Looking for the best background check service available in 2025? Below, we’ll cover some options available to you and what their strong suit is.
Best Overall: ScoutLogic
Best Budget: Spokeo
Best for Small Businesses: Checkr
Best for Affordable Unlimited Reports: US Search
Best for International Background Checks: First Advantage
Best for Fast Results: Intelius
Best for Unlimited Reports: Instant Checkmate
Best for Mobile Experience: BeenVerified
Best for Comprehensive People Searches: TruthFinder
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!
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
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.
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.
David Garcia, co-founder and CEO of Scout Logic, is an industry leader in the bulk background check world. With his strategic acumen and expertise in the HR sphere, specifically in hiring, recruiting, legal compliance, background checks, and resume screening, he’s an invaluable asset and consultant.
David's counsel extends across the boards of ScoutLogic, YipitData, and Supplier.io, drawing from his impactful stints on the boards of Infutor and Avetta. With an extensive 25-year journey, he champions unparalleled B2B commercial leadership within data & analytics, significantly shaping the HR landscape.
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