Fortunly's Guide
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Best Free Background Check Sites for 2024

Written By
Julija A.
Updated
November 30,2023
Some or all of the products/services listed on this page are from our affiliate partners from which we receive commissions. This, however, does not influence the evaluations in our reviews. Learn more by reading our Advertiser Disclosure.

The value of safety can’t be overstated, and it’s essential to understand who you are entrusting with the security of your family, life, or finances. Moreover, it’s also important to know what someone else who’s looking into you might find. Therefore, it’s no wonder that background checks are becoming so common. Luckily, there are plenty of free or affordable options available.

But which one should you choose? We are here to assist you with that. We've done the research for you and compiled a list of companies that let you conduct a free background check, in addition to offering paid checks and subscriptions.

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Top Free Background Check Services in March 2024

Spokeo Logo

Spokeo

4.5 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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What's free: Address, date of birth, relatives
Price range: $7.95-$13.95
BBB rating: A-
Customer support: Live chat, email, phone
KEY FACTS
OVERVIEW
PROS & CONS
  • iOS and Android apps
  • 12 billion documents in the database
  • Unrestricted PDF access
  • Block unwanted calls
  • Affordable pricing
InfoTracer Logo

InfoTracer

4 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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What's free: Checking the database, age, and previous addresses
Price range: $24.95 per month, $2.95 trial
BBB rating: A+
Customer support: Phone, email
KEY FACTS
OVERVIEW
PROS & CONS
  • More than one million satisfied users
  • Advanced searches, including dark web, IP, car license plate, and others
  • Business solutions
BeenVerified Logo

BeenVerified

4.3 stars Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

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What's free: Checking the database, age, and previous addresses
Price range: $17.48-$26.89 per month
BBB rating: N/A
Customer support: Phone, email
KEY FACTS
OVERVIEW
PROS & CONS
  • Affordable monthly membership
  • Unclaimed property search tool
  • Used by more than one million users
Quick Breakdown

Best Free Background Check Sites for 2024 - Our Picks:

  • Spokeo - Best for low-cost individual reports

  • InfoTracer - Best for Variety of Search Options

  • BeenVerified - Best for Unclaimed Money Search

How To Do a Background Check for Free

Have you ever wondered what details about you are accessible to the general public? If you have, multiple online resources will allow you to do a personal background check for free. We'll show you how to use these tools to get the most detailed personal information report for yourself or others.

Most people are aware that their criminal history is public information, but did you also know that other details about you are also open to the public? Here’s some more publicly available information:

  • Home and property ownership records
  • Financial records
  • Employment history
  • Educational history
  • Professional licenses and certifications

In some cases, your state's or county's website will offer access to this information online. In other circumstances, you'll have to ask for it from the relevant government agency.

While there are some resources that provide completely free background check services, keep in mind that they may not be comprehensive. If you want a complete picture of someone's background, we recommend using a professional background check service such as the ones we reviewed here.

These firms have access to a wide range of public and private records, and they can often provide a more detailed report than you could. Furthermore, rather than having to visit multiple government institutions, you will save a lot of time and find all of the information

Why Use a Professional Online Background Check Service?

There are several reasons you should use a professional online background check service. A background check can provide you with the information you need to reconnect with a family member you've lost contact with, check out a potential date, find old friends, or simply learn more about someone in your neighborhood.

Even if you can find one, an absolutely free background check is not recommended. More than likely, such services will provide incorrect or sparse information. Most of the services we discuss here will only provide you with partial information and allow you to test out their functionality for a few dollars during a brief trial period. Otherwise, you’ll have to subscribe to get anything useful.

It's crucial to select a professional online background check company with a solid reputation and a proven track record. You should also make sure the service you choose provides the kind of report you need.

For instance, some services only offer criminal history reports, whereas others also offer data on financial transactions, property ownership, etc.

What Details Are Available in a Free Background Check?

These services can provide a wealth of information, including criminal records, bankruptcies, liens, and court verdicts. In addition, many services also offer credit reports and background checks on businesses.

It's important to choose reputable background check websites that use reliable sources. Otherwise, you could end up with inaccurate or outdated information. With a quick search, you can find a reliable online background check service that can give you the peace of mind you need.

FCRA vs. Non-FCRA Background Checks

Both paid and free background checks on people might be subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

FCRA-regulated background checks can only be conducted by a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA). CRA companies include credit bureaus, tenant screening services, and companies that collect medical information.

Non-FCRA background checks are not subject to these same restrictions, which means that they can be conducted by anyone for any purpose, except for employment, tenant screening, and verifying eligibility for insurance or credit.

Criminal histories, credit reports, and other details may be included in background checks that are both FCRA-compliant and non-FCRA-compliant. However, only background checks that are subject to FCRA regulation come with certain protections, such as the right to know if the data was used against you and the right to challenge any errors. Such measures can’t be taken when you conduct background checks for free on these websites.

Therefore, if you are renting your property and want to make sure your potential tenant has a clean background, you will need to use a licensed tenant screening service. These companies will provide you with a report that includes criminal history, credit reports, and other information that will help you make a decision about whether or not to rent to the applicant.

Background Check Response Period

Since online queries don't require as much information or verification, turnaround times for background checks are usually much quicker than official investigations.

Search requests can be completed quickly by a paid or free background check service that has access to government data repositories. With a potential match in their records, the providers we tested can take up to 10 minutes to put together a report for you.

Background checks that adhere to FCRA regulations are typically much more thorough and take much longer to complete. To make sure that the information can be used for other purposes, it may be worth the extra time, though.

FAQ

Can I check my own background for free?

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Yes, you can check your own background for free. However, it's important to note that not all background check services are subject to FCRA regulations, so some of the information you receive may not be used for employment, housing, or credit purposes.

What background check website is free?

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There are a few background check websites that offer free searches. These searches, however, are usually limited in scope and do not provide as much information as paid services do.

Is TruthFinder free?

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TruthFinder is at the top of our list of websites to visit for a free background check, and for good reason, as it is one of the few that offers a comprehensive report. While most other services will charge you for a full report, TruthFinder allows you to view a limited report for free.

What are the best free background checks?

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Some of the top free background check websites in 2024 are:

  • TruthFinder
  • Instant Checkmate
  • Intelius
  • InfoTracer
  • BeenVerified