How Much Does Instant Checkmate Cost?

March 30, 2023

Have you ever wondered, “How much does Instant Checkmate cost?” If so, our guide to the subscription fees can help you make smarter decisions about using this popular background check service.

Instant Checkmate is one of the best background check services available. The company has been around since 2010 when it was founded in San Diego as a tool for adults to learn more about possible matches found on dating apps before they meet in person.

Since its founding, Instant Checkmate has expanded to offer various people-search and background check services using accurate information collected from different public records. It claims to have processed more than 1.4 billion searches.

Read on to learn more about how much the background check service costs in this Instant Checkmate review.

How Much Does Instant Checkmate Cost?

Instant Checkmate offers personal reports and phone reports that aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information on background check search subjects.

The personal reports include a “basic people research” feature that costs $35.12 per month for a subscription with unlimited searches. Customers also have the option of a 3-month plan for $28.09 per month, or $84.27 total.

Standard membership provides benefits, including unlimited person and location reports and premium report monitoring.

The company’s phone reports service includes reverse phone lookup for $5.99 monthly, and benefits include unlimited phone reports.

Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer a free background check. So, if you prefer not to pay a fee, you must perform your due diligence in looking into a person’s criminal history or background. Alternatively, you could try similar services that offer a free background check.

What Information Does Instant Checkmate’s Service Plans Include?

Person reports include the following information:

• Birthdates
• Phone Numbers
• Current and previous addresses
• Email lookup
• Employment and education histories
• Photos
• Social Media Profiles
• Businesses owned
• Assets
• Traffic and criminal records
• Court Records

Phone reports include the following information:

• Name and address
• Address histories
• Photos
• Social media accounts
• Possible associates

Instant Checkmate Membership Add-Ons

Members also have the option to avail of add-ons that add considerable value to the plans for modest fees. For example, they could get downloadable report files for a one-time fee of $3.99. This provides downloadable PDF reports that can be viewed anytime, shared with others, and printed.

Instant Checkmate also offers dark web monitoring services for an additional $1.99 per month. This service helps protect sensitive information and safeguard against identity theft by detecting passwords, personal and financial credentials, and other data on the dark web.

Instant Checkmate members interested in these add-on services are encouraged to contact the company’s customer care department Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST.

More on Instant Checkmate Cost and Services

As mentioned, Instant Checkmate offers a one-month unlimited standard reports package for $35.12. Users also have the option to sign up for a three-month plan for $84.27, which works out to $28.09 per month.

Unlike other search services, Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer a single report or search service. However, trial periods are occasionally offered for only $1.

Instant Checkmate allows users to search for someone by name, city, or state. The company also offers reverse phone lookup, which is helpful for searchers who have only a phone number to go by.

It is important to note that Instant Checkmate collects data only from public records. Consequently, you won’t receive any information that is unavailable anywhere else.

Premium reports are pretty thorough, drawing data from various sources. Results can include vehicles, properties, assets, address histories, bankruptcies, marriages, and relations.

Furthermore, Instant Checkmate provides information on sex offender registrations, firearms licenses, arrests, and traffic and criminal records.

Remember that Instant Checkmate is not an FCRA-compliant service, which means it isn’t considered a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This means that background check searches conducted on the site cannot legally be used to field prospective employees or for tenant screening.

Instant Checkmate’s User Interface

Instant Checkmate’s site has an attractive, slick design. The colors are subdued and beautiful, with the impression of a professional and reliable service.

Unfortunately, Instant Checkmate’s user interface leaves much to be desired. Despite the website’s simplicity and elegance, navigation isn’t as straightforward as you hope.

The first step of running a search seems easy enough. Users must first type in any information they know about their search subject in the site’s search bar, which is located right on the homepage.

This is where things begin to get more tedious and complicated. After typing in the initial search information, users will be presented with annoying pop-ups requesting more details about the search subject.

This is understandably a necessary part of the process, as it involves providing the gender of the search subject and known relatives. Even so, it does seem to add unnecessary steps to the search process and could have just as quickly been done during the initial stage.

This stage of refining the search is followed by a notice indicating that the results may include graphic content. The only way to proceed is to check a box signifying your acknowledgment.

Worse still, various other notices pop up throughout the rest of the search before the results are presented. One can’t help but get the feeling that this long-drawn-out process is intended to convince users of the thoroughness of the search instead of improving the quality.

We counted about five pop-ups before the results were revealed. The warnings about possible graphic details also have a distinctly hyped-up and sensationalistic tone, which we felt was completely unnecessary.

There are also even more annoyances. Users are also required to provide their name and email address before they can proceed to the results. There is also a notice that searchers must agree to receive emails from the service. The reason for this isn’t apparent to us, as the results can be viewed online.

At this point, we were finally able to get the Instant Checkmate report. The data was generally accurate, although we’ve received reports about errors in some information, particularly concerning addresses.

Instant Checkmate provides details on criminal records, accompanied by a “likelihood” score. This suggests that some results may not always be accurate, especially regarding arrest records, criminal records, and mailing addresses.

The Instant Checkmate App

Instant Checkmate is available via a mobile app only for Android devices. Considering the massive popularity of iOS devices, this restriction is a bit of a mystery.

Customer Reviews of Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate reviews and customer feedback seem primarily positive, with a few negative reviews here and there. In the Instant Checkmate review on Google Play Store, most users gave the background check services high marks, resulting in a 4.3 out of 5-star rating.

Users of Instant Checkmate’s website like the service’s ease of use for personal research and generally accurate individual reports. Nevertheless, complaints about the tedious search process and the many pop-ups exist. Some users have also reported issues with logging in and the insufficient depth of information on some searches.

Instant Checkmate’s Customer Support

Instant Checkmate’s customer support service from a reputable people search website is as good as expected. Users can reach the company’s customer support team by phone and email from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday.

The customer support representative we talked to was beneficial and knowledgeable. In about ten minutes, they walked us through the steps of navigating the site and answered questions we had about the subscription plan and search processes.

If you have trouble signing up for a subscription plan or getting results, the site offers an online help center with informative tutorial videos. You will also find answers to some of the most common questions regarding the service.

Unfortunately, Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer live chat support via an official channel. However, the phone and email support were sufficient for our needs.

Removing Information From Instant Checkmate

During the preparation of this Instant Checkmate review, we discovered that some of our reviewer’s personal information was available via the service. Subsequently, we tried to determine how easy it was for a person to remove unwanted information such as a criminal record or phone number.

Surprisingly, the process proved to be remarkably easy. Unlike Instant Checkmate alternatives that conceal this option deep in the site or on the checkout page, Instant Checkmate provides the link to do so right on the homepage. After submitting an opt-out request, we found the information was gone in two days.

How Secure is Instant Checkmate?

Instant Checkmate’s security is pretty airtight, with the site secured by the reputable firm Norton Symantec. Payment data and personal information are protected with 256-bit encryption, providing some measure of security against prying eyes. An SSL-encrypted connection further safeguards the connection.

Of course, all the information Instant Checkmate provides is readily available from public records. This means that there is relatively little concern about data privacy issues and the like. Even so, it’s always good to know that all activities on the site are protected to some degree.

Final Verdict: Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate is a hugely popular background check service for many good reasons. Searches are mostly fast and accurate, although the process is hindered somewhat by the many unnecessary pop-ups that get in the way.

However, once the results are returned, the service begins to live up to its reputation. Users are presented with a huge range of data, much more than what other search services provide. And while there may be some address errors and other details, the site’s background check service information is generally pretty thorough and accurate.

The bottom line: Instant Checkmate is generally an excellent site that could be improved by streamlining its search process. Overall, we recommend Instant Checkmate to those looking for a reliable and reasonably priced information search service.

FAQ

Is Instant Checkmate Free?

Unfortunately, Instant Checkmate doesn’t offer free background checks or a free trial period. There are trial offers on Instant Checkmate searches from time to time, which are available for only $1. The Instant Checkmate cost is substantially less than that of similar background check services.

Where Does Instant Checkmate Source Its Data From?

Instant Checkmate obtains data from various federal, state, and county databases. Information may also be obtained from social media platforms.

What Payment Methods Does Instant Checkmate Accept?

Instant Checkmate accepts Visa and MasterCard credit cards. You could also send payments from your PayPal account.

Can Instant Checkmate’s Search Service be Used to Conduct Background Checks?

Instant Checkmate’s people search service can be used to conduct background checks. Users typically use it to run searches on potential dates, neighbors, acquaintances, family members, a long-lost friend, and even themselves.

When is Using Instant Checkmate Inadvisable?

Instant Checkmate isn’t considered a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA or Fair Credit Reporting Act. Because the site doesn’t provide consumer reports, it isn’t the best tool for screening prospective tenants or hiring employees.

You also can’t use Instant Checkmate to determine eligibility for insurance, consumer credit, healthcare, and housing benefits. These applications generally require FCRA compliance.

How are Instant Checkmate’s Reports Delivered?

Instant Checkmate provides online reports on an easy-to-navigate page. Users can also download a full report in PDF format by paying for an add-on service. This add-on service is one way that the Instant Checkmate cost can exceed similar services.

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