free trials. However, you will often find yourself having to subscribe to a monthly subscription plan as the trial isn’t available most of the time. It’s quite expensive at 35.12 USD per month.
Advantages:
- Has dedicated functions for criminal record and inmate search
- Connected to billions of public data
Disadvantages:
- It’s quite pricey
- Limited jurisdiction
How to Use Instant Checkmate for Background Checking
1. Go to Instant Checkmate on a browser. Then, provide the first name, last name, city, and location of the person you’re searching for. Hit Search and choose the Gender. You may be asked to provide further information subsequently.
2. Afterward, log in to your Instant CheckMate account. If you don’t have one yet, sign up first before doing step 1. Considering you already have one, just log in as usual. Then, you will be redirected to your Dashboard and you can find your search results there.
Where Does All of the Information Found in a Background Report come from?
The information and details in a background report come from many sources and channels. Most commonly, they are from publicly available information found on the internet, especially if you are using a background check site. Specifically, the information about a person may come from published articles and records from government agencies, schools, police, media (including social media), employers, and more.
The mentioned sources can also be accessed in person. If you don’t want to get a background report from background check sites, you may go directly to your target agency or office. However, you may need some permission from proper authorities, like the court, to obtain the report especially if it involves sensitive information.
Tips to Interpret and Verify Background Check Results
Background check sites are not always updated and accurate, that’s why you mustn’t take the reports they provide at face value as you might get the wrong impression. So, you might need to take note of the following to properly interpret and verify the information.
- Put the information into context – The information you may find about a person may put you off or surprise you. For example, if someone was a subject in a court case, it doesn’t automatically mean they’re a criminal. You need to find and put the information into context. Perhaps, they were there as the person who pressed charges or a witness. You also need to find out if they’ve been convicted and what kind of case it is. That goes for all the results you get.
- Examine the sources – Not all information you get from background check sites is reliable and updated. So, you need to check where the information has come from to verify their authority and authenticity. This is particularly important especially when dealing with records involving education, employment, police, court, etc. So, you may see if they come from official websites, agencies, offices, and other relevant and reputable sources.
- Cross-reference – If you doubt the information or you think it’s incomplete, you may find related information to it so you can find out more. For example, if you only have the person’s degree, but you are unsure whether they completed it or if it’s true that they’ve actually graduated with flying colors, try to find proof that matches their degree. You may go for graduation photos, diplomas, etc. Repeated results from different sources can also indicate that the information is likely true.
These three tips are only a glimpse into what you can do to further verify and interpret the results. You can improvise depending on your situation.
Where Else Can You Find Information You Want Aside from Background Check Site
Background check sites may be unable to give you all the information you need. That’s why it is important to have more resources at your disposal. The more sources you have, the more chances you can get the information you’ve been looking for.
Courthouses – If you are only looking for specific cases in which someone might be involved, going to a courthouse in person is the best way. Courthouses have an archive of all the lawsuits, convictions, and acquittals in your state or country. However, the process can be time-consuming as there might be requirements that you need to submit. Nevertheless, you may be able to get the information for free if you’re patient.
Public Record Websites – There are free websites that curate public records. You can use them to make searches of criminal histories, education, etc. But you may need to be careful with these kinds of sites; their comprehensiveness and effectiveness can vary. You may get better results if it’s an official public records website in your country. You can try looking up on Google like this: “[state/country name] free public records search”.
Here are some examples of free public records search sites:
List of 4 Criminal History Record Check Sites for Different States in the US
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system
- Allows online and paper-based (in-person) requests
- It’s free of charge for volunteers
- 22 USD for employees and foster/adoptive parents
Federal: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division
- Offers FBI Identification Record checks for all states (federal level)
- There are two ways offered: request records or prove no record exists
The California Department of Justice
- There’s a dedicated search function for criminal records.
The Texas Department of Public Safety
- Includes a searchable registry on sex offenders.
Government Agencies – If you wish to acquire a background record of yourself, going to relevant government agencies might be a good idea. They will allow you to submit a formal request without charge or with a small fee. You may also be required to present relevant documents and identification for the record. They can provide you with criminal records, education history, and more, depending on the information catered by the agency.
How to Run a Background Check on Yourself for Free
Using a background check site does not always result in obtaining the information you need, especially if you want to run a background check on yourself. It helps you check what kind of information other people can find about you. Here are some steps to get started:
- Obtain Personal Information – You may try getting your social security number if you have one. This step also includes getting your academic and employment records. Information such as the dates and years of when you started and ended schooling or being employed are important details to obtain as well. Other relevant personal info you may get are your address history for a specific period, ID/license numbers, and every relevant detail about you.
- Look Up Court Records – The next thing you need to check is if you have existing criminal records or civil cases you were involved in that had or have been brought to court. You may go to your local or national/federal courts to check in person or you may use official online portals in your country to search remotely. However, you may need to pay or prepare pre-requisites.
- Search for Your Credit Report – If you are about to get employed for a post where your current financial standing is relevant or you are about to rent a property, you may try checking your credit background. This way, you will know if there is inaccurate information about your current financial/credit status and you can still update and fix it before they get to check it. You may go to AnnualCreditReport.com or you may go to your bank to get your credit score or obtain a credit report.
- Check Your Online Tracks – Your online presence may be checked as well. You can use Google and type your name there to see if your social media profile can appear publicly online. Searching your name using Google can also help you find if your name has been associated with other profiles, accounts, and websites through posts, mentions, comments, photos, videos, and more.
- Verify Your School and Employment Records – You may request from the education institutions you’ve attended official academic certificates and records. However, obtaining official documents may require a small fee at times. Also, if your record on the school’s website isn’t updated, you may prompt them to fix it as well. As for your employment history, you may reach out to your current or previous workplace to give you a record of your salaries, the number of hours you worked, etc. Your wage and income transcript from your country’s tax agency can help establish your employment history, too.
- Verify License and Certifications – If you’re going to be hired as a professional, your employer may try to verify the license you provide them. Make sure that your license is updated and verifiable with a valid license number. Typically, the agency that releases the license has online portals where you can enter the license number and verify the authenticity of the license and the license holder. That goes the same with certifications for businesses, etc.
These steps are important so you will know what facts about you are out there so they align with what you are going to tell your employer, school, etc. If there is some incorrect information, at least you’d know which ones you need to dispute.
Reasons to Use Background Check Sites
Aside from the fact that hiring a private investigator is expensive, other compelling reasons may make you consider using background check sites. They are fast, budget-friendly, and sometimes free of charge. So, they become suitable for:
- Identity Background Check – Many people pretend to be someone else online and in real life. Some would use other people’s names and other information. By doing a background check, you will know who they really are.
- Criminal Background Check – You just can’t be associated with anyone you meet because you may be implicated in crimes you didn’t commit just because you were seen hanging out together. Making sure that your acquaintance or soon-to-be friend is not behind the most heinous of crimes is important for your safety and well-being.
- Relationship/Family Background Check – This will help you know your possible connection with the person, perhaps via mutual friends or family. You will also find out who the people in their lives are.
- Education Background Check – If you think someone is lying about where they went to school or finished schooling, background checks can help reveal the truth. You will also know whether the program or course they told you they took is true.
- Employment Background Check – Of course, you wouldn’t want your next employee to have fake credentials. You need to verify whether the achievements and their past workplace history are accurate. This includes their past issues with previous employers and their work ethics in general.
- Business Background Check – You will ghetto verify their business certificates to see if they’re legit. This is especially important if you’re purchasing something valuable or someone is trying to get you as a business partner. This way, you won’t get entangled with illegal business practices.
- Credit Background Check – In case you want to know if a person can be trusted with managing finances or if you should lend them money, their real credit score is important. Their credit score indicates whether they’re good at paying their bills, which can indicate financial competency.
Laws/Regulations You Need to Know Relevant to Background Checking
While companies and individuals are allowed to conduct background checks in certain contexts and situations, it’s still important to get acquainted with the most common laws and regulations that govern such activities.
Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA – This federal law provides protection to employees in the US when it comes to background checking. It specifies that you need the consent of the employee before you conduct the background check. Also, it enables the fair use of the gathered information and the right of employees to correct mistakes. There are also specific state laws that let employees manage their personal information.
General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR – This regulation covers all EU citizens; it ensures adherence to data privacy requirements, which effectively affects the conduct of any background checks. For instance, you can only proceed with background checking if you can provide a legitimate and lawful purpose for doing it.
These are only two of the many privacy laws and regulations that protect individuals and organizations. So, if you’re not in the US or EU, you have to look into your local privacy laws as the regulations above don’t cover your region.
How to Avoid Legal Risk when Background Checking
Awareness of and strict compliance with the privacy laws impacting background checking in your region is the key to avoiding or reducing legal risk. Doing so respects people’s rights to confidentiality, increasing trust between individuals and organizations which reduces or eliminates the risks of unwanted lawsuits. People will also have confidence that your background-checking processes won’t infringe on their privacy as you will be protecting their data as you use them for intended purposes.
Lauren Reid, a Privacy and Data Ethics Consultant, believes that privacy is an art that requires people to apply and interpret information with fairness, meaningfulness, and appropriateness. These tenets of handling information can help people who background check avoid risks and legal repercussions.
Comparisons between Free and Paid Background Check Sites/Tools
| Free Background Check Sites | Paid Background Check Sites |
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As you can see, free background check sites may help you do searches without spending a single dime, but they’re less reliable due to their limitations. Opting for paid background check sites might be the best option if you want more accurate results. You just have to make sure you have the budget for it. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the results depends entirely on the clues you provide and the availability of the information related to them.
Potential Risks of Free Background Check Sites
Free background check sites may be enticing to use since you don’t have to spend money. However, there are many sites out there that don’t offer any benefit at all. Aside from the possibility of not getting accurate results, some background check sites are fraudulent and malicious.
They may appear to allow users to conduct searches but they may require you to provide your data like your email address, promising to send you the results. In truth, they’ll just collect your data and hide the results in paywalls. Moreover, some free background sites are fake and have popup ads, which could collect your data without you knowing.
So, the safest course, if you wish to use online tools for background checking, is going for the paid ones. They usually comply with privacy laws, too, which lessens the risk of getting into legal issues, unlike free background check sites.
Final Thoughts
Those are the 10 free background check sites that we've been able to try and review. The most outstanding of the bunch for us is Social Catfish as it includes an image reverse search along with other clues that you can enter to perform the background check. Nevertheless, it all depends on your needs. Just make sure to weigh the pros and cons as well as the benefits you can get from each background check site to see which one is for you.
FAQs
It depends on the kind of background check you’re doing and the means you are using to achieve it. If you’ve hired a private investigator, it would typically take a day or more (weeks) depending on the information being gathered. As for background check sites, the process could take immediately after the search, or a few minutes/days. Usually, the results will be emailed once complete.
Background check sites are legal in the sense that they comply with the standards and the implementing rules prescribed by privacy laws. However, misuse and abuse of such sites for illegal purposes may constitute a crime.