Yes, it is possible to perform a background check free of cost. However, conducting full-fledged research is a tedious, complicated and lengthy process. Moreover, after doing tiring research for a long time, you may not get reliable and accurate results.
Thus, you may be able to conduct a free background check through extensive online research. Still, you will need paid background research services to get in-depth information. For instance, performing a free criminal background check is impossible as you may not get your hands on detailed facts. Contrarily, professional background search platforms utilize their premium resources and substantial public records to complete the task.
Nevertheless, if you desire to perform a free background check, we have enlisted all the legit and effective means to do so. Furthermore, you can also check out the paid background check services and use their features.
Suggested Background Check Apps Recommended For You
- TruthFinder – Overall Best Free Background Check, Editor’s Pick
- Intelius – Top App To Get Background Check Free
- Instant Checkmate – Most Popular Site For Criminal Record Check Services
- US Search – Most Recommended For Access To Public Records
#1. TruthFinder – Overall Best Free Background Check, Editor’s Pick
Brand Overview
TruthFinder is one of the most reliable, secure, and transparent background check sites. The company was founded in 2014 in San Diego, California. Since its launch, TruthFinder has provided valuable and authentic information to thousands of people across America.
This service allows its subscribers to use multiple filters and many search options. Furthermore, if you are unfamiliar with background search services, TruthFinder will offer you an explanatory guide. Using this guide, you can learn how to perform an effective background search and interpret the final draft.
Moreover, this outstanding background check service has earned praise from many publications. Some of these include Cnet, Huffington Post, and DailyMail.com.
Pros
- Data protection through encryption technology
- Provides a dark web scanning feature, offering protection against cybercriminals
- Uses national databases, private forums, and other sites to conduct thorough background research
- Detailed report provides current and authentic information on the subject
- Available on Android and iOS apps
- Access to a variety of public record directories
- Best service for social media profile checks
- Service charges displayed upfront; no hidden fees
- Over 60,000 5-star reviews from verified customers
Cons
- Offer single search option only for monthly subscribers
- Background search only available to the people living in America
=> Click here to visit the official website of TruthFinder
#2. Intelius– Top App To Get Background Check Free
Brand Overview
Intelius is one of the most prestigious and leading names in the industry. The company has been running an efficient and reliable business since 2003, making it among the top experienced firms. Intelius has served more than 8 million people in this period, and the number is continuously growing.
Though Intelius is not a totally free background check service, it provides reasonable subscription offers. You can take its trial membership to test the scope of its services. Additionally, Intelius offers standard subscriptions for one month and two months. Moreover, there is a different service fee for each type of search, allowing you to pay according to the services you avail.
Features
TruthFinder has plenty of valuable features to quicken and ease the background check process for its customers. However, the highlight feature of this service is dark web scanning.
Since data breaches have become very common with the digital world’s boom, it is easy for someone to access your data and impersonate you. Through dark web monitoring protection, TruthFinder can identify if you are a victim of online identity theft.
Though you may be sure of your server’s security, it is still quite possible that your data is being sold. TruthFinder can also help you identify this problem. The company provides this service to all its monthly subscribers. For this, the company uses your personal information and checks its presence on the dark web.
This personal information includes your contact information, passport number, social security number, bank account numbers, driver’s license, and credit and debit cards. Truthfinder monitors your personal information and identifies any criminal activity using personalized cyber risk intelligence. The company will scan your information in the online web chats, social media forums, bulletin boards, and other similar dark web spaces.
With such incredible protection of your information, you can enter your info on the web without concern. Furthermore, you have complete control over the use of this feature, and the company will use your information only after your approval.
Pros
- Protects users’ information using 256-bit encryption technology
- Does not notify the person you are performing the search on
- Protects the user’s privacy according to the fair credit reporting act
- Access to over 20 billion records to conduct research
- Allows multiple searches with reasonable monthly subscriptions
- The web portal is easy to navigate and simple to use
- Fast, efficient, and authentic results
- Best background check service for finding criminal and arrest records
Cons
- Does not offer dark web search options
- Customer service is not available 24/7
=> Click here to visit the official website of Intelius
#3. Instant Checkmate– Most Popular Site For Criminal Record Check Services
Brand Overview
Instant Checkmate started its business in 2010. For the last two decades, it has helped thousands of Americans find truthful and transparent background information.
Considering positive feedback from the previous users, the company has proved itself as an efficient and effective background check service. The company’s primary mission is to provide its clients with authentic, essential, and valuable information.
This website offers four main search categories. These categories include people search, reverse phone lookup, criminal records database, and inmate search. You can also avail Instant Checkmate’s services if you seek someone’s addresses, phone numbers, inmate records, or demographic data.
However, this company does not offer free background check services. The paid service offers a range of affordable subscription plans on a monthly, quarterly, and biannual basis. Moreover, you can also avail 5-day trial subscription for just a dollar.
The company has gained an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau (BBB) for providing remarkable services to its customers.
Pros
- Allows you to do background checks with a single click
- Protects users’ privacy via Norton Symantec encryption technology
- You can get multiple reports with a monthly subscription
- Access to premium report information without paying an additional fee
- No hidden fees as the company discloses all charges upfront
- Website claims over 1.4 billion searches
- Company’s Android app makes searching easy and hassle-free
Cons
- Cannot use this service for performing a credit check and tenant and employment screening
- No app for iOS users
The Best Feature of Instant Checkmate
With a few clicks, this service helps you find arrest records, criminal records, and detailed background reports. The most prominent feature of this company is its multiple public records.
For instance, the company provides nationwide inmate searches. The US prisons have over 2.2 million inmates. Here, the company searches for criminal information on the subject within the country’s large databases to prepare detailed reports.
=> Click here to visit the official website of Instant Checkmate
#4. US Search – Most Recommended For Access To Public Records
Brand Overview
US search has been serving people since 1993. The company helps people locate their lost family and friends and run a background check on suspicious individuals to feel safe in the community.
US Search is a practical, affordable and transparent background check website. This interface helps you retrieve a wealth of information in return for a handful of basic information. The company has access to billions of public records, thus allowing you to find required addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and more.
This platform helps you connect with a long-lost friend, build new contacts, or identify any unknown callers. The fantastic services of US Search remarkably do the time-consuming and hectic task of background search in very little time. The company provides detailed reports of your required information within an affordable price range.
Pros
- Has access to more data resources than most of its competitors
- Has about three decades of experience
- Allows you to perform a background check online using only their email address
- Up-to-date information about the subject
- Offers detailed reports on the required information
- The service searches through the authentic property, public, and criminal records
Cons
- Does not offer search results in chronological order
- Customer support services need improvement
=> Click here to visit the official website of US Search
How We Made The List Of The Best Free Background Check Sites?
Having authentic and accurate background information about a person is crucial before starting any contract. Generally, companies do background checks to authenticate the given data by the candidate. However, in their personal life, people also tend to run criminal background checks of a person they’ve met to be cautious.
As you mostly do such a thing in crucial situations, it is essential to connect with legitimate services. Thus, to compile the free background check platforms’ list, we ensured that we included reliable and legit names.
First, our team picked out the free background report services from paid background check services. Then, we enlisted the names of all the leading companies providing personal background check.
Recently, people have started using the free background check online services, causing a rush of such companies on the internet. Unfortunately, it also means that not all such companies are legitimate. Nonetheless, we chose only legal and reliable companies from the lot.
Next, we short-listed the list of free background check sites by analyzing the authenticity of their sources. After the application of this factor, we dropped several names. Then, we further shortened the list by excluding the names that received negative customer reviews.
Conclusively, we finalized the top four best background check services, which showed the best ranking in every category.
What We Looked For?
We thoroughly analyzed the available background check services via the following points:
- We checked the authenticity of the company’s source of information. Knowing how many and which national databases the company is using to extract data is essential.
- We picked companies that check the professional licenses of their sources.
- The companies we chose are trustworthy, and you can explore them on all social media platforms.
- One of the defining features of any company is its customer reviews. We comprehensively analyzed the customers’ feedback on the companies’ services.
- All the companies mentioned above are legit and registered. Plus, they have the legal authority to run a report.
- These companies can run criminal background checks and provide complete criminal history information.
You may need to pay a high cost to obtain a specific background check about a person. However, if you cannot afford expensive paid services, you can take the services of the above-mentioned companies. We have carefully scrutinized these companies on strict factors and finalized these four names.
FAQs About Free Background Checks Apps In 2023
What Is A Background Check?
A background check is when someone searches an individual’s public and private records to obtain background information. These background checks may help you identify if someone has criminal records, arrest records, court records, sex offender registry, bad credit reports, etc.
Generally, government agencies and private companies perform a background check to ensure the authenticity of candidates’ credentials before hiring. However, you can also perform a background check on yourself or someone else. Many people are curious about what a background check may reveal about themselves.
As discussed above, you may perform a background check using freely available services and sites. But, these services require utmost time and patience. Thus, if you wish to obtain information about someone to hand over some crucial task, you can request paid background checks.
What Information Can You Obtain By Performing Background Checks?
Generally, people find their old friends or loved ones and try to get their contact information. Moreover, people also take an interest in knowing who their neighbors are to feel safe in a new neighborhood. Many people also tend to avail of background check services to get information about someone they are dating.
In addition to the general public, many government and private organizations perform background checks during the hiring process. However, these companies do this background check to a specific limit, thus not tarnishing any user’s privacy.
The background check report contains complete information on a person’s address history, educational background, citizenship history, legal records, driving offenses, work history, and criminal activity.
Moreover, you may also use these services to get marriage and divorce records, credit history, bankruptcy records, medical records, previous complaints and violations, and tax liens.
Which One Is The Best Service To Perform Only A Single Background Check?
The best service to perform a single background check is Instant Checkmate. This company offers free trials for a specific time limit. This time limit is enough to perform a single search using professional tools and available public data on the website.
How Far Can These Services Go In Background Search?
As a general rule of thumb, these services go through the last seven years of data. However, seven years is not a strict number as it may vary depending upon the type of information searched.
As per FCRA, the background information must report civil suits and judgments, paid tax liens, and other similar details within a 7-year timeline. Nevertheless, it is not necessary to include criminal convictions.
On the other hand, many states, including Mississippi, Delaware, Utah, Connecticut, Alabama, South Carolina, Nebraska, Vermont, Maine, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Florida, do not restrict the employers for any period. Therefore, the employers of these states can request background check reports containing twenty-year-old data.
Furthermore, the seven-year rule is also not applicable to bankruptcies or credit history reports. Thus, the background check services can show such data in a comprehensive report.
Is It Possible To Perform A Free Background Check?
Yes, it is possible to do a background check free of cost. However, it is essential to note that conducting free background checks is hectic, time-consuming, and not necessarily effective.
Indeed, you can get basic information from social media platforms, Google, and other publicly available sites. Nonetheless, you will not be able to retrieve detailed information from these means.
On the other hand, any leading paid service has access to extensive online data ranging from governmental databases, private databases, legal records, and other public records. Therefore, these paid online services can swiftly extract accurate and updated information using authentic resources.
Will The Other Person Know If You Conduct A Background Check On Them?
If you are acquiring the services of a people search company, then the person will not know about the background search. This is because these companies conduct their research from publicly available databases accessible to everyone.
Furthermore, most companies offer high-level security and protection to the client’s information using 128-bit encryption technology. Thus, your personal information remains safe and secure, and no one knows about the background search.
On the contrary, it is vital to ask for a person’s permission to perform a background check for employment history, tenancy requirements, or credit history. Running an inquiry on the credit history of anyone will showcase on the credit report. Thus it is necessary to notify them beforehand.
Conclusion: Is There A Totally Free Background Check In 2023?
Performing a background check isn’t something new. People tend to use different means of finding background information about someone for years. Now, with technological advancements, this process has become somewhat handy. You can perform a background check for a variety of purposes.
Generally, background checks can provide you with detailed information about anyone. However, it is vital to use a comprehensive background check website with access to public records, online databases, and private records. The above-mentioned companies provide accessible background check options that can yield a variety of information as per your need.
You can use free-of-cost background check methods, as mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, we advise you to consult a paid service to acquire genuine, updated, and detailed information.
