Background checks are a necessity in today's world. Whether you're going on a blind date, thinking of hiring someone, or making sure that your tenant doesn't trash your place, it's a good idea to do some research.
The only thing you need to be very careful about when choosing the best background check site is what type of agency you're going with. For example, the law mandates that landlords and hiring staff need to use FCRA-compliant agencies and notify the person being checked. But don't worry; we've done the legwork for you and identified one top choice from every field. Take a look.
1. TruthFinder
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
- Social media coverage
- Unlimited reports
- Regularly updated database
2. GoodHire
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
- Quick turnaround
- Batch processing
- FCRA-compliant
3. Intelius
GOOD
GOOD
EXCELLENT
GOOD
EXCELLENT
- Good prices
- Extensive searches
- Single-report option
4. Instant Checkmate
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
FAIR
GOOD
GOOD
- Extensive results
- Great criminal background searches
- $1 trial mode
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DISCLAIMER
*Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The sites listed on this page can’t be used for employment, credit or tenant screening, or related purpose.
Our Methodology
To help us separate the wheat from the chaff and find the best background check service on the web, we've created a special methodology. Here are the five main factors you should consider when making your decision.
Interface
First of all, we have to take a look at the interface. There's no point in having a powerful search tool if the site layout is impossible to maneuver, unintuitive, and simply time-consuming. You want an interface that's easy to use and logical. We check to see how long it takes to deliver results and how much clutter you must go through to see it.
It goes without saying that we expect the best website for background check functionality to be bug-free and well-optimized. There's nothing more frustrating than staring at the loading screen after every click of the mouse.
Search Result Quality
This is what it's all about - the results. Does the service simply google your requested information, or is the process much more intricate? What are the sources? How reliable are they? Is the database regularly updated, or are you always reading through obsolete data?
Does the website offer only contact information, or will you also get potential criminal records, marital status, employment background checks (including uncovering whether someone has a recognized professional license, for example), and personal history? Can the site do a reverse address lookup, uncover an alias or find divorce records?
Agencies can sometimes be shy about their research methods, but usually, the most extensive background check websites will gladly show off their skills.
Turnaround Time
How long do you have to wait to get the results? Are we talking minutes, hours, or days? The speed of these background checks often depends on the quality of the search engine, the design of the website, and the type of search.
Basic contact information should be delivered in minutes, while more detailed pre-employment check-ups can last up to five days. While keeping all of this in mind, we still expect the top background check companies to deliver ahead of schedule without compromising the quality of the service.
Unique Features
At this point, we've already determined that the online background check service we're reviewing means business. But is there something else that makes it stand out from the crowd? Are there any additional features or a special part of the package that makes the offer irresistible?
This is where we pay tribute to the agencies that go the extra mile. Whether it's the option of integrating the service with an HR program or the inclusion of identity protection, agencies that have a few aces up their sleeves deserve mention in our reviews.
Subscription Model and Fees
Lastly, how much are you supposed to pay to get the best online background check? Is it a one-time fee, a subscription, or a combination of both? We support agencies that are transparent with their pricing plans and don't rely on sneaky hidden fees.
After all, there's nothing worse than paying for a service only to be greeted by another paywall. You'll find out in our reviews whether the price is worth the service or if you're just getting ripped off way above the standard industry price.
Best Background Check Services 2022
- TruthFinder
- GoodHire
- Intelius
- Instant Checkmate

Background Check Reviews - Top 5 Companies
TruthFinder Review
GOOD
EXCELLENT
GOOD
GOOD
EXCELLENT
- ⦿ Dark web scan
- ⦿ Optimized mobile app
- ⦿ On-site guidance
GoodHire Review
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
- ⦿ Customizable software
- ⦿ Pre-integrated tools
- ⦿ Numerous add-ons
Intelius Review
GOOD
GOOD
EXCELLENT
GOOD
EXCELLENT
- ⦿ Identity protection
- ⦿ Reverse phone lookup
- ⦿ Intelius opt-out option
Instant Checkmate Review
EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT
FAIR
GOOD
GOOD
- ⦿ Criminal records by state
- ⦿ Inmate search
- ⦿ Crimewire blog
Before they can do any background checks, employers need to make sure they're using reliable, FCRA-compliant agencies like GoodHire, Employment Screening Resources, or HireRight. Because the employer is legally required to notify the potential employee and ask for consent, many of these agencies will include this in their service. The best background check site for employers will do all the work for you while still going through the proper channels.
The first and the easiest step is to google them yourself. There are many unreliable agencies on the web that will try to charge you money for doing essentially the same thing. You can avoid getting scammed by doing some basic research yourself using the biggest search engine out there.
Where you go from there depends on your specific needs. If you're looking for the best background check site for dating to find out who your potential partner is, you can contact any reputable background check agency.
However, if you're doing it for professional reasons, like when you're hiring someone or renting out your apartment, you need to follow the guidelines and use FCRA-compliant agencies.
Most of what you'll find using a free online service is no different than what you can find out yourself through a simple web search. These are either scam sites looking to earn profit from gullible internet users or a trial version showing you just a fragment of what it can do. Sometimes it can be difficult to discern one from the other.
The bottom line is that even the best free background check site won't give you the service you're expecting.
It really depends on the agency you choose to do the job. Background checks can be reliable if the information in the database is regularly updated and checked for accuracy. It is extremely important that the agency directly uses legitimate, official sources and doesn't rely on circumstantial guesswork. If possible, try to learn more about the agency's modus operandi before contacting it.
Legitimate companies will rarely scurry away from showing you how it all works. In fact, they'll proudly mention all of the trouble they had to go through to come up with the results. It's their badge of honor.
Truthfinder is often dubbed the best background check site because it gives you an unlimited number of reports and offers a user-friendly mobile app. However, Truthfinder is not a consumer reporting agency, so you can't use its findings for business purposes.