What Is Intelius?

Intelius operates as the premium flagship of a background check company that owns BeenVerified, Instant Checkmate, and several other services you’ve probably heard of. During my five months of testing, this corporate structure became clear – Intelius consistently accessed more data sources than its sister companies, which helps explain why they can charge more.

The service targets people who need thorough background investigation rather than basic contact verification. Whether you’re conducting due diligence on a business partner, helping visiting colleagues vet childcare providers, or researching someone you’re considering for important responsibilities, Intelius provides more comprehensive data than budget services. That said, like all background check services, it faces fundamental limitations due to how scattered US public records systems are. During my testing, I found employment history and educational credentials that other services missed, though the accuracy varied quite a bit depending on how old the records were and where they came from.

How Intelius Works

Intelius operates through web platforms and mobile apps, tapping into databases including educational institutions, employment verification systems, and financial records that many competitors simply can’t access. This broader database access explains both the higher cost and why you tend to get more detailed information compared to budget alternatives.

The search process takes about 2-4 minutes while the system cross-references information across multiple databases to build comprehensive profiles. During my testing, I found this processing time was actually faster than most competitors despite delivering more detailed results, which suggests they’ve invested pretty heavily in their technical infrastructure. The system handles complex searches much better than basic services. When you’re researching someone with a common name, Intelius provides filtering options and confidence scores for different potential matches, making it much easier to figure out which person you’re actually looking at rather than just getting a confusing list of results.

Key Features

Intelius’s key features center on six core background investigation capabilities that provide more detailed information than many competing services. During testing, these features delivered employment verification, education records, criminal intelligence, financial analysis, contact mapping, and social media integration with varying degrees of success depending on the individual and geographic region.

Here’s what each feature does:

Employment Verification Excellence

Intelius’s employment verification feature accesses professional databases and corporate records that other background services often can’t reach, providing work history that can span 15-20 years when records are available. The system taps into professional licensing boards, corporate filings, and employment verification networks that require special access agreements.

During testing, I researched a contractor for a friend, who claimed 15 years of experience in commercial construction. Intelius found employment history dating back to 2009, including positions at three major construction firms, current business license status, and previous municipal government work. Cross-checking with the state licensing board and one former employer confirmed the information’s accuracy, though I noted that some smaller employers and older positions weren’t captured. What gave me real peace of mind was seeing consistent employment at legitimate companies – not the erratic work patterns you’d expect from someone with a criminal lifestyle or substance abuse issues.

Education Record Access

Intelius’s education verification goes beyond basic attendance information to provide academic credentials including degrees, certifications, and institutional verification when accessible through their database partnerships. Most background services provide limited educational information, but Intelius accesses more comprehensive academic records.

When helping a friend verify a tutor’s credentials during his business trip to the US, I found someone who claimed a master’s in education. Intelius confirmed the degree, found undergraduate work at a different university, student teaching placement details, and current state teaching certification status.

Verification with the state education department confirmed the license was active and current as reported. This gave my friend confidence he was hiring genuine expertise rather than someone who just sounded knowledgeable – and importantly, someone who had passed the background checks required for teacher certification.

Criminal Intelligence Coverage

Intelius’s criminal record search provides coverage across multiple court systems with case information and multi-jurisdictional coordination, though it faces the same database fragmentation issues that limit all background check services. The system accesses court databases, traffic records, and civil litigation files beyond basic arrest information.

Testing revealed mixed results depending on jurisdiction and case age. When checking a contractor, Intelius found a DUI from 2018 in a neighboring state that other services missed. Court record verification confirmed accuracy down to specific charges and sentence details. However, the service missed some traffic violations in rural counties that had limited digital record access. This is honestly the most critical feature when it comes to safety – criminals and predators specifically exploit the fact that people move between states and their criminal history doesn’t always follow them.

Financial Background Analysis

Intelius’s financial analysis feature provides insights into property ownership, credit history, and business financial standing through public financial databases and court records. This information can be valuable for business decisions, though the accuracy and completeness vary significantly by region and individual circumstances.

When researching a potential real estate partner, Intelius found property ownership history including three rental properties, plus a previous bankruptcy from 2015 that had been successfully discharged. Cross-checking with county assessor databases confirmed property records accuracy, while federal court records verified bankruptcy details and discharge status. Financial desperation can be a real risk factor – contractors under severe financial pressure might abandon projects with your deposit, demand inappropriate payment terms, or even target valuable items in your home.

Contact Network Mapping

Intelius’s contact mapping feature builds relationship networks showing family connections, associates, and professional relationships that other background services frequently miss. The system cross-references address histories, phone number usage, and public records to identify relationship patterns.

When researching a business opportunity, contact mapping revealed the primary contact was connected to several people with questionable business histories through family relationships and shared addresses. This network analysis provided context for additional due diligence, though interpreting the significance of these connections required careful consideration. The absence of connections to people with domestic violence, child abuse, or drug-related convictions was reassuring – criminals often operate within networks, so discovering associations with known offenders can reveal hidden dangers.

Social Media Integration

Intelius’s social media integration connects accounts across multiple platforms and uncovers historical online presence, though the depth varies significantly depending on individual privacy settings and platform policies. The system links accounts across different social media platforms using various identification methods.

During a dating safety check for a friend, Intelius found social media accounts spanning over a decade, including older profiles that revealed different personality presentations over time. Social media can reveal concerning behavioral patterns, substance abuse issues, aggressive tendencies, or inappropriate interactions with minors that wouldn’t appear in traditional criminal records but pose serious safety risks.

Real Use Case: When helping a friend vet a potential nanny during his extended business stay in the US, I used multiple Intelius features together. Employment verification showed consistent childcare work over 8 years, education records confirmed her early childhood development degree, criminal records came back clean across three states, financial analysis showed stable housing without concerning debt issues, contact mapping revealed connections to other childcare professionals, and social media research showed appropriate online presence. This comprehensive picture gave my friend confidence in his hiring decision. Most importantly, we didn’t find any of the red flags that would indicate someone who might harm children or exploit access to a family’s home.

Ease of Use

Intelius offers a straightforward setup process through their website, though the multiple pricing options require careful attention to understand what each tier actually provides. The interface presents a clean, professional appearance without the sensationalist design elements common among some competitors.

The search process involves entering a name and location, waiting several minutes for compilation, then reviewing comprehensive reports organized into logical sections. The mobile apps deserve recognition for providing full functionality rather than limited mobile versions, though the extensive reports can be challenging to navigate on smaller screens.

My Experience: Initial setup took about 5 minutes, though I’ll be honest – understanding the pricing structure took some additional research. The $0.95 trial initially seemed like a great deal, but it excludes criminal records, employment history, and financial data, which are basically the features that make Intelius different from basic services. Once I upgraded to full access, the interface worked reliably across both desktop and mobile platforms, though I did find the sheer amount of information could feel overwhelming when trying to quickly find specific details.

How Much Does Intelius Cost?

Intelius pricing offers multiple tiers but requires careful attention to understand what each option actually includes. At $34.95 monthly for unlimited comprehensive reports, it represents premium pricing in the background check market, though several competitors charge similar or higher amounts.

>Intelius pricing offers multiple tiers but requires careful attention to understand what each option actually includes. Stay informed with an Intelius membership that creates a custom membership experience fitting your search needs.

Useful Intelius Membership Add-Ons

Important Notice: Intelius reserves the right to modify prices or add/remove membership plans without prior notice. Promotional membership offers may have different billing rates and frequencies. All membership billing is subject to Intelius Terms of Use.

The trial pricing structure really requires your attention here. The $0.95 trial provides basic contact information but excludes criminal records, employment verification, and financial data – which are honestly the features that justify Intelius’s position as a premium service. During my testing, I found this limitation made the trial pretty much useless for actually evaluating what the service can do.

Auto-renewal billing automatically converts the trial to full monthly billing at $34.95, so you’ll definitely want to set a calendar reminder for subscription management. PDF downloads cost an extra $3.99 per report on basic plans, though unlimited downloads are included in the Premier tier. If you need to save or share reports regularly, this additional cost can add up quickly.

People Search Plan

The most affordable option at $21.35 per month (billed bi-monthly), the People Search plan offers exceptional value for users focused on traditional background research. Despite being the cheapest option, it provides access to the most comprehensive data including criminal records, court records, employment history, and business ownership information. This plan covers everything most users need for thorough people searches without the phone lookup premium.

This plan represents the best value for money and is ideal for landlords screening tenants, employers conducting background checks, or individuals researching people for personal safety reasons. The lack of a trial period is a drawback, but the lower monthly cost makes it accessible for occasional users who don’t want to commit to the higher-priced plans.

Address Lookup + People Search Plan

Priced at $34.95 per month, this plan specializes in property and neighborhood research while maintaining full people search capabilities. The address lookup feature goes beyond basic property information to include neighborhood demographics, crime statistics, nearby sex offender locations, and local amenities. This makes it particularly valuable for real estate research, neighborhood safety assessment, and property investment decisions.

This plan is best for real estate professionals, property investors, parents researching school districts and neighborhood safety, or anyone considering a move to a new area. The 7-day trial period (longest available) gives users more time to explore the extensive neighborhood data, though like other trials, it limits access to the most valuable background check features during the trial period.

Reverse Phone Lookup + People Search Plan

The most expensive plan at $35.30 per month, this comprehensive option combines phone number investigation with full people search capabilities. This plan is particularly valuable for users who frequently need to identify unknown callers or verify phone numbers associated with individuals. The phone lookup feature provides not just basic contact information but also connects phone numbers to social media profiles and related persons, making it excellent for comprehensive background research.

This plan is best suited for professionals in real estate, debt collection, private investigation, or anyone who regularly receives calls from unknown numbers and needs thorough background information. The 5-day trial period allows users to test the phone lookup capabilities, though the $0.95 trial excludes the most valuable features like criminal records and employment verification.

Is Intelius Safe?

Intelius maintains standard security practices for handling sensitive personal information, with SSL encryption for data transmission and secure payment processing through established financial networks. The company reports no major data breaches during my research period, though all background check services inherently involve privacy trade-offs.

The platform operates under privacy policies that limit data sharing compared to some competitors, though users should understand that background check services necessarily involve accessing and aggregating personal information from public sources. Intelius’s corporate structure includes several subsidiary companies, creating questions about data sharing within their business family.

Recent improvements include enhanced account protection features and clearer privacy controls. The company maintains an A+ BBB rating and provides responsive customer support for security-related concerns, demonstrating reasonable commitment to user protection within industry standards.

Data Protection & Privacy Standards

Intelius implements industry-standard security measures including encrypted data storage and secure payment processing. However, background check services inherently involve accessing personal information from public sources, creating privacy considerations that users should understand. The service’s privacy policy provides reasonable protection compared to industry standards, though users requiring maximum discretion should consider the inherent privacy implications of any background check service.

Intelius Mobile Apps for Phones & Tablets

Intelius provides well-designed mobile apps for both iOS and Android that offer complete background check functionality rather than limited mobile versions. The apps include features like contact integration for reverse lookups, offline report storage, and push notifications when comprehensive reports finish processing.

During testing across different network conditions and geographic locations, the apps performed reliably without significant crashes or functionality limitations. The mobile interface handles the extensive reports reasonably well, though reviewing 20+ page comprehensive reports on smartphone screens can still feel cumbersome compared to desktop usage.

My Personal Experience with Intelius

Over five months of testing, Intelius consistently provided more comprehensive data than budget alternatives, though the value proposition depends heavily on specific research needs and budget considerations. I used the service across various scenarios including contractor verification, childcare provider vetting for visiting colleagues, and business due diligence research.

The employment verification capabilities proved particularly valuable in several cases. When researching a potential business partner, Intelius found detailed work history including positions that weren’t mentioned publicly, providing important context for partnership discussions. However, I also encountered limitations, particularly for older records and individuals with limited digital footprints.

Customer support exceeded expectations during my testing period. Five separate contacts resulted in knowledgeable responses within 24 hours via email and immediate assistance through phone support during business hours. Representatives demonstrated genuine understanding of their product capabilities and limitations rather than providing scripted responses.

Notable Discoveries: The service consistently found employment credentials and educational background that competitors missed, particularly for professional licensing and institutional verification. When vetting a contractor, Intelius discovered professional certifications that other services didn’t detect, helping verify qualifications for specialized work. However, the comprehensive reports sometimes required significant time investment to identify relevant information among extensive details, and some data appeared outdated or incomplete for certain geographic regions. Most importantly, I discovered several cases where Intelius revealed concerning information that cheaper services missed entirely – the kind of information that could prevent dangerous situations.

Who It’s Best For

Intelius works well when you need thorough background checking and don’t mind paying extra for more detailed information. The comprehensive data can be really valuable for important decisions, though casual users will probably find what they need through cheaper alternatives. When your family’s safety is involved or you’re making decisions that could put you at risk, the extra cost can be worth avoiding situations you really don’t want to experience.

Intelius for Personal Use

Intelius makes sense when you’re making decisions that really matter. If you’re hiring a nanny or babysitter and want to verify their childcare credentials and employment history, the education verification can confirm their early childhood development degree actually exists. When you’re checking out new neighbors after some concerning behavior, the criminal record search across multiple states can give you peace of mind or confirm your concerns. The reality is that predators specifically target childcare positions and other roles that give them access to children, so thorough screening is essential.

For online dating safety, especially if you’re getting serious about someone, Intelius can verify their job history and education claims while checking for any criminal background across different states they might have lived in. If you’re letting other parents watch your kids during playdates or overnight stays, you can verify they are who they say they are and check for any safety concerns.

Intelius for Business

Small business owners find value in Intelius for important hiring decisions and partnerships. If you’re hiring someone to handle money, work alone with customers, or have access to sensitive information, the employment verification can confirm their work history actually matches their resume. When you’re considering business partnerships or major contractor relationships, the financial background check can reveal liens, bankruptcies, or other red flags before you commit. For more formal hiring needs, consider using FCRA-compliant background check services.

The service also works well for landlords screening tenants, especially for higher-value properties where you want thorough verification of employment, previous addresses, and criminal history across multiple states. Tenants with undisclosed criminal histories involving property damage, domestic violence, or drug-related offenses can create serious problems for other tenants and property owners.

Intelius for Family

Parents who prioritize thorough safety checking appreciate the comprehensive coverage, especially for childcare providers, household staff like cleaners or maintenance workers, or contractors who’ll be working in your home. If you’re hiring a tutor or music teacher for your kids, the education verification can confirm their credentials are legitimate. The criminal background check can reveal any history involving children, sexual offenses, or violent behavior that could put your family at risk.

For families with teenagers, some parents use it to verify other families before allowing sleepovers or checking coaches and activity leaders. The criminal record search across multiple states can be valuable if you’re moving to a new neighborhood and want to research the area. Registered sex offenders, violent criminals, and other dangerous individuals often relocate to escape their reputation in previous communities.

Intelius Reddit & Forum Insights

User discussions across Reddit and consumer forums reveal mixed opinions about Intelius’s value proposition, with appreciation for data quality balanced against concerns about pricing and complexity. The most active conversations focus on comparing Intelius against cheaper alternatives and evaluating whether the additional cost provides sufficient value.

‘Intelius found employment history that I couldn’t verify anywhere else – worth the extra cost when you need complete information for important decisions,’ notes one Reddit user in a background check comparison thread.

‘The trial is basically worthless since it excludes all the premium data that makes Intelius different from cheap services.’

‘Found out our potential nanny had domestic violence charges in another state that cheaper services completely missed – worth every penny to avoid that danger.’

Intelius Alternatives & Competitors

Intelius’s pricing reflects expanded database access rather than just marketing positioning. During comparative testing, it consistently provided more employment and education verification than direct competitors, particularly for professional licensing and institutional records.

For users requiring only contact verification or operating under strict budget constraints, BeenVerified or TruthFinder provide adequate information at lower cost. When decisions involve significant consequences or require thorough professional verification, Intelius’s comprehensive data access can justify the premium pricing through more detailed background intelligence.

What’s New in 2025

Intelius has expanded its employment verification algorithms throughout 2025, adding access to additional professional licensing databases and improving integration with educational institution records. The company also streamlined its cancellation process, addressing previous user complaints about subscription management complexity that appeared in consumer reviews.

Recent updates include improved mobile app performance, enhanced search speed optimization, and expanded coverage of financial records databases. However, the core pricing structure remains unchanged from 2024, maintaining the premium positioning that distinguishes Intelius from budget competitors while keeping costs stable for existing subscribers.

Final Verdict

Intelius provides more comprehensive background data than many competitors, particularly for employment verification and educational credentials, though the premium pricing limits its appeal to users with specific thorough investigation needs. The service excels when detailed verification matters more than cost considerations, particularly for business partnerships, major contractor hiring, and professional due diligence. When protecting your family from predators, your home from criminals, or your business from fraudsters, the comprehensive screening capabilities provide peace of mind that cheaper alternatives simply cannot match.

The employment verification and educational credential access provide unique value that can justify the higher cost for important decisions. However, the complex pricing structure and premium cost make it impractical for casual background checking or budget-conscious users. The $0.95 trial excludes most valuable features, requiring full subscription commitment to access the comprehensive data that justifies the service’s market positioning. Intelius represents a solid choice for comprehensive background investigation when detailed verification capabilities justify the premium investment. The reality is that predators, criminals, and fraudsters often present themselves as trustworthy professionals – comprehensive background checking is your best defense against becoming their next victim.