In today’s security-conscious world, background check sites have become an essential tool for businesses and individuals looking to gather information about someone’s past.
Whether you’re a hiring manager screening potential employees or an individual wanting to reconnect with long-lost relatives, background check services offer a convenient way to access public databases and uncover valuable information.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore the best background check sites available in the market, assessing their features, reliability, and overall value. We’ll cover both pre-employment background check sites, and people search background check sites, providing a thorough analysis of each category. So whether you’re a business owner needing employee screening or an individual curious about someone’s background, this review will help you make an informed decision.
Pre-Employment Background Check Sites
Regarding pre-employment background checks, there are several key factors to consider. These include the extensiveness of the searches, compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), pricing, and customer reviews. Based on these criteria, we have selected the top three pre-employment background check sites: First Advantage, HireRight, and Checkr.
First Advantage
First Advantage is our top pick for pre-employment background checks due to its comprehensive international screening capabilities. This site offers various services, including ID verification, criminal records searches, and financial checks.
What sets First Advantage apart is its ability to conduct searches in 16 countries worldwide, making it an ideal choice for companies with global recruitment needs. Additionally, First Advantage provides post-employment criminal record monitoring, alerting employers if any adverse records are discovered after hiring an employee.
However, it’s worth noting that some customer reviews have mentioned slow turnaround times and poor experiences with customer service. Despite these concerns, First Advantage remains a top choice for businesses seeking international background checks.
HireRight
HireRight is another excellent option for pre-employment background checks, particularly for businesses in specific industries. This site offers tailored screening packages for hospitality, insurance, technology, and transportation sectors.
By providing industry-specific screenings, HireRight ensures that employers comply with each sector’s unique requirements and regulations. Customers can choose from ready-made screening packages or customize their own based on their company’s needs.
While HireRight has received an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau, some customer reviews have mentioned inconsistent turnaround times. Job applicants have reported delays in employment start dates due to lengthy background check processes. Despite these concerns, HireRight remains a reliable choice for businesses looking for industry-specific background checks.
Checkr
For small businesses looking for a high-tech approach to employee screening, Checkr is an excellent option. This site utilizes AI-powered technology to enhance the screening process, making potentially adverse findings more straightforward and more accessible to categorize.
Checkr’s mobile portal allows candidates to track their screening progress and contact support directly. The site also offers global watchlist searches, international background checks, and education and employment verifications.
However, some customer reviews have mentioned slow turnaround times and difficulties contacting customer service. Checkr’s pricing can also be complicated, with additional fees for court searches in certain jurisdictions and DMV records. Despite these challenges, Checkr’s technological approach and mobile-friendly interface make it a strong choice for small businesses.
People Search Background Check Sites
While pre-employment background check sites focus on compliance with the FCRA and extensive screenings, people search for background check sites offering different services. These sites are not FCRA-compliant and are primarily used for personal searches, such as finding relatives or conducting reverse phone searches.
We have selected the top three people search background check sites: Instant Checkmate, TruthFinder, and BeenVerified.
Instant Checkmate
Instant Checkmate offers unlimited reports for subscribers, making it an attractive choice for individuals looking to conduct multiple searches. This site searches public records and other publicly available data sources to create comprehensive reports.
Subscribers have access to a wide range of information, including date of birth, addresses, contact information, criminal convictions, and more. Instant Checkmate also offers premium reports that provide additional information, such as records of weapons or hunting permits, properties owned, and foreclosures or tax liens.
It’s important to note that Instant Checkmate was involved in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in September 2023, alleging FCRA violations and deceptive marketing practices. While the lawsuit is ongoing, Instant Checkmate remains a popular choice for individuals seeking unlimited reports.
TruthFinder
TruthFinder provides comprehensive reports that include information from federal, state, and county records, as well as social media platforms and websites. This site is beneficial for individuals looking to learn more about new people in their lives, find old friends or family members, or gather information about their neighbors.
TruthFinder offers various search options, including people search, reverse phone lookup, and reverse email lookup. Subscribers can access unlimited reports and additional features like dark web monitoring to protect their online identities.
Like Instant Checkmate, TruthFinder was also included in the FTC lawsuit alleging FCRA violations and deceptive marketing practices. Despite these challenges, TruthFinder remains reliable for individuals looking for comprehensive people search reports.
BeenVerified
BeenVerified stands out for providing mobile apps for both Apple and Android devices, making it convenient for users to conduct searches on-the-go. This site offers a variety of search options, including people search, reverse phone lookup, and reverse address lookup. BeenVerified’s subscriptions include unlimited searches and reports, allowing users to access comprehensive information about individuals.
While BeenVerified has received a grade of C from the Better Business Bureau, customer reviews have mentioned issues with subscription renewals and difficulties canceling the service. These concerns aside, BeenVerified’s mobile apps and affordable subscription options make it a popular choice for individuals seeking background check services.
Conclusion
In conclusion, background check sites offer a valuable resource for businesses and individuals looking to gather information about someone’s past. Whether you’re conducting pre-employment screenings or searching for long-lost relatives, these sites provide comprehensive reports based on public records and other publicly available data sources.
Our top picks for pre-employment background check sites include First Advantage, HireRight, and Checkr. These sites offer a range of services, from international screenings to industry-specific packages, catering to the unique needs of businesses. For people search background check sites, Instant Checkmate, TruthFinder, and BeenVerified provide comprehensive reports and unlimited searches for individuals seeking information about others.
While it’s important to consider customer reviews and potential challenges with turnaround times and customer service, these background check sites offer reliable and valuable services. Whether you’re a business owner or an individual, conducting background checks can provide peace of mind and help you make informed decisions.
