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10 Best Background Check Services of 2024

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Posted by: David Garcia February 04, 2024

Looking for the best background check service available in 2024? Below, we’ll cover some options available to you and what their strong suit is. 

  1. Best Overall: ScoutLogic
  2. Best Budget: Spokeo
  3. Best for Small Businesses: Checkr
  4. Best for Affordable Unlimited Reports: US Search
  5. Best for International Background Checks: First Advantage
  6. Best for Fast Results: Intelius
  7. Best for Unlimited Reports: Instant Checkmate
  8. Best for Mobile Experience: BeenVerified
  9. Best for Comprehensive People Searches: TruthFinder
  10. Best for Detailed Reports: GoodHire

Remember, different background check services are suitable for different purposes. For example, not all will be FCRA-compliant; therefore, they won’t all be suitable for employment screenings or certain other purposes. 

Make sure you do your research and ensure that you’re following all appropriate and relevant laws. It’s essential that the background check service you use is suitable and legal for your purposes. 

Below, we’ll cover several different background check services, including some that are not FCRA-compliant, meaning that they’re not suitable for certain purposes, including background checks for employers. Make sure you double-check that a background check service is compliant with all relevant laws based on what you plan to use them for. Ready? Let’s go!

Best Overall: ScoutLogic

ScoutLogic’s operations are designed around providing an outstanding service. While other operations might be designed with efficiency at the forefront or use AI technology that puts compliance at risk, ScoutLogic prioritizes providing exemplary recruiter service. Highly trained researchers, or “Scouts,” are assigned to specific accounts. 

We know it’s incredibly frustrating to have a hiring process hindered by a subpar background check. ScoutLogic works hard to provide responsive service to candidates and recruiters. 

ScoutLogic also offers a wide range of search types, from employment verification to drug testing to criminal searches and much more. ScoutLogic’s employees have their FCRA certifications to ensure their checks are performed as compliantly as possible. 

Information May Include:

  • Employment credit
  • Drug testing
  • Criminal searches
  • Social media
  • And more

Pros

  • Wide range of check types
  • Highly trained assigned “Scout”
  • Priorizes compliance
  • Straightforward pricing

Cons

  • Need to request a quote for pricing

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Best Budget: Spokeo

If you’re on a budget, then Spokeo is a great option. Its interface is simple, and it can provide a range of information. There’s also a call screening feature in the mobile apps that can be useful to better judge whether a call is a scam or from a telemarketer. 

However, the service limits how many searches users can conduct monthly, so if you have a lot of searches to get through, it may not be your best bet. 

Information May Include:

  • Criminal records
  • Social media profiles
  • And more

Pros

  • User-friendly
  • Call screening option
  • Not too expensive

Cons

  • Search limit

Best for Small Businesses: Checkr

Checkr is a good option for small businesses that wish to have a high-tech employee screening process. Checkr has a candidate portal that gives employers the opportunity to send invitations to a potential hire, increasing efficiency. It’s easy to use the service, and they offer a range of checks. 

However, the service is costly and charges on a per-check basis. If you have a lot of checks to do, the costs can add up. In addition, it may take some time to receive results if you’re doing a more comprehensive check. 

Information May Include:

  • Criminal records
  • Education verification
  • And more

Pros

  • Range of check options
  • Interface is simple

Cons

  • Per-check pricing
  • Costly

Best for Affordable Unlimited Reports: US Search

If you’re looking to get unlimited monthly searches in exchange for a flat fee, then US Search is a great option. This is a good choice for those looking to make bulk searches. 

The results are simple to read. However, the user interface for individual accounts can be slightly clunky. 

Information May Include:

  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • And more

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Good customer support

Cons

  • The user interface for individual accounts is a bit clunky

Best for International Background Checks: First Advantage

If you’re looking for international background checks, then First Advantage is a great option. It caters to employers of a range of sizes, whether you’re a small business, a large one, or somewhere in between. Their service provides a range of information. Post-employment criminal record monitoring is also available. 

Information May Include:

  • Social media account screening
  • Education verification
  • And more

Pros

  • Good choice for international background checks
  • Reports can be customized based on company requirements

Cons

  • Customer support is difficult to contact

Best for Fast Results: Intelius

If you’re looking for fast results, it’s worth checking out Intelius. If you don’t want to wait, the good news is that Intelius can provide a report in just minutes. However, the results might not be as accurate. 

Information May Include:

  • Criminal records
  • Social media profiles
  • And more

Pros

  • Multiple packages are available depending on needed records
  • Quick results

Cons

  • You might not get as accurate results

Best for Unlimited Reports: Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate is another option for those searching for unlimited reports. Subscriptions offer unlimited reports, but to download them on your device, you’ll need to pay for an add-on. You can also upgrade to a premium report. 

However, it should be noted that the Federal Trade Commission sued Instant Checkmate as well as related companies in September 2023, alleging that they violated the FCRA or Fair Credit Reporting Act and more. 

Information May Include:

  • Phone numbers
  • Social media profiles
  • And more

Pros

  • Unlimited reports
  • Dark web monitoring option

Cons

  • FTC lawsuit alleges FCRA violations and more

Best for Mobile Experience: BeenVerified

With BeenVerified, there’s an app for both Android and Apple users. Memberships come with services, including reverse email, phone, and address lookup. Thanks to the apps, you can conduct searches on the go.

Information May Include:

  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • And more

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Offers a range of services

Cons

  • Report limit

Best for Comprehensive People Searches: TruthFinder

TruthFinder provides comprehensive reports. Services include reverse email lookup, reverse phone number lookup, and people search. Dark web monitoring is also available to alert you in the event that your credentials show up on the dark web.

TruthFinder was also included in the September 2023 lawsuit mentioned earlier in this article. 

Information May Include:

  • Employment history
  • Criminal records
  • And more

Pros

  • Dark web monitoring upgrade option
  • Provides phone customer support

Cons

  • FTC lawsuit alleging FCRA violations and more

Best for Detailed Reports: GoodHire

GoodHire offers detailed reports that include a range of data. The website is fairly mobile-friendly, but there is no mobile app. It’s a pricey option, so if you’re looking for something basic that doesn’t have a high price tag, this isn’t your best bet.

It should be noted that Checkr has acquired GoodHire, so its services will soon fall under that brand. 

Information May Include:

  • MVR checks
  • Education verification
  • And more

Pros

  • Detailed reports
  • Available customer help center

Cons

  • No mobile app
  • Expensive

What To Consider When Choosing a Background Check Service

There are a number of things you should consider before selecting a background check service. Below, we’ve compiled some considerations you should keep in mind when comparing options to choose the one that best suits your needs

FCRA Compliance

A number of background check services, including a number of options on this list, are not FCRA-compliant. This can determine whether or not background check services are people search services or whether or not they’re suitable for employers and other uses. 

Certain checks, including those done on potential employees and more, must be done on a background check company that is compliant with the FCRA. This is a federal privacy protection law, and it limits the kind of information that can be obtained from others. 

Make sure that the background check company you choose is suitable for your uses and, if required for your purposes, is FCRA-compliant. As a reminder, a number of the background check companies included in this list are not FCRA compliant, so it’s important to do your research depending on what your purposes are to ensure you’re choosing a suitable background check company. 

Ensure you and your background check company are compliant with all relevant laws when doing a background check! 

Types of Checks 

Different companies will offer different types of checks, so depending on what you’re looking for from your report, you need to ensure that the company you choose includes the types of checks you’re interested in. 

For example, you might be interested in a report that includes information regarding social media, or you might require driving records. Whatever the case may be, ensure that the background check service you choose offers all the types of checks you’re looking for. 

Navigation and Interface

User-friendliness is another essential consideration. You don’t want to waste too much of your time learning how to use the service. An easy-to-use service streamlines the process and makes it much less of a hassle. 

Are you planning to use the service from your phone? Consider whether or not the service you’re considering has a mobile app or a mobile-friendly website. This can help ensure that the service you choose works for your needs. 

Subscription Options and Pricing

Different background check services will have different pricing and subscription options. Some will have a monthly subscription, while others might charge per check. Whatever the case may be, make sure that it’s within your budget and suits your needs. 

If you’re going to be conducting a lot of checks, then a service that offers unlimited checks for a monthly fee might be your best bet. Otherwise, you might do better with a service that charges you based on the number of checks performed. 

Speed

How quickly do you need to get results from your background searches? No one wants their hiring process to be slowed down by a lengthy background check process. 

How quickly you need results returned might vary based on what your purpose is for the background check. If speed is essential, then you’ll want to select a background check site that returns results relatively quickly. 

Tools and Features

Different services might have different features. Make sure you compare your choices and opt for the one with the most useful features for your purposes to get the most value out of your money. 

For example, your service might offer a call-screening feature or come with unlimited reports. By keeping in mind what each background check service offers and opting for a service with the most useful features you can ensure you get the most value out of your purchase. 

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of things that need to be considered before choosing the right background check company for you. You’ll want to factor in considerations like FCRA compliance, the search types they offer, their interface, speed, what tools and features they offer, and more. 

The good news is that ScoutLogic is dedicated to providing quality background check services, making the choice that much easier. At ScoutLogic, we strive to make the process as seamless as possible.

No one likes finding out that they made the wrong hire after the fact. With proactive support, fast checks, integrated health screenings, and more, there is much to love about working with ScoutLogic to make your hiring process more seamless. Not only that, but we offer a wide range of search types, ranging from criminal searches to social media to occupational health and much more. With ScoutLogic, it’s easy to get the information you need.

Take the hassle out of background checks and see how easy we make the process. To take the first step towards making background checks seamless, contact us or request a quote today.

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