Intelius Vs TruthFinder: Which Is Better?

March 2, 2023

Among the leading background check services, Intelius and TruthFinder consistently come out on top. But which one is the best at performing background searches? Take a look at this comparison of Intelius vs TruthFinder to find out which background check site is the best one for you.

 

When it comes to background check services, two names stand out among all the rest: Intelius and TruthFinder. With so many reputable firms offering comprehensive packages that make searching backgrounds remarkably easy, these two consistently come in at the top of the list.

What makes Intelius and TruthFinder the top background check services in the business? For one thing, these popular background check companies both offer access to an extensive array of public records.

Both services also provide in-depth reports covering your subject’s background in precise and accurate detail. These qualities alone place Intelius and TruthFinder several tiers ahead of the closest competitor.

Intelius vs. TruthFinder: Background Check Services Comparison

Intelius and TruthFinder actually have plenty in common with each other. In many ways, they are more alike than different. Even so, each has unique features and capabilities that you can’t find in the other, so your choice ultimately depends on your needs.

Let’s take a look at which each background check service has to offer!

Intelius

Intelius is one of the most popular and most highly-regarded background check services around. It offers a good selection of different search types, along with a host of features that make background searches easier and more accurate.

Some of the most helpful of these are the reverse address and reverse phone lookup search. A quick look at some of the top background checking services in the business reveals that Intelius is one of the few companies that offers this particular feature.

Reverse address and reverse phone lookup are both great ways to find someone’s identity based only on a known address or phone number. If you receive a call from an unfamiliar number, for example, reverse phone lookup can be helpful for tracing the caller’s identity.

Intelius claims to provide accurate information gathered from a wide array of data sources. After verifying the results of a handful of searches, we concluded that the site is indeed more accurate than most.

Features

Intelius offers a pretty impressive range of services and search options. Apart from the typical address, phone number, email, age and birth information, it also lets you search the following:

• Criminal records
• Property records
• Address history
• Sex offenses
• Court judgments
• Educational history
• Marriages and divorces
• Birth records
• Genealogy
• Social media profiles

Unfortunately, Intelius doesn’t provide details about assets, bankruptcies, or tax liens.

Interface

Intelius has a slick, clean, and easy to use interface. Clearly designed for quick and easy searches, it allowed us to navigate to where we wanted with a minimum of fuss. Even if we’d never used this background check service before, we were able to dig deep into its extensive features within minutes.

Customer Support

We had some difficulty getting a customer service representative on the line, but we managed to connect with one after a few tries. The good news is that their support staff is friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable, whether answering queries or helping with technical concerns.

Supported Platforms

Intelius is accessible via a browser-based website or a downloadable mobile app. The app supports iOS and Android devices.

Pricing

Intelius offers a subscription plan for $19.95 a month. This gives you access to most of the main people search features of the site, but you have to pay $2.95 extra for a complete background check service and $49.95 for criminal reports. That seems pretty steep for a single report, considering we’re already paying about $20 for the monthly subscription.

Intelius does offer a free trial period. But the duration tends to change from time to time, from two to seven days.

Pros

• Good customer service (if you can reach them!)
• Good range of search options and detailed reports
• Offers reverse phone number and address lookup
• Highly rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• Subscribers get unlimited background checks
• Allows social media searches

Cons

• Additional charge for a single report for criminal background checks from police records
• Information on assets, bankruptcies, and tax liens isn’t provided

TruthFinder

TruthFinder is equally respectable and has established a strong reputation as one of the best background check services since it was founded in 2003. It boasts a wider range of search options than most other services‒including Intelius‒and the results seem pretty accurate as far as we can tell.

Like the best background check services, TruthFinder obtains its information from a wide range of public records. But it also utilizes many other resources that aren’t available to other background checking services.

What does this mean for background checkers? With TruthFinder, you can dig up details about a person’s social media accounts, arrest records, addresses, phone numbers, and other data that typical background search services would give you.

But TruthFinder also digs up information on bankruptcies, assets, and tax liens. Depending on your purposes for running a people search, the inclusion of this data might be crucial to you.

Perhaps the most important advantage of TruthFinder is the option to scan the Dark Web. Whether you’re looking for a detailed report on deeply hidden secrets or you want to find out if you’ve fallen prey to identity theft, TruthFinder is the best background check service for you.

Features

TruthFinder’s feature set is even more impressive than Intelius’. In addition to the standard contact details and personal information provided by most background checking services, it also covers the following:

• Assets
• Bankruptcies
• Tax liens
• Criminal background
• Sex offenses
• Court judgments
• Employment
• Marriage and divorce records
• Education
• Birth records
• Genealogy
• Social media profiles

Interface

TruthFinder’s user interface is just as easy to use as Intelius’. Intuitive and elegant, it allowed us to perform complete background checks with a few clicks of the mouse. The background checker site has a polished, modern look as well, which we found quite attractive.

Customer Support

TruthFinder’s support team is a bit easier to get a hold of, although assistance isn’t available 24/7. We liked having several different options to contact customer support, including phone, email, and social media. Our experience with the support staff was generally positive.

Supported Platforms

TruthFinder can be accessed via the website if you are using a computer. You could also download the mobile app, which supports iOS and Android devices.

Pricing

A monthly subscription with TruthFinder costs $23.02. There is also a five-day free trial period, which gives you the opportunity to decide if the site is for you.

TruthFinder offers a money-back guarantee, which is always a plus. There are no charges for additional services either, which earns the company high marks from us.

Pros

• Offers an extensive range of search options
• Covers a huge range of data, including asset, bankruptcy, and tax lien information
• Well-laid out site with an easy-to-use interface
• Helpful information on how to use the service
• Scans the Dark Web for personal information

Cons

• Customer support isn’t available 24/7
• No community forums or live chat

Intelius vs TruthFinder: Our Verdict

After extensive testing, Intelius and TruthFinder both clearly deserve every bit of acclaim they’ve gotten from the online community. The two services are quite capable, offer affordable background checks, and come with a range of helpful features that make it easy for anyone to find the information they are looking for.

We do feel that Intelius has a slight edge in terms of ease of use. The interface is a joy to work with, and we found that we could get around the search bar quickly with very little clicking around.

Intelius also offers better customer support. Even though the support staff can be difficult to get a hold of, the representative we spoke to was helpful and knowledgeable.

Where TruthFinder comes out ahead is in the range of search options available. Unlike Intelius, it offers users the ability to search for information on assets, bankruptcies, and tax liens. It also searches the Dark Web for search subject information, which could be invaluable for intensive background investigation.

So which one do we recommend? Both services are very capable, and you should be able to get some valuable information regardless of which you go for.

If ease of use and customer support are your priorities, Intelius has a slight advantage. But if you need a wider range of search options‒including the ability to search the Dark Web, TruthFinder might be the better choice.

Background Check Service FAQ

Why Would You Need a Background Checking Service?

There are many reasons to commission a background check on someone. You might want to know about a person’s suitability for employment or property you are renting out. You might be curious about whether someone is related to you or if you have a common history.

You might also be tasked with updating an organization’s roster or need personal information about a member you can’t contact. All these are valid reasons to run a background check on someone.

Keep in mind that some restrictions apply with regard to using background checks for certain purposes. Depending on the situation, you may not be legally allowed to use the information however you wish. This will be explained further in the section below: “When is Running a Background Check Inadvisable?”

What Do Background Checks Usually Include?

The best background check sites can unearth basic personal details, including:

• Current and previous addresses
• Phone numbers
• Traffic records
• Court records
• Criminal convictions
• Properties owned

Of course, the information you get from such a check depends on the search type and the particular company offering the services. But most firms will be able to supply you with the above information.

Some of the best background check services go beyond this basic information, identifying social media profiles, historical records, and even presence on the Dark Web. Such services are generally more comprehensive than others, offering up-to-date information that would be difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere.

Do Criminal Records Show Up in Background Checks?

Criminal records are some of the most common pieces of information searched for in a background check. Most sites offer these services, gathering information from a wide variety of sources, including local, state, and federal records.

It is important to note that the criminal records called up in most background searches are limited to actual convictions. Arrests generally aren’t included, whether for felony or misdemeanor offenses.

Are Background Check Results Guaranteed?

Not all background check offer guaranteed results. In fact, the companies that do are in the minority. In lieu of a guarantee, some firms offer a free trial period or a specified number of free searches. This gives you an opportunity to check the accuracy of the information provided by the site.

Of the two services profiled here, only TruthFinder has a money-back guarantee. Intelius offers its users a free trial, which may last from two to seven days.

How Accurate are Background Checks?

Intelius and TruthFinder provide accurate results most of the time, but the same can’t be said for all background check services. While most providers strive to accurate and up-to-date results, user complaints about inaccuracies and missing details are common. In particular, if you’ve had your criminal or arrest reports expunged, these records may still turn up in searches.

What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)? How Does it Relate to Background Checks?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law aimed at protecting consumer privacy. It essentially forbids the use of consumer information obtained from a consumer reporting agency for certain purposes.

Under the FCRA, online background checking services such as Intelius and TruthFinder aren’t classified as consumer reporting agencies.

Consequently, the information provided by background check companies in response to a background check can’t be used to determine a particular person’s eligibility for insurance, rental agreements, or employment contracts.

When is Running a Background Check Inadvisable?

Running a background check to decide whether a person can be hired or accepted as a tenant isn’t allowed under the FCRA. So while you may run unlimited searches
on a coworker’s or neighbor’s background, you can’t use information such as criminal history from a background check service to decide their qualifications for employment or tenancy.

Can I Background Check Myself?

Performing a background check on yourself is not only legal but also advisable. You can use either‒or both‒of the services reviewed here to look up information about yourself. Doing so could help you determine the accuracy of your personal information online or help you obtain information on long-lost family members, a previous address, or employment or marriage records.

Running a background check on yourself is also a good way to gauge the accuracy and completeness of the information provided by a particular service. Since the information is likely known to you, you will be better able to make a more informed decision about the quality of service provided.

How Long Does a Background Check Take?

The best background check companies‒Intelius and TruthFinder included‒can give you back results in as little as a few minutes. More detailed searches can take longer, and other services take much more time getting the results back to you.

Some services also request additional data after presenting you with the initial search results in order to verify the information. This can add considerably to the search time when looking up someone’s criminal background.

How Much do You Pay for a Background Check?

Intelius offers a subscription plan priced at $19.95 a month. But this applies only to the company’s core features. To get access to more comprehensive background checks, you will have to pay $2.95 on top of the subscription rate. To get access to state and countrywide criminal records, you will have to pay $49.95 per search.

TruthFinder offers a monthly membership for $23.02 per month. Other companies can charge considerably more or less, depending on the depth of the search and the services availed.

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