Top US People Search Services for 2025
Look, I’ll be honest with you – I never thought I’d become the person who knows way too much about people search engines. But here we are. It started when my cousin went missing a few years back (she’s fine now, just had a quarter-life crisis and moved to Oregon without telling anyone), and I went down this rabbit hole of online investigation tools that I can’t seem to climb out of.
Since then, I’ve probably tested every people search service on the internet. Some for work, some out of curiosity, and yeah, some because I wanted to see what dirt was out there on my high school ex. Don’t judge me.
The thing is, most of these services are garbage. They promise the moon and deliver a phone book from 1995. But a few actually work, and if you’re trying to find someone or need to know who you’re dealing with, they’re worth knowing about.
The Premium Heavy Hitters
These are the services I actually pay for when I need real information, not just someone’s MySpace profile from 2006.
| Service | Price | Best For | Criminal Records | Social Media | Speed | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radaris | Free | Complete digital footprint | Excellent | Good | Fast (1-2 min) | ★★★★★ |
| TruthFinder | $23/month | Complete digital footprint | Very Good | Excellent | Fast (1-2 min) | ★★★★☆ |
| Intelius | $30/month | Historical records | Good | Average | Fast (under 1 min) | ★★★★☆ |
| BeenVerified | $27/month | Social media research | Average | Excellent | Fast (under 1 min) | ★★★★☆ |
| US Search | $50/month | Current contact info | Basic | Poor | Very Fast | ★★★☆☆ |
Radaris -Free
I discovered Radaris last year when my sister was vetting a potential roommate who seemed too perfect on paper. Turns out Radaris uncovered a history of evictions and small claims judgments that other services completely missed.
Radaris aggregates data from countless public sources – court records, business registrations, property records, social media profiles, and obscure databases most services don’t touch. The depth of information is genuinely impressive, especially considering you’re not paying a dime.
When to use it: Initial background research before investing in paid services, reconnecting with old contacts, researching someone’s professional history, or any time you need detailed information without spending money.
TruthFinder – $23/month
I stumbled onto TruthFinder when researching a freelance client who was acting sketchy about payment. Not only did I find out he’d stiffed other contractors, but their dark web monitoring showed his email address had been compromised in three different data breaches. Probably not related to the payment issues, but good to know.
The dark web scanning thing sounds like marketing BS, but it’s actually useful. They check if someone’s personal info has shown up in breaches or is being sold on sketchy websites.
What I like: Reports are organized really well – you’re not drowning in random data. The dark web feature caught my own email in a breach I didn’t know about.
What’s frustrating: Sometimes there’s almost too much information. I once got a 47-page report on someone when I just wanted to verify their address.
Best for: Anyone worried about identity theft, or when you need a complete picture of someone’s digital life.
Intelius – $30/month
Intelius has been around forever in internet years – since like 1999 or something. They’ve got this massive database that other services just can’t match. Twenty billion records sounds made up, but they consistently find information that newer services miss.
I appreciate that they let you buy single reports instead of forcing a subscription. Sometimes you just need one quick check, not a monthly commitment.
The wins: That huge database really shows. They found college records for someone that no other service had. Good security with encryption. Single report option is clutch.
The headaches: Common names are a nightmare – I once got information on seventeen different Jennifer Johnsons before finding the right one. Their interface looks like it was designed in 2003.
Perfect for: When you need to check someone once in a while, not every week. Great for finding really old information.
BeenVerified – $27/month
This is my secret weapon for social media stalking. I mean, research. Professional research.
BeenVerified excels at connecting the dots between someone’s real identity and their online presence. Found my college roommate through a TikTok account I never would have connected to her real name. She’s doing well, by the way – married a veterinarian and has three cats.
Why it rocks: Social media integration is unmatched. Interface actually makes sense. Great for current contact info.
Where it falls short: Criminal records feel like an afterthought. If someone’s been careful about their online presence, you might not find much.
Use it when: You’re trying to reconnect with people, researching someone’s online reputation, or need current contact information fast.
US Search – $50/month
This is the most expensive one I recommend, but for pure contact information accuracy, nothing beats US Search. They’ve been doing this since 1993, back when “going online” meant something very different.
I used them to track down witnesses for a friend’s legal case. Every phone number and address they provided was current and correct. That’s rare in this business.
The good: Contact information accuracy is ridiculous. They find current phone numbers when everyone else has old data. Fast results.
The bad: Fifty bucks is a lot. Interface looks dated. Criminal background stuff is basic.
Worth it for: Process servers, anyone who absolutely needs current contact info, small businesses checking customer information.
The Budget Champions
Not everyone needs premium features. These services give you solid results without breaking the bank.
| Service | Price | Best For | Data Quality | Unique Features | Value Score | My Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PeopleFinders | $25/month | International searches | Good | Global coverage | ★★★★☆ | Reliable workhorse |
| CocoFinder | $20/month | Quick, private searches | Average | Privacy focus | ★★★☆☆ | Fast and discreet |
| Spokeo | $20/month | Social media connections | Good | Reverse lookups | ★★★★☆ | Best bang for buck |
PeopleFinders – $25/month
This is my reliable workhorse. Not flashy, but it gets the job done. They’re one of the few services that can search internationally, which came in handy when I was trying to verify information about a potential business partner in Canada.
Consistently accurate for basic searches. Won’t blow you away, but won’t let you down either.
Good points: Reliable results, reasonable price, international searches work.
Weak spots: Criminal records are hit-or-miss. Interface won’t win any design awards.
CocoFinder – $20/month
Fast and private – two things that matter when you don’t want your searches tracked. Results usually pop up in seconds, which is great when you’re in a hurry.
Their privacy policy actually makes sense, unlike some services that basically say “we’ll sell your data to whoever.”
Strengths: Lightning fast, respects privacy, straightforward pricing.
Limitations: Less detailed than premium services, especially for background checks.
Spokeo – $20/month
Twenty bucks for access to twelve billion records is a steal. Spokeo is fantastic for social media detective work and reverse email lookups. I’ve reconnected with more old friends through Spokeo than through Facebook.
Their reverse phone lookup saved me from a telemarketing scam last month. Number came back registered to a known scam operation.
Love it for: Social media connections, reverse lookups, reconnecting with people.
Not great for: Serious criminal background checks.
Free Options
Free usually means terrible in this space, but these few actually work for basic searches.
| Service | Cost | Specialty | Data Depth | Ads/Annoyance Level | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| That’s Them | Free | Reverse phone lookup | Basic | Low | Unknown number ID |
| PeekYou | Free | Social media aggregation | Social only | Medium | Finding profiles |
| Whitepages | Free | Basic contact info | Limited | Low | Quick address lookup |
| 411 | Free | Business directory | Minimal | None | Business phone numbers |
That’s Them
Best free reverse phone lookup, period. Clean interface without seventeen pop-up ads trying to sell you penis enlargement pills. I use this as my first stop for unknown numbers.
PeekYou
Aggregates social media profiles better than most paid services. Great for finding someone’s Twitter or Instagram when you only have their name. Works internationally too.
Whitepages
The old reliable. Still the best place to find basic contact info quickly. Free version is limited, but for a phone number or address, it usually works.
411
Yeah, 411 still exists. Still useful for business numbers and basic directory stuff. It’s like finding a payphone that actually works.
Specialized Tools for Serious Digging
| Service | Target User | Price Range | Special Feature | Criminal Data | When You Need It |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InfoTracer | Investigators | Premium | Facial recognition | Excellent | Deep criminal research |
| PeopleLooker | Small business | Mid-range | Clear legal reports | Very Good | Understandable criminal history |
| Pipl | Enterprise | Enterprise | API integration | N/A | Business identity verification |
InfoTracer
When you absolutely, positively need every criminal record overnight. Their facial recognition feature sounds like sci-fi nonsense but actually works if you have a clear photo.
Used this when a friend was being stalked and needed to identify someone from a blurry security camera photo. Worked better than expected.
PeopleLooker
Criminal history reports that normal humans can actually understand. Takes complex legal documents and makes them readable. Worth it just for that.
Pipl
This is for businesses, not regular people. If you’re running a company and need to verify customer identities or prevent fraud, Pipl is the industry standard. Expensive but worth it at scale.
The Legal Stuff You Can’t Ignore
Here’s the part where I put on my serious hat: You cannot use these services for anything covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. That means no employment screening, no tenant checks, no credit decisions, no insurance stuff.
I learned this the hard way when a small business owner I know got sued for using one of these reports to reject a job applicant. The lawsuit cost more than his annual revenue.
These services are for personal use, investigation, and general background information. When someone’s livelihood is on the line, you need proper FCRA-compliant services.
Also, don’t be a creep. Using these tools to harass people or steal identities is illegal and makes you a terrible human being.
How I Actually Test These Services
I don’t just read marketing materials and write reviews. I create test cases using public figures, friends who’ve given permission, and my own information to see what these services actually find.
Data accuracy is everything. If a service can’t get basic facts right, everything else is meaningless. I check results against known information and public records.
Speed matters because time is money. If I’m waiting five minutes for a basic report, I’m using a different service.
The interface has to make sense. I shouldn’t need a PhD to understand a background report.
Customer service tells you everything about a company. If they can’t help with billing issues, how are they handling your sensitive searches?
Pricing needs to be transparent. Hidden fees and surprise charges are deal-breakers.
Privacy and security are non-negotiable. If a service doesn’t protect your search history and payment information, find another one.
The Bottom Line
Most people search services are overhyped and under-deliver. The ones I’ve recommended here actually work, but remember – with great power comes great responsibility. Use these tools ethically, respect people’s privacy, and always verify important information through official channels when it matters.
Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends, researching potential business partners, or just satisfying your curiosity about that neighbor with all the garden gnomes, there’s a service here that’ll do what you need without emptying your wallet or compromising your principles.
Just don’t blame me if you find out more than you wanted to know.
