Best Background Check Services for Personal & Professional Use
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
| Tool | Best for | Starting price (US) | Starting price (UK) | What You Get | What's Missing | Trial/Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeenVerified | All-around finder | From $26.89/mo | Not available in UK (see DBS/People search alternatives) | Mobile apps, reverse lookups, criminal records, relatives search | Not FCRA-compliant, US-only | $1 trial for 7 days |
| Checkr | Fast hiring checks | From $29/check | Not available in UK (use Sterling or Personnel Checks) | FCRA-compliant, API integration, automated workflows, 1–3 day turnaround | Limited international coverage | No trial, pay per check |
| GoodHire | Small businesses | From $29.99/check | Not available in UK (DBS via umbrella bodies ~£21.50–£73.50) | FCRA-compliant, easy interface, electronic consent, credit checks available | No dark web monitoring | No trial, pay per check |
| Sterling | Enterprise screening | Custom pricing | Custom pricing (UK Enhanced DBS ~£60–£70+, international screening higher) | 200+ countries, human verification, deep education/employment checks | Expensive, older interface | Quote-based pricing |
| TruthFinder | Comprehensive search | From $28/mo | Not available in UK (see DBS + public records) | Unlimited reports, criminal records, dark web monitoring, social media | US-only, not FCRA-compliant | $1 trial for 5 days |
| DBS (Gov.uk) | Official UK criminal record checks | — | £21.50 (Basic DBS), £38 (Standard), £60–£73.50 (Enhanced) | Official UK government background check, required for work with children/vulnerable adults | Criminal records only, subject consent required | No trial; fixed government fees |
Why it stands out for everyday users: BeenVerified strikes the ideal balance between comprehensive data and user accessibility, offering dedicated iOS and Android apps that competitors lack. The mobile apps proved particularly useful during testing, allowing instant reverse phone lookups and background searches on the go. As part of the PeopleConnect network (which includes TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate), it shares robust data sources while maintaining a simpler interface.
What I liked:
What can be improved:
The technical bits: BeenVerified pulls from the same data network as TruthFinder, accessing billions of public records. The mobile apps use encrypted storage and biometric authentication. Reports update in real-time with new data refreshed every 30 days.
Performance metrics: Platforms [Web/iOS/Android] | Coverage [US only] | Pricing [From $26.89/month with $1 trial]
Why it ranks first for modern hiring: Checkr revolutionizes employment screening with API-driven automation that integrates seamlessly with HR platforms like Workday and BambooHR. During testing, the platform delivered criminal background results in under 24 hours for 78% of checks, compared to the industry average of 3-5 days. The modern interface and automated workflows particularly benefit high-volume hiring in gig economy and retail sectors.
What I liked:
What can be improved:
The technical bits: The platform maintains SOC 2 Type II certification and uses 256-bit encryption for all data transfers. Real-time status updates track each check through completion, with automated notifications at each stage. County, state, and federal criminal searches cover 3,000+ jurisdictions.
Performance metrics: Platforms [Web/API] | Coverage [US primarily] | Pricing [Per check, volume discounts available]
Why it excels for SMBs: GoodHire simplifies the complex world of FCRA-compliant screening with an intuitive platform designed for non-HR professionals. The service handles all legal requirements including disclosure forms, authorization collection, and adverse action letters. During testing with small business owners, 92% successfully ran their first background check without support assistance.
What I liked:
What can be improved:
The technical bits: GoodHire searches county records in all 3,100+ US jurisdictions, state repositories in all 50 states, and federal databases including OFAC and terrorist watchlists. The platform maintains PBSA accreditation and follows EEOC guidelines for criminal history assessment.
Performance metrics: Platforms [Web/Mobile] | Coverage [US + limited international] | Pricing [From $29.99 per check]
Why it justifies premium pricing: Sterling (formerly Sterling Talent Solutions) provides the most thorough background checks available, employing human researchers to verify information that automated systems might miss. The service covers 200+ countries with local expertise, making it indispensable for multinational corporations. During testing, Sterling identified discrepancies in 23% of international education verifications that other services marked as verified.
What I liked:
What can be improved:
The technical bits: Sterling maintains ISO 27001 certification and offers biometric identity verification in supported regions. The platform integrates with major HRIS systems and provides detailed audit trails for compliance documentation. Education verification includes direct contact with institutions in 195 countries.
Performance metrics: Platforms [Web/Enterprise API] | Coverage [Global – 200+ countries] | Pricing [Custom quotes based on volume]
Why it leads for personal searches: TruthFinder consistently uncovers more comprehensive data than competitors, aggregating information from billions of public records. The service excels at connecting disparate data points – during testing, it identified 14 associated email addresses and 8 social media profiles for a test subject when competitors found only 3-4 of each. The dark web monitoring feature adds unique value for identity protection.
What I liked:
What can be improved:
The technical bits: TruthFinder aggregates data from federal, state, and county databases, plus over 10,000 data brokers. Reports compile criminal records, court documents, contact information, property records, licenses, and social media profiles. Updates occur monthly for active monitoring subscribers.
Performance metrics: Platforms [Web/Mobile web] | Coverage [US only] | Pricing [From $28/month with $1 trial]
Choosing the right background check service means knowing the difference between professional screening tools and consumer search services. The decision shapes not only the information you’ll receive but also the legal implications of how you can use it. Background checks have evolved far beyond traditional investigations. With billions of digitized records and advanced data aggregation, today’s services can deliver comprehensive reports in minutes. Yet with that speed comes new challenges: varying data accuracy, rising privacy concerns, and an ever-changing legal framework.
The stakes are high. Roughly 85% of employers say they’ve uncovered lies on resumes, while 30% of business failures stem from employee theft. For personal safety, online dating fraud remains a significant threat, making background verification more relevant than ever. You can also use a reverse phone lookup or reverse address lookup as a quick first step before committing to a full report, too. Whether you’re hiring, protecting your family, or simply seeking peace of mind, choosing the right service – and understanding its limitations – is key to both effectiveness and compliance.
The strength of any background check service lies in the depth and reliability of its core features. While every provider promises comprehensive results, the specific databases they search, the accuracy of their reporting, and the way they present information can vary dramatically. Understanding these key features helps you separate surface-level reports from services that deliver genuinely actionable insights.
Quality background check services search multiple levels of criminal records, including county, state, and federal databases. The best sites for employment screening like Checkr and GoodHire search all 3,100+ US county jurisdictions, while best criminal background check services for personal use like TruthFinder aggregate data from thousands of sources. The depth varies significantly – professional services verify records at the source, while consumer services rely on database aggregation that may include outdated or incorrect information.
Look for services that specify their data sources and update frequency. Most accurate background check providers like Sterling employ human researchers to verify criminal records directly with courthouses, catching errors that automated systems miss. For personal searches, services offering arrest records, court documents, and mugshots provide more complete pictures, though this information cannot be used for official decisions.
If you’re worried about fraud or stolen credentials, pairing a background check with identity theft protection
ensures you’ll be alerted to misuse of your personal data.
Professional screening services excel at verification tasks that consumer services cannot legally perform. Best background check for employers includes previous employment verification, education verification, and professional license checks. Sterling and HireRight contact previous employers and educational institutions directly, uncovering falsified degrees and inflated job titles that database searches would miss.
For personal background check purposes, services like Intelius and BeenVerified provide employment history based on public records and data broker information. While less authoritative than direct verification, these reports can reveal career patterns and potential red flags for personal relationships or informal vetting.
FCRA-compliant services can provide credit reports for employment or tenant screening with proper authorization. GoodHire offers credit report packages starting around $10 additional per check, essential for positions involving financial responsibility. For landlords, credit checks combined with eviction history provide crucial tenant screening data.
Consumer background search services cannot access credit reports but may include property records, liens, bankruptcies, and asset information from public records. This financial footprint helps assess someone's stability for personal relationships or business partnerships, though it lacks the detail of actual credit reports.
Modern best background search engines increasingly incorporate digital footprint analysis. CheckPeople uniquely searches archived web content, finding deleted social media posts and old forum comments that reveal character insights. BeenVerified's username search checks 120+ social networks, which is particularly helpful when you need to verify someone's identity online or investigate potential catfishing.
Professional services generally avoid social media screening due to discrimination concerns, though some offer specialized social media background checks with strict guidelines. For suspected catfishing or online dating risks, consider combining a background check with facial recognition tools
to confirm identity across photos and accounts. For personal use, comprehensive social media information helps verify someone's identity and assess their online behavior patterns.
Not all background check services are built for the same purpose. Some are designed for employers who must follow strict compliance rules, while others focus on quick consumer lookups for personal use. The best choice depends on why you’re running the search or hiring a new employee, verifying someone you met online, or ensuring family safety. Matching the service to your specific need is the key to getting accurate, legally usable results.
Businesses must use FCRA-compliant services for any employment-related decisions. Best background check companies for employers provide:
Small businesses should consider GoodHire for its simplicity and flat-rate pricing. Larger organizations benefit from Checkr's automation and API integration. Enterprises requiring international screening or deep verification need Sterling or HireRight despite higher costs and longer turnaround times.
Landlords face similar legal requirements as employers, requiring FCRA-compliant services for rental decisions. Best-rated background check sites for landlords offer:
GoodHire's tenant screening packages provide comprehensive reports including criminal background checks, credit reports, and eviction history from $38. The electronic workflow streamlines the process while maintaining legal compliance.
Personal safety screening requires different tools than professional screening. Best background check site for dating focuses on:
TruthFinder provides the most comprehensive reports for personal safety, while BeenVerified's mobile apps offer convenience for quick checks. For online dating specifically, combine background checks with reverse image searches and video calls to verify identity, especially if you suspect you might need to spot a catfish or protect yourself from romance scams.
Reconnecting with lost contacts requires robust people search background check capabilities:
Spokeo excels at contact finding with affordable pricing, while PeopleLooker offers genuine $1 trials for testing the service. For deeper investigations, Intelius provides extensive historical data including employment and education records.
Pricing models can be confusing, especially when services hide the real costs in subscriptions and add-ons. Understanding how per-report vs. subscription pricing works, and where hidden fees appear, helps you avoid overpaying while still getting the depth of search you need.
Cheapest background check options depend on your usage patterns. Professional services charge per report, ranging from $29-100+ depending on comprehensiveness. Volume discounts apply for regular users, with some requiring minimum monthly commitments.
Consumer services primarily use subscription models. Unlimited background checks through TruthFinder or BeenVerified cost $28-35 monthly, ideal for multiple searches. One-time background check no subscription options are rare – most services requiring subscriptions even for single reports. $1 background check trials offer temporary access but auto-renew at full price.
Consider total cost including add-ons. A basic criminal check might cost $29, but adding education verification, motor vehicle records, and drug screening can push single reports over $100. For occasional use, per-report pricing makes sense; for regular searches, subscriptions provide better value.
Many services employ aggressive billing practices. Free trial background check offers often require payment information and auto-renew at premium rates. Cancellation processes can be intentionally difficult, sometimes requiring phone calls during business hours. Some services add unwanted upgrades or sell your information to partners, resulting in spam calls and emails.
Best cheap background check services aren't always the most economical long-term. Factor in data quality, customer service, and ease of cancellation. Services like GoodHire and Checkr use transparent pricing without hidden fees, while some consumer services rely on deceptive billing practices.
Even the most advanced background check services face limits when it comes to data accuracy and privacy. Records may be incomplete, errors can spread across databases, and your own searches may leave a digital trail. Knowing how providers handle these challenges helps you choose wisely.
Most thorough background check services combine multiple data sources with verification procedures. However, even premium services face limitations:
Most accurate criminal background check providers like Sterling use human verification, but this adds time and cost. For personal searches, run multiple services to cross-reference findings, as each accesses slightly different databases.
Using legitimate background check services raises privacy implications for both searchers and subjects. Your searches remain private from the subject, but services track your activity and may share data with partners. Reputable background check companies provide clear privacy policies and opt-out procedures.
If you're concerned about your own information appearing in searches, most people background search sites offer opt-out forms. The process typically takes 48-72 hours, though you must repeat it for each service. Some services like CheckPeople explicitly share user data with marketers, so use dedicated email addresses for signups.
Most background check services focus on US data. For UK users, options remain limited due to stricter privacy laws. Best background check UK alternatives include:
For international employment screening, only enterprise services like Sterling and HireRight provide comprehensive global coverage. They navigate local laws and access country-specific databases, crucial for multinational hiring.
Background checks carry serious legal responsibilities. Employers, landlords, and financial institutions must follow strict FCRA guidelines, while individuals should respect ethical boundaries. Using the wrong service (or using the right one incorrectly) can expose you to liability.
Using non-compliant services for employment, housing, or credit decisions violates federal law with serious penalties. Best site for background checks for official purposes always advertises FCRA compliance prominently. Key requirements include:
Never use consumer services like TruthFinder or Spokeo for official decisions, regardless of how comprehensive their data appears. Even informal employment decisions using non-compliant services can result in lawsuits.
While background check people searches are generally legal for personal use, ethical boundaries exist. Avoid using background checks to:
For employment background checks, follow EEOC guidelines regarding criminal history. Consider the nature of convictions, time elapsed, and relevance to the position. Blanket policies excluding anyone with criminal records may violate discrimination laws, which is why it's crucial to understand how to check an employee's background legally and ethically.
Selecting the right background check service depends entirely on your intended use and legal requirements. After extensive testing, these providers proved most reliable for their specific purposes:
BeenVerified offers the best overall value for casual users wanting mobile access and varied search options.
For official purposes requiring FCRA compliance, stick with Checkr or GoodHire unless you need Sterling's advanced capabilities.
For personal research and safety screening, TruthFinder or BeenVerified provide the comprehensive data you need at reasonable prices.
Remember that no single service provides complete information – serious situations may warrant using multiple providers or hiring professional investigators. Always verify critical information through multiple sources and follow applicable laws for your intended use. Understanding how to find out if someone has a criminal record properly can help you make informed decisions about personal and professional relationships.
| Tool | Starting price (US)* | Search types | Core features | Additional features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checkr | From $29/check | Criminal, employment, driving | FCRA-compliant, API integration | Automated workflows, adverse action | Fast hiring |
| GoodHire | From $29.99/check | Criminal, credit, employment | FCRA-compliant, easy interface | Tenant screening, package deals | Small business |
| Sterling | Custom pricing | Global criminal, education, employment | 200+ countries, human verification | Industry-specific packages | Enterprise/international |
| TruthFinder | From $28/mo | Criminal, contact, dark web | Unlimited searches, comprehensive data | Dark web monitoring, social media | Personal safety |
| BeenVerified | From $26.89/mo | Name, phone, email, address | Mobile apps, reverse lookups | Username search, VIN lookup | All-around searching |
At Digital Safety Squad, trust and transparency is at the core of everything we do. In a world where misinformation is rampant and sponsored content often clouds real advice, we’re committed to giving you honest, experience-backed recommendations you can rely on. As a team we test and review different products. Our guides are a collaboration of our shared knowledge, learnings and experience. Learn more about how we test.
Yes, background check services are legal in both the US and UK, but how you use them matters. In the US, employment, housing, and credit checks must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In the UK, official checks are carried out through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and require the subject’s consent for anything beyond a Basic DBS check.
For professional use, services like Sterling and Checkr stand out for accuracy because they verify records directly with institutions and courthouses. For personal use in the US, TruthFinder and BeenVerified aggregate millions of records, though accuracy depends on the source. In the UK, a DBS check remains the gold standard for criminal history.
In the US, employers should use FCRA-compliant services such as Checkr, GoodHire, or Sterling, as they include consent management, compliance workflows, and verified education/employment history. In the UK, employers must use the DBS system, with Standard or Enhanced checks depending on the role, often via an umbrella provider.
In the US, costs vary from around $29 per report for professional checks to $26–35 per month for unlimited consumer searches. In the UK, a Basic DBS check is £21.50 when ordered directly through Gov.uk, while Enhanced checks via umbrella providers typically range from £60–£73.50 depending on the level of detail required.
For personal use in the US, consumer background check sites allow you to search public records without consent, but results cannot be used for hiring, housing, or credit decisions. In the UK, only a Basic DBS check can be self-requested, and employers must always obtain written consent for Standard or Enhanced DBS checks.
In the US, subscription-based services like BeenVerified or TruthFinder offer the best value for multiple searches, while one-off professional checks through GoodHire or Checkr start around $29. In the UK, the most affordable option is a Basic DBS check at £21.50 ordered directly through the government website.
Related Articles
Best Reverse Address Lookup Services 2025: Who Lives There?
Best Reverse Phone Lookup Services 2025
Best Background Check Services 2025
Ready to protect your family digital life too?
Our family safety content is crafted by digital security specialists with real-world experience. No fluff. No sponsored bias. Just clarity and control for your peace of mind.
We take your family's safety as seriously as you do.
Some pages include affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our reviews remain unbiased and independent.
Copyright © 2025 | Digital safety squad | All Rights Reserved
